Thanks for the laughs...

Tonight was our Teen "after" Christmas party. The original date had such frigid temperatures that we ended up canceling.
Pizza. Soda. Catch Phrase. Telephone. Laughing. White Elephant. Laughing. Devotional. Pictures. LOTS of giggling.

All the while the three adult ladies sat chatting in another room.
During part of our conversations, we read a book of funny quotes. These were two of my favorites.

"My wild oats have turned into prunes and All-bran."
"I would be unstoppable, if only I could get started."

We did pause to watch the commotion involving the White Elephant exchange. The teens can be so creative in their gift choices. A mini chia pet-like head that grows "hair." Candy checkers. A Best Buy gift card worth 12 cents! A silver white elephant pin. Fun stuff.

I think the most enjoyable part of the night was Amelia playing with one of the gerbils. Amelia has a healthy fear of all animals. Especially if they move faster than she does. "Crusoe" was put into the exercise ball and left to roll around. Amelia would squeal for "Wrestle", as she interpreted his name, to move and as soon as he would roll she would start into a shrill, nervous laughter. She slapped the ball once when it came too close to her. She picked it up and gently tossed it away from her. I did tell her she shouldn't do those things or the poor gerbil would be hurt. So the next nervous laugh was followed by "Can you get him away for me, please?" She was a lot less anxious once the little guy was safe on the other side of his plastic cage. I think "Crusoe was a little more relaxed as well.

Oh, what the sickies will do...

For today's Random Tuesday, I really had to think. Did anything happen this past week?

Wednesday night found yours truly on nursery duty at church. With one, single (meaning only one, not unmarried), very well-behaved infant. And my lovely sister-in-law who had taken my place until I decided to show up. We got to talking and talking until service was actually over. Ok. One baby probably doesn't need two adults to watch over him, but we had a great time chatting uninterrupted. I promise I'll go to class next week.

Amelia woke up sick on Friday morning. The sickies kind of sick. Fortunately for this mom it was during the bleary-eyed part of the morning, so it was easier to take care of her. She is a trooper. She just refuses to eat until that nasty stomach feeling goes away. Then she perks back up to her normal crazy self. She was better by Sunday church. Unfortunately, I was not.

"Yeah, my mom is sick. I'm not sick. That's why I came to church. Well, Amelia is sick, but we brought her to church anyway." Cory came home from morning service to inform me that Calla had this conversation with several people at church. Thank you my little rumor mill churner. "Mommy and Daddy would not have sent Amelia to church if she were still sick." All I received in response was a blank stare. Or did that face mean "Yeah sure, Mom."?

Cory spent Saturday staining our brand new, expertly designed closet shelves. They are the fanciest closet shelves ever. Beautiful. If only the stain didn't force us to open the windows in 10 degree weather. Or attempt to put us in a coma while we slept. As we are getting ready for sleep and commenting on the overly powerful smell, I am told, "The can did say to use it in a well-ventilated area." Staining a large area in the winter. Not recommended.

The tooth fairy made another visit to our house. Calla mustered enough courage to pull this dangly tooth out. As she was writing her letter to the tooth fairy, she let me know that Dad told her the water changes color because of food coloring, not the tooth fairy's wings. Thanks a lot Mr. Spoiler. Fortunately for me, she still has a vivid imagination and wanted to write to the Tooth Fairy anyway. She was so excited to see the teeny, tiny note that was left for her the next morning. "She wrote me back! And the money is all sparkly!" Yep. That wasn't the Tooth Fairy. But I will be sure to clean that cup thoroughly.

The sickies...

So Amelia is sick. She woke up vomiting on Friday early morning. No more signs of the yuckies, but she hasn't eaten much in two days. Unfortunately, this was a gift she decided to share with me. We have watched our fair share of movies to be sure. I am thankful that I am sick on the absolute most frigid, coldest weekend ever. (Yes, that may be dramatic, but right now it is so true.) It is also easier to stick with my WW points when I have an upset stomach. I am thinking positive. Well, trying to.

Abby and Calla's secret handshakes...

These two are peas in a pod. They are only 6 months apart and are shaping up to be lifelong friends instead of just cousins. These secret handshakes were created in the last few months. Apparently these were adapted from a "Franklin" cartoon. They can shockingly recall them on demand. This is not always the case when they come up with some new secret language or story. Don't watch these too often. I wouldn't want you to memorize them and ruin the element of "secrecy."

Christmas with the gals...

My two dearest friends and I went out for our annual Christmas gift exchange that usually falls somewhere mid-January. We took along little Jack-a-mack for all of the excitement. We always have a wonderful time as we share un-Mommy moments together. It is not uncommon to see us sitting so long that restaurants are closing around us before we move out to the van. Then our conversations continue in driveways as we drop eachother off. One such event almost esfixiated us when we forgot to turn off the motor. I love these gals. They are the sweetest friends a girl could ask for. Excellent examples of "iron sharpeneth iron." I love our times away together.

My gifts were tremendous and thoughtful. Stacey bought me a beautiful table runner and handmade an adorable snowman ornament clothed in some precious keepsakes. A finger off of her favorite pair of worn gloves dons this snowman's head and a special keepsake scrap of fabric that reminds her of her grandmaother was made into his little scarf. Christin bought me this schmancy stamper that interchanges borders and phrases in a circle pattern. It is such a cool little tool and I can't wait to put it to use. She also picked out a darling silver reindeer ornament. We unknowingly all gave ornaments as part of our gifts this year. Are we in sync or what! I will try to remember to take pics of the other gifts soon.

Maybe it is too cold...

-9. Yep that's what the temperature is as I type. Now that's outside of course. My fingertips are yet to be convinced as to how warm it is inside our home.
I am beginning to think that it truly is too cold, though. I have had to clean up two bathroom "accidents" and two wet beds from my completely potty-trained, ever so wonderful daughters. All in a two day span. It must be "just-that-cold!"

Random Tuesday...

So in an attempt to appease my few followers, I have decided to put random musings from my week into one blog. Random Tuesdays. Calla is off of school on Tuesdays and I tend to have a little extra time to myself while the girls play. Here we go.

The girls have reached an age where they enjoy playing together. It makes for wonderful mornings, or afternoons, or whenever I need a little time to finish something.
January is movie overload in our house. The kids and I are indoors so often that I tend to let up on the "one video a day" rule. Amelia only sits through short videos anyway. She sure does LOVE her "Little People with helping hands..." The Aaron Neville theme song sung throughout the videos is enough to send me to a loony bin. Like incessant nails on a chalkboard kind of grating, ya know...
Calla is back to school. Her last day before Christmas Break was canceled due to snow, so they were able to have their Christmas Gift exchange this past Friday. Her teacher has a great method for the gift exchange. The kids earn a gift for a classmate by completing a "chore" drawn from a hat. They get to pick the gift from a treasure chest and wrap it in a brown paper bag. They are to decorate the bag to their liking and bring it back for the exchange. Some teachers are so ingenious. They then had a pizza party. Then sledding. She had a great day. Her bounty was a set of glitter pens. They have yet to be opened.
I am on week two of Weight Watchers. It is long overdue. I am determined to lose a pound a week by Christmas. I find it to be like a fun game of cards. I have two points...what can you give me for two points...Anyone. Anyone?
My dear hubby is on week two of his new job. We are praising the Lord for His provision. And I do believe Cory is enjoying himself. Things are much more professional and it will take some getting used to. I think the hardest adjustment is the lack of open internet access. He barely checks his email. For those of you who know Cory, this is a withdrawal process to be sure.

There it is. My past week in a blog. I feel there is much to be said and have intentions of writing, but alas, the time eludes me. No worries, though. Spectacular events will still receive there due blog entries.

A Leathley Christmas...

My mom's family is great fun. We had a wonderful time during our Christmas trip 2008. We surprised my mom and drove over on Christmas Day instead of waiting until the next morning. ..."Who is that man waiving at me from that white van parked oh-so-close to my car?"... Our time was taking up down to the minute. Fun all around. Lots of family laughs and stories. We even surprised our former pastor at his new church on Sunday. We stopped by a friend's house for dinner. We shockingly found ourselves at an outlet mall most of Monday. All culminating in an exhausting exhilarating trip to Chuck E. Cheese. I love Christmastime in Michigan. And I love coming home when it's all over, too.