Family update: 10/25/09

Reply to email sent on 10/24/09: Gug, happy birthday. Hope all is well. it sounds like you are really enjoying yourselves. I leave tomorrow for Phoenix for the mens senior baseball world series. I am also been invited to go to Cuba in february to play for 7-10 days against various cuba senior teams. should be a ball but we will probably not win much. they are nuts over baseball. Carol is not allowed to come with since we are not allowed to go to cuba except these exchange type things which only allow the players. Love you both. arlo

(side note): alison and Jeff are hoping to go see Arlo play!


Steven and Rozann family update: 10/25/09

Sunday, October 25, 2009

We celebrated birthdays today—Tanner turning 10 and Shay turning 2.  (I’m very grateful that Tanner doesn’t feel bitter about sharing his birthday.  I guess he’s shared his birthday with Grandpa Sorensen since he was born so it’s not new.)  If anyone mentions his birthday, he tells them how he shares his birthday with his sister and grandpa too.  I guess he’s pretty proud of that.

The kids also had their primary program today.  They all did very, very well.  I was just so impressed at how well they did.  Ashley really impressed me by learning a very difficult part and saying it perfectly.  What was even more impressive is that she learned her part almost entirely of her own efforts.  I started to help her learn it and then was about to re-write it frustrated that they gave so many big words to a 7-year-old, but she went off and read it over and over until she had it memorized.

Her part was, “The proclamation also states that, ‘Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live.  Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.’”  Pretty impressive.

Tanner and Brianna have been practicing hymns and primary songs for piano lessons (and their teacher is the primary pianist), so she had them play prelude music before sacrament meeting.  They both received a lot of compliments.  I think Tanner caught their attention particularly because he played a couple hymns.  One lady leaned over to me and said, “He plays like a man.”  I wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean, but she said men play with a heavier sound.  Another elderly gentleman called this afternoon intending to ask Steve if Tanner could slip out of primary for a few minutes each Sunday to play the piano for priesthood opening exercises.  J  The gentleman conducts the music acapella and thought it would be so nice to have a pianist to accompany the songs.  I kind of avoided his proposition and left that to Steve to handle, but I told him he would certainly be available in two years when he turns 12. 

The same gentleman also asked Steve in reference to Tanner “Is he precocious?”  Hello!  What is that?  Who uses that word in regular English?  Steve could only think of Mary Poppins’ song, “If you say it loud enough you’ll always sound precocious, Supercalifragilistic…”  but that didn’t help to define the meaning.  This evening we had to look up the word in the dictionary.  It means developed or matured to a point beyond that which is normal for the age.  That’s a pretty good word, but I’m not sure the man was using the word correctly either.  I guess we learned something new today.

Anyway, we continue with the usual routine and fall sports—football and soccer.  Tanner’s football team just finished their regular season games and played their first playoff game yesterday.  They lost 13-7 in a very close game.  His highlights included recovering a fumble and a touchdown-saving tackle.

Brianna must have eaten her Wheaties yesterday (although none of our kids would have any clue what that means).  Their team was down 3-1 going into the fourth quarter when her coach put her in as forward.  Brianna moaned because she wanted to play defense and then went out and hounded the other team all quarter long … scoring five goals to help her team win.  It was her team’s third win of the season and the other team’s first loss.

This afternoon Shay was not happy with me that I woke her up from a late nap.  I tried to cheer her up by asking if she wanted to make her cake with me.  That got her attention and she was pacified.  She chose a chocolate cake, and I got the batter mixed in a bowl.  She started fussing and asking for a cup.  I couldn’t figure out why.  She wasn’t pleased with her Sippy cup in front of her and insisted on a cup.  I finally figured that she wanted a cup so I could pour some of the batter in it for her.  I explained that I wouldn’t get a cup, but I would give her a taste.  I pulled a spoon out of the drawer and gave her a taste.  I put the dirty spoon in the sink and turned around to see her with another spoon from the drawer.  I gave her one more taste and put the spoon in the sink.  As I was saying, “No more” she had her hand halfway in the drawer sneaking another spoon out.  She tried to move ever so slowly with such an innocent look on her face so I wouldn’t see that she was pulling another spoon out.  I tried to fight the spoon thing and then conceded by giving her a little dab in a bowl with a spoon.  Luckily, by the time that was gone, I had the batter poured into the pan and she was pleased to lick the whisk.

Anyway, we’re keeping busy.  Steve was excited to purchase a road bike (the kind that you pedalJ) last weekend.  He and two other guys got bikes and are riding a couple days a week.  He says he’ll be ready for the Boy Scout mini-triathlon coming up in April.

Better get to bed.

Love,
Rozann and family
Pictures from Rozann: Brianna's 8th birthday/baptism, soccer/football games, Shay (2)/Tanner(10) birthday