By Auriana and Natalie
Up on the housetop the reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Into the chimney he goes with a bound
Then he realizes he's much too round
Oh no no, Santa's stuck
Oh no no, What bad luck
Up on the housetop click click click
Down in the chimney is old St. Nick
First fill the stocking of little Joe
Make sure it's not filled with snow
Then fill the stocking of little Jill
She wants a pickle that is dill
Ho Ho Ho, Who wouldn't know
Ho Ho Ho, Who wouldn't know
Up on the housetop click click click
Down through the chimney with old St. Nick
Then put the presents under the tree
Leave a special one just for me
Then grab your empty sack of toys
And go up the chimney with lots of noise
I wake up and go downstairs
I look for you, but you're not there
Cause you're up on the housetop click click click
You run to your sleigh and then you trip!
Up on the housetop click click click
He ran to his sleigh and then he tripped!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
December 2011: by the Kids
Auriana: I had a good Thanksgiving, it was fun to go to our grandma Pendleton’s house and see our cousins. Having school off for the last part of the week was especially fun. The day before thanksgiving, it was my friend’s sixteenth birthday, and she got her drivers license. She celebrated by driving me and another friend to Café Rio to eat lunch. It was weird to be there without a parent. I’m thankful for my family, friends, and for a warm house that I can live in.
Isaac: I had a fun Thanksgiving; we went over to my grandma Pendleton’s house and had thanksgiving dinner there. I also had some of my Pendleton cousins who are my same age come over they spent the night and part of the next day at our house and we had a lot of fun.
Natalie: Thanksgiving was really fun; we went to Grandma and Grandpa Pendleton’s house! The Pecks were there and Isaac, Enoch, Auriana, and I played a lot of games with Jacob and Daniel. It was really fun!
Enoch: I am thankful for my house, my bed, my friends, my family, food, water, the earth. I made it on an accelerated soccer team and I’m really excited.
Miriam: I had a fun Thanksgiving! We went over to my Grandma Pendleton’s house and my favorite thing to eat there was the corn. I’m glad that the Pecks came and I’m sad that none of the other cousins came. THE END.
Ellie: I had a fun time at my birthday. I got two pillow pets and I got a microphone and I had lots of fun there and I got money that I used at the book fair at my school. I had a butterfly birthday party and it was really fun. On the night I had my birthday I went shopping with my Aunt Brenda and my sister Miriam came too. It was just really fun and I bought some pink pants and a pink jacket with a sparkly heart on it and it is really cute. THE END.
Isaac: I had a fun Thanksgiving; we went over to my grandma Pendleton’s house and had thanksgiving dinner there. I also had some of my Pendleton cousins who are my same age come over they spent the night and part of the next day at our house and we had a lot of fun.
Natalie: Thanksgiving was really fun; we went to Grandma and Grandpa Pendleton’s house! The Pecks were there and Isaac, Enoch, Auriana, and I played a lot of games with Jacob and Daniel. It was really fun!
Enoch: I am thankful for my house, my bed, my friends, my family, food, water, the earth. I made it on an accelerated soccer team and I’m really excited.
Miriam: I had a fun Thanksgiving! We went over to my Grandma Pendleton’s house and my favorite thing to eat there was the corn. I’m glad that the Pecks came and I’m sad that none of the other cousins came. THE END.
Ellie: I had a fun time at my birthday. I got two pillow pets and I got a microphone and I had lots of fun there and I got money that I used at the book fair at my school. I had a butterfly birthday party and it was really fun. On the night I had my birthday I went shopping with my Aunt Brenda and my sister Miriam came too. It was just really fun and I bought some pink pants and a pink jacket with a sparkly heart on it and it is really cute. THE END.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
November 2011: by Becky
Birthday season is officially over. Now I can start thinking about Christmas! September and October at our house seem to be dominated by birthdays, at least in my mind. I enjoy thinking about each of the kids and how to make their day special.
Auriana’s birthday wish was to spend the night at Brenda’s with her 2 Pendleton cousins that are her age. Brenda was so great to take that on and share her Saturday afternoon and evening with three fifteen year olds. She spoiled them as usual and they had so much fun “hanging out” at her house. We gave Auriana a sewing machine for her birthday and she’s excited to learn how to quilt as a personal progress project. She has officially joined Natalie in her bread business. We found a great deal on a used mandolin that is much nicer than the one she’s been using for the last 8 years, so she’s is planning to earn the money to pay for it. She’s been invited to be part of a bluegrass band with some kids from around the area.
The next birthday was Enoch’s. He requested an obstacle course with friends, so Bjorn took over on that one. Enoch invited about 20 boys over and they dribbled a soccer ball around, through, under, and over all kinds of things. They also had a longest kick contest. We gave Enoch a watch that counts your steps, tells the temperature, and tells how fast you are going. I think it even tells the time! He played in his first piano festival yesterday. He played two duets with another boy and got a “superior” rating. He did a great job and said he wasn’t even nervous.
Natalie’s birthday was long awaited. She was the last girl in her primary class to graduate to Young Women, so she watched all of the other girls move on and go to girl’s camp without her. She waited very patiently, but was so excited to “finally” be twelve. They’ve asked her to play her violin in the primary program next week, but then she’ll officially be done with primary. She finished her Faith in God months ago, so her primary teacher got special permission to get her a Personal Progress book early and she’s been hard at work. Her birthday wish was to get new scriptures with tabs. We celebrated that day by taking her to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. The three younger kids got to hang out with Rachel at her apartment for an hour. They had so much fun!
Yesterday was Ellie’s birthday and we had 20 kids here for a butterfly birthday carnival. Isaac helped me with the cupcake walk. Bjorn played Halloween bingo with the kids. Auriana helped them make butterfly bags. Natalie did a butterfly craft, and Enoch did the fishpond. All the shoes and socks were gone after the party, so I guess everyone found their parents and got home okay!! Earlier that morning we celebrated as a family and Ellie opened a little crib, stroller and a new doll that she quickly named Katie. She looked cute all day in her new butterfly outfit that Bjorn picked out for her. She finished out her birthday with a fun shopping outing with Brenda in the evening! She came home with some bubble gum and a cute new jacket and pants. She went to bed very happy!
Isaac and Miriam get to wait until Spring for our next “birthday season”! Isaac finished up his lawn-mowing business this week when the snow came. He estimates he made over $500 this summer. He’s trying to finish up his eagle project before the end of the year or so. He was recently called as Deacon’s quorum president, which has been a new, learning experience that he has handled very well. He is REALLY looking forward to basketball season in January!
Miriam had fun spending the day with Ellie on her birthday – they are so close in age and so good at sharing with each other, that I’m sure Miriam felt like it was her birthday too, with all the new toys to play with. They’ve been busy coloring and playing all morning. I enjoyed going on Miriam’s field trip with her this week to the new (and very amazing) BYU broadcasting building. We also went to a play at the Scera in Orem.
Auriana’s birthday wish was to spend the night at Brenda’s with her 2 Pendleton cousins that are her age. Brenda was so great to take that on and share her Saturday afternoon and evening with three fifteen year olds. She spoiled them as usual and they had so much fun “hanging out” at her house. We gave Auriana a sewing machine for her birthday and she’s excited to learn how to quilt as a personal progress project. She has officially joined Natalie in her bread business. We found a great deal on a used mandolin that is much nicer than the one she’s been using for the last 8 years, so she’s is planning to earn the money to pay for it. She’s been invited to be part of a bluegrass band with some kids from around the area.
The next birthday was Enoch’s. He requested an obstacle course with friends, so Bjorn took over on that one. Enoch invited about 20 boys over and they dribbled a soccer ball around, through, under, and over all kinds of things. They also had a longest kick contest. We gave Enoch a watch that counts your steps, tells the temperature, and tells how fast you are going. I think it even tells the time! He played in his first piano festival yesterday. He played two duets with another boy and got a “superior” rating. He did a great job and said he wasn’t even nervous.
Natalie’s birthday was long awaited. She was the last girl in her primary class to graduate to Young Women, so she watched all of the other girls move on and go to girl’s camp without her. She waited very patiently, but was so excited to “finally” be twelve. They’ve asked her to play her violin in the primary program next week, but then she’ll officially be done with primary. She finished her Faith in God months ago, so her primary teacher got special permission to get her a Personal Progress book early and she’s been hard at work. Her birthday wish was to get new scriptures with tabs. We celebrated that day by taking her to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. The three younger kids got to hang out with Rachel at her apartment for an hour. They had so much fun!
Yesterday was Ellie’s birthday and we had 20 kids here for a butterfly birthday carnival. Isaac helped me with the cupcake walk. Bjorn played Halloween bingo with the kids. Auriana helped them make butterfly bags. Natalie did a butterfly craft, and Enoch did the fishpond. All the shoes and socks were gone after the party, so I guess everyone found their parents and got home okay!! Earlier that morning we celebrated as a family and Ellie opened a little crib, stroller and a new doll that she quickly named Katie. She looked cute all day in her new butterfly outfit that Bjorn picked out for her. She finished out her birthday with a fun shopping outing with Brenda in the evening! She came home with some bubble gum and a cute new jacket and pants. She went to bed very happy!
Isaac and Miriam get to wait until Spring for our next “birthday season”! Isaac finished up his lawn-mowing business this week when the snow came. He estimates he made over $500 this summer. He’s trying to finish up his eagle project before the end of the year or so. He was recently called as Deacon’s quorum president, which has been a new, learning experience that he has handled very well. He is REALLY looking forward to basketball season in January!
Miriam had fun spending the day with Ellie on her birthday – they are so close in age and so good at sharing with each other, that I’m sure Miriam felt like it was her birthday too, with all the new toys to play with. They’ve been busy coloring and playing all morning. I enjoyed going on Miriam’s field trip with her this week to the new (and very amazing) BYU broadcasting building. We also went to a play at the Scera in Orem.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Temple Groundbreaking
The morning of Oct. 8 in Payson, Utah was cold and rainy, but we used our precious 4 tickets anyway. We bundled up and tried to see what was going on over all the umbrellas. The kids were cold and miserable at first, but by the end they were excited to someday see the temple there - and Enoch said he wants to go that temple very first when he turns twelve. We didn't stick around long enough to have a turn with the shovel, so Enoch dug a little with his boot :)
Sunday, October 2, 2011
October 2011: by Bjorn
We just finished watching the Sunday morning session of conference. One more session of conference to go. It always goes by too quickly. We have Teresa and Sarah and Brenda here now and Matt and Rachel should be joining us shortly. It has been fun to become the hang out place for the college-age cousins. We sure appreciate the fact that our children have such great cousins to look up to and interact with. Enoch got a build-your-own-truck kit for his birthday and he was excited to have Matt come so Matt could help him put it together.
Congrats to Rachel on her mission call! Atlanta, Georgia – wow! We know she will be a fantastic missionary. I’m sure Chad and Jenny can give her the low-down on how things are down there. We’ll continue to enjoy her great sense of humor live and in person while we can.
Enoch had a fun birthday. He invited 18 friends to a “BYU” party where they enjoyed a yummy “Y” cake made by Becky and lots of fun soccer contests and games and tons of presents. He finished his party and then an hour later went to another party for a friend that had come to his party. Since we knew he was going to be gone, Auriana, Isaac, Natalie, and I didn’t feel too bad about going to the BYU/Utah State football game thanks to 4 tickets from Steve. We had a fun time sitting by Steve on the front row and getting to see Mikayla cheer. I was impressed with what a great job she does and how her face just beams with happiness and enthusiasm and she actually does bring cheer to others. The game, of course, was fantastic and it was fun to experience that excitement with three of my children.
Enoch and I got to go to the driving range after the afternoon session yesterday. He picked things up pretty quickly and we had a fun time. He hit to the 100 yard marker several times. Hopefully we’ll get in 9 holes before the weather turns. Isaac was nice enough to give Enoch his set of clubs that he got when he was Enoch’s age. Between sessions yesterday we went to Natalie’s soccer game. They played a very physical team and ended up losing but as always Natalie did a fantastic job despite being bumped and shoved and stepped on. I really admire her toughness and tenacity. She is a leader on the team and her teammates really look up to her.
Auriana and I will probably go out again this afternoon to a church parking lot and do some driving. She’s working towards getting her permit and learned to handle the car well in our previous session. Isaac is improving his basketball skills daily and playing every chance he can get. He continues to work at his lawn mowing business and is making some pretty good money.
Miriam and Ellie had their first official violin lesson and both are making good progress in their daily practicing. One of my favorite things to do with them is use silly voices when I read stories to them before bedtime. For some reason they have decided they can slap their dad’s face when he starts reading the story in a voice other than his normal voice. After each slap I start in with a different voice. They start giggling like crazy and I recently discovered that I can slap them back (softly of course) and that makes the fun even crazier and sillier. I can get through about 6 or 7 different voices before my cheeks tell me its time to read with a regular voice. As Becky and I have talked recently we discussed how its important to take the long view of things and think more about what the kids will remember from their childhood than what seems to be most pressing at the moment. I want my children to remember that I was there – whether that’s for soccer or football or basketball or dance or concerts or silly stories at bedtime. When they look back as older children or adults on their childhood I want to make sure I am part of those memories, that those visual images in their minds include me laughing or smiling or being silly or being a good listener or sharing my testimony or cheering for them from the sidelines.
I’m grateful for the good examples I have all around me of amazing fathers and mothers who are involved in their children’s lives and who set wonderful examples for them.
Becky was released from MiaMaids and put in as Beehive Advisor. So she got to spend some time with Auriana and now will get to be with Natalie once she turns 12 on October 19. Happy birthday to all the other October birthdays. And Happy Anniversary to Mike and Alison and Mom and Dad!
Congrats to Rachel on her mission call! Atlanta, Georgia – wow! We know she will be a fantastic missionary. I’m sure Chad and Jenny can give her the low-down on how things are down there. We’ll continue to enjoy her great sense of humor live and in person while we can.
Enoch had a fun birthday. He invited 18 friends to a “BYU” party where they enjoyed a yummy “Y” cake made by Becky and lots of fun soccer contests and games and tons of presents. He finished his party and then an hour later went to another party for a friend that had come to his party. Since we knew he was going to be gone, Auriana, Isaac, Natalie, and I didn’t feel too bad about going to the BYU/Utah State football game thanks to 4 tickets from Steve. We had a fun time sitting by Steve on the front row and getting to see Mikayla cheer. I was impressed with what a great job she does and how her face just beams with happiness and enthusiasm and she actually does bring cheer to others. The game, of course, was fantastic and it was fun to experience that excitement with three of my children.
Enoch and I got to go to the driving range after the afternoon session yesterday. He picked things up pretty quickly and we had a fun time. He hit to the 100 yard marker several times. Hopefully we’ll get in 9 holes before the weather turns. Isaac was nice enough to give Enoch his set of clubs that he got when he was Enoch’s age. Between sessions yesterday we went to Natalie’s soccer game. They played a very physical team and ended up losing but as always Natalie did a fantastic job despite being bumped and shoved and stepped on. I really admire her toughness and tenacity. She is a leader on the team and her teammates really look up to her.
Auriana and I will probably go out again this afternoon to a church parking lot and do some driving. She’s working towards getting her permit and learned to handle the car well in our previous session. Isaac is improving his basketball skills daily and playing every chance he can get. He continues to work at his lawn mowing business and is making some pretty good money.
Miriam and Ellie had their first official violin lesson and both are making good progress in their daily practicing. One of my favorite things to do with them is use silly voices when I read stories to them before bedtime. For some reason they have decided they can slap their dad’s face when he starts reading the story in a voice other than his normal voice. After each slap I start in with a different voice. They start giggling like crazy and I recently discovered that I can slap them back (softly of course) and that makes the fun even crazier and sillier. I can get through about 6 or 7 different voices before my cheeks tell me its time to read with a regular voice. As Becky and I have talked recently we discussed how its important to take the long view of things and think more about what the kids will remember from their childhood than what seems to be most pressing at the moment. I want my children to remember that I was there – whether that’s for soccer or football or basketball or dance or concerts or silly stories at bedtime. When they look back as older children or adults on their childhood I want to make sure I am part of those memories, that those visual images in their minds include me laughing or smiling or being silly or being a good listener or sharing my testimony or cheering for them from the sidelines.
I’m grateful for the good examples I have all around me of amazing fathers and mothers who are involved in their children’s lives and who set wonderful examples for them.
Becky was released from MiaMaids and put in as Beehive Advisor. So she got to spend some time with Auriana and now will get to be with Natalie once she turns 12 on October 19. Happy birthday to all the other October birthdays. And Happy Anniversary to Mike and Alison and Mom and Dad!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
September 2011: by the kids
Auriana- I switched schools, so now I’m at Spanish Fork High School instead of at ALA, where I was going before. So far, tenth grade is fun, and I like all of my classes, which are U.S. history, choir, English, algebra two, creative writing, biology, seminary, and Spanish. My favorite classes are English and creative writing, even though I get homework every single day in English. We already had a project due in creative writing, where we had to write a bunch of things to let the teacher get to know us a little bit better. It’s been fun.
Isaac- Like everybody else says California was really cool. Right after that I went up and visited my cousins on the Pendleton side. I got back the day before the first day of school. It was my last blast of summer. Eighth grade has been really fun so far and I’ve done some pretty cool stuff!
Natalie- I love sixth grade so far, it is really fun! Soccer has been really fun too. I had my first game on the 30th, we didn’t win, but it was still really fun! I am learning two new dances in Irish dance right now and they are both really fun! California was really fun, I loved both beaches, the exploring beach that we went to was really cool, and Hermosa Beach was awesome!!
Becky is writing for Enoch and Miriam who already went to bed.
Enoch is excited for the fun run at school this week and has been practicing up. He just started reading Harry Potter and is really enjoying it. He loves his new class and teacher Mrs. Reed (a perfect name for a 3rd grade teacher). He’s enjoying learning the times tables and he is looking forward to playing laser tag and going on the Alpine slide for his birthday.
A dance teacher wanted to trade with Bjorn for a web design, so Miriam is benefitting and dancing three days a week, which she loves. She loved the beach and the wedding and the whole California trip – she actually loves most everything and everybody. And we all love her enthusiasm!
Ellie- I really liked going to the exploring beach, because I liked the buildings and castles. I used a cup and a spoon to make a castle, but we had to go so I didn’t get to finish it. I started Kindergarten! I like playing on the playground at school. I like playing with Savannah. I’ve been riding my bike to school with the other kids.
Isaac- Like everybody else says California was really cool. Right after that I went up and visited my cousins on the Pendleton side. I got back the day before the first day of school. It was my last blast of summer. Eighth grade has been really fun so far and I’ve done some pretty cool stuff!
Natalie- I love sixth grade so far, it is really fun! Soccer has been really fun too. I had my first game on the 30th, we didn’t win, but it was still really fun! I am learning two new dances in Irish dance right now and they are both really fun! California was really fun, I loved both beaches, the exploring beach that we went to was really cool, and Hermosa Beach was awesome!!
Becky is writing for Enoch and Miriam who already went to bed.
Enoch is excited for the fun run at school this week and has been practicing up. He just started reading Harry Potter and is really enjoying it. He loves his new class and teacher Mrs. Reed (a perfect name for a 3rd grade teacher). He’s enjoying learning the times tables and he is looking forward to playing laser tag and going on the Alpine slide for his birthday.
A dance teacher wanted to trade with Bjorn for a web design, so Miriam is benefitting and dancing three days a week, which she loves. She loved the beach and the wedding and the whole California trip – she actually loves most everything and everybody. And we all love her enthusiasm!
Ellie- I really liked going to the exploring beach, because I liked the buildings and castles. I used a cup and a spoon to make a castle, but we had to go so I didn’t get to finish it. I started Kindergarten! I like playing on the playground at school. I like playing with Savannah. I’ve been riding my bike to school with the other kids.
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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...
