Enoch Mowed the lawn for the first time yesterday and Isaac was a great teacher!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Happy Mother's Day!!!
I'm so grateful for my own mother, but also for all of these mothers that love my children as their own! A neighbor/friend of mine wrote a song and made it into a video - click on the link at right to enjoy it for Mother's Day
Sunday, May 2, 2010
April 2010: by Bjorn
Auriana went with her choir group to Lagoon yesterday. They performed in the morning at a nearby high school and then enjoyed a rainy day at Lagoon before the awards ceremony at 5 pm where they were awarded first place for both their Concert Choir and Show Choir. Based on our previous experience with each of our children at the Carnival that comes to town each summer, we didn’t think Auriana would go on many of the rides, but she surprised us by reporting that she went on the Wild Mouse five times, the big white rollercoaster twice, the Tidal Wave, and several other rides that I honestly thought she would never go on. So maybe it is just an age thing and there may be hope for Disneyland after all.
Isaac is getting ready for track to start and is having great experiences with Scouts. He just earned his Star rank and will be a Life before we know it. Right now he’s at a meeting fulfilling his Quartermaster responsibilities in preparing for a campout next weekend. He’s also Quartermaster for his patrol in the troop that will be going to the National Jamboree, so he’s responsible to gather, clean up, label, etc. all the equipment for that trip. I’m glad he’s having these opportunities to teach him responsibility and leadership. We were recently talking about how he could earn some money for the summer and he decided he wanted to mow lawns (like his dad). So Becky made him some cards and I went with him around the neighborhood. He ended up securing two jobs for now, which seems just right to begin with. He has been very responsible in calling each of them to let them know when he’s coming (or not coming because of rain), and is improving his communication and business skills in the process.
Natalie is loving school, Irish dance, and soccer. She scored a goal in her very first game this season – kicked from midway between the goal and mid-field. I took her last night to a practice session with a coach that is putting together an accelerated (club) team for her age group here in Spanish Fork. This coach had come to a couple of our games and noticed how good Natalie is, and personally requested that she come. We’re not quite sure yet what we’re going to do since it is quite a big commitment of time and money, but we know that Natalie – and each of our children – can excel at whatever they put their efforts to, its just up to us as parents to determine when to hold back and when to push forward. Natalie is willing to do things to earn money to help pay for extra activities like that, which pleases me. We have talked about a few different things she could do this summer, such as baking bread and selling it. Again, its rewarding to see your children maturing and accepting responsibility with enthusiasm.
Enoch is loving soccer as well. He’s the tallest kid on his team and has used his strong leg to make a bunch of great plays including a couple of goals. He recently played his guitar for the 1st grade talent show and impressed many of his friends. Becky and I increasingly notice his musical abilities with the piano, guitar, and vocally. It will be interesting to see where that natural talent takes him. Enoch wishes he could be baptized right now, but understands that he needs to wait until he’s eight. We have made a goal as a family to read the Book of Mormon before he gets baptized. Becky made up a daily schedule and so far we’re on track.
Miriam just participated in a fun kindergarten program about going to the zoo. She was a dancing bear. On Wednesday they went to the zoo even though it was raining. Becky and Ellie joined them and they had a fun time. Miriam’s favorite part was seeing the giraffes. Miriam is enjoying soccer too, and is also a budding musician.
Ellie is still loving pre-school and is about as smart as they come. Yesterday she and Miriam were in the bathroom just giggling their heads off – you know the little chipmunk laugh that Auriana also had. I was in my office working and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself at that contagious sound. Sometimes I think how nice it would be if my life were that simple. Recently Ellie has decided that she’s afraid of the wind. We were at a soccer game and it was really windy and Ellie got so distressed that Becky had to take her to the car to get out of the wind. Today she didn’t want to go to Church because she had noticed it was windy outside. Hopefully it’s a short-lived stage because after all, we do live in Spanish Fork – you know, the place with those huge wind turbines…
Isaac is getting ready for track to start and is having great experiences with Scouts. He just earned his Star rank and will be a Life before we know it. Right now he’s at a meeting fulfilling his Quartermaster responsibilities in preparing for a campout next weekend. He’s also Quartermaster for his patrol in the troop that will be going to the National Jamboree, so he’s responsible to gather, clean up, label, etc. all the equipment for that trip. I’m glad he’s having these opportunities to teach him responsibility and leadership. We were recently talking about how he could earn some money for the summer and he decided he wanted to mow lawns (like his dad). So Becky made him some cards and I went with him around the neighborhood. He ended up securing two jobs for now, which seems just right to begin with. He has been very responsible in calling each of them to let them know when he’s coming (or not coming because of rain), and is improving his communication and business skills in the process.
Natalie is loving school, Irish dance, and soccer. She scored a goal in her very first game this season – kicked from midway between the goal and mid-field. I took her last night to a practice session with a coach that is putting together an accelerated (club) team for her age group here in Spanish Fork. This coach had come to a couple of our games and noticed how good Natalie is, and personally requested that she come. We’re not quite sure yet what we’re going to do since it is quite a big commitment of time and money, but we know that Natalie – and each of our children – can excel at whatever they put their efforts to, its just up to us as parents to determine when to hold back and when to push forward. Natalie is willing to do things to earn money to help pay for extra activities like that, which pleases me. We have talked about a few different things she could do this summer, such as baking bread and selling it. Again, its rewarding to see your children maturing and accepting responsibility with enthusiasm.
Enoch is loving soccer as well. He’s the tallest kid on his team and has used his strong leg to make a bunch of great plays including a couple of goals. He recently played his guitar for the 1st grade talent show and impressed many of his friends. Becky and I increasingly notice his musical abilities with the piano, guitar, and vocally. It will be interesting to see where that natural talent takes him. Enoch wishes he could be baptized right now, but understands that he needs to wait until he’s eight. We have made a goal as a family to read the Book of Mormon before he gets baptized. Becky made up a daily schedule and so far we’re on track.
Miriam just participated in a fun kindergarten program about going to the zoo. She was a dancing bear. On Wednesday they went to the zoo even though it was raining. Becky and Ellie joined them and they had a fun time. Miriam’s favorite part was seeing the giraffes. Miriam is enjoying soccer too, and is also a budding musician.
Ellie is still loving pre-school and is about as smart as they come. Yesterday she and Miriam were in the bathroom just giggling their heads off – you know the little chipmunk laugh that Auriana also had. I was in my office working and couldn’t help but chuckle to myself at that contagious sound. Sometimes I think how nice it would be if my life were that simple. Recently Ellie has decided that she’s afraid of the wind. We were at a soccer game and it was really windy and Ellie got so distressed that Becky had to take her to the car to get out of the wind. Today she didn’t want to go to Church because she had noticed it was windy outside. Hopefully it’s a short-lived stage because after all, we do live in Spanish Fork – you know, the place with those huge wind turbines…
Monday, April 5, 2010
MARCH 2010: by the KIDS
Happy April! Miriam enjoyed playing in a foot of SNOW this morning for her birthday! We really enjoyed EASTER and CONFERENCE and FAMILY over the weekend. Here is a report from each of the kids.
Ellie
I love my family and that I’ve been playing with my sisters. We’n playing legos – me and Enoch and Miriam. We got pizza to bring home to eat. We see grandma and grandpa again. I see my other grandma and grandpa again. At school, I have been reading and playing and playing on the computers and then when will it be my birthday again? And, I like to play with Enoch and Miriam and I love Miriam and Enoch and Daddy and Mommy and Natalie and Auriana and Isaac and Berry and I love to go to Barry’s to eat and I love GUM. I love to count. I love to write. And I love to play. And that’s all!
Miriam
Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m going turn six. It’s going to be a family party. I play soccer and Lucy and Kate are girls from my Kindergarten class and they are on my team. I had a Easter birthday party. I invited all my favorite friends – Kelly, Lauren, Carmen, Sarah, Kate, Lucy, Adelaide, Ellie, Isaac, Natalie, Enoch, and Auriana. We had an Easter egg hunt and we played musical eggs. We colored a white egg like an Easter egg. We made baskets and we ate cupcakes. My favorite part of the party was opening presents. I loved my party.
Enoch
I started soccer practice and I got prongs and I’m going to Washington and Boise and it will be fun and Miriam’s birthday is tomorrow. I had a fun Easter and fun conference and we went to PPT for Isaac’s birthday. I did a front flip into this big foam pit and there were two Olympic trampolines and I went JUMP JUMP and landed on a pad. The end. That’s my story.
Natalie
The soccer games that I’ve had – we tied the 1st one and won the 2nd. For Easter I got some Prismacolor colored pencils and some min-gel pens. I did a recital for Irish dance and each class got to choreograph a dance and the one that we did, we wore crazy socks for it. At school we’re starting to train for the Hershey track meet. I ran the 50 meter in 8.45 seconds and the 100 meter in 16 point something seconds.
Isaac
Well, I got new track shoes and at school we did the timings for the Hershey track meet and I got the best time in the whole entire school: 14.11 seconds and I feel pretty good about that. I got ordained a deacon. I passed the sacrament and I only messed up twice. I got a really nice brown suit, it’s really warm and it has a ton of pockets.
Auriana
I had a Concert Choir/Show choir concert last Thursday and it was really fun. The Concert Choir one was at 7:00, then I got to go eat, and came back for the Show Choir one at 8:00. On May 1st, we are taking our show to Lagoon and performing in a festival and getting judged. I am really excited! For Easter I got 3 pairs of pants, a really cool mechanical pencil, a new hairbrush, 2 plastic Easter eggs filled with jelly beans, and a chocolate bunny. Right now we are on Spring Break, and I am looking forward to sleeping in a little bit.
Ellie
I love my family and that I’ve been playing with my sisters. We’n playing legos – me and Enoch and Miriam. We got pizza to bring home to eat. We see grandma and grandpa again. I see my other grandma and grandpa again. At school, I have been reading and playing and playing on the computers and then when will it be my birthday again? And, I like to play with Enoch and Miriam and I love Miriam and Enoch and Daddy and Mommy and Natalie and Auriana and Isaac and Berry and I love to go to Barry’s to eat and I love GUM. I love to count. I love to write. And I love to play. And that’s all!
Miriam
Tomorrow is my birthday and I’m going turn six. It’s going to be a family party. I play soccer and Lucy and Kate are girls from my Kindergarten class and they are on my team. I had a Easter birthday party. I invited all my favorite friends – Kelly, Lauren, Carmen, Sarah, Kate, Lucy, Adelaide, Ellie, Isaac, Natalie, Enoch, and Auriana. We had an Easter egg hunt and we played musical eggs. We colored a white egg like an Easter egg. We made baskets and we ate cupcakes. My favorite part of the party was opening presents. I loved my party.
Enoch
I started soccer practice and I got prongs and I’m going to Washington and Boise and it will be fun and Miriam’s birthday is tomorrow. I had a fun Easter and fun conference and we went to PPT for Isaac’s birthday. I did a front flip into this big foam pit and there were two Olympic trampolines and I went JUMP JUMP and landed on a pad. The end. That’s my story.
Natalie
The soccer games that I’ve had – we tied the 1st one and won the 2nd. For Easter I got some Prismacolor colored pencils and some min-gel pens. I did a recital for Irish dance and each class got to choreograph a dance and the one that we did, we wore crazy socks for it. At school we’re starting to train for the Hershey track meet. I ran the 50 meter in 8.45 seconds and the 100 meter in 16 point something seconds.
Isaac
Well, I got new track shoes and at school we did the timings for the Hershey track meet and I got the best time in the whole entire school: 14.11 seconds and I feel pretty good about that. I got ordained a deacon. I passed the sacrament and I only messed up twice. I got a really nice brown suit, it’s really warm and it has a ton of pockets.
Auriana
I had a Concert Choir/Show choir concert last Thursday and it was really fun. The Concert Choir one was at 7:00, then I got to go eat, and came back for the Show Choir one at 8:00. On May 1st, we are taking our show to Lagoon and performing in a festival and getting judged. I am really excited! For Easter I got 3 pairs of pants, a really cool mechanical pencil, a new hairbrush, 2 plastic Easter eggs filled with jelly beans, and a chocolate bunny. Right now we are on Spring Break, and I am looking forward to sleeping in a little bit.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday, March 7, 2010
FEBRUARY 2010: by Becky
We’ve REALLY enjoyed a few warmer days the last few weeks. It’s great to enjoy being outside again. We’re all looking forward to spring!
Ellie has been coughing quite a bit, but not wheezing, so that’s good news. She missed a week of preschool, so she’s excited to go back this week. She’s starting to sound out small words, and Auriana has enjoyed spending time with her, helping her to read and write. Ever since I was released from being Ellie’s primary teacher a few months ago, she hasn’t wanted to go to primary. She’s working on earning a new dress and sandals by going to primary BY HERSELF five times. The other kids would rather have treats as rewards, but not Ellie!
Miriam is reading like a pro! She loves school and loves to play with friends. She’s doing really well on the piano as well. She’s such a happy girl and is so great about getting her work done and helping me out. The other day she had to go to the dentist and get (too many) fillings, but she just laid there so patiently for over an hour without complaint. She’s counting down the days until she turns six in one month. Everyday she makes a new plan for her birthday party and cake.
Enoch has made great reading progress as well! He very diligently does his homework everyday right after school without being reminded. He’s supposed to get it signed by a parent each day and then I usually give him a handwriting grade as well, since that is something he needs to work on. A few days ago I realized I hadn’t seen or signed his homework that day, so I said, “Enoch, you forgot to do your homework!” He said, “No, I didn’t! I signed it myself!” I looked at it and he had signed Bjorn’s initials and given himself an “O” for outstanding handwriting. Enoch had a great time playing basketball this year and is looking forward to soccer starting soon. I guess he loves to play – he had five new pairs of jeans in December and all five had holes in the knees by mid February.
Natalie loves fourth grade! Her teacher is very enthusiastic and engaging with lots of extra projects. Basketball season went well for Natalie and she’s now looking forward to her spring Irish dancing recital in a few weeks and then soccer season (her favorite time of year!) She’s been spending some time each week teaching Miriam and Ellie a few Irish steps – she’s doing a great job and they are so cute to watch.
Isaac’s counting down the days until his 12th birthday. He’s so excited to be in Young Men and be a Boy Scout – he was invited to go on their campout this past weekend and had a great time. He came home talking about the dangerous hike they went on and I’m not so sure I’m ready to send him off like that again! He has struggled to memorize the Articles of Faith over the past 12 years, but he sat down last Sunday and memorized the last six in one day, so he’s finished with his Faith in God Award except meeting with the Bishop. Someone just called to invite him to join them in collecting fast offerings this morning, and on the phone he said, “I’ll be right over!” I don’t think he’s ever changed into his Sunday clothes so fast! Isaac is still found reading most of the time, but he’s been so great about getting his work done and has been spending some time each week teaching Enoch to play the guitar. He had a great basketball season with Bjorn as the coach – and instead of soccer this spring he wants to give tennis a try. He went on “the best field trip ever” the other day.
Auriana is looking forward to the next 5 DAYS OFF SCHOOL!!! I’m looking forward to it too, since she’s going to help me de-clutter and organize the house. She’s been getting an increasing number of babysitting jobs – and is planning on using the money to pay for a cell phone someday! That’s what she wants more than anything right now – I haven’t been too eager to comply, but then I was called into Miamaids, and found out that there is only one girl in our class who doesn’t have a phone (out of 17 girls). I called the girls on their home phones one morning to remind them of an activity – I had to leave messages for all of them and not one girl got my message. The other leader sent them all a text right before the activity and they ALL responded right away. Auriana is now hopeful…
Bjorn just finished the Adult Art classes that he’s in charge of every winter – so between arts council, coaching, and 11-year old scouting he has a hard finding time to work. Not really, but he does enjoy volunteering and being involved in the community! Life will slow down now that basketball is over. I’m hoping the weather continues to warm up so we can start picnicking and spending time together outside. I must have Spring Fever!
Ellie has been coughing quite a bit, but not wheezing, so that’s good news. She missed a week of preschool, so she’s excited to go back this week. She’s starting to sound out small words, and Auriana has enjoyed spending time with her, helping her to read and write. Ever since I was released from being Ellie’s primary teacher a few months ago, she hasn’t wanted to go to primary. She’s working on earning a new dress and sandals by going to primary BY HERSELF five times. The other kids would rather have treats as rewards, but not Ellie!
Miriam is reading like a pro! She loves school and loves to play with friends. She’s doing really well on the piano as well. She’s such a happy girl and is so great about getting her work done and helping me out. The other day she had to go to the dentist and get (too many) fillings, but she just laid there so patiently for over an hour without complaint. She’s counting down the days until she turns six in one month. Everyday she makes a new plan for her birthday party and cake.
Enoch has made great reading progress as well! He very diligently does his homework everyday right after school without being reminded. He’s supposed to get it signed by a parent each day and then I usually give him a handwriting grade as well, since that is something he needs to work on. A few days ago I realized I hadn’t seen or signed his homework that day, so I said, “Enoch, you forgot to do your homework!” He said, “No, I didn’t! I signed it myself!” I looked at it and he had signed Bjorn’s initials and given himself an “O” for outstanding handwriting. Enoch had a great time playing basketball this year and is looking forward to soccer starting soon. I guess he loves to play – he had five new pairs of jeans in December and all five had holes in the knees by mid February.
Natalie loves fourth grade! Her teacher is very enthusiastic and engaging with lots of extra projects. Basketball season went well for Natalie and she’s now looking forward to her spring Irish dancing recital in a few weeks and then soccer season (her favorite time of year!) She’s been spending some time each week teaching Miriam and Ellie a few Irish steps – she’s doing a great job and they are so cute to watch.
Isaac’s counting down the days until his 12th birthday. He’s so excited to be in Young Men and be a Boy Scout – he was invited to go on their campout this past weekend and had a great time. He came home talking about the dangerous hike they went on and I’m not so sure I’m ready to send him off like that again! He has struggled to memorize the Articles of Faith over the past 12 years, but he sat down last Sunday and memorized the last six in one day, so he’s finished with his Faith in God Award except meeting with the Bishop. Someone just called to invite him to join them in collecting fast offerings this morning, and on the phone he said, “I’ll be right over!” I don’t think he’s ever changed into his Sunday clothes so fast! Isaac is still found reading most of the time, but he’s been so great about getting his work done and has been spending some time each week teaching Enoch to play the guitar. He had a great basketball season with Bjorn as the coach – and instead of soccer this spring he wants to give tennis a try. He went on “the best field trip ever” the other day.
Auriana is looking forward to the next 5 DAYS OFF SCHOOL!!! I’m looking forward to it too, since she’s going to help me de-clutter and organize the house. She’s been getting an increasing number of babysitting jobs – and is planning on using the money to pay for a cell phone someday! That’s what she wants more than anything right now – I haven’t been too eager to comply, but then I was called into Miamaids, and found out that there is only one girl in our class who doesn’t have a phone (out of 17 girls). I called the girls on their home phones one morning to remind them of an activity – I had to leave messages for all of them and not one girl got my message. The other leader sent them all a text right before the activity and they ALL responded right away. Auriana is now hopeful…
Bjorn just finished the Adult Art classes that he’s in charge of every winter – so between arts council, coaching, and 11-year old scouting he has a hard finding time to work. Not really, but he does enjoy volunteering and being involved in the community! Life will slow down now that basketball is over. I’m hoping the weather continues to warm up so we can start picnicking and spending time together outside. I must have Spring Fever!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
JANUARY 2010: by Bjorn
It has been a really nice weekend. Auriana and Isaac talked me into taking them to see Percy Jackson & the Olympians on Friday – the first day it came out – since all of us have read the books and they’ve been looking forward to the movie ever since they knew a movie was being made. It was pretty good, and I always have fun hanging out with those two. As soon as we got home Becky and I hopped back into the car and went out on our Valentine date. We enjoyed dinner at China Lily where they have delicious lettuce wraps and dumplings. We usually just go there and order those appetizers and none of the main dishes.
Saturday was busy with Isaac’s basketball game, an Arts Council workshop that I’m in charge of, and preparation for teaching the Gospel Doctrine lesson (I was asked to fill in for the regular teacher). Then at 1:30 Auriana and I left to head to Bountiful to meet up with her cousins and my brothers to do family name baptisms in the Bountiful temple. It was a neat experience for all of us and it was neat to read off all those Norwegian names – some from the 1600s that my Mom had found and gotten ready. I even got to baptize my brother, Mark, and he baptized me for several of the male names. It’s quite a difference between baptizing a petite 13 year old and a 6’5” man, but the experience was wonderful and Auriana and I were both grateful to participate in such a neat family experience. We stopped at Nielson’s Frozen Custard on the way home and enjoyed the best ice cream in the world.
As soon as we got home it was time for the Valentines tradition to begin. So I quickly changed and took the boys with me out shopping for fun, but inexpensive gifts for the girls, while the girls fixed a Valentines dinner for the boys. We usually just go to the dollar store. When we got there, Enoch and Isaac quickly began their search and I lost track of them. Then about 3 minutes later I saw Enoch coming toward me with his hands full of things he wanted to get the girls. It was fun to see him so excited to give. When we finally arrived home with our gifts it was fun to spread them out on the table and then have the girls come in and see what we had given them. Brenda was there too, and so the boys were excited about giving her some yummy dark chocolate and roses along with Becky and the girls. Then the girls escorted us downstairs to the beautifully decorated table where our appetizer (sliced grapefruit) was waiting for us. Then they served us delicious stuff pasta shells and asparagus and breadsticks, and for dessert we had cake topped with vanilla pudding topped with whipped cream. Needless to say I was stuffed! Afterwards, Enoch asked if we could fix the dinner next year and have the girls go buy us treats. I asked him if he would want them to buy us flowers and he said no.
January was a full month with basketball starting for Isaac, Natalie, and Enoch (I’m coaching Isaac’s team), several fun school projects for Auriana and Natalie, Arts Council stuff, several big work projects, and Church callings. I have enjoyed my new calling of working with the 11-year old scouts, and Becky was just recently called to be the Personal Progress Leader for the MiaMaids. So now we’re juggling activity night for Auriana and Isaac and trying not to both be gone on Wednesday nights at the same time.
Auriana has really enjoyed Show Choir, but is not sure if she wants to be in it next year, so I worked it out with her school to start up a Bluegrass/Folk Music Ensemble next school year. I recommended a talented teacher and set up the initial meeting and once all the right people were in the same room everyone got really excited about it. So now it looks like Auriana will be able to be in an auditioned Bluegrass group that will have lots of fun performing opportunities throughout the year as well as some competitions that she can participate in. We’re excited for her to have this opportunity to further develop her skill with the mandolin. And hopefully she’ll blaze the trail for Isaac and Natalie and the rest to be in the group when they’re old enough.
We had fun celebrating Brenda’s birthday with her – especially surprising her early in the morning with a birthday breakfast. She is such an integral part of our immediate family. In fact she just walked in our door right as I’m writing this and not only do each of the kids run to the front door yelling her name, but Berry starts yelping and barking with excitement. I stopped getting that kind of response years ago. ☺
It has been rewarding and uplifting to read letters each week from Mom and Dad as well as Teresa’s missionary letters. We even read her most recent letter as part of our family home evening last week. We are grateful for the positive influence each of you are in our lives and wish we could see all of you more often. We’re sure excited to have Mom and Dad in our home for a bit during their big excursion.
Saturday was busy with Isaac’s basketball game, an Arts Council workshop that I’m in charge of, and preparation for teaching the Gospel Doctrine lesson (I was asked to fill in for the regular teacher). Then at 1:30 Auriana and I left to head to Bountiful to meet up with her cousins and my brothers to do family name baptisms in the Bountiful temple. It was a neat experience for all of us and it was neat to read off all those Norwegian names – some from the 1600s that my Mom had found and gotten ready. I even got to baptize my brother, Mark, and he baptized me for several of the male names. It’s quite a difference between baptizing a petite 13 year old and a 6’5” man, but the experience was wonderful and Auriana and I were both grateful to participate in such a neat family experience. We stopped at Nielson’s Frozen Custard on the way home and enjoyed the best ice cream in the world.
As soon as we got home it was time for the Valentines tradition to begin. So I quickly changed and took the boys with me out shopping for fun, but inexpensive gifts for the girls, while the girls fixed a Valentines dinner for the boys. We usually just go to the dollar store. When we got there, Enoch and Isaac quickly began their search and I lost track of them. Then about 3 minutes later I saw Enoch coming toward me with his hands full of things he wanted to get the girls. It was fun to see him so excited to give. When we finally arrived home with our gifts it was fun to spread them out on the table and then have the girls come in and see what we had given them. Brenda was there too, and so the boys were excited about giving her some yummy dark chocolate and roses along with Becky and the girls. Then the girls escorted us downstairs to the beautifully decorated table where our appetizer (sliced grapefruit) was waiting for us. Then they served us delicious stuff pasta shells and asparagus and breadsticks, and for dessert we had cake topped with vanilla pudding topped with whipped cream. Needless to say I was stuffed! Afterwards, Enoch asked if we could fix the dinner next year and have the girls go buy us treats. I asked him if he would want them to buy us flowers and he said no.
January was a full month with basketball starting for Isaac, Natalie, and Enoch (I’m coaching Isaac’s team), several fun school projects for Auriana and Natalie, Arts Council stuff, several big work projects, and Church callings. I have enjoyed my new calling of working with the 11-year old scouts, and Becky was just recently called to be the Personal Progress Leader for the MiaMaids. So now we’re juggling activity night for Auriana and Isaac and trying not to both be gone on Wednesday nights at the same time.
Auriana has really enjoyed Show Choir, but is not sure if she wants to be in it next year, so I worked it out with her school to start up a Bluegrass/Folk Music Ensemble next school year. I recommended a talented teacher and set up the initial meeting and once all the right people were in the same room everyone got really excited about it. So now it looks like Auriana will be able to be in an auditioned Bluegrass group that will have lots of fun performing opportunities throughout the year as well as some competitions that she can participate in. We’re excited for her to have this opportunity to further develop her skill with the mandolin. And hopefully she’ll blaze the trail for Isaac and Natalie and the rest to be in the group when they’re old enough.
We had fun celebrating Brenda’s birthday with her – especially surprising her early in the morning with a birthday breakfast. She is such an integral part of our immediate family. In fact she just walked in our door right as I’m writing this and not only do each of the kids run to the front door yelling her name, but Berry starts yelping and barking with excitement. I stopped getting that kind of response years ago. ☺
It has been rewarding and uplifting to read letters each week from Mom and Dad as well as Teresa’s missionary letters. We even read her most recent letter as part of our family home evening last week. We are grateful for the positive influence each of you are in our lives and wish we could see all of you more often. We’re sure excited to have Mom and Dad in our home for a bit during their big excursion.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
DECEMBER '09: by the kids
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
We’ve had a wonderful December! The kids will each tell a little about the highlights…
Auriana
For Christmas I got a couple of chocolate oranges and a couple of candy canes in my stocking. I also got a new tuner/metronome for my mandolin. From Brenda I got a pair of pink fuzzy socks, and I wear them all the time. I also got a new skirt, but it was too small so I got a new one in Las Vegas. While we were in Las Vegas, I played the wii a little bit, but I mostly played with K-K’s dollhouse with Natalie. We also played in the playhouse that they have in their toy room. I don’t really want to go back to school tomorrow. Christmas Break was fun.
Isaac
For Christmas we got a lot of really cool stuff like a pogo stick and I got a new scooter and we went to Las Vegas and I played with Collin and Grant. We had New Year’s Eve at our friend’s house. For Christmas I gave Enoch a book that I wrote about him when he broke his foot. He laughed really hard when he read it and he was really excited when he opened it.
Natalie
I did a Christmas program for school. I got my Irish dancing wig for Christmas and I got a Chinese jump rope. I had a lot of fun in Las Vegas and we got to go to a park where Berry could run around. Then we went to Café Rio and on our way home there was a snowstorm and we could barely see the road, but after we prayed it settled down. On New Year’s Eve we went to the Webb’s and we stayed up until midnight and me and my friend Hannah played Horse-opoly for a long time. While we were there we played the name game. It was really fun. On our pogo stick I jumped 387 times in a row. I hold the record! We got a laptop, but it just teaches you how to type and spell and things like that, it does have some really fun games though!
Enoch
We went to Las Vegas last Monday. We played the Wii almost the whole time. We went to this park and it was really awesome and there was this thing that you climb to the top and somebody can spin you around really fast. Ben got stuck in the bathtub a few times and I had to get him out. They have a laundry chute and I looked down it and saw Natalie and Auriana. They dropped a hat down and I caught it. Grant played with Isaac while Collin and me played on the Wii and then we all played basketball. For Christmas I got a pogo stick and I can jump 98 times in a row on it. I gave the boys this helicopter that can throw like a Frisbee and it flies. And, I gave the girls these cool balls that you can throw really far. And, the best part of Christmas was that Brenda came and we had Ebelskivers. On New Years Eve we went to our friends house and stayed up until midnight. Then everybody was blowing horns and shining lights and screaming. And, then they gave us this new game that is really fun and it’s called Apples to Apples Junior. Alan and Konnie and Micah and Anna, Brenna, and Melanie came over. Micah was really funny because I would hold a ball and he would hit it out of my hand and he would laugh like crazy. The End.
Miriam
We got a pogo stick and I got new Pet-shops. We got a dog and his name is Berry. In Las Vegas I picked tons of berries and I took them home and put them in my cubby. I wanted to eat them, but I couldn’t because I thought they were poisonous.
Ellie
I liked opening my presents. I got a strawberry dress and that strawberry dress is for Sunday. My favorite was the purple thing that you put equals. You can push a number and it puts the number on it. (It’s a calculator.) I gave a sucker to everyone and a little animal and I gave Brenda that stuff and chips. I like Brenna and I played with her and we played house. I liked being at KK’s. I played with her in the playroom. I liked going to the restaurant and eating that salad with Mom.
We’ve had a wonderful December! The kids will each tell a little about the highlights…
Auriana
For Christmas I got a couple of chocolate oranges and a couple of candy canes in my stocking. I also got a new tuner/metronome for my mandolin. From Brenda I got a pair of pink fuzzy socks, and I wear them all the time. I also got a new skirt, but it was too small so I got a new one in Las Vegas. While we were in Las Vegas, I played the wii a little bit, but I mostly played with K-K’s dollhouse with Natalie. We also played in the playhouse that they have in their toy room. I don’t really want to go back to school tomorrow. Christmas Break was fun.
Isaac
For Christmas we got a lot of really cool stuff like a pogo stick and I got a new scooter and we went to Las Vegas and I played with Collin and Grant. We had New Year’s Eve at our friend’s house. For Christmas I gave Enoch a book that I wrote about him when he broke his foot. He laughed really hard when he read it and he was really excited when he opened it.
Natalie
I did a Christmas program for school. I got my Irish dancing wig for Christmas and I got a Chinese jump rope. I had a lot of fun in Las Vegas and we got to go to a park where Berry could run around. Then we went to Café Rio and on our way home there was a snowstorm and we could barely see the road, but after we prayed it settled down. On New Year’s Eve we went to the Webb’s and we stayed up until midnight and me and my friend Hannah played Horse-opoly for a long time. While we were there we played the name game. It was really fun. On our pogo stick I jumped 387 times in a row. I hold the record! We got a laptop, but it just teaches you how to type and spell and things like that, it does have some really fun games though!
Enoch
We went to Las Vegas last Monday. We played the Wii almost the whole time. We went to this park and it was really awesome and there was this thing that you climb to the top and somebody can spin you around really fast. Ben got stuck in the bathtub a few times and I had to get him out. They have a laundry chute and I looked down it and saw Natalie and Auriana. They dropped a hat down and I caught it. Grant played with Isaac while Collin and me played on the Wii and then we all played basketball. For Christmas I got a pogo stick and I can jump 98 times in a row on it. I gave the boys this helicopter that can throw like a Frisbee and it flies. And, I gave the girls these cool balls that you can throw really far. And, the best part of Christmas was that Brenda came and we had Ebelskivers. On New Years Eve we went to our friends house and stayed up until midnight. Then everybody was blowing horns and shining lights and screaming. And, then they gave us this new game that is really fun and it’s called Apples to Apples Junior. Alan and Konnie and Micah and Anna, Brenna, and Melanie came over. Micah was really funny because I would hold a ball and he would hit it out of my hand and he would laugh like crazy. The End.
Miriam
We got a pogo stick and I got new Pet-shops. We got a dog and his name is Berry. In Las Vegas I picked tons of berries and I took them home and put them in my cubby. I wanted to eat them, but I couldn’t because I thought they were poisonous.
Ellie
I liked opening my presents. I got a strawberry dress and that strawberry dress is for Sunday. My favorite was the purple thing that you put equals. You can push a number and it puts the number on it. (It’s a calculator.) I gave a sucker to everyone and a little animal and I gave Brenda that stuff and chips. I like Brenna and I played with her and we played house. I liked being at KK’s. I played with her in the playroom. I liked going to the restaurant and eating that salad with Mom.
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...
