Auriana invited her cousins over and they went to her first stake dance.
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”.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
February 2011: by Bjorn
Mud, rain, more mud, more rain, sloshing, slipping, splashing, mud, rain, spotted white socks and white jerseys, Dalmatian soccer players, mud, rain, cold, runny noses, spotted glasses, umbrellas, everything messy, mud, rain, girls playing hard, having a blast, teamwork, cheers, mud, rain, Arby’s, trying not to get the car dirty, wet socks, change to dry socks, wet sock again, slip and fall in two inches of water on field, mud, rain, leave red muddy deposits on Jenny and Chad’s street, 4-wheeling, don’t dare to stop, 4-10 inch deep mud, don’t want to get stuck, almost get stuck, wheels spinning, mud flying everywhere, finally find a way out, mud covering the sides and bottom of the car, car wash, leave about 10 gallons of mud in the car wash stall, get on freeway to head home, still so much mud it causes the car to vibrate funny above 65 mph, Walmart tire center to check balance, everything ok, just lots of mud, drive home, snow on the car, pull into garage, snow melts, mud drops, mud covering garage floor, squeegee garage floor, thin coat of mud remains and dries, two days later snows again, garage floor gets wet again, squeegee again, mud gone from garage, mud now on driveway along with snow, shovel mud onto grass and side of driveway, wash some of the mud into gutter, snow is now gone, mud remains scattered around different spots of driveway and yard, some mud still on car, wash off cleats, wash white socks and white jersey, red clay mud stains remain, spots still on jacket from splattering mud when washing the car, good memories, great team, great sport, great experience, oh and did I mention there was a bit of mud and rain?
Natalie’s soccer tournament in St. George was a lot of fun, but I now find myself wishing the Cat in the Hat would stop by with all his other cats and his buddy Vroom and get all the red mud spots out of my yard.
Of course the soccer tournament wasn’t the only thing that happened that weekend. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time at Jenny and Chad’s home and getting to see Mom and Dad too. Nicole was so sweet on her blessing day. It was a privilege to be in the circle for that special priesthood ordinance. Jenny was kind enough to invite my sister, Marianne, and her family over for dinner a couple of times so it was great to see them as well. The kids had a blast with each other and we felt so at home. The whole experience was made even better by the fact that I finally beat Chad at HORSE on his home court! Another memorable moment was when Mom made a comment as we were getting ready to play a game late one night. I can’t even remember what she said but I think there was a little good natured sarcasm or teasing in it that caught me off guard, and when she saw my reaction she said, “I can get mean late at night.” So just a fair warning to all of you to watch out for Grandma when you’re playing games late at night. You never know when she’ll strike. ☺
Isaac, Enoch, and Natalie finished up basketball season. Auriana, Isaac, and Natalie participated in a bluegrass recital. Enoch started piano lessons with a real piano teacher. Natalie, Miriam, and Ellie participated in an Irish Dance competition and each took home first place medals. And Ellie’s preschool teacher told me she’s the smartest kid in the class, even if she does spontaneously break into Irish prancing whenever there’s a lull in the activities.
Becky and I are doing well, though Becky may argue that point after being asked a couple hours ago to speak in Church on Sunday. I’m really looking forward to it. I don’t know why she isn’t. ☺
Isaac and I were the recipients of Brenda’s kindness in sharing basketball tickets to Jimmer’s last game in the Marriott Center. We had a blast watching their convincing 102-78 victory over Wyoming. Now let’s just hope they can make a respectable showing in the MWC and NCAA tournaments.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Photo of the week!
Natalie's class participated in a President's Day Wax Museum. It was very cute. They each dressed up as a past president (or wife) of the US and had a pretend button on the desk in front of them. We got to go around the room pressing buttons - the kids would jump up when their button was pushed and tell about "themselves"! Natalie was the wife of Andrew Jackson who at one time chased someone away with a cane.
By the way, Natalie went the the district science fair and made it to the next level which is at BYU next month.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
January 2011: by the Kids
Auriana- I got all A’s for my 1st semester of ninth grade, and I hope that I can keep it up for the rest of high school. I’m having fun doing the Utah Valley Children’s Choir every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 a.m., and I’ve been doing a lot of babysitting lately to earn money for the tour that we’re going on in the summer. We’re going to perform in all the states around Utah, (Arizona, New Mexico, etc.) and I’m really looking forward to it.
Isaac-I went on a campout to St. George with my scout troop and we stayed in our scoutmaster’s house. (He has a house up there). It was fun after that we went to snow canyon. Which, by the way, is the worst name possible for it. That place is covered in lava rock and there isn’t a speck of snow for miles. We found a little hole in the ground and climbed down into it and it went down for a while. Then we finally got down to the bottom and there was a huge cave and we were shining our flashlights around and up on the ceiling there were little brown things they were bats! Some of the scouts threw rocks at them but they didn’t do anything. After that the scoutmasters gave everybody a glow stick - the fat kind with lots of juice in them - after we got them glowing we cut off the tops and splattered the juice all over the walls and each other. It was fun. After that we went to a waterfall that turned out to be dried up so we went home. It was a fun campout.
Natalie-on Saturday I went to a feis! I competed in seven dances and placed in five of them. I got three firsts, one fourth, and one fifth! I also competed with my fiddle and got second place. I am doing indoor soccer and I am having a lot of fun! I play at seven peaks.
Enoch- I’m going to the Jazz game on Wednesday. I started basketball last week and on our first game there was three seconds left and I made a three pointer.
Miriam-two days ago I did a Feis and I was dancing first and I danced with someone from my Irish class and her name was Callie and first we danced the Reel. Then a few minutes later we danced the light jig. And on both of those dances I was on stage B. And there was 4 stages – A,B,C, & D. Then a lot of other people danced and then a little bit more people danced. Then I danced all by myself and it was the single jig on stage A. The judge was smiling and there was a judge for every stage. I missed one on my spelling test for the first time this year. The word was Jimmer Fredette . I spelled it Jimmer Ferdette!
THE END.
Ellie- Today I played LIFE with myself and I cleaned it up without being asked. Before yesterday I went to the Feis and I got to do the reel and the light jig. After I was done I got a gold medal and a silver medal. And then we took care of Willis – he is my Irish teacher’s baby. Then Willis fell asleep and then we went to watch the Valentine’s dancers. Then we watched Natalie and then we ate. Then we watched Miriam dance by herself. We packed up and left. When I woke up the next morning I had a tummy ache. I went up to mama and I told her I had a tummy ache. I fell back asleep on the couch and when I woke up I saw Brenda. Brenda was here to take care of me while my family went to church. Then I ate cheerios and then my family came back home. Then they were going to go to Grandma Pendleton’s house and then I went to Brenda’s house and I lay on the couch there and watched TV. Then we played LIFE and I made her like it. And that’s all I want to say!
Isaac-I went on a campout to St. George with my scout troop and we stayed in our scoutmaster’s house. (He has a house up there). It was fun after that we went to snow canyon. Which, by the way, is the worst name possible for it. That place is covered in lava rock and there isn’t a speck of snow for miles. We found a little hole in the ground and climbed down into it and it went down for a while. Then we finally got down to the bottom and there was a huge cave and we were shining our flashlights around and up on the ceiling there were little brown things they were bats! Some of the scouts threw rocks at them but they didn’t do anything. After that the scoutmasters gave everybody a glow stick - the fat kind with lots of juice in them - after we got them glowing we cut off the tops and splattered the juice all over the walls and each other. It was fun. After that we went to a waterfall that turned out to be dried up so we went home. It was a fun campout.
Natalie-on Saturday I went to a feis! I competed in seven dances and placed in five of them. I got three firsts, one fourth, and one fifth! I also competed with my fiddle and got second place. I am doing indoor soccer and I am having a lot of fun! I play at seven peaks.
Enoch- I’m going to the Jazz game on Wednesday. I started basketball last week and on our first game there was three seconds left and I made a three pointer.
Miriam-two days ago I did a Feis and I was dancing first and I danced with someone from my Irish class and her name was Callie and first we danced the Reel. Then a few minutes later we danced the light jig. And on both of those dances I was on stage B. And there was 4 stages – A,B,C, & D. Then a lot of other people danced and then a little bit more people danced. Then I danced all by myself and it was the single jig on stage A. The judge was smiling and there was a judge for every stage. I missed one on my spelling test for the first time this year. The word was Jimmer Fredette . I spelled it Jimmer Ferdette!
THE END.
Ellie- Today I played LIFE with myself and I cleaned it up without being asked. Before yesterday I went to the Feis and I got to do the reel and the light jig. After I was done I got a gold medal and a silver medal. And then we took care of Willis – he is my Irish teacher’s baby. Then Willis fell asleep and then we went to watch the Valentine’s dancers. Then we watched Natalie and then we ate. Then we watched Miriam dance by herself. We packed up and left. When I woke up the next morning I had a tummy ache. I went up to mama and I told her I had a tummy ache. I fell back asleep on the couch and when I woke up I saw Brenda. Brenda was here to take care of me while my family went to church. Then I ate cheerios and then my family came back home. Then they were going to go to Grandma Pendleton’s house and then I went to Brenda’s house and I lay on the couch there and watched TV. Then we played LIFE and I made her like it. And that’s all I want to say!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Peanut Butter Kisses!
Ellie LOVES peanut butter - To share a childhood memory, I taught her how to make peanut butter kisses, which she did practically by herself: peanut Butter, honey, and powdered milk!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
December 2010: by Becky
We’ve just returned from a Pendleton reunion with all of Bjorn’s siblings and cousins. We gathered in a very large lodge with enough beds for everyone and had a great time relaxing, playing, and visiting for five days. Time with family is always so rejuvenating and I know those times are some of the best for the kids. They get to mingle with aunts, uncles, and cousins, and they always come away feeling so loved, accepted, and happy. I realize we don’t get to see all of you often enough, SO COME AND VISIT US!!! We’re happy to have Camille here tonight on her way back to Rexburg, and she is at this moment downstairs very graciously listening to and responding to each of the kids so lovingly.
We had a fun Christmas day – “the best one ever” according to Isaac – and we’re very glad Brenda was with us to make it even more fun! Christmas day is always very magical and way too short! We’ve all been playing a lot of foosball and Polly Pockets since that day and are not exactly looking forward to going back to school/homework tomorrow! The day before Christmas vacation was supposed to start, school was cancelled because of snow, so the kids in Elementary School missed their Christmas parties. They’re all hoping they still get to have a party when they get back tomorrow.
January 1st we celebrated Bjorn’s 40th birthday! I was hoping to give him a car, but he hasn’t decided between a Sonata and a Camry, so I guess he’ll have to wait for his present until he decides. We celebrated by going to see Tangled and to dinner at Wingers. The phone rang non-stop that night, so thank you for your calls and songs and making him feel so loved!
December was memorable! Life was a little more low-key than usual and it was nice to focus more on Christmas and less on other activities. I tried to involve the kids more than I have in the past - in the preparations and in the neighborhood gift giving - and we had a lot of fun. Each child had a turn helping me bake cinnamon bread, and then they delivered it to their teachers/leaders in the ward. I think we made about 50 loaves by the time we were finished.
Now we’re looking forward to a new year with kids rinsing dishes, closing drawers, and flossing teeth – at least those are the “resolutions” I have set for the kids. We’ll see how it goes. ☺ Bjorn and I are looking forward to more time in the temple together and doing our best to stay in shape. We start back into basketball and indoor soccer and the whirlwind of life, but we enjoy our time together and watching our children interact with others and achieve good things.
We had a fun Christmas day – “the best one ever” according to Isaac – and we’re very glad Brenda was with us to make it even more fun! Christmas day is always very magical and way too short! We’ve all been playing a lot of foosball and Polly Pockets since that day and are not exactly looking forward to going back to school/homework tomorrow! The day before Christmas vacation was supposed to start, school was cancelled because of snow, so the kids in Elementary School missed their Christmas parties. They’re all hoping they still get to have a party when they get back tomorrow.
January 1st we celebrated Bjorn’s 40th birthday! I was hoping to give him a car, but he hasn’t decided between a Sonata and a Camry, so I guess he’ll have to wait for his present until he decides. We celebrated by going to see Tangled and to dinner at Wingers. The phone rang non-stop that night, so thank you for your calls and songs and making him feel so loved!
December was memorable! Life was a little more low-key than usual and it was nice to focus more on Christmas and less on other activities. I tried to involve the kids more than I have in the past - in the preparations and in the neighborhood gift giving - and we had a lot of fun. Each child had a turn helping me bake cinnamon bread, and then they delivered it to their teachers/leaders in the ward. I think we made about 50 loaves by the time we were finished.
Now we’re looking forward to a new year with kids rinsing dishes, closing drawers, and flossing teeth – at least those are the “resolutions” I have set for the kids. We’ll see how it goes. ☺ Bjorn and I are looking forward to more time in the temple together and doing our best to stay in shape. We start back into basketball and indoor soccer and the whirlwind of life, but we enjoy our time together and watching our children interact with others and achieve good things.
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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...
