Brougham Family Blog

2007 Holiday Letter to Family and Friends

2007-12-19T13:11:00.001-08:00

Another year has gone by, busier than ever. So much for my plan to update this blog monthly, or even quarterly. *:?) At least I'm here now! Without further ado, here is our year-in-review, 2007 edition. Hope all is well with all of you, and to hear/see news from you soon!

G (pink coat), J (UO Ducks coat), the school principal, the school admin, and several Kindergarten and Third Grade friends, at the Portland Spirit "Cinnamon Bear Cruise" we won at the 2007 Auction.

Click here for a special holiday greeting from our two Favorite Elves!

NOTE: The video clips below will download to your computer's temp folder before playing. Patience! This can take a minute or two. (I didn't do the dial-up size this year — sorry!)

WINTER

2007 started off with several snowfalls, some of which stuck more than others. I, of course, love the snow and wish Portland would go back to the weather patterns of a hundred years ago, when scenes like the one at right were the norm in winter. { SIGH } The kids love it, too, although mainly because they get to miss school and have extra cocoa rations.

The next January thing is always J's birthday. This year, we had it at our house, and invited all the Second Grade boys. I think that's the last time we'll do that!! LOL! It was a lot of fun, though, with Star Wars decorations everywhere, and even a pinata. The weather cooperated, so the boys were able to run around outside and shoot baskets, have football scrimmages, or climb on the play structure, all of which they did with gusto. Plus, J decided of his own accord to donate his gifts to charity. We collected a huge stack, which T took to a local shelter for women and children escaping from abusive family situations. Because J did this on his own, we made up for it by giving him a Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer set. The thing has 1,366 pieces, and of course, he put it together in something like a day. *:?)

The rest of the winter passed in a blur of Auction preparations, school and preschool functions, and G's first ever "official" Gymnastics Show. She did really well, and had tons of fun. This year (2008), her teacher has handpicked her current group to be in the show again, and is posting a "secret" class that only these ten girls will be allowed to register for. We're very excited, and can't wait to see what they wind up performing. G also wants to start ice skating lessons, and has expressed interest in skiing. No surprises there!

Click here to watch the melee (a.k.a., How to Get Candy Out of Darth Vader's Head):Win Media / QuickTime

Click here to watch G's final Preschool Christmas Program (G is in dark blue dress; her BFF Allie is in the red beside her, behind the girl with the big skirt):Win Media / QuickTime

SPRING

In March, we made a jaunt to the Oregon Coast for some whale watching. We thought we saw a few "spouts" going up into the air, but they all appeared to be moving offshore by the time we got there. Still, the weather was amazing, and we're thinking of doing an actual boat trip next time.

Other than Easter and my birthday (and the school's annual Fitness Challenge), the next major thing we had was J's First Communion. I taught his class, which was so rewarding, and we were so proud of him. Afterwards, we celebrated at Maria's house, since she is like a cousin to us. Grandma came, of course, as did J's godparents, and their three boys (including twins born on January 26 — the dad's birthday is actually the 25th, same as Joshua! *:?)).

Click here to watch G's first Gymnastics Show (she's the one w/short hair and pink on her costume):Win Media / QuickTime

Click here to watch J's spring piano recital:Win Media / QuickTime

SUMMER

At the end of May, a few weeks before school got out, our beloved Husky, Sitka, developed a strange lump on her throat. After weeks of multiple surgeries to investigate it, and inserting a very uncomfortable tube to drain it, it was getting harder and larger, and she was clearly not doing well. We made the difficult decision to end it for her peacefully in early July, a month before her 10th birthday.

There's a huge hole in our lives and our hearts where she used to be, but I have to say, now that Chelsea is an only dog, not living in Sitka's rather dominant shadow, her own sweet personality is coming out in spades. Plus, she has the Bladder of Steel — unlike Sitka, who needed to go potty all day, everyday, Chelsea can apparently hold it forever. Seriously. We have to make her go out in the morning and before bedtime. Usually, when we open the door, she just looks at us like we're insane and backs away!

On a happier note, this year G had a Gymnastics Birthday Party, which we also won at the Auction. It was so much fun, watching her and all her friends, boys and girls alike, swinging from the ropes into the "pit of foam", or jumping along the bouncy walkway, or playing in the ball house.

Later in July, we had a wonderful, but too-brief, visit from T's Aunt and Uncle, who stopped by on their way back from a visit to the Tri-Cities, where they spent time with T's Great Uncle Emmett shortly before he died. Although it was a sad occasion, it was so wonderful to see family — up here, no less! (HINT. *;?))

The week after their visit, we went on our annual parish campout, and won a YURT for next year! Good thing, as 2007 was horrible, weather-wise. Not making this up — so many families went home early that our priest actually moved the Saturday Mass up five hours to give folks a chance to pack up, attend, and then run for home. It was bitterly cold and wet, and the wind was so bad that people's tents were either flooded, ripped, or both. (I want to have t-shirts made up that say "I Survived Campout '07". *;?))

Then, a couple of weeks after that, I found out I was being laid off from my job of 8.5 years. I was immediately thrown into job hunting in all of my non-existent "spare" time, on top of not being able to find anyone to co-chair the 2008 Auction. All in all, it was an extremely stressful summer, and while I did find another job, it's a big pay cut, which has put huge financial strain on our already strapped state. Plus I no longer telecommute, which is a big adjustment. It's a wonder I'm updating this blog or sending out cards at all. *:?)

FALL

In September, J entered Third Grade, and G started Kindergarten! *:?) They are both doing great, although it's been a busy few months. J is on the swim team again, and also decided to play — drumroll, please — basketball! Yes! If you can't remember why we're so excited, I'll tell you. *:?) The fact that he can do any kind of impact sport at all is only because his Perthes is basically done!! He's still in the "healing" phase, and may be for several more years. But his doctor has cleared him for all physical activity, as long as he doesn't experience pain doing it! His hips are doing great, and it looks like there will be minimal long-term effects from this whole ordeal. Thank God!!

In other news, his math is still off the charts. When the school Learning Specialist came back from maternity leave and saw his score on a new assessment test they did at the start of the year, she emailed his teacher to make sure it wasn't a typo! (He got 43; the class average was 16, and no one else scored over 21 or 22!) I have a meeting with her and his teacher in January, to see what we can do long-term to challenge him. I had this same conversation 15 months ago with his Second Grade teacher, and here we are again. I'd like to not go through it every time he gets a new teacher!

Click here to watch G playing in the Giant Leaf Pile:Win Media / QuickTime

Click here to watch J win a backstroke swim race (he's in the second lane, in the red goggles):Win Media / QuickTime

G is loving school, and is already learning to read. In fact, she reads and spells so well now, we can't spell words in front of her to try to keep our conversation a secret! As noted above, she's taking gymnastics again, and we may add soccer or something similar in the spring. After the Auction, which is creeping up on February 23, 2008. I can't wait to be done with that! Then maybe I can get on with some of my own stuff.

Speaking of which, I haven't had much time to write. I'm about half done with my latest WIP (work-in-progress), a comedic romantic suspense set in the middle of the California desert. It's garnered a few requests from editors, but I haven't heard back from any of the partials (three chapters + synopsis) I've sent out, so we'll see.

T is still working for the City, at the Bureau of Development Services. He's also still working on remodeling our downstairs. It's coming along — he has a bit more sheetrocking to do, then we need to mud and paint and decide what to do about the floor. Then I can finally go pick out storage (I want to have a built-in wall of shelves, cupboards and drawers, to store books and games, display knick-knacks, etc.), and after that, we can move the pool table, computer and other furniture that's been sitting in our garage for over a year back inside and see if we actually have room for it all!! *:?)

Click here to watch G and her friends dancing at a "Pirate Cheerleader" birthday party (every girl should go to at least one of those!; G is the one in white w/polkadots):Win Media / QuickTime

Click here to watch J playing in his first CYO Basketball Jamboree — four 20 minute games in three hours (he's #4):Win Media / QuickTime

Well, I think that about does it for 2007. I'm sure I'll think of other things I should have shared, after I post this. *:?) In closing, I found this prayer online, and it seems apt, for all the things we're all going through:

Christmas Prayer

Lord, in this holy season of prayer and song and laughter, we praise you for the great wonders you have sent us: for shining star and angel's song, for infant's cry in lowly manger. We praise you for the Word made flesh in a little Child. We behold his glory, and are bathed in its radiance.

Be with us as we sing the ironies of Christmas, the incomprehensible comprehended, the poetry made hard fact, the helpless Babe who cracks the world asunder. We kneel before you, shepherds, innkeepers, wisemen. Help us to rise bigger than we are.

Amen.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all — God bless us, everyone! *:?)

Welcome!

2006-12-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of other things. Like a personal blog for the Brougham Family! To get things started, here's two pix I took of the kids on Christmas Eve, followed by our Christmas letter below.

NOTE: The video clips below will download to your computer's temp folder before playing. Patience! This can take a minute or two. If you choose the "Dial-Up" size, it's faster, but the clips are postage-stamp tiny.

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas!:?)

We're all doing really well. We had a busy year, filled with piano, swim team and school (for J), and gymnastics, gymnastics (she took two classes at once:?)) and preschool (for G). Here's my shot at a recap:

Winter

We started out the year by having J's birthday party at a local rock climbing gym. We invited all the boys in his class, and one of our "adopted cousins," Sam, came down to visit also. Here are two pix (and yes, he made it to the top! G almost did, too):

Spring

In March, St. Clare School had their annual talent show. If you haven't seen the new Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the one with Johnny Depp), this might not be as funny for you. Joshua and three of his friends decided to do what they called the "Oompa-Loompa Dance" — a.k.a. the Augustus Gloop song. Michael G. (whose idea it was) choreographed the whole thing; Chandler's mom sewed the costumes; Ben's mom made the "peppermint sticks," and Maman suggested the synchronized swimming formation and bought the movie.:?)Keep in mind that these are first graders — this video clip doesn't do them justice. Suffice it to say, they stole the show. Joshua is in the foreground; his best friend, Ben, is next; then Chandler and Michael G. (who will always be Michael G., even if Michael C. leaves the class:?)).

Click here to watch the Oompa-Loompas:Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

The next big thing was Easter, which we celebrated at a good friend's house. They have a huge, beautiful property, right in the middle of a very populated area (about a mile from our house) — just right for a big egg hunt. The Easter Bunny even dropped by.

Summer

Summer always seems to start with G's birthday, which we had this year at Chuck E. Cheese (or "Chock E. Cheese" as she pronounces it). Right after that was J's piano recital at which — gasp! — Maman performed a duet with him. (This is Maman's first live piano performance since seriously messing up in her own 7th grade talent show.:?))

Click here to watch (and listen) to Joshua solo:Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

Click here for the duet:Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

August saw our first family trip to Disneyland, where we were joined by Sam and his Mommy (Becky) and Daddy (Dale). We had a fabulous time, and Maman even got an idea for her next book (Maman says: I'd tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill you, and well, that wouldn't be good, now would it?;?)).

Fall

Right after that, school started again. J is now in second grade, but has a third grade math book he does "for fun" at bedtime. He swears he wants to, and who are we to disagree? The teachers are worried, though, wondering what they're going to do when he finishes Calculus in the sixth grade.:?)His Perthes disease is going really well — there's no way to predict for sure, but we think he may be done with it in another 18 months or so. At his last check-up, the bone degeneration had "bottomed out", so to speak, and the blood supply was clearly coming back. The sides of the top of the femur were still vertical, protecting the shape of the bone, so there's a very good chance it will grow back essentially normal, and he won't need surgery.

Separated at birth? This is our friend, Maria, who is in J's class. She and G wore these dresses to the School Christmas Program without any pre-planning — and she already feels like a sibling to us. (She's our carpool buddy, and her Mom and Maman are starting a business together — more on that in the coming months;?)). Plus, we lucked out and got front row seats (incredible! seriously — at the Auction, front pew for this, Christmas Mass, and the Preschool Winter Program can go for hundreds of dollars — not making this up!), and therefore had an unobstructed view for filming. So...

To watch his class singing, click here (J is in front wearing white; Ben is in the red sweater, looking très caszh):Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

Meanwhile, G is in the Pre-K class at her preschool, and is Ms. Active with a Capital A. (Lots of them!) Gymnastics is the perfect outlet for her — she can get all her "wigglies out" (her words), and Maman and Grand-mère get to take the dogs for a walk along the bike trail while she's in class.

Click here to watch G doing her favorite animal walk, Dog with a Broken Leg (she's in all black, on the left):Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

And click here to see the future slalom champ of the 2022 Winter Olympics:?):Win Media / QuickTime / Dial-Up

G, J and Maria were all in the Children's Christmas Choir (look for the Santa hat in the middle — that's J; G is the Santa hat in the foreground), and say they want to keep going throughout the year. This means rehearsals one Saturday per month, and then a "performance" at the monthly Children's Masses our parish is starting. Fun!

T still loves his job (see link at left), and Maman is still being a Mom, working, co-chairing J's school auction, and occasionally even writing. Her first romantic suspense novel has finalled in four of the five contests it was entered in (and may in the fifth, also — we'll know in April). Now if someone will just publish it...!:?)She's 100% telecommuting now — the new-old joke is: "I need jammy bottoms and slipper socks — in other words, work clothes.";?)It's hard to work from home, because it can often feel (and look) like Maman is working all the time. But the flexibility is amazing, and gives her the freedom to do so many other things that it's worth it.

Whew! That pretty much brings us up-to-date. Maman has high ambitions, the plan being to come back here once or twice a month and post some news, photos and videos. We hope you'll check back in, and leave us some comments — we'd love to hear from you!

Hope you're all doing well! See you next year!:?)

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