How germs are spread:

Last week, Leah woke up one day with a super high fever just feeling cruddy. So she spent most of the day in mommy's bed watching tv and reading books. (What did moms of sick kids do before there was tv?)

Mid-sneeze...

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The blanket and baby dolls I understand, but why did she need to snuggle with her wrench?

Plus it looks like she is getting ready to "wrench" one of her babies!

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Isn't she sweet? Sharing EVERYTHING!

A thousand words...

thirsty!

As I mentioned in this post, our girl loves hot tea and was only convinced to come in from the snow on the promise of hot tea. The only problem with this beverage is how long it takes to prepare! She was patient though... I can't even count how many times she said "There it is, have hot tea" while we were waiting for it to steep. :)

I know I know... its January 16th

But I do hate it when the Christmas season is over, so I was looking at some pictures just now and saw some of the funny outtakes from our attempt at this year's Christmas card photo. I love these girls!

its snowing??

Sometimes I go days without turning on the radio or tv. This is not on purpose, and I'm beginning to realize it is also not very smart. But there are chores to do, people to see, places to go and there is lots of playing to be done!

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Last week/weekend I managed to go a few days with out seeing or hearing any news or weather forecasts. This adds up to the fact that I had NO IDEA that there was a winter storm approaching. Did I mention that Kevin went out of town last weekend? So there were none of our usual conversations involving me asking what he knew about the forecast.

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When it began raining Sunday morning I thought it was just a cold, rainy day. That cold/rainy combination was the only thing that made me throw Leah's warmest winter coat in the car with us on the way to church. As we drove to church the thermometer in my car dropped from 43 to 30! And the sleet began! I still didn't realize that this was a predicted storm until the snow was pouring down outside and I overheard someone at church say how it had been predicted all week! How am I the only person in North Texas that didn't know it was going to snow?

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We enjoyed the snow in the church parking lot. But NOT the icy (3-times-longer-than-usual) drive home... with trucks in ditches everywhere you look! After we got home safely, Leah got a nap and then Daddy came home so we all played in the winter wonderland together. Kevin built a pint-sized snow man for Leah... Leah threw some snow in the air. She was up to her knees in snow and it was still coming down hard. She tasted the snow.And liked what she tasted... I think this it the only picture I got with Beans in it... sort of

Snow angels and snowball fights made it difficult for anyone to want to come inside and finally we bribed Leah with her favorite drink... hot tea. This is her excitedly saying "HA-TEE!!!" She LOVES it.

middlenamesake

We have breakfast every Christmas Eve with the same group of friends. It started over 40 years ago with my dad and a few of his fraternity brothers and their wives. In a few years, they all began having kids, and now many of their kids have kids. Those of us who still live in the area and are able, continue to enjoy the LONG tradition.
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2 years ago, I was great with child at Christmas, and Leah Curley (the fetal version) still didn't have a middle name. We had 2 in the hopper at the time, and I was still routing for no middle name. I think sweet little Caroline was 4 at the time, and while Kevin and I were talking to her and we look at each other and both say "What about Caroline?" We liked it and then took it under serious consideration. Kevin decided it had to be Leah Caroline. I said I still didn't know if she needed a middle name. I just wasn't 100% certain. But Kevin was. In the end he told me I could make the decision. The night before going into the hospital I printed up a page for her scrap book and put her full name on it and surprised Kevin. He was surprised and happy.
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I had forgotten that Caroline's middle name was Leigh. So now on Christmas Eve we have Caroline Leigh and Leah Caroline. This year the girls had alot of fun together. Leah was loving on Caroline who was eating it up! I thought these pics were too cute to keep to myself.Caroline also helped us find out that Leah Curley doesn't know how to jump! Did you know kids aren't born knowing how to jump? I don't know why I assumed that she could! We do lots of dancing and stomping and twirling and a million versions of follow the leader but in all her days we'd never attempted a jump! She is starting to get it now, so once we perfect the jump I'll be sure and post some of the before and after video. We have had TONS of fun watching her try!

good loot

Bibby and Pops got Leah a kitchen for Christmas. Aunt Leslie went along with the theme and got Leah an apron, chef's hat and a bunch of kitchen accessories and utensils. She continues to be favorite Aunt, bringing Leah new pieces of plastic food each time we see her. (She bought the girl a set of 120 pieces of food which we all agreed was a bit much... so right now we are focusing on grapes, 2 flavors of ice cream cones, cereal and some canned goods.) Leah has been playing in her friend's kitchens for quite a while now so she knew just what to do. She got to work immidiately and actually had to be bribed away from it.
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She is always RIGHT UP UNDER ME when I'm trying to work in the kitchen... so we positioned it just next to Mommy's kitchen so we can work simultaneously for the time being. She LOVES her kitchen! Even on Christmas Eve... little-women's work is never done. Dinner in the oven and laundry to be washed. My mom also had my old rocking chair repainted for Leah! Leah likes it, but I LOVE IT!!Granstan gave Leah a new baby doll, Baby Caroline. She loves to feed her babies and burp them. She especially loves Baby Caroline because she has a "jacket and hat" and because, well, Granstan gave it to her. (Leah and her cousin Jaxon are just thrilled about Christmas...) Great Grannie got Leah her first "LittlePeople" set up. Campin' Girl. With her own tent, campfire, smores and a guitar. She really loves this. No matter what she is doing if she sees campin' girl we have to stop and play for a bit.

Christmas morning brought fun things too... including the movie version of her current favorite book, Beauty and the Beast! We've watched it 2 full times now, and for a few minutes before bed every night. She LOVES the wolves and Gaston??? Hmmmm.... hopefully not a sign of things to come. Thankfully mommy reminded daddy that our DVD player had been broken for months so he quickly got a new one before the big day and wrapped it up for mommy just in time! Nothing has brought more pure excitement than the big legos or "BIDDING BOCKS!" as Leah has been known to shout when she is ready to play with them. Yes the kitchen and baby dolls are great, but its work work work... The costumes are fun, but everything takes more time and effort when you are wearing satin gloves and high heels! (Don't I know it!) But in no time at all, Leah can build towers and "cassows" (castles) and then knock them over... and over and over. Oh what fun it has been with new toys in our house! Thanks again to all our sweet family.

The Best One

The funny-in-your-guts-belly-laugh, if encouraged, (and if it initiates near nap time or bed time) almost always leads to the apneic laugh. (For those who desire a more lengthy video, this blog won't let me upload but these tiny little clips. Good news for those who are bored by long video clips. ;)

The Fake One

O little town

How still you lie indeed... when put to bed by a sweet little mama. Leah has really been into the mommy thing lately. She feeds her babies and animals and sometimes she puts the whole Christmas Nativity down for night night. Even gives a good night kiss.

And just in case Baby Jesus isn't warm enough...

"Here you go baby Jesus, cover up."

And here is a still shot if you didn't catch that.Back story... Over 5 years ago before we were going on vacation, Kevin bought himself some flip flops made out of beer cozies. The salesman said "You will never find a more comfortable flip flop." And he was right. Kevin has worn the heck out of those flip flops. And for years we've looked for replacements exhausting our options to no avail. All the while, Kevin continues to wear the old ones. While we were in Mexico this summer we noticed that when wet, they now exude a funky brown foamy substance.... So my mission since then has been to find some new ones as quickly as possible. To my surprise a local mall opened a flip flop shop this fall and when I walked in and told the guy what I was looking for he knew exactly what I was talking about. He took me straight to the back corner where they were sold out of ALL BUT ONE... a single pair of size 13 beer cozy flip flops for my fabulous, funky foaming, flip flop wearing hubby. He was so happy. He said it was his favorite Christmas gift of the year! This was the sticker that came off the new ones and who knows where she found it? She came around the corner of the living room holding the sticker saying "Baby Jesus cover up!" It was like the moment she saw this sticker she had its purpose in mind. Leah has been obsessed with covers lately.

President O-Drama

I feel like if you capture an expression like this, you have to post it for all the world to see. And she was just practicing! There was nothing to get excited about. It sort of looks like, what we now call in our house, a "possum face." Remember the one you have when you see a possum on your fence? Now you know I'm not exaggerating when I say drama queen. And I don't know where she gets it! This one might have been a beaver face.
I wanted to note that Garfield was the door stop for my own bedroom door from about age 6 until I moved out of my parents' house. A couple of years ago, he moved back in with me and assumed his post once again. I only note his place at the door because it just occurred to me Leah doesn't even know who that fat orange cat is! The pink box she is sitting on was a Christmas gift from her Giggle and Granstan. And its full of what every little Curley needs.... costumes! All kinds of costumes and accessories.

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Leah comes from a long line of costume wearers. I enjoy a good costume now and then (if I can find some suitable pictures I'll be sure and post them) and her daddy has been known to don women's clothing if it means getting a really good laugh. My parents make a mean Fred and Wilma Flintstone in their home spun costumes. Her Giggle even has a spare Santa suit and a clown suit (and stories to go with them) in her costume trunk full of goodies. But her Aunt Leslie.... she has an entire costume closet! The year she sponsored the 12th grade girls at church camp, she outfitted every one of them for their group's talent show act. She's big time.
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So its only natural that Leah would already love to dress up. I'll have to get some pictures of her in her costumes posted soon. So many Christmas memories need posting!
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I don't like how grown up she looks... (And I swore I'd never say something like that... don't ever swear.)

Happy New Yeo!

Leah is wishing everyone in sight a "Happy New Yeo!" From her family, to the checker at the grocery store to Beans and Baby Jesus. We are having a wonderful year so far. Lots to do though... including get caught up on a few blog posts I've been meaning to write.
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Let's kick it off with a bang... from a deer rifle.
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I love that Kevin is a hunter. I think camouflage is cool, it makes me feel safe that He is really good with big guns, and Leah and I get to have lots of fun girls weekends together but we are so happy when daddy returns. He also saves me money on toys for Leah (a few weekends back he brought home a fresh fox tail for her... yay) and He brings home "free" meat for me to fill up my freezer. (Free... or for the mere price of one deer lease for a year, ammo, gas money, food and beverages while he is there etc... Still, when I need to rustle up some grub, I don't have to run to the store and buy any meat!)
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I love seeing pictures of all the animals he sees... especially when he doesn't kill them. Because however much I enjoy eating animals, I do not enjoy the thought of their death. Early on in this season he sent me this picture... taken with his phone, through the scope on his gun. HOW COOL?!? I think his exact words were "It needs another year or so." Although if a less scrupulous hunter gets his sights on it it may not be there for the taking.
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This is the cull buck he ended up with this year. I think it is a cull because it has an uneven number (9) of tines or tips or points or something? Is that even right? I'll double check.... Don't mind the tongue hanging out of the poor animal's mouth... Why can't they put that back in at least for the picture?
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The head of this animal is currently in our big freezer. Kevin is going to attempt a homemade European mount of this deer. This is where only the skull and antlers remain. There are a couple of ways of doing this that I know of. One is to boil it so all the flesh comes off and I think there is some acid involved in the process as well. The other way involves flesh eating beetles, which would be pretty awesome to see except that apparently they cost a couple hundred dollars and then you have to feed them constantly... flesh! So, since I don't want to host or feed flesh eating beetles in my home for a prolonged period of time, we'll probably choose door #1... boil the poor thing. I won't be as sad once it no longer has a face.
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The Concho County bucks that made it through this season are safe until next fall... however the lady deer... well they still have a few weeks to try and dodge the bullet.
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Happy 2011!!!