2014 League City Stake Broadway Review - "A Trip to Broadway"

 This year, our stake tried something a little different....

Our first ever stake-wide Broadway revue.  I had the opportunity to be the musical director for the show.  It was a TON of work, but I can honestly say it was probably the most fun I've had in a very long time.  I can not believe the incredibly amount of musical talent we have in our stake.  I'm glad we got to put it to good use.  We had huge audiences at all three showings -- close to 800 people attended the show!  We're crossing our fingers that they'll let us do it again next year.

"Magic to Do" from Pippin.  Steven was "Humor."  It was the opening number.

A few of the fellas from "There Is Nothin' Like a Dame" in the hallway before the show.

"There is Nothin' Like a Dame" from South Pacific

This number was so hilarious---the audience loved it!  And Steven was fantastic, of course.

"You're a Grand Old Flag" from Yankee Doodle Dandy.  This was the finale for Act I.

A few ladies from "Belle" right before the performance.

"Belle" from Beauty and the Beast.  This was probably my favorite number we worked on.  You can see me in the back arguing with the baker (H. D. Maddocks).

I think Chris Reeder and I did a great job being nosey small town biddies.

"Hello, Dolly!" from Hello, Dolly!  Kate Reeves was born to play Dolly.

 "Bosom Buddies" from Mame.  Neither Steven and I were in this number, but it WAS my all time favorite number in the show.  These ladies really landed their zingers perfectly!  

The "Suddenly Seymour" girls before the show.

Steven and I played Seymour and Audrey in "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors.

"We Go Together" from Grease  was our show finale.  

  

The entire cast after the show.  I love these people so much!

Glad I found my own Seymour (though mine is actually way cooler in real life).

Here's the video of Steven and I singing Suddenly Seymour. 

First Day of School

Steven is in 3rd grade!

David is in 2nd grade!

This will obviously be a year for awkward, forced smiles in pictures.

Jacob's getting in on the picture-taking action!

Feeling a bit anxious being in his classroom for the first time.

Alright, Mom, you can go now.

Stevie is studiously ignoring  his embarrassing mother.

He was good enough to give us a good-bye nod.  I'll take it.  Love these boys.

DAVID IS 7!

POST UNDER CONSTRUCTION

COUSINS!

In August, Jeff brought his crew down for a visit.  It's amazing to see all the boys together---they're all growing so fast!  Daddy had 7 grandkids in his home at once (including David, who is a new member of Jeff's family this  year).  It was nice to see Deffy and visit with family.

This is all the cousins there were in Dec. 2006.  Stevie, Andrew, Zack and baby David.

These are all the grandkids in August 2013!!  Andrew, David D., Zack, Stevie, David, Jake and little Grace.

I love my family.

Look how teeny I look compared to these enormous men!  I just can't believe how tall my family is.  How did I get to be such a shortie again?

Swimming

We went to the pool this summer every.  single.  day.  Except on Sundays and Tuesdays when it was closed.  I find it's a great place to keep all my monkeys active and thoroughly entertained (and cool---because it was a billion degrees every day this summer).

He looks so fantastic in this picture---absolutely flying.  Don't want to think about how it felt when he landed, though.

Stevie in mid-flip.  He and David got pretty good at them this summer.

My little water bug.  She started out the summer in a baby-float, but didn't love the lack of independence. 

Once I put her in a water wings she was happy as a clam.  She would even jump in the pool from the side by the end (and I use the term "jump" loosely.  She doesn't exactly know how to jump yet, and so mostly she'd just bend her knees theatrically and fall into the pool).

Jacob made considerable progress this summer!  He's finally learned to swim on his own.  He was going off the diving board and down the slide in the deep end all summer long.  It's so nice to have him swimming so I don't have to feel worried about him at the pool.

Here he is in one of his Geronimo-style jumps!

Stevie slip-slidin' away.

I spent a lot of time with this lady in the pool this summer.  We had a weekly Thursday-pool play date and I loved them.  Love her, love her kids, just all around loved Thursdays.

A picture of my sweetie in her cute little swim-suit.  It was already a bit too short for her by the end of the summer.

All of the soppin-wet Grundbergs!

Fourth of July

This year for Fourth of July we attended a Ward picnic in the morning---lovely to eat food that wasn't made by me! 

Afterwards, we celebrated by going to the League City Citizen Appreciation Day festival, where we jumped in jump houses, rode ponies, petted filthy farm animals, got face (temporary) tattoos and ate free hot dogs and cotton candy!

We finished up the day by driving out to Nassau Bay Park with the Goits and the Greenfields.  The view of the water was gorgeous and it was the perfect place to watch fireworks with good friends.

All the kiddos hanging with their friends.

There was a little dachshund there that Gracie could not get enough of.  She would have pet that dog the entire night if we'd let her.

My gorgeous sons.

Miss Gracie in all her blingy glory.

We were right by the water, and the kids had a good time balancing on the rocks and scaring us all to death.

Jake was on cloud 9 because we were letting him drink sodas out of a can. 

E was playing little mama to Gracie and helping us keep her from jumping in the water.

Me officially 40 lbs lighter after having Grace.  Not finished, but getting there!

Goofiest man ever.

Father's Day June 2013

On Father's Day this year, we had our annual Rib Dinner and invited Dad, Joey and Lee. 

After-dinner snuggle with Miss. Gracie.

All the Howsleys in the vicinity.  Love these men!

Joey taught the boys how to do Cartwheels in the backyard after dinner.

Our Daddy.  He's the bestest, handsomest, funniest Daddy in the universe.