Slide Show of the Carlson Invasion

We've been back from Washington for two and a half weeks. After looking through the pictures many times, we've scaled our four week vacation down to eight minutes. The first song is called "Overture" by Patrick Doyle, and the second song is called "Northern Lights" from the CD called Soundtracks for Classic Books: Music for Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. I'm not sure who wrote the actual piece.
If you are a cousin, aunt, uncle, or grandparent of the Carlsons, and you have a favorite picture of our time together that did not make it into the slideshow...I'm very sorry, but I had to choose about 96 (more or less) pictures out of the 1800 that we had, so bear with me. Enjoy!

Two Random Specific Events

Well, the Carlson Chronicler gave a general synopsis of our trip and invasion out west, but I decided to describe two random specific events for you all. The first is mostly really exciting for me personally, because I met my favorite living author, Douglas Bond. The homeschooling convention out here in Seattle is in the beginning of June, so my mom and I were able to attend with my Aunt Susan, Aunt Joyce, Elaina, and Katie. I went on the express purpose of meeting Douglas Bond. He was really sweet and down too earth, not high and mighty at all, and was very willing to talk. We were able to do so for several minutes about the books he working on presently, and the ones he's going to be fervently working on to finish by September. :-) (If any of you really enjoy John Knox or would like to know more about him, keep an eye out for his book coming out sometime after September!) I bought his new book, Guns of Providence, which finishes the trilogy Faith and Freedom. I've been really looking forward to this book, and how exciting to buy it from the author himself! He even signed it for me! This definitely was a highlight in my vacation.

The second event occurred last Friday, the 25th of June. Aunt Joyce announced to the cousins that we should walk to the nearby woods about a mile and a half away and collect some firewood in order to build a bonfire and roast marshmallows. So, all of the 14 cousins present at the gathering clamorously tramped off to find the wanted firewood. In the woods, various smaller asundry sticks were gathered. Then, we found it. The log. The 37' 2" tree trunk. Simply laying on the forest floor, it was free game for the needed firewood. So, 12 of the 14 cousins (the two youngest, Allison and Sarah, carried the smaller sticks on which to roast the marshmallows) picked up the great log and started the trek back to the house. At one point, we saw a family approaching us on the road, so we quickly set the log down and all sat on it. Apparently, they didn't see us carrying it, but simply saw 14 kids randomly sitting on a log by the road. We told them we were all cousins, and such other small talk was generated. After they passed us, we quickly picked up the log, and recommenced our walk back home. As we neared the house, walking along the sidewalk, the several cars that passed us waved and honked. We must have really been a sight. We sent Allison and Sarah on ahead to tell the parents to come outside because we had something to show them. As we came into sight with our treasure, the parents' mouths dropped open, and then continued to drop as the log just continued and continued. With a small saw, we were able to cut enough pieces for our desired bonfire. Ah...another memory made.

Invasion of the West Coast

Recently, the innocent and prosperous people of Washington state have experienced a influx of people, noise, and fun to such an extent that many are considering moving to New Jersey to fill the gap that seems to recently have opened. The Carlsons are in WA terrorizing - ahem, I mean, visiting - Mom's extended family as well as Dad's dad! Sixteen cousins can singlehandedly destroy the peace of a typical suburb with their laughter, running, yelling, and other carrying on, but then add fun-loving uncles and aunts, and the suburbs are really in for a trip!

We Carlsons arrived last week on Monday, spent the first week with Mom's youngest sister's family, weathered (and even enjoyed) a rainy day, had one full family renunion, and many other unofficial gatherings. This week, we stuffed the borrowed car with our luggage and then head over to stay at the other sister's family, with whom we toured Seattle, had coffee at the ORIGINAL Starbucks, and then headed to the woods for a hike.

This Wednesday, the Carlson caravan again broke camp and took the long trek up to Anacortes to visit my dad's dad and his wife! We had a lovely time with them, eating at Royal Fork (a family tradition), getting sunburnt on the beach, and climbing all over a dry-docked snagboat, the W.T. Preston.

This weekend, Pastor Daddy will assume his vocational role and speak at a singles' conference at Emmanuel Baptist Church. We still have over a week to continue with our cousins to reak havoc all round the countryside, so Washingtonians, my word of advice would be - Watch out!

Celebrating the Blessing of a Wonderful Woman

Last Friday was Mother's birthday. For her birthday, her two sisters came out and surprised her. It was quite an adventure, because Sheryl and I had to get the house cleaned and our bedroom ready without her discovering! As it turned out, my dear trusting mother did not suspect, and even if she had suspected that something was up, she would not have guessed the truth.

My dad picked both of his sister-in-laws up at the airport mid-afternoon and then brought them immediately home. When Sheryl saw Dad pull up in the van, she rushed into Andrew's room, "You have to have a question NOW." Apparently, Andrew had a bonfied math question, and so kept Mom's eyes off the window while her sisters entered from the garage. Then, my dad led them into the room where Mommy was sitting unsuspecting, and he turned her around. Utterly surprised, all she said was "It's my sisters." Mission complete.
Thursday evening was sister time, so the three slipped away to Applebees, while Miss Ronda and we three kids jumped into food action: shopping, baking, prepping. On Friday, the gang headed into the City via bus and then took the subway all the way up to Brooklyn to visit the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. The gardens were spectacularly beautiful and the weather was perfect for strolling about plants and flowers. Each of the gardens had a theme which defined which plants were planted there. The first garden was the Japanese garden centered around a pond shaped in the Japanese character for "heart." The path around the garden was quiet and relaxing. The garden to earn the award of Most Creative was the Shakespeare Garden which had plants referenced in Shakespeare's plays or sonnets. Many of the placards had the specific quote along with information about the plant. "The king is but a man. The violet smells the same to him as to me." - Henry V. The garden adjacent to the Shakespeare Garden had a multitude of raised beds with flowers of distinct texture and smell. Designed particularly for the blind, this garden was geared to assault the senses other than sight. Pretty cool idea! In search of more beauty, we set out to find the rose gardens, only to discover that April is a bit too early. Great horticulturalist we are! However, the quest of the roses (sounds like something from English history) led us directly towards what was in bloom. The main attraction of the gardens towards the end of April are the rows of multicolored azaleas. The photo-op was priceless as well!
After about four and a half hours of strolling about and soaking in the natural beauty that God designed for us to enjoy, we took the subway back into Manhattan. A slight miscalculation on the part of our fearless leader we rose to the surface on the wrong side of Manhattan - at Grand Central Station instead of Port Authority. Not realizing the mistake until we had existed the subway, we headed out on foot to cut through the jungle of NYC. Everything has its blessings, and this time blessing took the shape of McDonald's ice-cream and a peek at Times Square - almost exactly 24 hours before the recent terror attempt. Finally, weary but triumphant, we spotted Port Authority and consequently our ride home. Once home, we ordered Chinese food and enjoyed a relaxed evening opening presents and celebrating the wonderful gift of our mother, wife, and sister.

Hitting the Slopes - Carlson Style

Snow on the ground, untrampled, unused is beautiful and picturesque, but when, I ask, have the Carlsons ever chosen picturesque over fun? As soon as snowflakes start descending from the clouds, thoughts start to accumulate in the three little minds in the Carlson home: sledding, snowballs, friend time . . .

By Friday, we had cleared our schedules sufficiently to hit the slopes of the Lee's backyard. Paul and Hannah Sullivan joined us. Andrew is despicably flawless in his stearing abilities. He and Paul built up a treacherous jump at the bottom of one of the runs. Hannah and Sheryl had some difficulty in ever reaching the jump, because, well, let's just say they're women drivers, and also apparently like the taste of tree bark. At one point, they managed to hit the jump and went flying into a gully full of tree branches, leaves, and assundry sharp objects!
After a little while, Jackson Lee, the grandson of the Lee's, came out with Mr. Lee to try sledding. Jackson was a little unconvinced at first that fun could be included in sledding down a hill with snow flying into his face in danger of branches, stumps, and thorns, but Mr. Lee with his typical lawyer logic told Jackson that down at the bottom of the hill was "Oblivion" a special place for him to visit. That changes things! Jackson was quick to jump onto "Jacksonian Express" after that for memory-making runs into Oblivion. Of course, we were all curious as well to see Oblivion, so the rest of us followed Mr. Lee and Jackson into blissful forgetfulness . . .
In keeping with Danielleian tradition, we executed several sled train rides. The most successful one was with Hannah and me (Julie) on the same sled in front steering, with Sheryl, Paul, and Andrew on seperate sleds behind pushing and steering. A very unsuccessful run was with Andrew and Paul lying on the same sled and holding onto Sheryl. It was unsuccessful because Sheryl had to also hold onto them, which left Hannah and me pushing all the weight as well as steering.

Ah, yes - We love snow!!

Snow!!

NNJYO Orchestra

January has come and gone, and with it, several beautiful concerts. Here is a video of Sheryl's orchestra concert. This year she earned principle chair of the second violins (quite an honor). The concert culminated months of hard work. We hope you enjoy this condenscened version of the concert which many of you could not attend.