Life as a Leach

As is the Leach family tradition, we decorated our house for Christmas this weekend.  The day after Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite day of the year because I finally get to pull out all of our decorations, unwrap each piece, decide which current decorations will be put away for the season...it just makes me happy!  My favorite part of my favorite day is decorating the tree.  This year was especially fun because Caleb was old enough to help hang ornaments and he loved hearing stories of their history.  He has already asked me several different times to show him the ones he made. We finished up today with Matt hanging the Christmas lights and Caleb and I putting the personalized window clings on (which thrilled him!!)  Highlights from our adventures: *  Finally figuring out how to hang the advent tree Barbara made for us last year after many failed attempts. *  Caleb playing with the nutcracker ornaments and calling them butt crackers. *...

We did Thankful 4s in reading class today.  I drew the outline of a big 4 and had the students write what they are "Thankful 4" inside the 4.  We then punched a hole in it and tied some string to it so that it could be hung on the tree.  Some students used a longer piece so that they could wear them around their neck.  They turned out really cute and the kids were so thoughtful with what they wrote.  We shared after they finished and some of them almost made me tear up!  We're going to be doing them at my house for Thanksgiving too.  :) I'm thankful 4 you!  :)

Last Friday, Caleb learned about Thanksgiving at Mom's Morning Out.  We chatted about what he'd learned on the way home.  According to the boy: *  The Indians lived in really big tents *  They helped the piglims catch fish and grow plants *  The pilgrims came over on a really big flower --------------------------------------------------------------- Tonight, Matt drove me to the chiropractor.  Caleb asked what the doctor was going to do.  I told him he was going to fix my back.  Of course, the next question was if the doctor would take all of my clothes off.  (um, no, Caleb)  When I assured him that he wouldn't, he then asked what he was going to do to my back.  I told him that he would crack my back.  His question?  "With an egg?"  :) Pretty clever, if you ask me!

If you happened to catch the AMAs last night, you know what I'm talking about.  If you were asleep (like I was), feel free to google the video and watch it.  It's pretty much everywhere because it has raised so much controversy.  WARNING:  Do NOT watch this with kids around!  It is by far the dirtiest, most vile, creepiest performance I have ever seen--male or female!  I'm not imbedding it on my blog because I don't want anyone thinking I'm condoning it.  GROSS.

Amy and I have had craft shows the last two weekends.  Last week was at St. John Vienny and today's was at Calvert High School.  We've done pretty well at both. I don't have much to report, because all of my creative energy has been poured into making necklaces!  I have been working most every night to keep up my stock! Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and this year, it's at my house!  Hopefully, I'll have something interesting to say soon! Yeah, I know this is lame .  Sorry!

This week, I did not call my husband at 6 p.m. while I was still at school to ask him to start the bread machine for me so that I would have bread to take with me for a potluck the next day.  He did not put in twice as much water as was called for.  I didn't not realize it until 9:30 when the bread suddenly collapsed.  When Caleb was cleansing before his colonoscopy, I didn't give him a lollipop to suck on only to have to dig it out of his mouth because he chewed it .  Caleb didn't bite me multiple times because he was so angry that I was stealing his lollipop. Caleb didn't scream "Not again!!!!!!  Never, never, NEVER!!!!!!!!" when I had him sit on the toilet for the 24th time yesterday.  I was not totally at my wit's end trying to stay patient with my oh-so-hungry boy.  I didn't yell at Matt simply because I was frustrated by the day's events. I didn't resort to hiding behind the cabinet door to sneak a few chips during Caleb's cle...

I'm lovin'... ...t his blog. She is such an inspiration, such a fabulous writer, and such a generous person.  I understand why she has one of the most-read blogs on the internet! ...the cuddles I get from my boy in the morning.  He is in a big "mamma" phase right now. ...sugar cookies that are cut into cute shapes.  Not decorated--I like 'em plain! ...making necklaces.  Creating a product that someone else loves really makes me happy. ...sweater weather.  I'll get tired of it soon enough, but right now it's comfy! ...hand-me-downs from friends and family.  Between Amy and Carrie, Caleb is a very well-dressed little boy! What are you lovin'???

Today is my 16 year anniversary of becoming a vegetarian.  I haven't eaten red meat or chicken in over 1/2 of my life, which is pretty crazy to think about.  Of course, just Saturday my grandmother was trying to convince me that her chicken salad sandwiches didn't have that much meat in them!  On a whole, I feel like I'm pretty healthy and work hard at getting enough protein.  Of course, it is questionable as to whether or not all the soy I ate during my pregnancy is what caused Caleb to have a birth defect.  You just can't win! In other news, today is also a bit bittersweet for me, as today it has been 4 years since my dear friend Lisa died.  I still miss her and wish she were still teaching right next door to me.  I have her picture on my wall and marvel all of the time at the fact that this picture was taken just a few days before she died.  BUT, the last thing Lisa wanted was to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life, so ...

...Jacob a lot today.  His surgery to hopefully remove the rest of his brain tumor will be at 7 a.m. Seattle time (10 a.m. our time).  Caleb wants to send him a courage blanket so that he can be brave! ...job sharing and how badly I want the best of both world. ...MOPS and longing for a unified group of women who are similar places in life. ...Christmas and the fact that I can't find my mom's presents!  I am the kind of person that won't rest until all of my shopping is done.  I don't like it hanging over my head. ...all the germs floating around and hoping that bringing Caleb to the Fall Festival at my school tonight is not a mistake.

Tomorrow is Jacob's second big surgery to hopefully remove the rest of his tumor.  This will be a long surgery of at least 6 hours, so we'll be praying hard for him all day long tomorrow.  We love you Jacob!

*  I did not majorly hesitate before taking a piece of Communion Bread because of the possibility of major germs all over my piece.  I did not lean over and suggest to Matt that next month we need to sit up front so that we get "first pick." *  I didn't use an entire can of Lysol in my coat closets at school this week.  I am not completely grossed out with the thought that they are only cleaned twice a year.  I did not send Matt to the store tonight while I was tutoring to buy me more Lysol. *  The Grinch did not manage to steal Halloween from my candy-loving niece.  She was not so completely freaked out by a teenager dressed up like this hated cartoon character that she refused to even enter the gym where our Fall Festival was being held.  She did not cower under the table for the duration of the party.  I was not annoyed at all with the Grinch for scaring little children! *  After making a good attempt to go potty and earning a p...

At our church Fall Festival last night, one of the most talked-about costumes was The Grinch.  Who talked about it the most?  Caleb and Sara.  Here's why... Sara and Caleb were innocently playing in the toddler play area with me while Amy took Owen to some of the older kid activities.  Suddenly, Sara spots the Grinch and started FREAKING out!!!  She froze and began to scream and cry uncontrollably.  Naturally, Caleb followed suit.  I couldn't move either one of them, and we were starting to draw a crowd.  I called Amy on her cell to get her help. Once we managed to get the kids out of the gym, poor Sara refused to go back in.  In fact, every time she caught sight of the Grinch, a fresh batch of screams and tears ensued.  She wasn't the only one though; the Grinch managed to frighten several kids that night. Thankfully, Caleb settled down after I got him away from Sara.  I ended up taking Caleb and Owen around to play the games...