Good Times this Week

Jennah played Joseph in the Christmas play done by the children of the St. Anne's Episcopal Church. She was a special invite.
The set was made like an advent calendar. Cute idea.
The costumes were very pleasing.
And the singing was a delight.

We had to make our way to the Methodist church directly after St. Anne's for the candlelight service. The entire family was there together (except I was in the balcony playing and singing). After the hour-long service ended, all six kids came up to see me in the balcony and touch the organ. Hee! Nate jokingly said to me, "If I had to come here for church I think I'd kill myself." Not very nice to say, but funny. It probably had a little bit to do with the fact that we sang every single verse to all the Christmas hymns we had in the service (not my decision).
We had a LOT of snow dumped on us last weekend. That was fun. It's still out there, but melting.
Luke and Nate thought they had died and gone to heaven! I think they worship God better in this kind of setting verses sitting in the pews.
They came up with all kinds of creative ways to play in the snow and give their praises to the Lord.
Outdoor decorating was simple this year. There was no need to frost the windows. It was done al natural.
We got about 20" but the drifts were another whole story.
Noah was not very happy... until potty trails were made for him. He was saying, "I am getting too old for this kind of nonsense." Of course has gone sled riding with the kids every single time. He even trample EliZabeth as he followed her down the hill going at a faster pace then her sled. Darn that gravity.


We had our first home game (basketball) just before the vacation began. The CHEERLEADERS were awesome!!! The basketball team is still waiting for their talents to get into focus and kick into gear. I adore them, no matter what.

There was a lovely Christmas Luncheon held by the amazing Student Council aka The Pink Panthers. I was completely unfocused that day (and all week), but it was a wonderful event, regardless of where my mind was.
I also played volleyball on the teachers' team. Teachers vs. Seniors. Seniors beat us. (They must have cheated--haha).
The girls had fun goofing off.


And then it was Christmas morn. Caleigh was up first, looking for her presents.
She didn't know about the Wii but I think she probably checked out all of her other presents beforehand. She has been one of the best Wii players out of all of us--although she has the poorest sportsmanship! This will be a great learning curve for her. Who knew that a Wii could be such a great character builder and educational tool. (Ow, my arm hurts from playing tennis).


Luke and Nate can finally protect their heads when they snowboard, although it may be a little late for that.

Everyone loved their gifts from Nana and Papa ($$).

As for me... I absolutely LOOOOOVVVVE my new pajama bottoms from Old Navy. I could wear them for daze on end... and maybe I will. It was a gift from the kids, that I actually purchased. Good move.

What were some of your favorite moments and/or gifts for Christmas?

Christmas Comments from the Peanut Gallery

Caleigh: Mom, Jennah won't let me sleep in the family room tonight. She doesn't want me to see her presents because they're not wrapped.

Me: Jennah, do you want me to wrap them?

Jennah: Nope!

****

Me: Caleigh, Santa won't come until you are fast asleep in your bed.

Caleigh: I don't believe in Santa, anyway.

Me to Terry: When did that happen?

Caleigh: You just write, "Blah blah blah, From Santa" on the presents yourself. I already know that.

****

Anika: Hey Mom, how come you never made a big deal about Santa when we were growing up?

Me: Um... ??? ... I guess we just didn't want Christmas to be all about Santa, so we didn't talk about him much. Are you upset about that?

Anika: YAH!

Me: Awwwwwwwww Anikaaaaaaaa [hugs hugs hugs] You poor deprived child!!!

Anika: Did your parents leave Santa out when you were growing up?

Me: No. But when you are the 5th child of 6, there isn't much time left to believe in Santa. The older brothers kind of ruin it by showing you were all the presents are hidden.

****
After tonight's Christmas Eve Service, where I was completely frazzled and doing the very best I could, considering my day...


Caleigh: Mom, you did good tonight! But some of the singers were way off. They weren't singing with you at all (of course I am way up in the balcony with no microphone).

Amos, the lay leader at the FEHUMC where I play the organ: Hey Karen, you seemed a little off tonight (said in front of all my kids, my husband and the pastor).

Me: ... [smirk] Yeaaaa... um...

Pastor Juhye: You were the busiest person here tonight, Karen. Thank you so much. I hope you enjoy the gift I gave you, Merry Christmas.

Marilyn: Karen, thank you for your wonderful talents. Here is a little gift ($50) from the ladies of FEHUMC.

Me(later at home): *#%$&@#* (cussing Amos out several times in my mind... and finally giving way to a good cry for about 20 minutes... what a jerk).

****

Me: I'm now happily listening to The Christmas Story on TV. I think I'll go watch.

Merry Christmas!!!

Cannot Wait for Disco Night in February

Here's a little help with some dance moves...


If the Chinese prisoners can do it...


I'll leave you with a real goodie!

It Doesn't Take Much...

I've always found myself bent towards being loud and crazy and goofing off. All I need is a few friends who will join me and WATCH OUT! haha
I got a touch of whiplash from this dance move. Raul was helping me perform it with GUSTO. (That green thing Ronnie is posing with is NOT a dance pole people. Get your minds out of the gutter. HAHA. It was a very tall, tropical tree--a rubber tree or something).

Somehow, Lillian grabbed this picture just while my hair turned green!!

Anyway, this was Minerva's birthday party. She rocks!! The house was packed with a variety of her and Joe's friends. They were very busy hosting and taking care of everyone's needs, between food and beverages and new garbage bags and music selections and conversation. They were tiring me out just watching them, so I, along with Ronnie and Raul, had to take care of one thing for them--ENTERTAINMENT!!! Big stretch there! HAHA

I've thought a few times about this party over the past several daze. I was reminded of a time when I threw a party for a friend many years ago, and it was a rather big one. I kind of did it single-handedly for some reason. Leading up to the party, and during the party, I was completely overwhelmed. After that, I vowed never put myself through that again--where I am running and running and running, trying to take care of serving the entire party... preparing, cooking, cleaning up, and not having any time to spend with my dear friends who came... some from quite a distance even. I must socialize! Who cares about the rest.

We still have parties. All the time. We just make sure to invite people who don't need to be served... people who can feel comfortable enough to get things themselves... people who bring food and drinks... especially people who help clean up (LOL), and people who like to entertain each other! I just tell everyone, "PARTY AT THE HOCHSTEDLER'S BUT I'M NOT IN CHARGE!" This paragraph just makes me smile!!!

I wish I had a few more pictures from Minerva's party (hint hint Lil). At one point several of us found out that the firepit in the backyard was burning (JOE'S STROKE OF GENIUS) and as the wood was burning up rather quickly, Nicki decided to toss me one end of her scarf to perform smoke signals. "Need more wood!" The problem was, we were doing it wrong and all the big clouds of smoke were going right into Nicki's face. She almost died of asthma right there on the spot. (Sorry Nicki). Milena and I decided to take matters into our own hands and forrage the neighborhood. HAhaha. The streets were full of leaf piles and branches--waiting for the town pickup--so we decided to make their job just a little easier on Wickatuck St. We dragged HUGE piles of branches up the hill, to the firepit. It was a riot. Everyone helped break up the branches and we kept that fire going for at least another hour.

Good times. Good times. Ooh. Joe and Minerva had Trophyman (our bowling trophy) on display in a special protected glass plastic dome case on the piano, but somehow, in their busyness of serving all their friends, trophyman was stolen [GASP] AGAIN!!! And like an expert thief, a buddah statue of approximately the same weight and size was put in Trophyman's place under the domed-case so all the alarms wouldn't be triggered. No one has seen or heard of Trophyman's whereabouts since.

Next party is on Sunday. It's our family Christmas hosted at our house. It's going to be a fun time. I can't wait to see everyone--it's been a while. And to eat some filet mignon. YEA!! I wonder what kind of entertaiment will ensue on that lovely evening. Hee

For the Grandparents' Good Pleasure

Since both sets of grandparents live 1000+ miles away and can't always be here for those school performances, I'll post pictures. Trust me when I say you wouldn't neccesarily want an audio clip (oops). It wasn't a difficult performance to endure. It was sweet and cute and lovely, but the pictures probably do the kids far more justice. HAHAH. Oh, if I could only get my chance to teach music to these kids! sshhhhh

Madi came over to get ready with Elizabeth.

The traditional Prek-12th grade concert night was finally split into a two-night performance. I thought it was a brilliant administrative decision. Thank you Mr. Pryor.

Caleigh wasn't dressed up here because she performed on the first night, while the other four Hochstedler's performed on the second Night (Jennah performed both nights--go Jennah).

Above is Elizabeth's choir--4th-6th grade.

Jennah performed with her French class a song from South Pacific. I accompanied on the piano.(What?? No pic of the accompianist??? Sheesh)

Lizzy played her clarinet, as did Anika, but I wasn't in a place where I could see Anika.

Nate played the saxophone. Go NATE!

The band includes 4th grade beginners thru 12th grade. It's a great challenge for the director to get the young ones far enough along in their skill level, as well as to keep the veterans interested in simplier music that everyone can handle. Challenges of a small public school. Go Mr. Elliott.

Jennah played with the Marimba group and they got to perform both nights. They were fantastic!

Anika and Jennah sang with the 7th thru 12th grade choir (even though there are no 12th graders--and I don't blame them).

Santa came to the concert on the first night. Gotta love having a santa picture together with the superintendent. LOL!!!

Thumbs up! Lizzy and Madi got in on the action--they just wanted a candy cane.

Awwww--Caleigh so WANTS to believe in Santa. She just doesn't get much support at home. HAHA.

This was the first night for the marimbas. Go Jennah! I do wish I had a video clip of them playing.

Caleigh and all her 2nd grade classmates were very serious about their performance.

Prek thru 2nd grade. (Second graders could have done a few amazing numbers alone. I know, because I taught them Musikgarten for about 8 weeks last year).

Annabel and Jennah made announcements about the Student Council's food drive.

Here's the Hochstedler Musical Gang!

Handsome Nate in his brother's suit! He loves to dress up.

Beautiful Caleigh, who asked Santa for a pair of flats for Christmas, but her mom got them for her early. She had to take them on and off about 15,000 times that night.

Hope Nana and Papa, Grandma and Grandpa were able to enjoy this little picture album of their Christmas performances. ;-)

I Hate Decorating

Seriously! Everything has been fine for the past few weeks, according to my stress level. A lot was going on, but I have been handling it without freakouts. And even the way that Terry non-chalantly brought home the Christmas tree (at my request) and my bringing forth the decorations from the basement was not stressing me out--although I did find it funny that it was I who carried all 5 bins up the stairs myself. No matter. Call me Olga. I am strong!! That was all fine and dandy.

My notions of making the decorating time a fun-family-time went out the door when Elizabeth departed town on the 7 AM train to the city with the outdoor club, Anika had CPR training from 10-3, Jennah had volleyball practice 12:30-2:30, then play practice 3:30-5, and then a birthday party 6:30-9:30, Caleigh went to her friends house 12:30-4, and the boyz slept until 1 pm. Plus it was about 25 degrees outside and Terry didn't have the same "notions" I did. He was much more compartmentalized. Once I brought the 40 lb tree stand up from the basement, he brought the tree in from the outdoors and we got it all locked into the stand. Then, when I brought up the bin with lights, he wanted to get those on the tree right away. So we did that. Caleigh was around. She, of course, wanted to help. After I brought up the other bins I showed her which boxes had the ornaments and she began dressing the tree. We, being the types that don't like to leave a project undone, went at it for the next hour until all the silly ornaments were placed somewhere. I think it was the Christmas music and hearing Caleigh and Anika sing all of the songs.... That was a touch of delight.

Jennah came home from play practice and said, "YOU ALREADY DECORATED IT????" Oops. I don't think she even knew we had gotten the tree, let alone decorated it all while she was at play practice. I totally forgot that we were supposed to wait to decorate until Sunday, when Jennah and Elizabeth could help. I suggested that we could remove all the ornaments and start all over again, but she said nah. I suggested that she help me decorate the rest of the house, but she said nah.

Once the tree was all done, and all the wrapping papers and boxes and bags and bins were completely exploded all over the room, there were still many other things to unwrap and put out around the house. NO ONE WANTED TO DO IT!!! NO ONE WANTED TO CLEAN UP. Big surprise there!!!

Terry and I had a party to go do, and Sunday was incredibly buzy for all of us as well. You can take a guess where all of the bins and boxes were to remain even until now. Right where we left them, in the middle of the family room floor. AYI!

I think I'll leave everything as is just to see how many days the mess will sit there before it bothers anyone else. (It totally bothers me right now--so I don't think I can play this game and win).

I guess I hate decorating for the mess that it makes and the extra work it creates for me, all for what? A bunch of shipshod decorations strewn about the house collecting dust and using extra electricity? I can't say that the displays move me, or put me in some holiday spirit. Couldn't we just pipe music through the house and go to performances and sing and dance and have parties and read Christmas stories and exchange gifts, but leave the decorations to other families who get more out of it.

Of course, if someone wanted to decorate my house for me I would LOVE THAT!!! The decorations, purchased from someone elses wallet, and thoughtfully placed by someone else hand, would move me just fine. I just resent the work it makes for me when I have to do it. Does anyone really care how my house is decorated? NO! Do the kids care? Maybe, but probably not! Who am I doing it for??? If I knew if were meaningful for someone else around here than it would be meaningful for me, because I care about them. (Not counting that fact we forgot to let Jennah and Elizabeth be here to decorate).

OK. Glad to get that off my chest. I guess I'll go finish the job now.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL!

I can't tell you how excited I am about my new shower fixture!!! The other one broke--AGAIN!! so my honeypie went right out... (to the garage)... and got a replacement. It's amazing. It's exciting. You never really quite know how far to turn it in order to get just the right amount of hot.

...Talk about adventure!

You also don't really know how far to turn it back, when cutting the water off. Sometimes I've even gone a little too far and the water has turned off and then suddenly come on full blast, and very cold.


...Talk about a thrill!

I think my favorite part about this lovely fixture is the rust marks it makes on the tub. It's divine.

Side note: I'm joking around darlin'. My local peeps always take me much more offensively than those who just read for the sheer entertainment. A girl has to vent and joke somewhere. And God knows I need an audience to do it.

Major News Networks Scooped AGAIN

...by Comedy Central--what they deem, "FAKE NEWS".

Did a Reading Last Night

A play reading... not some palm reading or other mystical what-have-you.

It was a little over a year ago when I didn't even know what a play reading was. A "reading"--at least when it's done by The Naked Stage--is basically a performance of a play by a group of local thespians in front of a live audience with only a brief run-through of the script, no blocking, sets, props or costumes (thus the term NAKED STAGE)--only some chairs for the cast members and maybe a little lighting. Someone usually reads the stage directions, so that the actions taking place in the script can be understood without doing them.

My first reading was last March. I auditioned for the Naked Stage Marathon and they saw something in me, I suppose... I was asked to read a small part in Lysistratta--very interesting play, as well as Woody Allen's play, God which I didn't do for lack of time. I also did a few songs for The Violin Maker by a local playwright, Mr. Dickman. That was definitely NOT my favorite!! and yet... it was another experience to chalk up. And I guess my very first reading of the whole batch was for a 10-minute play, called Top Dog. I was a cat in the midst of a pack of dogs. My debut. haha

No memorization is required for a reading, so it takes that pressure off and there's maybe one read-thru and that's it. Doesn't require a lot of rehearsal time, if there is any at all.

Readings are done for a variety of reasons, but usually they are performed for the benefit of either a playwright to hear their freshly written work, or possibly to see if a particular play should be done as a full-blown production. You know... testing it out with some actors and a small audience. (Let me know if you have something you'd like to have read).

This little bi-weekly occasion also gives the local actors/actresses something to do during the week. Winters can be bleak in the Hamptons.

But for me it's a total adventure. I never took any acting classes in college or anywhere really. I'm just trodding these dangerous waters, and paying close attention to learn what I can from my experiences. It's fun. I've been going into these things almost completely blind, ("acting" nonchalant, as if I know what I'm doing) and coming away richer and more knowledgable for the whole ordeal. I may have to pick and choose more carefully, as I find the lights coming on a little sooner in the game. (Someone already confronted me about writing words like "sucks" on my FB status). ROFL!!! There is A LOT of language that goes on around me... so, saying "sucks" doesn't seem all that atrocious. Anywoo...

In a reading, we're usually set up on stage kind of like the picture below, although that is not us.


Last night, we were suppose to read Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Famous play, made into a movie several decades ago. It was truly a fun and exciting play to read and I loved the movie, which I had never seen before Monday. But the actress who was reading the lead role became very ill (H1N1) during our rehearsal the night before, and could not do it last night. (Meanwhile we were all exposed >:-/).

Anyway, Streetcar is a big work--one that you wouldn't just throw someone into the lead role last minute (so I was told) even for a reading. So instead, it was decided to have 3 other play options available and ask the audience to choose, on the spot, which one they wanted to hear?

The audience chose Fallen Angels by Noel Coward. None of us had ever read the play or knew the story. We read it COLD!!! We were only given a 3-sentence overview before taking our places on stage: 1) who we were reading 2) that we are all British and should have an accent 3) the two woman both had had an affair with the same man years earlier. YIKES!!! No one told me that Jane--the part I was reading--was one of the leads, nor that we'd have to sing a song impromptu (one that we had no tune for), or that there would be lots of french to have to read fudge. It was hilarious, and exhilirating. We had no clue where the story was going or where it would end up. Those improv workshops with Mitch really paid off. HAHA.

I felt very good about my performance. I enjoyed doing it and had NO time to become all anxiety-ridden over it. I definitely screwed up some of the words and mispronounced things here and there. Someone in the audience (of at least 75 people) even laughed at one of my mistakes because it was that obvious, but HEY... I did a damn good job overall. *pats herself on back*

What fun my life is sometimes.