Crazy Busy

Can it really be half way through February? We have had a couple of big changes around our house. Here is what we've all been up to.

Brandon tried out for a different boys choir and I guess did well because they offered him a scholarship to their middle school. He started there two weeks ago and loves it. He gets to sing and perform with a grammy award winning choral group (they won three grammies this year--best classical album, best choral performance, and something else technical.) They learn college level music/music theory as well as all the other things like math, science, English, history, etc. He is loving that they are learning all about Chinese culture, language, philosophy, geography, and history--all because they are preparing to tour and perform there this summer. (We're not sure if he is going yet--one heart attack at a time for Mom.)

We have all felt a huge void during our homeschool day and are trying to restructure things with a whole new group dynamic. We miss Brandon, but are happy for him and love to hear all about his exciting day when he comes home.

Katelyn is now the leader of the homeschool and she is loving her new role. She is doing really well in school and is stepping up to her new responsibilities in our family. She and I are making plans to be exercise buddies every day and have already been out on biking outings with all the kids. She is continuing her violin lessons and is helping me to plan a girl's club like we had in Utah. She is always busy creating something, writing something, or reading.


Joshua is quite the outdoorsman/athlete. As soon as he wakes up, he eats, dresses, makes his bed and is begging to go outside. He is also begging to have reading time because he is determined to learn to read soon. He is making lots of progress, even with a mouth full of new permanent teeth growing in.

Amanda just lost her first tooth. She was so excited about it, she couldn't stop talking about it for days. Her second is soon to follow. Amanda's hair is growing out and she seems much older--almost like a six-year-old. Of course, someone played beauty shop and cut her bangs a little too short, but she didn't seem to mind. She is also loving the nice outdoor weather and wants to learn her letters so that she can do all the things that Katelyn does. In her spare time she follows Zach around. The two of them are getting to be very good buddies and I often hear them giggling together.


Zachie is growing very fast and if you ask him how old he is, he says "Fwee." He is very entertaining. We laugh and laugh at all the funny things he does and says. Tonight he was showing us his figure skating moves while we watched the Olympics. Last night he jumped off the couch to demonstrate his readiness for ski jumping. When he is not in training for the Winter Olympics, he practices his basketball moves. We tended a little friend of Zachie's and I had to laugh as they tried to play catch with a football. They did pretty well for only being two and still being in diapers. I have a feeling we are in for lots of sports ahead.

Grandma and Grandpa Wilhelmsen came for a couple of days and I am sure got more than they bargained for with the kids. Grandpa was a great sport and played outside with the kids as much as he could. He even helped Daddy lower the basketball hoop so that the kids could play ball even better. The kids all flocked to him and had a great time.

On Saturday Grandma and Grandpa got to spend the day in San Francisco with their grandkids. They bought them goodies, took them to the Merry-go-round on Pier 39, and then to lunch. Grandma even got some shopping time in. Then Saturday night they took Brian and me to dinner. I don't know where they get their stamina! It must be those insane walks in the early hours of the morning. I think they saw more of our town on foot than in the car! We were happy to share the warm weather. It was about 65 degrees all weekend. Here are the boys with their Valentine flowers for Grandma.