March 2008

We’ve loved spending some time outside!  The weather has been wonderful for the past week or so.  The kids have rediscovered the grass, the swingset, the trampoline, the basketabll hoop, their bikes, rollerblades, scooters, etc.

Auriana started night-time head gear and has been very diligent and good at remembering to wear it.  Natalie got her braces tightened today and chose pink bands instead of blue.

We were able to take part in a baptism this last Sunday – a girl that Bjorn’s brother David has been dating.   Her name is Ana and she is from Mexico (Obregon actually). We’ve enjoyed getting to know her over the last four or five months, and she and Miriam have really taken a liking to each other.  She asked if Miriam would sing at her baptism and she (along with Natlalie) did a wonderful job of singing I am a Child of God. Besides singing beautifully, they were all smiles, and Miriam waved at Ana a few times during the song – melting everyone’s hearts.

Isaac is counting down the days to his birthday – and is really hoping he gets a green machine!  He went to his last den meeting with the Bears today – he’s had a great leader, but is excited to join the Webelos.

Enoch is becoming increasingly witty – Saturday as we were driving home from Brenda’s new condo, Auriana commented about something saying, “This is pleasant!”, and Enoch added “Grove”!

Ellie continues to dance the days away, but now when she’s dressing up, she demands to be dressed in something that will spin when she twirls.   Tonight during Family Home Evening she danced as we all sang primary songs around her.

The kids were all devestated when Brenda announced she was moving, but they adjusted when they found out she would have a pool, a playground, and would be close by and visit often.  They all had a lot of fun helping her move, and were actually quite helpful carrying things back and forth and up the stairs. The girls can’t wait to go and help Brenda unpack and decorate.

Feb 2008: by Bjorn

February 17, 2008

Dear Family,

Even though it was a pretty quick trip, it was great to be with most of you for the dedication weekend. We left from Spanish Fork right after Isaac’s 9:00 am basketball game and enjoyed good roads the whole way. We were amazed to see the snow piled so high when we arrived. The snow tunnel was pretty impressive, and Becky and I were regretting that we hadn’t packed the kids’ snow stuff. The Cultural Celebration was wonderful. Becky and I were both surprised at the emotions it created in each of us. I was particularly touched with the love and testimony that was being expressed by each participant as they each gave their best throughout the performance. I could feel the love they had for President Hinckley, and maybe a bit of angst that he wasn’t able to be there in person, but also a strong faith that he was there in spirit. It was neat to see how that love and respect was redirected to Elder Nelson and Elder Bednar. I could feel the pride they had in their heritage, their gratitude for that legacy, and their excitement for the future with the new temple. Seeing all those children coming in at the end all dressed in white was really powerful. There was definitely power in the purity of those children and what they represented.

Thanks Mom and Dad, for letting us into your home on one of the busiest weekends of your lives. Soon after we arrived, Auriana asked if we could just skip school on Monday and stay longer. She said, “I just love being here.” The rest of us would have to agree – we love being in Grandma and Grandpa’s home. It was fun to see the cousins pick up right where they left off, spending every possible minute together and having a blast.

It was nice to have a relatively lazy Sunday morning as we waited for our turn to go to the dedication. When the time finally did come, the excitement in the air was energizing. The picture that was in my mind of how things would work out once we got in the temple was based on my experience going to the Bountiful temple dedication where we were in an ordinance room all seated together. So when we ended up in the front foyer and were separated into three different groups, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed, and several times considered rounding everyone up and finding a different place where we could all sit together. But as the service started, that feeling quickly disappeared as the Spirit took its place and I considered how lucky I was to be in the temple at all, and how wonderful it was to have my immediate family – Becky, Auriana, Isaac, and Natalie – right around me and participating in this historic and sacred event. Each of the talks and the singing were wonderful, and I was so proud (excuse me, I mean well pleased) when Dad and Mom gave their talks and Alan sang, but I’d have to say that Mom’s talk touched me the most as she mentioned her children and grandchildren and expressed her testimony of eternal families.

We left in a flurry, as we were trying to catch the tail end of a birthday gathering my family was having in Layton. I hope I didn’t offend anyone with my pushiness to say good-byes and get out the door and on our way. It was fun drag-racing Matt on the freeway between Idaho Falls and Pocatello. ☺  It was a quick trip, but so worth it. We missed having Jenny and Chad and kids, and Barbie and Mikayla there.

The kids enjoyed Valentines Day on Thursday. I think we’re still getting over our sugar highs. They’re looking forward to the day off school tomorrow for President’s Day. Isaac has been asking to go ice skating for quite a while, so we’re going to try and fit that in as a family activity. Isaac has been getting better and better at basketball. He scored seven points in his game yesterday, including an “and one” foul shot. He’s a quick player and scrambles after the ball really well – he even got three jump-ball tie-ups. Natalie has started basketball too, and got three baskets in her last scrimmage. Its more of a skills training league at this age, so they don’t play real games. We’ve had to switch to another music teacher for the 3 older kids. They’ll have their first lesson with him this week. We’re trying to work it out so he comes here, since he works in this area anyway. We just found out that our good friends, the Shumways, will be moving to Dallas, Texas in June for his new assignment. He’ll teach institute and coordinate all the seminaries in the area. We knew they would be going, but the kids are still pretty devastated. They will be sure to enjoy these last few months with them. On the night we found out, Isaac asked Becky if she and I would pray to know if we were supposed to move too.

As far as other big news – Ellie is almost potty-trained, and Miriam is doing great at not sucking her finger anymore. We’re just holding our breath hoping it will become permanent. I’m looking forward to an overnight snowmobile trip with my brothers up to our family cabin this coming weekend – as long as the weather cooperates. The two new business ventures are still in transition or startup mode and I’m just trying to keep my head from spinning too fast. Becky and I are still looking into the possibility of joining Truman Madsen and the film crew on a trip to the Holy Land to film his next “On Sacred Ground” series. Other than that, our lives are pretty normal . . . yeah, right! But we love it. And we love each of you.

Bjorn, Becky, Auriana, Isaac, Natalie, Enoch, Miriam, Ellie

December 2007: by Becky

It’s my favorite time of year!  Christmas trees, lights, stories, music, gift giving, candy – I love Christmas!  Tonight we read a story reminding us what all of these things really mean – and I’m glad that we celebrate Jesus Christ in such a happy, loving, long lasting way.  We’ve had some memorable holiday experiences and look forward to many more.

We enjoyed picking out and decorating our real and amazingly symetrical tree.  Miriam, Ellie, and Enoch continue to enjoy re-decorating it on a daily basis. Bjorn and I were able to attend the high school choir concert/dinner a few nights ago, and were touched by their portrayal of the nativity.  They used a real baby, and the whole scene seemed so authentic, it was easy to imagine we were there, watching them experience the Christ child.

We attended the John Schmidt Christmas concert last night and thoroughly enjoyed it for the fifth year in a row.  I always appreciate good, clean, uplifting entertainment – and the kids really had a good time. We had to drive through a major snow storm, but it was worth it.

The annual Utah cousin party was at our house this year, so it was fun to welcome Marianne, Brian, Karen, and Steve into our home yesterday.  

The holidays are so full of good times, good memories, good feelings, and renewed testimonies.  We look forward to being with most all of you for more celebrating over the next few weeks.

Other than Christmas activities, life carries on normally!  Auriana was sick all last week, but we don’t worry too much about her missing school.  As usual, her teacher thinks she’s perfect in every way. On Friday during their spelling test, on which they have to write in cursive, the teacher said “you’re all getting lazy on your cursive, I can hardly read your writing – except Auriana, hers is perfect!”

Isaac has a new favorite thing – Ben10 (a tv show).  He watches it, talks about it, plays it, and dreams about it.  He’s also reading Harry Potter for the second time. He says it’s amazing how much he missed or didn’t understand the first time.

Natalie had fun working on her project for the 2nd grade invention convention.  She and Bjorn spent hours building a server track - a wooden track that helps you set or clear the table while sitting in one spot.  Her teacher (and I) was very impressed.

Enoch has a great time in preschool!  He’s our first to ever experience it, and it’s been really good for him.  He loves to say the pledge of allegience, sing the days of the week, and do show and tell.  Miriam and Ellie have both grown up a lot. Miriam is very independent in a good way, and Ellie imitates everything we do and say.   

Bjorn sang “What Child is this?” very beautifully in church today,  and when asked to speak about Christ in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago he bore a very powerful testimony.  I’m grateful for his testimony and for the way he shares it in our home with me and the kids everyday.

This is Bjorn writing now. I just wanted to tell you all how much more wonderful Christmas is in our home because of Becky. The fun and thoughtful things she does for each of us and for our neighbors and friends really make the holidays all the more meaningful and memorable. She took the time to create a book full of pictures and messages for our good friends, the Shumways, who may move away this coming Spring or Summer. She created a fun DVD for our neighbors, the Lunts, with slideshows of their kids and our kids taken from our funny PhotoBooth program on our iMac. I’m sure it will provide them with hours of laughter and many fond memories. She has also taken the time to make fun treats for all our neighbors, not to mention all the effort she puts in to make new stockings for the youngest ones, and getting a yearly ornament for each of the kids that represents something significant that happened in each of their lives within the past year. I could go on, but Becky won’t let me. ☺ We love the Christmas season because of the Spirit we feel so often and how it draws us together in our love for the Savior and each other.

2007 Favorite Pics