Sunday, April 17, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
March 2011: by Becky
We are enjoying a wonderful conference weekend, started off right with a morning-side given by Auriana’s Children’s Choir. A few members of the choir bore testimony between uplifting and inspired songs. I have appreciated the togetherness of conference weekend even more this year. As the weekend approached we were getting pulled in all different directions for Saturday morning. Bjorn and I decided to make staying home for conference our top priority, but we gave each of the kids their own choice whether they stayed home or not. I sat in gratitude as we ALL watched conference together, but I also sat in awe at how easily they chose the better part. I think I would have had a harder time making that choice if I felt like I was letting my team down or missing out on something fun!
After a nice & uncluttered winter, the past few weeks and upcoming month have and will be filled with activities. Sometimes when I look at the calendar it makes my head swim, not because any one of us is over booked, but because when I try to find 20 minutes when everyone will be home and awake, it’s almost impossible! Recently Auriana’s early morning class ended, so right now 7:30-7:45 is our golden time. We start off the day with scripture reading at 6:30, but usually one or two of the little kids sleep through it. We gather again at 7:30 for breakfast before heading off to school!
Auriana is involved in school choir and the Children’s choir and has been spending her spare time with Natalie sewing cute little Easter bags to sell. She continues to be a very responsible student. Her Mia-maid leader was called to the general YW board and gave her and I up-close tickets to the YW broadcast. I couldn’t go, so Brenda went with her and they had a wonderful time.
Isaac is doing track and had his first meet this last week - he was discouraged to find out he had to race against 8th and 9th graders. He was happy to turn 13 and even happier to get a cell phone! The cell phone wasn’t a birthday present. Our family policy (right now) is that electronics are never gifts but self paid for privileges. We told Isaac around Christmas time (after much persuading) that if he learned 5 hymns on the piano, proved he could save $20 a month as well as pay the $20 per month bill, we would allow him to get a cell phone. He did all of those things a couple of years before I thought he would and he’s had a great time with his new toy.
Natalie is playing soccer and doing Irish dance. This last week she won the 5th grade spelling bee at her school by spelling the word “ricochet” correctly. The same day she was also voted in as her class “Canyon Idol” by playing her fiddle. She came home from school with a trophy and a giant candy bar and I told her I hope everyone still likes her even though she wins everything. She said, “Well, they voted for me!” It’s pretty hard not to like Natalie!
Enoch is playing soccer and just started piano lessons. He’s had a fun time learning a song called “Thundering Drums”! This week at school his class asked for donations for a school in Africa. We were to pledge an amount that we would pay for every lap that he ran. Enoch ran 10 laps around the school, which was the furthest of anyone in the 2nd grade. He’s had sore legs ever since!
Miriam is very speedy at saying the note names with her music flashcards and has worked hard to get into the 30-second club in her music class. She’s practicing to play “Russian Dance” on the piano in her 1st grade talent show this week. Miriam is usually found writing a love letter to someone in our family or prancing around the house with Irish dance steps. Miriam, Ellie, and Natalie were excited to dress up as hillbillies for their Irish Dance recital – they looked very cute in their overalls and braids and did a really great job!
Ellie was the most excited about the recital. She is the smallest in the class and is so cute as she skips off the stage, giving a little wave. She ended up getting sick and throwing up several times in the night, the night before. She slept all of the next day and ate only a couple of bites of a cracker. I don’t know where she got the energy, but she went to the recital and danced beautifully!
Bjorn has added a new dimension to our morning scripture study. Inspired by an idea presented in Sunday school, he has started having each person summarize what the previous person read. It has helped us all tune in much better and I appreciate his efforts every morning to lead us in that basic family necessity. After preparing and giving a talk in sacrament meeting based on an article in the Ensign by Julie B. Beck, we have been trying harder to be more “Brilliant in the Basics”.
After a nice & uncluttered winter, the past few weeks and upcoming month have and will be filled with activities. Sometimes when I look at the calendar it makes my head swim, not because any one of us is over booked, but because when I try to find 20 minutes when everyone will be home and awake, it’s almost impossible! Recently Auriana’s early morning class ended, so right now 7:30-7:45 is our golden time. We start off the day with scripture reading at 6:30, but usually one or two of the little kids sleep through it. We gather again at 7:30 for breakfast before heading off to school!
Auriana is involved in school choir and the Children’s choir and has been spending her spare time with Natalie sewing cute little Easter bags to sell. She continues to be a very responsible student. Her Mia-maid leader was called to the general YW board and gave her and I up-close tickets to the YW broadcast. I couldn’t go, so Brenda went with her and they had a wonderful time.
Isaac is doing track and had his first meet this last week - he was discouraged to find out he had to race against 8th and 9th graders. He was happy to turn 13 and even happier to get a cell phone! The cell phone wasn’t a birthday present. Our family policy (right now) is that electronics are never gifts but self paid for privileges. We told Isaac around Christmas time (after much persuading) that if he learned 5 hymns on the piano, proved he could save $20 a month as well as pay the $20 per month bill, we would allow him to get a cell phone. He did all of those things a couple of years before I thought he would and he’s had a great time with his new toy.
Natalie is playing soccer and doing Irish dance. This last week she won the 5th grade spelling bee at her school by spelling the word “ricochet” correctly. The same day she was also voted in as her class “Canyon Idol” by playing her fiddle. She came home from school with a trophy and a giant candy bar and I told her I hope everyone still likes her even though she wins everything. She said, “Well, they voted for me!” It’s pretty hard not to like Natalie!
Enoch is playing soccer and just started piano lessons. He’s had a fun time learning a song called “Thundering Drums”! This week at school his class asked for donations for a school in Africa. We were to pledge an amount that we would pay for every lap that he ran. Enoch ran 10 laps around the school, which was the furthest of anyone in the 2nd grade. He’s had sore legs ever since!
Miriam is very speedy at saying the note names with her music flashcards and has worked hard to get into the 30-second club in her music class. She’s practicing to play “Russian Dance” on the piano in her 1st grade talent show this week. Miriam is usually found writing a love letter to someone in our family or prancing around the house with Irish dance steps. Miriam, Ellie, and Natalie were excited to dress up as hillbillies for their Irish Dance recital – they looked very cute in their overalls and braids and did a really great job!
Ellie was the most excited about the recital. She is the smallest in the class and is so cute as she skips off the stage, giving a little wave. She ended up getting sick and throwing up several times in the night, the night before. She slept all of the next day and ate only a couple of bites of a cracker. I don’t know where she got the energy, but she went to the recital and danced beautifully!
Bjorn has added a new dimension to our morning scripture study. Inspired by an idea presented in Sunday school, he has started having each person summarize what the previous person read. It has helped us all tune in much better and I appreciate his efforts every morning to lead us in that basic family necessity. After preparing and giving a talk in sacrament meeting based on an article in the Ensign by Julie B. Beck, we have been trying harder to be more “Brilliant in the Basics”.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
August: by Bjorn
Well, the 3 younger kids are off to their first day of school! Can't believe Miriam's in high school! We did father's blessings...
