Merry Christmas!!

We have had a wonderful month. We have done so much and had such a great time doing it, that now I am down with a terrible cold. It's forcing me to sit down and rest and have time to finally update my blog. We have "The Sound of Music" on in the background (my favorite movie) and it really feels like heaven. After a quick visit to Idaho yesterday to see Paul, we brought his two youngest, Cameron and Jacob, home with us again. We have a great time when they are here and the kids are all busy playing with the Santa Claus train around the tree, the new games we got for Christmas, and their toys. Seven kids, but it all works.

Looking back over the past year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all we have accomplished, all we have learned, and all we have been able to do. If anyone is looking for a good book to start off the new year, please take a look at our top ten. Some of them are books that I read, some Brian and I read together, and the rest are books we read with the kids. We just finished Heidi. It set the tone for the last month and has changed our lives forever. I guess that is the power of a classic. We have spent our month thinking of ways to serve others as Heidi did. It has brought so much joy to our family.

We had a great time sending gifts to Paul and his family for the "Five Days of Chemo" and then the "Twelve Days of Christmas". All the Carlings helped. Then, Brian and the kids all took over the family work while I spent hours each day working on the quilt. After visiting Paul at the beginning of the month, I felt so helpless but yet determined to do something for him. I put all of my love and care into the quilt and felt so much joy in including Mom in the project and presenting it to him yesterday. He is much weakened by the cancer and was in the hospital for pain management and hydration. His latest scan showed what we all feared. The cancer has spread everywhere and he will likely come home soon with hospice. Our visit yesterday was our chance, as a family, to express our love to our brother and just be with him. It was so bittersweet. We felt joy at being with him and gratitude for him in our lives, and yet could not hold back the tears at knowing that he would be leaving us soon. We all promised to watch over and assist DeLynn and the boys in whatever ways we can. How grateful we are for the knowledge that he will always be our brother and that families can be together forever. The Spirit was so strong and we felt that Paul was being called home to do a great work there. We are so proud of him and the life he has led. We will all try to follow his example of bravery and faith.

Now we move on to another year and another set of challenges and opportunities. I think I need another day to rest! For now, I'm just going to enjoy my vacation time at home with the family, Brian at home with me, and a little "these are a few of my favorite things" sung by Julie Andrews.

What we've been working on...

It's been a whole month since I posted anything...not that I haven't had anything to say, we've just been busy working on so many things. In addition to "must do-s" such as reading, math, writing, and family work, we have been rehearsing sometimes hours a day for all of the performances this Christmas. The whole family has followed Brandon and tried to join in on his choir and violin music. It is amazing to see his musical talents develop. He loves everything music and we had to laugh when he presented his top three things he wants for Christmas--a trumpet, an acoustic guitar, and bagpipes! Even the little ones have joined his bell choir (Grandma and Grandpa, prepare yourselves...) Brandon also earned his Arrow of Light and is now a Tenderfoot Boy Scout. He's hoping to earn his swimming merit badge right off since he's been so diligently working on swimming this year. He says the only reason Katelyn still beats him is because he doesn't wear a speedo like Michael Phelps.

When Katelyn decides to take her nose out of her books, she tells me she wants to work on projects. We had a great time making Christmas gifts for Deseret Industries with the Relief Society and Activity Day Girls. She has made her own first aid kit and helped a neighbor with a quilt project. She loves to read to the little ones and help with Zach (who she calls "Bubba"). I think she wants to be a reporter someday because she loves to write in her notebooks, notices everything, remembers all kinds of details, and has even taken up a love of photography. She photographs her dolls and any other willing family members (they don't seem to hold still as well though.) We have plans for some homemade gifts for Christmas (we hope). She's very excited.

Amanda and Josh have been so busy creatively playing together. They love playing "Mom and Dad" and "puppies". It is a real sign of what kind of a parent you are when they imitate you. I had to laugh when I saw Amanda "nursing" her baby and heard Josh yelling "Go Cougars!" before he left on a business trip. They are busily learning their letters and numbers and often "read" books--even chapter books without pictures. They love to carry their scriptures to church and always remind us when it is time for scripture study. They insist on taking part. Their favorite thing in the world is having one-on-one time with Mom or Dad. Josh will say, "I need an interview!!" Amanda continues her mothering of Zach. She loves him and really everyone so deeply that some are amazed at what a loving child she is. She has brightened the day of many of the "grandparents" in our ward.

Zach has been possibly the busiest little person of all. He is working so very hard at learning how to walk. It takes all of his time and effort. He is into everything, cruising around every inch of the house. He already knows how to open all of the child-locked cupboards and has practiced some maneuvers to get into the pantry and the bathroom whenever the door is opened. He can go up and down stairs and is very fast now. He turned one this month! It is bittersweet to watch him grow into a little toddler. Where did my newborn go? He is so wanting to grow up and keep up with the older kids. He will do just about anything to go outside. He loved the day when Brandon pushed him up and down the sidewalk in a dump truck (he couldn't manage to get the tricycle going). Zach is everyone's baby. We all love to take care of him.

Mom and Dad--our work seems to never end. Most of it we really love. I was talking to a friend who said that she hated Sunday nights because it meant that her work week would begin on Monday morning. I have honestly never had that thought since beginning to homeschool. I guess it's because I never really "check in and out". I love what I do and I have noticed that my capacity increases when I take care of myself and fervently pray for help in all of my daily efforts. Today has been an especially hard day (which included throw up, an orthodontist appointment, a fussy teething baby, a performance, and Dad being away--again), but I am still smiling. (Thanks for your kindness, Mom, to help me.) Brian and I feel that amazing things happen when we are all in it together. The Lord seems to make up the difference. Truly, all things are possible through Him.

Parting is such sweet sorrow....

Sunday morning, Cameron and Jacob had to go home. Brandon asked if they could go home and get their homework and be back by 8:00 pm. I had to explain that their Mom and Dad probably wanted them to get back to school and that the decision wasn't up to us. (We watched them while their dad was in the hospital. He is still there recovering from surgery.) We had such a good time with them that it seemed pretty lonesome without our "best cousins". (No offense to any of our other "best cousins.") Monday morning school started up again. I thought it might be easier without as many children to watch over, but I think it would have been easier to have them here. Things just seemed to run more smoothly with two extra kids. Who would have thought!

We decided to invite some homeschool friends over for our monthly book club. Our families read, "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch." It was a fantastic math classic set during the nation's founding. It was fascinating. Our family learned so much about geography, math, navigation, astronomy, government, becoming an entrepreneur, free enterprise, prosperity, freedom, how to self-educate, developing gifts and talents, and serving others. There were many similarities between sailing and family life that we were able to draw from to help strenthen our families. We highly recommend this book. Now, we really want to find a way to go sailing! Anyone own a sailboat?

It's not every day our young man turns eleven!

Yesterday was Brandon's birthday and our family spent the day at Discovery Gateway to celebrate. Cameron, Jacob, and Hayden, who are spending a few days in Utah, got to come also. We really went high adventure and took all eight kids, plus Grandma and Grandpa, on Frontrunner and then out to dinner afterward at Biaggi's (they have a great gluten-free menu). I'm so glad that we didn't get separated on the trains, no one fell onto the tracks, no one got lost, and no one caused too much attention at the restaurant (we had to explain to the server that they were not all my children--but almost.) Brandon had a great time--and that was the most important thing. We got home in time to get ready for bed, then Brandon, Cameron, Jacob, and Katelyn stayed up a little late watching Harry Potter (the first one, since he turns 11 in that one) in their pajamas and sleeping bags. Brandon was surprised at the end of the day when he got his microscope that he had been hoping for. It was a great day.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

Last weekend we celebrated the last 50 years with all my siblings, spouses, and Mom and Dad. It was such a great time. We left the kids (not a small feat) and stayed overnight at the Providence Inn (the Old Rock Church) where my parents had their wedding reception. It is a cute bed and breakfast now. They were great to pretty much let our family take over the place. The next morning we toured the old Carling home where dad grew up (can you believe they had 10 kids in a tiny 2-3 bedroom house?) We also went to the Logan Temple where they were married and had a really nice surprise luncheon at Maddox. It was worth all the work to put this together when we saw the look on Mom's face. She could not believe that all those people, even some who traveled from Idaho, were there to celebrate this special occasion with her. Thanks to everyone who made it possible!

Back to School

We love this time of year. The weather has been spectacular and we have been doing a lot of family reading out under "Birch" (the globe willow in the backyard that was named by the kids). There is just something about trees. Maybe it's the added oxygen we receive when we sit under Birch, but our family just feels at peace. We learn so much out there reading "out of the best books". This summer we read Johnny Tremain under what became known as the "liberty tree". The kids and I gained a greater appreciation for life during the colonial period and came to understand why the revolutionary war was fought. The kids will tell you it wasn't about tea or taxes: it was "so that a man can stand up." We recited Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech there (sorry to the neighbors who probably heard me yell), as well as "Paul Revere's Ride" and the "Concord Hymn." Captain Moroni (Daddy) and Thomas Jefferson (our good friend Seth) came to present the Title of Liberty and the Declaration of Independence under this tree. It is amazing how the entire family learns, each at our own level. Brian and I are amazed at how much we learn as we teach the children. The funny thing about home schooling is that we really never go "back to school". The learning happens all the time, all year round, and it is our favorite work of all.

Why blog?

This blog was created in order to keep family and friends updated on Wilhelmsen happenings. But, perhaps more importantly, it materialized because I needed a way to connect with my network. This network consists of friends and sisters who are dear to me, but not always so near to me. Even those of you who live within a stone's throw I don't seem to see often enough just because we are all so busy doing our "work". I hope that you will want to check in often, get a chuckle, post an insight or highlight in your own life, and feel that even though the miles may separate us we can always remain close.