Happy Halloween!

It's Halloween night and I am at home all by myself for a few minutes while Brian takes the kids around the neighborhood. It is so quiet! Except for the occasional trick or treater, it seems nice to be alone. Did I admit that outloud?

I thought you might want to see the cutest little trick-or-treaters around. Aren't they adorable?

Happy Halloween!!

October Highlights

I know. I'm really behind on blogging. I love to do it, but time just goes by so quickly. I'll try to summarize the month with some photos of our highlights. We had a great month, mostly because of our new twelve-year-old deacon. He had a great birthday, complete with a football/pizza party in our backyard with 13 friends and a field trip to the Chabot Science Center. He was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and was surprised by a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Carling who drove all the way to be there for that special day. That made the birthday weekend truly fantastic. This is Brandon blowing out his twelve candles (can you believe we are old enough to have a twelve-year-old?), Brandon as quarterback of his team at the party, and Brandon and Josh discussing the race for space between the Americans and Russians at the space museum. We even got to see a tube of borsch that the Russian astronauts took into space. Yummm!

This is our family home evening activity--making Halloween treats. The gluten-free sugar cookies were awesome. Of course, Brandon and I haven't had the real thing for a long time, so maybe they were terrible. Everyone had a great time, though.

This is the San Francisco Bay, about a block away from where Brian works. It is beautiful. The people at work who live in the city walk along here to catch the ferry to go home after work. The kids got to visit Dad at work yesterday and do a little trick-or-treating around the office. Afterward they had lunch with Dad. Everybody at work has been hearing about these kids for about six years, so they were thrilled to meet them finally. They were a huge hit and got smothered with candy. The kids had a ball.

More Halloween pictures to come...

Never a Dull Moment

Can you believe that just 7 hours before this picture was taken, our delightful little toddler, who is almost two, had our whole family turned upside down? Seven hours before this picture was taken was 4 am when Mom's arms finally gave out and Daddy firmly put our little angel to bed--and he finally went to sleep. Just 24 hours before this picture was taken, our almost two year decided to throw a major tantrum just as we were walking out of church. I guess he didn't want to leave the nursery where they have Thomas trains. He was holding Brian's hand at the time and jerked his wrist or thumb (we are not sure which) when he threw himself down and twisted 360 degrees. All that day he refused to use his left arm and whimpered and cried. He could not even take a nap, you see, because he needs two fingers from his left hand to suck on while he falls asleep. So, our dear little one was not a happy boy all day and well into the night. We took him to the Elder's Quorum President's house (his wife has medical training) and got a blessing, then took him to the emergency room afterward. That did not last long because the scary looking people, who looked very much like they might have contagious diseases, at the end of the line told us that we could expect hours of waiting. Considering there was no blood and at the time he seemed pretty content, we thought it could wait until Monday morning. So, we called the Primary President to ask about pediatricians and she volunteered to watch kids first thing Monday morning. Zach actually was tired by then and went to bed happily, favoring his left arm, too tired to care that his fingers were missing from his mouth. At one in the morning we were all awakened by screaming which did not stop until we turned on Barney at 2 am. Then we watched Sesame Street. He happily watched until about 3:30 when I tried to put him down again. The screaming commenced and continued until, as I mentioned before, Mom's arms gave out and Daddy was called into action. He must have convinced Zach that his right hand fingers were just as good as his left because he made the switch and we were able to sleep for a few hours.

Zach finally woke up at 11 am and miraculously was able to use both hands. He didn't even remember all the commotion from that worrisome night. In fact, it was soon after breakfast that he asked to go outside.

I guess he remembered that he had plans to dig in the garden with his Elmo shovel. Notice the use of the left hand. Aren't kids great?

Is it fall yet?

I know the calendar says that it's Conference weekend, but it sure doesn't seem like it here. It was 90 degrees yesterday and Katelyn is working on her swim team tan in an outdoor pool. The swim season lasts until the second week in December! Isn't that strange? All of the usual things that remind me fall is coming have not seemed to come this year.

But, it truly is Conference weekend. Brandon will be turning 12 in just two weeks, so he decided he would like to go to his first Priesthood session with his Dad. Don't the two of them look handsome? Soon I'll have two men with the priesthood in my home.

Yesterday we went with about eight other moms and their kids on a field trip to Muir Woods. School was out for the day, so the "ward family" went out together. Somebody asked if we were from a school, there were so many kids.

We had a good time and enjoyed some beautiful surroundings and great company. The LDS families here seem to be so strong. The youth are so kind to each other and seem to cling to the other LDS youth in the ward.

These are the Deacons and Beehives. These great moms organize events like these to keep the youth close and encourage them to support each other in school. They really do seem like brothers and sisters to each other. Brandon already knows them all because of the play they are all working on.

Last week the Bishop's son gave his farewell address before leaving on his mission. I witnessed the most amazing tradition after the Sacrament Meeting was over. The ward choir came up and began singing "Go Ye Now in Peace" (Brian and I got to sing too because we have started rehearsing with them--they are amazing). Then, the song ended with "God Be With You Til We Meet Again" and the entire ward stood and sang it. There wasn't a dry eye in the whole chapel. It's like they were all saying to him, we have helped raise you and prepare you for this special time, we love you like you are our own son, and we will be praying for you. I have never seen anything like it. You could feel an intensity of love for him and for each other. This is a very special ward. We are happy to be a part of something so genuine and real.

I have to say, though, that we have an ache in our hearts for what we left behind. We miss our friends and family at home so much. We were looking through some pictures and saw the pictures we took of our house. That is home to us still. It will probably take a while to start calling this place "home." But, we are happy here. I feel like we are supposed to be here and that brings comfort and peace. My prayers are with all of you at home. :)

Good News

I just wanted to announce that Brandon auditioned and was accepted into the San Francisco Boys Chorus! He begins rehearsing next week. They sang at the inauguration this year, do the national anthem at a lot of pro games in the area, as well as performing with the SF opera. They'll be singing at the A's game on Saturday (of course, he won't be there because he doesn't start until next week). He is also in the ward's version of "Joseph and Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He is thrilled about all the opportunities presented to him here already. Things are going well at the middle school and Brandon is even getting used to the dreaded homework and learning to get it done early. He's actually enjoying some aspects of it--like the creative parts.

Katelyn is officially on the local swim team. She puts in a solid workout every single day. It is hard work, but she is hanging in there. Good thing she loves the water so much. She feels so cool to have her own swim cap and fins. She has begun 4th grade here at home and says she'll only commit to one hour of study each day. Then five hours later, she emerges, asking for more. Go figure! I guess no one told her that learning was "work."

Josh and Amanda are eating me out of house and home. They must be having growth spurts. Even Amanda seems to eat all day long. We recently found a puppet theatre at a second hand shop. It has been the hit of our little kindergarten. We are reading Charlotte's Web, again, together and doing a lot of pre-reading activities. They beg me for school and wish they could do it all day. If only I had their energy. Last week we made mailboxes for each bedroom and the kids wrote letters back and forth to each other. Amanda, by far, wrote the most letters. Of course, hers were like this: a, f, l, m, t, z, d, etc. One letter for each tiny piece of paper. At least she was succinct in her writing!

Zach is learning new words every day and sings all the time. Our bedtime routine has to include me singing to him. He requests the songs every night. Lately his favorites have been "The Wheels on the Bus" (he calls it "cars, baby, mama"), Five Little Speckled Frogs (ribit, ribit), "I Love to See the Temple" ("tempo"), and "Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree" ("pocko"). Sometimes he requests songs I'm not sure about and he lets me know if I got it wrong. He usually has his "cocka mil" (chocolate milk) and his "bincket." He seems really happy here. He loves exploring the backyard and constantly wants "out." We just love to see what he'll do or say next.

Brian and I are just keeping up the best we can with all the demands of work and kids. Occasionally we catch our breath. We are down to our last 7 or 8 boxes. I'm determined to either get everything put away, get rid of it, or store it in the garage--all before the weekend is over. No more boxes in the house! The nice thing is that our house is smaller than before (or at least has one less level) and I love that I have a chance now to really purge myself of all the "stuff" that I don't really need. (Round one was when we packed, we are now in round two.) There's a lot of stuff that didn't make the cut. :) Simple really is better. It's the stuff or the kids that have to go, so I guess it's good I'm choosing to part with the stuff. I'm hanging in there. I am missing my mom support network back home, but, I will be okay. I'm even finding a few reasons to smile and laugh. That's my good news.

Some Things Never Change

After church today Zach came around the corner from nursery hand in hand with Grandma. He took one look at me and came running with a big smile on his face, giggling. As soon as I had him in my arms he held onto me and his precious blanket (that I had kept for him) and his two fingers went into his mouth. Then he heaved a huge sigh. He had made it through church and the new nursery and now he was safe with his mama. All would be well.

Brandon, I think, felt similarly this week after experiencing middle school for the first time. Every day he has come home happy to see his family and after setting down his backpack, he seems to sigh a big sigh of relief that he made it through another day. He is happy to be in school, but it is a huge change. It is just a comfort to know that family will always be there. Mom will always be there.

(By the way, Brian and I wanted to continue homeschooling Brandon because of the flexibility it offers. But, Brandon very much wanted to see what middle school was all about. He made a great argument, accepted all of the responsibility, and has proven to be up for the challenge. He is doing great managing his diabetes on his own, and is proving to be responsible with homework and time management. We felt he should be able to make this decision himself and now we are supporting him. We are so proud of him.)

I had a similar experience as Zach and Brandon this week when I picked up Mom and Dad from the airport. After driving through a big and strange city, taking three different freeways and battling traffic, I finally reached Mom and Dad. I parked the car and ran around to give them a big hug. They had arrived! Now, this crazy city, this huge new state of California, all of it, suddenly seems okay because Mom and Dad have arrived. I just feel better knowing that they are here, even if it is just for a few days.

Another thing that brings me comfort and makes me feel that everything will be okay is that there is a temple here only 20 minutes away. Brian and I got to go on Friday night. It felt like I was home again, even though it isn't the temple I have been used to visiting. It is still the House of the Lord and the blessings of the temple never change. I have felt His presence and it was such a relief. I feel that all will be well.

Then today I attended Relief Society. When Mom leaves this week, I know I will still have a whole room full of mothers to bring me comfort and "relief." I am not alone. Some things, thank goodness, will never change.

I have so enjoyed Mom and Dad's visit. It is exactly what I wanted for my birthday. Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the beach. It was so fun to watch the kids play in the ocean. It was the first time Josh, Amanda, and Zach had ever seen the ocean. They loved every minute of it. We enjoyed just watching them. After we got home we watched the BYU game and Brian's yelling and cheering. It was such a fun day. Here are some photos.

Yes, this is Grandma. She said the other day, "I'm 72 degrees and still ticking!" I think she meant years, but then she might have been thinking about the great weather we will have here all year round. She is 72 years young--especially around all these grandkids.

I wish you all could join us! The Wilhelmsen Inn is open...Better make your reservations!

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Sure They Are the Sweet California Variety

There is so much to tell that I just can't say it all. We have moved! It has been like living in a whirlwind the past several weeks, but things are starting to feel sort of normal again--whatever that means! The kids love our new house, the friends they have already met in our neighborhood, and especially our backyard. Everyone has been so nice, but we really deeply miss our friends and family back home. We moved so quickly that it feels like we didn't really get a chance to say goodbye the way we would have liked. We are trying to make the best of our new circumstances. For one thing, we are happy to have Daddy come home every night. They are catching up on all the wrestling, tickling, sports, and hugs that they have been behind on the last while. All the kids are flocking to him.

So far we really like it here. It has been an adjustment to see a family of squirrels living in our yard. But, it is entertaining to watch them through the window while we eat breakfast. We have beautiful roses, lovely fruit trees, a basketball court, a pathway for the bikes and scooters, and great neighbors.

Katelyn has met four other girls her age (we haven't even been to church yet), and Brandon met 13 other 11-year old scouts on Wednesday night. He will be the 10th deacon in the ward and will enjoy a great scouting program. There were about 22 men and a couple of women helping us unload the truck and they actually apologized for the low turnout! The park near our house has an incredible playground and walking trail with roses all the way around it, and the local swimming pool has a swim team that Katelyn wants to join. It feels like we were meant to be here, it's just a huge change.
I am hoping that sometime we'll feel like this is home and that we're not just on vacation. At least it's a nice place to live. According to Amanda and her Primary song wisdom, "Home is where the heart is." I think home is wherever our family is. We are all together, and that is what counts.

And just so you know, the lemonade is really good, too.