Auriana just returned home from a 9-day travel tour to Idaho and Washington with the BYU International Folk Dance Ensemble. Some of you were able to see her performance. Thanks for your support. You’ll have to ask her about bowling in a skate park. ☺ Becky and I got to go watch her concert on Wednesday that was just the band (and the other BYU Folk/Bluegrass bands), no dancers. As always, she was amazing up there on stage. She has also recorded 7 songs with another band she’s in. Yes, this is our shy little Auriana – all grown up and not so shy anymore. She has made a bunch of new friends at BYU and is really enjoying her college experience.
Isaac enjoyed a quick trip to an orphanage in Ensenada, Mexico with a bunch of his friends at the end of February. He had a blast interacting with all the kids and being able to use some of his Spanish language skills. He says he wants to go back. He just started his mission papers last Sunday – so maybe he will. ☺ We were excited to learn that he got accepted to BYU (and U of U and Utah State). Nice to have options, but of course he’ll pick BYU. He’s been quite focused on school work and maintaining his 4.0 GPA through the end of the year. He had a hard time deciding between tennis and track this year, but decided to stick with track. He is the team captain.
I’m always so impressed when I hear Natalie or Isaac getting up early in the morning and leaving to go do baptisms at the temple. They both are a great influence for good on their group of friends, but it’s neat to see how they all are motivated to make good choices like that and support each other in those efforts. Natalie made a pretty seamless transition from high school basketball to club soccer last week. Her soccer team won the President’s Cup down in Mesquite recently and therefore qualified to go to regionals in Colorado in June. Their team is really quite good and a lot of fun to watch. I’m eager to see how they do this season. It’s fun to see Natalie almost back to full speed and strength and really enjoying herself. She will be participating in track as well. One other thing I’ve enjoyed from Natalie lately is hearing her sit at the piano and play hymns and work through other new songs and teach herself. “Waterfall” by Jon Schmidt has been the latest challenge she is conquering.
When Enoch is not falling in freezing cold rivers while “fishing” with his friends, he is enjoying soccer or basketball or playing the piano. His basketball team won the league championship recently with him making the final 3-point shot of the game. He recently earned his “Life” scouting rank and is now only 2 merit badges and a project away from earning his Eagle. He cooked lunch today as part of his cooking merit badge requirements. He learned well from his father how to make tasty grilled cheese sandwiches. ☺
Miriam is enjoying her ongoing responsibilities with Student Council and has so many friends she doesn’t know what to do. We recently enjoyed seeing her great artwork on display at school. We just finished a fun season of basketball. It was a great group of girls, and even though we didn’t win a single game I think the girls really enjoyed it – especially the end of season pizza party. Spring soccer has begun for Miriam too. She and Ellie are always playing the piano or singing around the house. Just like their older sisters, they have learned to harmonize together quite well. Every time I look at her lately I can’t believe how grown up she is. She registered for junior high this week, and it’s hard to believe she will be in Young Womens in less than a month!
Ellie’s soccer team just completed a fun futsal season and enjoyed a victory at an outdoor scrimmage yesterday. It’s nice to get back outside and on a full-size field. I was impressed with how much her foot skills have improved – and with it her confidence. She had a fun basketball season as well. Ellie has taken to experimenting with her voice lately and regularly gets us all laughing when she starts singing in some strange voice. She has such a fun sense of humor. I look forward to where her amazing musical abilities will take her.
Becky and I continue to enjoy serving in the temple and in our ward. We’re excited for the good weather and being able to get out and walk together and be a little more active as the elliptical can only do so much, and the scenery in our basement isn’t that great. Becky has been working on a clever way to lengthen dresses for both Ellie and Auriana. Maybe she’ll include photos of her handiwork. We got asked to be Ma and Pa for the youth trek in June and have our first meeting for that in about 15 minutes, so I better close. We have enjoyed the opportunities we’ve had to see many of you recently in conjunction with the Provo City Center open house and other get-togethers. We’re looking forward to participating in the dedication next Sunday. All the kids are headed to a waffle party at Matt & Lissa’s in about an hour. We’re so grateful for so many good people to look up to and interact with. We love you.
