Sunday, May 15, 2011

family update letter

Hello from Provo! Spring has finally found us, but we are wary of all that snow up on the mountains that has to melt sometime! We have so much enjoyed our many visitors and especially our “BYU Cousins” that we get to see a lot. Here’s what we’ve been up to:
Jared -- Just turned 16 and passed his driving test. He also got a car and a local billboard posted with a birthday message for his birthday. Jared scored really well on his practice ACT and is getting good grades. He is very busy with Symphonic Band at Timpview High School and raising money for their Pearl Harbor commemoration trip this fall. He enjoys playing piano for priesthood and home teaching with Ken.
Marcus -- Was just called as the new Deacon’s Quorum president. He is working on his Eagle project, which is recording and editing children’s books on tape for our elementary school. He is busy earning his lifesaving merit badge (even though he doesn’t need it for Eagle!) and going on lots of campouts with the scouts. He also will play in the Timpview Marching Band this summer for the parade season and this fall, and will go on the Hawaii trip with Jared. He still enjoys playing trumpet and piano. He got to participate in a physics day at Lagoon. He is known in our ward for his thoughtful testimonies.
Betsy -- Enjoys acting and dancing. She is in a dramatics class and had several performances this year. She also takes Irish step dancing. She won a school poster contest for her drawing of a bald eagle, ran a 5K, and got selected to play piano for the school talent show. She loves Activity Day girls with her Mom as her leader.
Adam -- Has been going through a lot of testing so we can help him with his social challenges. He continues to function at a 6th to 9th grade level academically although he is only 7 and in 2nd grade. He placed in the top 5 for the all-school spelling bee earlier this year. He takes piano lessons and is getting his purple belt in Hapkido. He is the student of the month at school and is enjoying the attention. He looks forward to becoming a Cub Scout in July and going to pack meetings with his cubmaster Dad.
Andy -- Is 6 and finishing kindergarten. He too is receiving his purple belt in Hapkido and loves his sports club at school. He is slowly but surely becoming a good reader. He just started T-ball and loves to ride scooters outside. He finally decided that he is right handed. He loves climbing on his BYU Richardson cousins when they come over.
Jenni -- Has enjoyed volunteering in Andy’s class this year. She is refinishing some furniture and trying to stay on top of a big home and yard. She enjoys working with the Activity Days girls. She has taught several voice lessons and has sung solos in sacrament meeting and Relief Society. She enjoyed going to women’s conference with her mom and sisters. She is happy to see her parents once a month as they will be leaving soon on a mission to Barcelona Spain on Sept.5th.
Ken -- Enjoys working at Utah Valley Regional with a great staff and “the best NICU in the country”. He has been busy teaching Jared to drive and Has also been helping him in a couple of tough classes at school. He always enjoys being involved with his children’s’ school and scout activities. As the cubmaster he takes on a lot for pack meetings and recently ran his first Pinewood Derby. He loves being a member of the Cougar Club and going to BYU sporting events – basketball, volleyball, softball, and rubgy most recently. He got pretty involved in “Jimmermania” along with the rest of Provo and is looking forward to football season this fall.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Happy Birthday Betsy

Betsy just turned 10! We love our girl and are so proud of her. She had a great Owl birthday party and got to see 24 cousins on her birthday!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas letter



We want to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! We are doing well here in Utah after moving here several months ago. We miss New Mexico and our many friends there, but we are excited about our new life in Utah. We are so grateful for Ken to have finished his neonatal fellowship this month after four months of "commuting" from Utah back to New Mexico to finish up. He now has the opportunity to work as a neonatologist in the NICU at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center here in Provo. The kids are all voracious readers and are becoming avid BYU fans. They are doing well in school and other activities:

Jared (15-1/2) - 10th grade, driver's permit, french horn player, marching band awards, seminary, priesthood piano player, wears glasses now!, straight A student

Marcus (13) - 8th grade, Life Scout, Deacon's quorum counselor, piano lessons, advanced band trumpet player, staight A student

Betsy (9-1/2) - 4th grade, gifted student, dramatics club, piano lessons, activity days girl, recycle crafts club, ward choir member

Adam (7-1/2) - 2nd grade, gifted student, piano lessons, martial arts (Hapkido) yellow belt, after school citizenship club

Andy (6) - afternoon kindergarten, guitar lessons, BYU sports fan, martial arts yellow belt, after school citizenship club

Ken- finally done with school and training!, Neonatologist (NICU Doctor), BYU football and basketball season ticket holder, band dad, cubmaster, choir member

Jenni-stay at home mom, holds down the fort, CTR 6 primary teacher, choir member, coupon clipper

We love living closer to family and having BYU be our playground. It seems like we are on campus weekly for concerts and other activities. We hope if Utah is a crossroads for you that you will consider stopping by and saying "Hi". We're grateful for our many blessings at this special time of year. We are especially grateful for the Savior and for his birth and life. May his influence warm your souls and give you hope and meaning in facing the challenges of life.

With our love and appreciation for your presence in our lives, Ken, Jenni, Jared, Marcus, Betsy, Adam, and Andy

Thursday, December 9, 2010

aspen grove family picture

We had a great Church family reunion in October in Aspen Grove.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

my baby is 6!

Andy just had a birthday! He enjoyed breakfast in bed, presents, cupcakes at school, pizza and bowling, and a handbell concert at the library. We love our "cute, enthusiastic, adorable, kind, loving, compassionate"brother and son.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Dress redo

I took all my old junior high, high school and college dresses from my Mom's basement and passed them on to my niece Camille to re-purpose them for Betsy. She loves them and I am glad they can be updated and used. She is so tall and thin now, it is hard to find dresses long enough and that fit right in the stores.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

fall update

We are doing well here in Utah. Ken has a finish date of Dec. 10th so we are counting down the time he can join us for good. The kids had fun dressing up for Halloween and were excited to get some full sized candy bars from our neighbors. Andy was a martial arts warrior, Adam was a cowboy, Betsy was Penny from "Hairspray", and Marcus invented himself being carried in a box by a small guy. Jared dressed as Aragorn from Lord of the Rings but he is on a band trip in southern california right now. So far they have won first place in all their marching band competitions. The high school here is great in sports, music and academics. The kids are all adjusting well to their new environment. They miss their close friends in Albuquerque, but have grown closer to each other through this move. They entertain themselves with making up little mystery games with clues all over the house. I'm glad they can all be friends (when they're not fighting). Ken has loved being the avid BYU sports fan here. We have also loved living close to family. We hope stay in touch with all our friends and hope you will stop by if you're ever in Provo.