Happy New Year's everyone. Ok, so I'm a couple of days early but by the time my life gets back into a normal routine it will be 2006.
Where have I been? I know I managed to post yesterday, but it was only because I made myself sit down at the computer to let ya'll know I was still alive. I've even tried to read a couple around the blogsphere and post a comment here and there. Well, to answer the question on everyone's mind, I've been on a vacation of a sorts this week.
At OCC we have what's refered to as "work lite" this week. Meaning if you have work to do, come and do it. If you don't have any work to do stay home and relax, we'll still pay you. This means that I've slept in all week. Took my time to get ready, went to the office for a couple hours then spent the rest of the day/night with my family. Monday and today I didn't go to the office at all. Not that I spent the whole day sitting at home eating bon bons watching soaps, nope I've been a busy girl and I MIGHT tell you about it next week.
So if you don't hear from me from a couple of days fear not, I'm still here and when I get back to normal I'll catch up on all my friends' lives!
Peace and Blessings!
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
A family tradition
A few years ago (before I was married) I started a family tradition of setting a place at the table for the Unexpected Guest. I'm not sure where I had heard it from but at the time it seemed like the thing to do. It's a wonderful symbolism of Christ coming and being ready for Him when He does. However our table barely fits the 6 of us with the kids sitting at a plastic kids table in the kitchen. We've taken this tradition to just having enough stuff to set out for the Unexpected Guest. I make sure there's an extra fork, spoon, knife, plate and napkin set out should the Unexpected Guest arrive.
My mother of course thought, and I bet if truth be known probably still thinks, it's a silly thing to do. To "waste" dishes. Then, a year or so after starting this tradition, when there was still room at the table, my grandfather showed up unexpectedly and was greeted as though we knew he was coming and showed him his place at the table. Every year I'm reminded of our unexpected guest showing up.
My mother of course thought, and I bet if truth be known probably still thinks, it's a silly thing to do. To "waste" dishes. Then, a year or so after starting this tradition, when there was still room at the table, my grandfather showed up unexpectedly and was greeted as though we knew he was coming and showed him his place at the table. Every year I'm reminded of our unexpected guest showing up.
Monday, December 26, 2005
What I Did On My Christmas Break
I feel like I'm in third grade writing my first report of the new semester. My mind is blank. I know I did stuff. Um, we opened presents at Papa Corvette's on Thursday. This worked out well because Peanut was chomping at the bit to open presents. She got a new Barbie carring case that I'll sure to put to use... oh, I mean SHE'LL put to use, yeah, that's what I meant. Promise.
Friday Peanut and I did a quick trip around Enid and the surround country as we had a few errands to run before we could officially hit the road. We went to the farm about thirty minutes outside Enid to Nickel's grandmother's. Shared presents then came back. Peanut's been begging to get her hair cut for weeks now so with her Christmas money in hand I couldn't say no. She's not quite brave enough to let HairDresser wash her hair but after getting a trim and french braids she felt like the prettiest girl in the whole wide world. Before heading off to Tulsy-Town we let her open the presents we had picked up as well as her stocking. Last year we took them to my mother's but it seemed a little silly to pack them in the car only to return with the same things minus the paper. She of course loved opening her presents and wanted to take them all with her but I was too mean and wouldn't let EVERYTHING come.
Friday night we went to Nickel's brother's house where Nickel helped put together a new TV cabinet for their new TV. Because we hadn't been to Tulsy-Town in the last couple of weeks (not since Thanksgiving) I got to hold our new neice, Precious Neice. She's three weeks old and just perfect! No lie. She loves to cuddle and I loved cuddling with her! Peanut played nicely with her big brother making a castle out of the boxes and packing stuff the TV and cabinet came in.
Saturday is our traditional Christmas celebration with Nickel's side of the family. That morning Nickel and I went driving around while Peanut stayed with her grandma to make cookies. My mother's sister also lives in Tulsy-Town and her birthday is December 25th so we took her the little gift I had bought from one of Peanut's school fund raisers. She was so suprised to find us outside her house Saturday morning. Mostly because I've never really been able to find her house on my own without calling and saying 'where you at again' but I wanted it to be a suprise so there would be no phone calls that day. We just passed their drive way when I yelled out that that house was it! After a little Bueno (which I do NOT like) Nickel and I attempted to take naps. My attempt was much better then his because mine was sucessful. He tried to nap on the living room couch, I napped upstairs in the guest room with the door closed. My momma didn't raise no fool! By the time I woke up Precious Niece was there and needed cuddling. A couple hours later all the presents were open and everyone was excited. Peanut got her own laptop, but Barbie doesn't have internet or windows for that matter so she'll be on mine all the time. Yes, she's only 5, but she's going on 15. One of Peanut's favorite gifts came from UncleThat'sAlwaysLate, he got her snow boots that light up when she walks. She entertained everyone by singing "These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do, some of the days these boots are gonna---walk---all---- over you!" She has quite the attitude while singing it. Much fun for those to hear.
We packed up the car and started singing "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go..." because Nana, my mom, does in fact live over the river and in the middle of the woods. Some how Santa always finds it though, even without the city lights. I gave my mom the book I made at My Publisher and she loved it. She read it about 3 times before letting my dad read it once then read it another 3 or 400 times. Peanut went to sleep amazingly easy. My other neice and nephews hadn't shown up yet. The next morning, feeling like a little kid I woke up early. My brother and his wife were still asleep on a pop up bed in the living room but luckily earlier in the year my mother had bought a tv for my old bedroom so I watched Nick Jr until 8. Presents were all open within minutes and I made French Toast for breakfast. We had a wonderful time.
Mid-afternoon Peanut started getting crabby and we knew it was a good time to get on the road so she and I could take our naps--it's a long drive and luckily Nickel prefers for us to sleep. The house was mostly clean when we got home. I had spent the week before getting as much clutter put away so it wouldn't be so bad, but you know how it is when you travel. In the floor everything goes. Peanut was all ready to move her stuff into her room, trouble was you couldn't see her room for all the CRAP she had everywhere. I insisted she start cleaning her room before we moved stuff in. She started while I cooked an easy supper. Later I went in to help her (it really was a two person job) but before too long I insisted she take a nap, which she did, for an hour. I got LOTS done while she was in the bathtub for an hour.
Monday, today, I was able to restore our home to it's original exsistance. The tree is down, toys have been assimulated. The bathroom has been cleaned from top to bottom, my Monday chore and the laundry is right where it's suppose to be... in the laundry baskets waiting for me to put them up. Which I'll do. Just not today. Perhaps tomorrow, the bedroom is Tuesday's chore. I've skipped ahead and did Wednesday's chore of cleaning the living room, but I'm sure there will be a handful of toys that escaped from Peanut's room waiting for me then.
Ok, well, I lost count of how many words this is, but I hope it's long enough to get a A on my paper! Oh wait, this isn't third grade! Dang it.
Friday Peanut and I did a quick trip around Enid and the surround country as we had a few errands to run before we could officially hit the road. We went to the farm about thirty minutes outside Enid to Nickel's grandmother's. Shared presents then came back. Peanut's been begging to get her hair cut for weeks now so with her Christmas money in hand I couldn't say no. She's not quite brave enough to let HairDresser wash her hair but after getting a trim and french braids she felt like the prettiest girl in the whole wide world. Before heading off to Tulsy-Town we let her open the presents we had picked up as well as her stocking. Last year we took them to my mother's but it seemed a little silly to pack them in the car only to return with the same things minus the paper. She of course loved opening her presents and wanted to take them all with her but I was too mean and wouldn't let EVERYTHING come.
Friday night we went to Nickel's brother's house where Nickel helped put together a new TV cabinet for their new TV. Because we hadn't been to Tulsy-Town in the last couple of weeks (not since Thanksgiving) I got to hold our new neice, Precious Neice. She's three weeks old and just perfect! No lie. She loves to cuddle and I loved cuddling with her! Peanut played nicely with her big brother making a castle out of the boxes and packing stuff the TV and cabinet came in.
Saturday is our traditional Christmas celebration with Nickel's side of the family. That morning Nickel and I went driving around while Peanut stayed with her grandma to make cookies. My mother's sister also lives in Tulsy-Town and her birthday is December 25th so we took her the little gift I had bought from one of Peanut's school fund raisers. She was so suprised to find us outside her house Saturday morning. Mostly because I've never really been able to find her house on my own without calling and saying 'where you at again' but I wanted it to be a suprise so there would be no phone calls that day. We just passed their drive way when I yelled out that that house was it! After a little Bueno (which I do NOT like) Nickel and I attempted to take naps. My attempt was much better then his because mine was sucessful. He tried to nap on the living room couch, I napped upstairs in the guest room with the door closed. My momma didn't raise no fool! By the time I woke up Precious Niece was there and needed cuddling. A couple hours later all the presents were open and everyone was excited. Peanut got her own laptop, but Barbie doesn't have internet or windows for that matter so she'll be on mine all the time. Yes, she's only 5, but she's going on 15. One of Peanut's favorite gifts came from UncleThat'sAlwaysLate, he got her snow boots that light up when she walks. She entertained everyone by singing "These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do, some of the days these boots are gonna---walk---all---- over you!" She has quite the attitude while singing it. Much fun for those to hear.
We packed up the car and started singing "over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go..." because Nana, my mom, does in fact live over the river and in the middle of the woods. Some how Santa always finds it though, even without the city lights. I gave my mom the book I made at My Publisher and she loved it. She read it about 3 times before letting my dad read it once then read it another 3 or 400 times. Peanut went to sleep amazingly easy. My other neice and nephews hadn't shown up yet. The next morning, feeling like a little kid I woke up early. My brother and his wife were still asleep on a pop up bed in the living room but luckily earlier in the year my mother had bought a tv for my old bedroom so I watched Nick Jr until 8. Presents were all open within minutes and I made French Toast for breakfast. We had a wonderful time.
Mid-afternoon Peanut started getting crabby and we knew it was a good time to get on the road so she and I could take our naps--it's a long drive and luckily Nickel prefers for us to sleep. The house was mostly clean when we got home. I had spent the week before getting as much clutter put away so it wouldn't be so bad, but you know how it is when you travel. In the floor everything goes. Peanut was all ready to move her stuff into her room, trouble was you couldn't see her room for all the CRAP she had everywhere. I insisted she start cleaning her room before we moved stuff in. She started while I cooked an easy supper. Later I went in to help her (it really was a two person job) but before too long I insisted she take a nap, which she did, for an hour. I got LOTS done while she was in the bathtub for an hour.
Monday, today, I was able to restore our home to it's original exsistance. The tree is down, toys have been assimulated. The bathroom has been cleaned from top to bottom, my Monday chore and the laundry is right where it's suppose to be... in the laundry baskets waiting for me to put them up. Which I'll do. Just not today. Perhaps tomorrow, the bedroom is Tuesday's chore. I've skipped ahead and did Wednesday's chore of cleaning the living room, but I'm sure there will be a handful of toys that escaped from Peanut's room waiting for me then.
Ok, well, I lost count of how many words this is, but I hope it's long enough to get a A on my paper! Oh wait, this isn't third grade! Dang it.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Merry Christmas
Not much time for a post, got too much to do, but I wanted to take the time to wish ALL my friends a very
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Baking
Tonight I am baking cookies. I've tasted one and it was wonderful! But with all this cooking and cleaning to do I have no real time to sit and think of something clever to write.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Wanting cookies
Hmm... well, blogger won't let me upload a picture, but if I could I would have a picture of chocolate chip cookies on a shiney new cookie sheet as they were coming out of the oven all perfect and looking good enough to eat.....
It's almost Christmas and I'm in the mood for cookies. I like chocolate chip the best. But I also like a good soft sugar cookie and peanut butter cookie oh and of course no bake cookies. But I also like those white chocolate dipped pretzels, I know they're not in the cookie family, but they are Christmas-y if they have red and green sprinkles on them! So tell me, blogger fans, what kind of cookies and treats do you like to eat around the holidays?
Oh, and if you wanted to post a great recipie I would be tempted to make some and tell you what I think of your cookies.
No really, it's ok. Go ahead, post your secret family recipe. I won't tell anyone! I promise!
I'll need something to do with Peanut while she's out of school and begging every five seconds to open presents.
It's almost Christmas and I'm in the mood for cookies. I like chocolate chip the best. But I also like a good soft sugar cookie and peanut butter cookie oh and of course no bake cookies. But I also like those white chocolate dipped pretzels, I know they're not in the cookie family, but they are Christmas-y if they have red and green sprinkles on them! So tell me, blogger fans, what kind of cookies and treats do you like to eat around the holidays?
Oh, and if you wanted to post a great recipie I would be tempted to make some and tell you what I think of your cookies.
No really, it's ok. Go ahead, post your secret family recipe. I won't tell anyone! I promise!
I'll need something to do with Peanut while she's out of school and begging every five seconds to open presents.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Things to do
Oh, I have a list and I've been putting it off for days now. The dishes have been washed in like a week, but that's ok because I haven't cooked in a week either so there aren't a ton of dirty dishes. I have three baskets of clothes I need to put away and about 7 left to wash and dry. I want some icecream but I don't have any in my house and it's almost 9 and I'm my pajamas so I don't want to get out. I'm whining and I know it, but there's nothing I can really do about it. Somehow doing some stretches last night I've pulled both my calve muscles which was expecially fun since I spent 6 hours in heels and panty hose doing a wedding. The bride about drove me crazy telling me what my job was but not to cause her any stress I didn't tell her where she could stick it, instead I just ignored her and didn't do what she told me. The things got handled, and on time so I'm not going to stress out over it. I did manage to get all the Christmas presents wrapped and under the tree! That's one gold star for me! However I've lost track of who I have left to buy for so I'm going to have to stop and actually think here before too long. But all I want to think about right now is the icecream I don't have and the bed that's covered with laundry baskets...
Oh, and Peanut's friend Cashew is spending the night. They're hyper and I'm ready for them to go to bed. Hmm... I really wish I had some icecream.
Oh, and Peanut's friend Cashew is spending the night. They're hyper and I'm ready for them to go to bed. Hmm... I really wish I had some icecream.
Some more snow
First she say go out. Now she says come in.
Dad: Eggplant casserole tonight?
Mom: Why...Yes!
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
We now resume with the regularly scheduled program
Mom and Dad don't value hard work and originality as much as they say they do.
Hobbes: Snow sharks?Calvin: That guys a goner
The proposal
I interrupt this Calvin and Hobbes fest (which will probably continue either later today or tomorrow) to tell you a new Peanut story.
One of the benifits I enjoy about the church I work at is my daughter gets to attend the morning preschool for free then they take her to her afternoon kindergarten in the public school system. Peanut enjoys coming to work with me and really like going to preschool which is focused on Jesus.
Yesterday the lady who takes her to her afternoon school came up to me. She usually has a silly story to tell me about Peanut and Poke's Fan's conversation. They think they are so grown up. They act like brother and sister and have often talked about living together as brother and sister. But yesterday, Poke's Fan asked Peanut to marry him. She immediatly told him no. She wasn't ready to settle down and he didn't have a job to support her lavish spending habits. Ok, that last part I added, but I'm sure she was thinking it!
Of course by the time I was her age I had already married to Deuce. It was a lovely ceremony. I walked down the hall with my blanket over my head and he walked down the hall with my sand bucket over his. Then my brother (who later married me for real to Nickel) married us. We didn't kiss, I didn't like kissing boys, I just wanted to be married to Deuce because that's what people did when they liked each other.
I'm glad that Peanut has her priorities set. I'm sure she's thinking she needs to finish her education, become sucessful, and travel before she settles down. Besides, I'm kinda booked up right now with church weddings (7 on the books now between now and July including one this weekend) so I don't have time to plan hers as well. I hope she didn't break Poke's Fan's heart too bad, they still have a semester of school left of preschool.
One of the benifits I enjoy about the church I work at is my daughter gets to attend the morning preschool for free then they take her to her afternoon kindergarten in the public school system. Peanut enjoys coming to work with me and really like going to preschool which is focused on Jesus.
Yesterday the lady who takes her to her afternoon school came up to me. She usually has a silly story to tell me about Peanut and Poke's Fan's conversation. They think they are so grown up. They act like brother and sister and have often talked about living together as brother and sister. But yesterday, Poke's Fan asked Peanut to marry him. She immediatly told him no. She wasn't ready to settle down and he didn't have a job to support her lavish spending habits. Ok, that last part I added, but I'm sure she was thinking it!
Of course by the time I was her age I had already married to Deuce. It was a lovely ceremony. I walked down the hall with my blanket over my head and he walked down the hall with my sand bucket over his. Then my brother (who later married me for real to Nickel) married us. We didn't kiss, I didn't like kissing boys, I just wanted to be married to Deuce because that's what people did when they liked each other.
I'm glad that Peanut has her priorities set. I'm sure she's thinking she needs to finish her education, become sucessful, and travel before she settles down. Besides, I'm kinda booked up right now with church weddings (7 on the books now between now and July including one this weekend) so I don't have time to plan hers as well. I hope she didn't break Poke's Fan's heart too bad, they still have a semester of school left of preschool.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Snowmen
I think we'd better get that kid to a psycholigist
You don't like my snowman house of horror do you?!
You have to admit it's slowed down the traffic on our road
Friday, December 09, 2005
RevGal Friday Five: Snow Day
1) Snow: love it or hate it?
2) First snow memory
3) Best Snow Day ever (actual or imagined)
4) Best use of snow in a movie, song, book or poem
5) What you are planning to do today, with or without snow
2) First snow memory
3) Best Snow Day ever (actual or imagined)
4) Best use of snow in a movie, song, book or poem
5) What you are planning to do today, with or without snow
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Phone call to God
Hello God, this is Leslee. ....
Oh, you already knew that? Ok, well, I was calling to see if you could turn the AC up a little bit. I'm a bit cold down here...
Yes.......
You're right, I should stop complaining..........
You're right I'll gripe even louder if the mosquitos aren't killed off this year and we have double next year.
Yes Sirthat's true too...
Yes Sir you have always taken great care of me....
Thank you Sir.....
Have a good day....
Yes Sir.....
I love you too.....
Bye.
There you have it folks, I tried and got turned down. Winter's here to stay.
Oh, you already knew that? Ok, well, I was calling to see if you could turn the AC up a little bit. I'm a bit cold down here...
Yes.......
You're right, I should stop complaining..........
You're right I'll gripe even louder if the mosquitos aren't killed off this year and we have double next year.
Yes Sirthat's true too...
Yes Sir you have always taken great care of me....
Thank you Sir.....
Have a good day....
Yes Sir.....
I love you too.....
Bye.
There you have it folks, I tried and got turned down. Winter's here to stay.
Monday, December 05, 2005
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL MEMORY OF YOU AND ME.
It can be anything you want--good or bad--BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you're finished, post this paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you. I got this from Jules "Faith or Fiction" all the entries were hysterical, she might have peed in her pants on some of them!
So, what do you NOT remember about me?
It can be anything you want--good or bad--BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you're finished, post this paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you. I got this from Jules "Faith or Fiction" all the entries were hysterical, she might have peed in her pants on some of them!
So, what do you NOT remember about me?
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Christmas Shopping
When I was little we would get these free (I THINK they were free because they weren't stuff my mom would actually buy) Christmas church plays. We never had anywhere the amount of kids that would be required to do the production but I loved to play the tape that usually accompanied the play book with all the songs in it. I got to imagine the scenes in my mind and I really enjoyed this. One of the songs have stayed with me all these years. Some of the words went something like this:
So many people pushing and a shoving
Looking for something they'll never find.
Jackie want some ice skates,
Johnny wants a radio.
I want a meal and warm place to sleep.
If that's what Christmas is then who needs Christmas?
If that's what Christmas is then who needs Christmas?
I don't, do you? No! I don't, do you? No! I don't need Christmas!
The play was about homeless children and how they learned the meaning of Christmas from a Christian who came to help them. He told the Christmas story and they acted it out with what they had around them. But these words are so true. Christmas is a time of year when we should be loving on each other but instead we get attitudes and show impatience. I was driving through the parking lot at my local grocery store the other day, actually staying in the line unlike most people. But, because of a truck blocking my path I had to move over a little bit-in "on coming" traffic. This large redheaded woman coming towards us, but still far enough away for me to go around the truck safely, threw her hands up as though to say "What the heck(probably not the word she was actually using) are you people doing" and threw me a NASTY look! It's not like the truck or myself caused a wreck of any kind. Nor did we cause her to do more then tap on her brakes (because as soon as she saw me going around the truck she sped up as though to say, look you made me use my brakes!). Why does Christmas stress people out so that they can't show some common courtesy? Maybe this woman wasn't suffering from Christmas stress, maybe she's like that all the time because she hasn't found Jesus, but it just seems that a lot of people get mean this time of year. I'd rather not have Christmas at all just to have people actually be nice to each other!
So many people pushing and a shoving
Looking for something they'll never find.
Jackie want some ice skates,
Johnny wants a radio.
I want a meal and warm place to sleep.
If that's what Christmas is then who needs Christmas?
If that's what Christmas is then who needs Christmas?
I don't, do you? No! I don't, do you? No! I don't need Christmas!
The play was about homeless children and how they learned the meaning of Christmas from a Christian who came to help them. He told the Christmas story and they acted it out with what they had around them. But these words are so true. Christmas is a time of year when we should be loving on each other but instead we get attitudes and show impatience. I was driving through the parking lot at my local grocery store the other day, actually staying in the line unlike most people. But, because of a truck blocking my path I had to move over a little bit-in "on coming" traffic. This large redheaded woman coming towards us, but still far enough away for me to go around the truck safely, threw her hands up as though to say "What the heck(probably not the word she was actually using) are you people doing" and threw me a NASTY look! It's not like the truck or myself caused a wreck of any kind. Nor did we cause her to do more then tap on her brakes (because as soon as she saw me going around the truck she sped up as though to say, look you made me use my brakes!). Why does Christmas stress people out so that they can't show some common courtesy? Maybe this woman wasn't suffering from Christmas stress, maybe she's like that all the time because she hasn't found Jesus, but it just seems that a lot of people get mean this time of year. I'd rather not have Christmas at all just to have people actually be nice to each other!
Friday, December 02, 2005
I need your help
Ok you computer HTML savvy people. I've tried to put snowflakes on my webpage. I followed the directions to a T and now all you see is little Xs floating down. How can I fix this?
Oh hey, look! None of you were fast enough so God sent an angel who specializes in HTML to help me! Enjoy the snow!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)