Jungle Boys

Sunday afternoons are pretty standard for us. We come home from church and change out of our church clothes; the little boys stripping down to their skivvies. Then we like eat something marvelously healthy like frozen pizza, followed immediately by what we’ve titled “Mandatory Nap Time,” meaning EVERYONE must nap before going over to Grandpa’s house for dinner.

Today the boys were strangely excited to be “Jungle Boys” (which is our personally coined term meaning no clothes except diapers/underwear…you know, like “Mogley” from “The Jungle Book”). After stripping David down to his diaper, he excitedly ran into the kitchen and very clearly said to Daddy “Daddy, wook, I a joogel boy.” Too cute.

My Jungle Boys

Eeeek!

I have to give my scary talk tomorrow in sacrament AND do singing time in Primary. I practiced my talk tonight and it's SEVENTEEN MINUTES LONG!! What the heck, when did I get so unecessarily verbose? Now I have to go back and figure out which parts to chop out so I won't be remembered as "that woman who made Sacrament run over..."

My singing time activity involves popping balloons, which I thought sure to be a success with the kiddos. I DIDN'T, however, think about how the noise factor might alarm people in the hallways. I guess we'll find out tomorrow!

Today, in Office Depot...

Stevie earnestly looks up and Steven and says "Daddy, I really think you should buy a laptop."

Whuuuuu?
Since when does he even know what a laptop is? He's 3 years old, for Pete's sake.

Me too, though.

Bummers, Talks & Nephews

We're not coming to Arlington this weekend. I am really bummed out, but it just didn't end up working. Steven got bogged down at work, I got asked to sub for singing-time in primary again, and Joey (my brother) ended up not having room for us anyway. Oh well. Now I won't have an excuse to skip the gym this week.

The first counselor of the bishopric came by about an hour ago to ask us to give a talk in Sacrament meeting THIS SUNDAY (HELLO?!!) And this isn't one of those listener-friendly talks, either. It's THE ADVESARY AND ENDURING TO THE END!! Hmmmmm...which delightful subject should I expound upon....suffering of the pioneers, perhaps? (It would serve them right).

My nephews came down with my sister-in-law for a visit this week. I had them spend the night with us last night so they could have a day to play with Stevie and David before they left. I love my nephews so much. They are such hilarious, fragile, irritating, beautiful little boys. I remember being there when Andrew was born, and now he's just had his 10th birthday! He's all arms and legs and enormous feet and big blue eyes. When Zack was born, he was 3 months premature, and I could hold him the palm of my hand. We worried so much that he would be held back in life because of his premature birth, but instead he's a thoughtful, quiet and perfect little 6year old. Stevie and David adore them both.

I don't spend a lot of time with my brother's family and so I don't get to see my nephews often. They tend to drive me crazy with talk of Star Wars but I love them so much, and I'm so glad that when we do get together, I can still hear them yell "MIMI!" and see them run to me with big hugs.

Feeling glum. And Sluggish. Miss home. Am awful, mean, mother who yells at her children. Skin looks like greasy pubescent teenager’s. House is a mess and have no desire to clean or cook for husband. Want to sleep with no dreams.

Progress, In the Form Of...

1) Finally had a very fun time last night socializing with some other sisters in the ward. It was Book Club night, and though the book was “Mansfield Park,” we hardly discussed it at all. In fact, the conversations got pretty salty for a bunch of Mormon gals (especially seeing as how the Relief Society President was heading up the more questionable banter!)

2) Went back to gym this morning, and did complete butt-kicking workout. And though I’m still a bit daunted by the beefmen, I DID enjoy a fabulous episode of “American’s Best Dance Crew” while doing cardio on the elliptical machine (Go Boogie Bots!)

3) Stevie made friends with our neighbors’ grandkids, and while they won’t be around permanently, at least we’ll have some kids to invite to his birthday party in September. We also met the family down the street who just HAPPEN to have a 3 year old boy just one month younger than Stevie. He hasn’t come over to play yet, but we’re just glad to know he’s there!

4) Steven bought the kids a play pool last night, and we actually got out doors and in the water for the first time since the Fourth of July. We stayed out there for TWO HOURS! The boys had a blast.

Lethargy

Not much to report. Besides doing Story Time this morning at the library, we did absolutely nothing. What’s worse, I didn’t even go to the gym. Considering the food I eat, this is a dangerous thing. This new gym is just a little hard to go to. Everyone there is either a hulking beefman (male) or a Size -2 (female) and they all seem to narrow their eyes hostilely at anyone who doesn’t live, eat and breathe working out. And what’s more, I never actually SEE these people working out. Mostly they just walk menacingly around the gym and congratulate each other on their ripped pecs and gluts.

Could this be the beginning of the end of exercising for me? It was so easy today to say, “No, I guess I won’t go today.” Goodness knows what size I’ll balloon to if I DO stop going.

You know, I just don’t FEEL like doing anything. I just want to sit around the house with the kids and read books all day. I find myself doing just that lately, and then scurrying around the house 30 minutes before Steven gets home to frantically clean and pretend like I’ve been productive. Either I’m having some kind of counter-attack from all the running-around I did in Arlington, or I’m just tired. of. going. out. It’s too hot. My boys are too hard to wrangle. It’s Wednesday. You name it, I’ve got an excuse.

A Galveston 4th in a Nutshell

Okay, so it didn’t have all the glorious pomp and circumstance of the famous Arlington 4th of July Parade. The Galveston parade was short and to the point, but they sure did give away lots of goodies! (Look closely and you’ll notice that many of the beads are left-overs from Mardi-Gras). Here is Stevie making the least patriotic face I've ever seen.
Afterwards, we visited the Railroad Museum and roamed around the old timey trains. They had free food, drinks, and even a bounce house for the kiddos! We decided to go the beach later that day, and I’ve titled this video “Why Little Boys Aren’t Effective Sand Castle Architects.”

The fireworks were really something else. We were able to get so close that I actually found ashes in David’s hair. We all loved the fireworks, and walked back to the car with a warm, fuzzy feeling (or was that the ashes in our clothes?)

A Few Catch-Up Tidbits...

After picking him up from the Kid Zone at the gym today, Stevie handed me his little paper that he made. On the back he had written this:
The kid can write his own name. Now this may not be advanced for a guy his age, or even unusual, but I can’t explain how proud it made me. He’s such a smart little guy, and he understands more and more every day.

(Donning a home-made cap made at yesterday’s Story Time.)
We went to the Kemah Boardwalk last night with my brother and dad. It’s a cute little place about 10 minutes away, and a great free place to go with the family. Just a regular ole boardwalk with where you can sit and watch boats on the water, or have some carnival-type fun with rides & games. Stevie rode the Balloon Ferris Wheel and had a blast. The views are very romantic, and I would love to go back on a date night with Steven (if we ever have another date night, that it).
The Standard Family Photo-Op
(could my dad's shirt BE any brighter?)

Two Gorgeous Guys

Stevie livin' it up on the Ferris Wheel

Tagged: His Story

Whats his name? Steven Joseph Grundberg, Sr.
How long have you been together? 6 years (wow, already??!!)
How long did you date? We dated for TWO YEARS, in PROVO!!! People were starting to tell us we needed to fish or cut bait (how considerate of them…)
How old is he? 35 this year!!! Born May 11, 1973.
Who eats more? Steven eats more but I often give him a run for his money (especially when I’m pregnant).
Who said I love you first? Steven did. He said it after we were dating just two weeks, and I think he thought I couldn’t hear him. But I did…and I remembered.
Who is taller? Steven is 6’3!!!
Who sings better? Okay, so maybe I can rip out an opera aria now and again, but nobody beats Steven when he’s singing a Temptations song. He has a beautiful singing voice and an amazing range!
Who is smarter? I’m not sure who actually has the higher IQ, but Steven does seem to know details on every conceivable subject in the world. Steven’s better at analytical thinking, and I’m better when it comes to communicating.
Who does the laundry? Me.
Who pays the bills? Steven does and I’m not quite sure when this happened. On day I just noticed that everything was already paid. And I like it.
Who sleeps on the right side? He does, but we might switch again, because I hate sleeping on the side by the door. I don’t know why.
Who mows the lawn? Steven LOVES doing yard stuff, but rarely has the time to do it the way he likes it. Just recently, the kids down the street mowed it for $15. We really need to buy a lawn mower…
Who cooks dinner? I do, partly because I consider it part of my job and partly because Steven knows I wouldn’t eat anything he made (he’s not a bad cook, I’m just psycho picky).
Who drives? He does, and I’m so glad. I enjoy just being the passenger. And besides, my driving makes him nervous (which is ridiculous, because he’s the psycho driver).
Who is more stubborn? He’s quietly stubborn, I’m loudly stubborn.
Who kissed who first? Steven kissed me first and I remember thinking at the time “Uh-oh, this guy’s a smoothie. He’s gonna break my heart.” But he didn’t. He called me the next day…at noon.
Who proposed? Steven technically proposed, but we decided to get married in May of 2001. He didn’t propose until September, that tease!
Who has more friends? Steven, hands down, has more friends. This is due to the fact that he’s never afraid to talk to anyone, and everyone he meets interests him.
Who is more sensitive? ME! I am constantly bewildering my husband with my incessant bouts of emotional basketcase-ism.
Who has more siblings? Steven is number 6 of 7 brothers and 1 sister. I just have 3 brothers.
Who wears the pants? I think do our share. As my father-in-law would say, the man is the head of the family, but the woman is the neck.

And now I tag Darcy, Bonnie & Julie