Fragile

"And we are so fragile,
And our cracking bones make noise,
And we are just, breakable, breakable, breakable girls and boys."
-Ingrid Michaelson, Breakable

So if the above is true, and I suspect it might be, then how does that affect the way we treat people? Should we be handling everyone with extreme care? Or should we break when the breaking is necessary, and just hope that from the breaks and tears people will become stronger, like muscles?

Festive Weekend

PHEW! I survived the weekend.

Friday morning I hosted the Christmas Party for David's preschool Co-op. Basically I gathered the kids, got them all jazzed up with present-related games and crafts and then stuffed them full of sugar. I'm sure their parents were thanking me...


Sunday morning was our Ward Choir Christmas sacrament program, and it other than a few little mix-ups, it went wonderfully. I'm really blessed to be in a ward with a TON of talented singers, and so our ward choir is outstanding.

While I love putting on these programs, they're very stressful. Because rehearsal time with the ward choir is limited, there are several musical numbers as well. And being the control freak that I am, I always worry that something will go wrong. And though a few things did, it was absolutely lovely (as usual). We sang the following pieces:

Ward Choir- Joy to the World (probably my favorite Christmas song of all time).
Men's Ensemble- Good Christian Men Rejoice (This was absolutely STUPDENDOUS! We had a dozen men up there singing A CAPPELLA, for crying out loud--and doing it all with musicality and dynamics. I was blown away)
Amber and Melanie- What Child Is This (Also lovely--they're voices blended perfectly)
Ward Choir- From Swaddling Wrap to Crimson robe (gotta love those schmaltzy triplets!)
Me, Steve, Christine and Rob- Jesus, Jesus Rest Your Head (I love this little song--and just about anything arranged by John Jacob Niles)
Ashley Crawley & Robin Osborn- When the Son of God Was Born (This was a father/daughter duo, and I'd never heard them before. Robin told me that when they practiced it sounded just like the recording, and he was RIGHT! It was amazing).
Congregation- The First Noel
Ward Choir- Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains (LOVE LOVE LOVE this bass part)
The Haddocks- Were You There on that Christmas Night? (They sang it as a family, IN HARMONY, and Steven accompanied on guitar. Very reverent and sweet).
Women's Ensemble- By Candlelight (women's voices always sound like angels to me--at least our ladies do).
Ward Choir- O Holy Night (our yearly constant. The text of this song never fail to move me).

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(Random picture of Melanie Livesay and me at Stake Choir practice)

That evening, we sang in the STAKE Christmas program, directed by our Stake Choir Directer, Paul Busselberg. Bro Busselberg is a professional choir director at San Jacinto college, and he and his wife are also professional singers. The program was an absolute joy to participate in. Paul arranged most of the pieces, and they were excellent. We even had hand bells and a small orchestra of SJC students.

This was an amazing experience for me. Since I have small children, I've always regretted not being able to join a community chorus, like the AMC in Arlington. But being under Paul's direction was just as wonderful, and probably better for us timewise (as it only happens once or twice a year). I made a point of telling him and his wife that they were NEVER to move out of stake boundaries.

I was telling someone that I feel like I have a little aesthetic cup inside of me. When it's on the low side, I usually start feeling a bit sluggish and think that maybe returning to work is the answer. Or maybe I start reading lovelier books or start fixating on art I love. But I have to say that after all the beautiful musical experiences I've had this weekend, I feel like my inner cup is overflowing. I'm so content.

Jake Sits Up!

Last night, Stevie and David decided that Jake needed to start sitting up NOW! So they coached him for about 5-10 minutes on the skill, and then VOILA! He figured it out and sat up by himself.


My kids always take a long time to sit up. Boy, did it worry me with Stevie. But by now I've just come to accept it as one of the Grundberg Kid idiosyncrasies (though I'll admit it still makes me nervous each time).


Go Jakie!

Santa Pictures and Tree Lighting

Last Thursday we took the kids to the library to see Santa. While we waited in line for 30 minutes, my children took up with some random boy who insisted on pointing out all the dirty pictures on the romance novels. It was charming.

I asked the boys what they wanted for Christmas and Stevie told me, "I'd like TWO good rollerskates. Two." So I guess I'll have to return that single, crappy one I got for him.

Here's the boys' official Santa picture. Could they look any more thrilled?


And I hate to be an Ebeneezer Scrooge, here, but League City pretty much phoned it in with their Santa this year. Look at this guy! You can see his gray moustache underneath the fake white beard.


Afterwards, I herded them into the reception area for some cookies and cider, where we bumped into Shani and the kids. Turns out we'd been waiting in the same line just feet from each other the entire time. So we took the opportunity to shoot a few Christmas photos of the kiddos.


Outside they had a really neat old timey fire engine that the kids could climb and play on. The kids loved it.


Stevie absolutely INSISTED I take this dudetastic picture.


Then we thought it'd be a good idea to precariously balance Jake on the front bumper.



Anyway, it was a cute little night. What can we say? We're suckers for Christmasy goings-on.

Bragging About My Kid

We had Stevie’s first parent teacher conference on Friday. His teacher told us that he was doing really well. She said that by the end of the year, kindergarteners were expected/required to read at a Level 3. Stevie is reading at a Level 8. His writing is also very good, and she expects to put him in the top reading group next semester.

She suggested that despite his score on the screening, we should go ahead and have him tested for the G.T. program. She told us that the questions and comments he makes demonstrate his level of comprehension and ingenuity.

Socially, she said he’s a very normal little boy---with corresponding ups and downs. He gets keyed up and over-dramatic at times, which usually gets him into trouble. But for the most part he gets along well with the other children and is a complete joy to teach.

(Heart swelling) That’s my boy.

Sleigh Bells Ring...

Um, not really. The weather was all over the place this weekend. But nonetheless, Thanksgiving is over, and so we've officially strewn our house in lights, garland and the general froufrouery of the season.

This year we literally got the tree out of the box on Thanksgiving Day. And it wasn't even ME who was egging everyone on--it was the little boys this year. It's harder for Daddy to say no to them then it is to me. And so out came the christmas decorations.



We quickly noticed, however, that due to Jake's increasing mobility, we'll have to be extra careful this year. He was under that tree messing with ornaments in no time flat.


The next few days were dedicated to Christmas lights. On the street one over from ours, everyone puts up these homemade latern lights in their yard--comprised of PVC pipe and 2-liter bottles.


I decided to jump on the train and do it this year--and it was definitely not a walk in the park! But we had fun working together in the yard to put it together.







But looks pretty neat, and the kids are happy.



Who am I kidding, I'M happy--I just love multi-colored lights. And that's supposed to be the Star of Bethlehem at the top there, even though it's a little blurry.

(Just as a sidenote, as I write this, I'm watching Jake LITERALLY try to get up on his two feet. Unsuccessfully, but still, very impressive for 8 months. Now if he would only sit up...)s.

Thanksgiving Day

This year, Joey and Lee offered to have Thanksgiving Dinner at their beautiful house in historic Galveston. I was thrilled. I knew that Joey was a great cook and that their home is always gorgeous. Plus, that meant an absolutely no-stress dinner for me. I just cooked up my faux cherry cheesecake, a banana pudding and some twice-baked potatoes and I was FINISHED. It was glorious.

Here's Joey and Lee setting out some food. They made a turkey breast, a rib roast (a Howsley tradition), green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, stuffing and pumpkin pie. Steve was in heaven.


Dad, Steven and the boys goofed off in the sitting room while preparations were still being made. Dad and David are pretty good buddies.



Steven looks pretty severe in this picture, but Jakie's had a pretty good time...


This was a more accurate portrayal of Steve's mood...

Dad, of course, carved the roast. It was mouth-wateringly delicious...

Joey and Lee in their gorgeous kitchen.

The table setting was beautiful, too. Absolutely perfect.

After our bellies were unforgiveably full, we all poked around looking through Black Friday ads. Jakie was tired out beyond belief.

I included this picture because of the maniacal look on my face as I'm marveling over the Black Friday deals. (Steven actually went this year. We got tons of deals---all while I was snuggly asleep in my bed).

It was one of the best Thanksgivings I've had in a long time. And I just found out that in addition to Adam and Jackson, now Jeff is bringing HIS brood down for Christmas day! So we'll (almost) all be together for Christmas! I feel so giddy about it. I love my family so much.

Thanksgiving Eve

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Dad and Steven got off work at 2pm. So Dad suggested that we come down and have a late lunch together. He also said he'd left a "present" for the boys at the door.

When we let ourselves in to his house, here's what we found:

BUBBLE WRAP! And it even came in a cool box.

Stevie lost no time in completely enveloping himself in the bubble wrap, so as to enhance it's "pop-piness." (Please don't show CPS this picture)

Grandpa's house is famous for his extensive Lincoln Log collection. The boys are always clamoring to play with them, and so I purposely haven't bought any so it can be Grandpa's special thing. While I was straightening up the house, I checked in on the boys and discovered they'd created a whole little village.

When Daddy and Grandpa arrived, they were equally impressed.

After playtime, Dad took us out to Salsa's in Galveston. The boys of course insisted on posing on top of the ceramic horses.



I had some kind of insanely delcious snapper with a cream sauce, and I about died and went to heaven. It was such a pleasant, happy atmosphere and we all had such a good time together. I love my awesome little family.

Popular

One time, as we were all clamoring around her for attention, my mother told me with an ironical smile, "Sometimes it's a little hard to be so popular."

I was telling Steven (Sr.) about that today. When he gets home from work, all 4 of us are immediately in his face, kissing him, tackling him, wanting to know details of his day and dying to tell him the details of ours. I mentioned my mom's comment and insinuated he must feel similarly when he first gets home every day.

He grinned. "Naaah," he said, "I like it. It's my own personal fame and fortune."

Well, we're happy to be part of his entourage. I love that man.

School Thanksgiving Celebrations

Wow. Stevie's school really celebrates Thanksgiving. A ton.

Tuesday afternoon was the school Thanksgiving "Feast." All the parents are invited to eat the feast with their kiddos in the school cafeteria. The feast consists of cafeteria style turkey slabs, globs of mashed potato substance, and a questionable looking piece of pumpkin pie. As you can imagine, I was in culinary hell, but I tried to take it all in stride.

Here is Stevie in all his Thanksgiving glory. He opted to go with four perfectly spaced blue feathers for his headband--an interesting and brave choice.


Here's a photo of the three fellas. David is going through this thing where he refuses to smile in pictures. Instead he gives a nonchalant (but slightly irritated) stare. (Do you see the mashed potato glop?)


I really meant for this next picture to be of all three of us, but Jakie's monstrous cranium didn't make the cut...


So I put him in the next one, but he was more interested in eating Stevie's nametag.


And this is a picture of David leaning on a rock. Not related, but he absolutely INSISTED that I take this picture at the library yesterday.


Today was the All-Kindergarten Thanksgiving "Snack." Why this is necessary, I'll never know, but the kids certainly enjoyed it, which of course made it very worth it.



He's such a little stinker. But he gave me a huge hug before his class had to leave, and that made me very glad I came. I'm very thankful for Stevie Grundberg. And David Grundberg, for that matter. And don't get me STARTED on Jake...