Christmas In "Ootah"...

Unlike most normal families that like to spend Christmas with all their family, we like to escape ours.  We've sort of started a tradition with our kids where each kid only gets one gift and we take a trip instead of lots of gifts that they'll never remember in a few years.  So this year, we had planned on going up to McCall, Idaho with some good friends and then off to see my sister and her family in Boise, but the day before we were to head up there, our friends called and said there was a huge snow storm and a the highway between Salt Lake City and Boise was closed.  My poor father-in-law's eyes were beaming and asked what it would take for us to stay in Mesa for the holiday, (that's because Tommy and I happen to be the life of the party.  Well, me anyway.)  I'm thinking, "Oh Heeell no!"  So we made a few phone calls and decided to drive up to our old stomping ground  and some super nice friends of ours offered their condo in Provo.  Let me just say, this pad was nicer than your house AND mine put together.  I didn't ever want to leave.  Tag even said, "Hey Mom, I bet if we save up all our coins in our big water jug, we could buy one of these condo's."  Sure buddy.  Whatever you say. (and I thought he was doing so well in math.) Since when does a full water jug equal $400,000?  If that's the case, I'm hitting my local Coinstar stat!  We ended up having a great time, ate some tasty food.  I highly recommend Pizzeria 712.  It comes in at a very close 2nd to Pizzeria Bianco.  (which, in my humble opinion happens to be every bit as good as Oprah says).  And for those of you who don't like it, well then, you need to have your taste buds checked.  All in all, we ended up having a wonderful white Christmas.

Leaving Santa some goodies.  The kids were a little concerned that Santa wouldn't know we were in Utah, due to our change in plans.  We reassured them that Santa knows everything and would surely find them.

The kids checking out their new loot.

Someone must've been a naughty girl this year.  Her stocking didn't get filled.  So sad... but not to worry.  I have my own little brown Santa.  His name is the UPS man.  My package should be arriving in 3 - 5 business days.

Braving the Arctic cold to see the temple lights.

More temple lightage.

"Leigh is..."

So, for all of you who haven't hopped on the Facebook bandwagon, let me expand.  There's a section on Facebook where you can write what you're doing, feeling, etc.  For example, "Leigh is going on a super-duper hot sushi date with her hubbers.  Yum-O!" and so on.  And really and truly, not to offend anyone, but this part of Facebook just isn't my thing.  I think it's a little gay.  Anyhoo, with that said, this is how I'm feeling at 12:55 pm:  "Leigh is bugged that her whole freaking forehead can't move due to too many cc's of Botox injections.  Needless to say, I can't give crusty dirty looks to a certain someone tonight.  I'll give you a hint:  his name rhymes with "schlommy."  In 3-6 months (when this crap wears off) he'd better watch out.

I really do need to go to bed now.  I'm such a groucher.  No worries Dad - it's all good in the 'hood.  We don't need therapy.  Just wish he had gotten home sooner.  (I hate cleaning up throw-up by myself, and the "hubbers" wasn't home to help me out.  Remember our deal?) 

"Then And Now..."

Well, a few things have changed in the almost 12 years we've been married:

- hairlines have gone back a little

- someone's teeth got a little whiter

- the hair color has gotten a little lighter (and Tommy stopped bleaching his)

- eyebrows got a little fuller (yikes!  I swear, thin was in back then!)

- our hair isn't quite as poofy now

- someone isn't as tanorexic as they used to be (or quite as skinny, either)

I know it's not our anniversary for another 4 months, but I found these pictures, and couldn't help but post them.  I love this guy so much.  Every once in a while he busts out that certain smile.  I love it.

Merry Christmas To All...

Just wanted to give a little Merry Christmas Shout-Out to everyone.  (and because I'm too cheap to send EVERYONE a card this year.)  We love you all and are so grateful for such wonderful friends and family.  Thanks for all your love and support.

"Can I Get That In A Sentence Please?"

Last week, Tag went to the school spelling bee.  He got 3rd place out of 20 participants. He got beat out by two 6th graders.  Mind you, he's in the 4th grade.  I was so nervous for him, I felt like I was going to throw-up the whole time.  After about 8 rounds, he finally lost on the word "haughtiness."  For realz??  Who knows how to spell that, anyway?  So this is how he spelled it:

"H-O-T-T-I-N-E-S-S"

Poor kid.  Oh well, I think he did a great job.  And we didn't even have any tears at the end.

** Just as a little side note, there's a little girl (I won't name names) in his class that has a little crush on Tag, so when the lady announced the word 'haughtiness, she leaned over to their teacher and said, "Oh, he SO better get this word right!"  He's loving the fact that every girl in his class calls him "little hottie" now. **

Way to go Dude!

P.S.  I'd be lying if I said I don't know where he gets his smarts from.  I'll be honest -  he gets it from his momma.  That's right folks, I got 3rd place when I was in the 1st grade, 2nd place in the 2nd grade, 1st in the 3rd grade, and 1st in the 8th grade.  (Tommy says he won't even write on the chalkboard at church because it doesn't have spellcheck.)

Up To Her Same Old Shenanigans...

I think EVERY mom has one of these pictures.  She had an "owchie finga'."

Yes, this is my bra.  And yes, you can tell by the "yellowing effect" I just so happen to wear it everyday.  And yes again, it looks like I'm due for another one.  I didn't realize it was one of those "wear it 5 different ways" kind of bras. The poor girl obviously needs to get out of the house more often.

He Left Without Saying Goodbye!

Well, as many of you don't know, I happen to have a teeny, tiny little crush on Raja Bell.  One of Tag's buddies told me I 'don't stand a chance with Raja.   He said I'm waaayyyy to old for him, and I quickly informed him that Raja and I are the same age.  So he said, "Well, whatever.  You're a mom.  You still don't stand a chance."  I came this close to putting that boy in "time-out." Yesterday happened to be a very sad day for me.  Tommy called me and told me he had some very bad news.  My Raja was traded to "The Dark Side" as Tag likes to put it.  BTW, "The Dark Side" is Charlotte.  I don't know where he got that.  

Now, Tommy doesn't think I should be blogging about this. (he doesn't think I should be blogging about half the things I blog about either, oh well.)  He said this little "crush" of mine can be confusing for a 10 year old boy.  So I reminded Tag that "Dad is always going to be my #1... and Raja is #2.  How hard is it to understand?

After attending many a game, I just don't know if the games are ever going to be the same without my little eye candy. :(

"Funny" Of The Day...

Oh, the joys of owning trailer parks.

I just had the flippin' funniest conversation with Tommy on the phone.  It went a little somethin' somethin' like this:

Tommy, (as he's unloading change from a soda machine) "Ew, it stinks back here.  I think someone took a dump behind one of the trailers."

Me:  "Ew, sick!  How do you know it was someONE and not an animal?"

Tommy:  "Because animals don't wipe their butts with toilet paper."

I'm Sorry To Have To Do This But...

I'm hoping this shiz will not last long, but I've decided to take the 'ole bloggeroo private, just until the dust settles a bit.  Sorry guys.  Just have to protect the fam (although  it was exciting seeing my "Black Lavender" on the 10 o'clock news last night, and Uncle Snacky's cute little tushy.)

I hope to switch to "private" by the end of next week, if not sooner, so please leave your email addresses in the comments section of this post.  I welcome any "friendly" stalkers, lurkers etc. 

But in order to protect my little "kitties"...

I need to do it.

We love and support you Grandpa!

Have I mentioned how much I HATE politics?!

I Love This Place!

So the other night, I was at Fresh and Easy buying groceries for dinner and when it came time to check out, I realized I didn't have enough money for everything.  I was almost $7 short.  Now, if you haven't been here, let me explain.  There aren't any check-out clerks, you do it yourself, which is seriously my dream come true since I've always been a teeny bit obsessed with scanners and cash registers, only it doesn't have cash registers.  Bummer.  Anyhoo, so I'm checking myself out and get to the total, don't have enough dough on me (that's because I hesitate to say I had already taken my alotted $200 dollars for the day from the ATM) and didn't have a credit card (and quite frankly didn't have time to raid Tommy's wallet before I left) so I had to summon someone over to void a few items for me.  Thinking, 'Oh, it'll probably be just a few items, try like 5 or 6!  It was a little busy, so hence, a little awkward.  

So the sweet girl had the manager come over for the "manager's approval" and she said, "Oh, let's just give them to her, she's in here all the time.  She's one of our BEST customers." (ok, maybe she didn't say the latter of that last sentence.)  I mean, by that time, I was starting to count every dang penny in my wallet AND might I also mention I had set my change on the conveyor belt and when the girl started bagging my stuff, she turned it on and there went my change, so now I'm yelling, "NOOOO!" as I scrambling to chase it down the belt.  It was pretty pathetic to say the least.  So basically, they gave me $7 worth of free groceries!!  

Well, you'd think I would've learned my lesson by now.  Oh no.  I only had $28 dollars on me today and it came down to my InStyle magazine and a carton of grapes (which are my little Swayze's favorite) and, well, you know me.  The grapes had to go.  I mean, come on!  Heidi Klum's on the cover this month!  Not to mention it's the "Sexy Hair and Makeup Holiday Edition."  So I'm handing the gentleman back the grapes and he says, "You can just have the grapes, ma'am."  Have I mentioned how much I hate being called Ma'am?  How about 'Miss, or 'Honey or 'Sweetie? (wait, not 'Sweetie, i.e., previous post.)  Oh well.  Those Fresh and Easy peeps must think I am absolutely pathetic!  Or maybe I'm just really good at batting my fake eyelashes?  (see Tommy, they're good for something!)  Well, whatever it is, this place is the bomb-diggity.