Read My Blog

Preacher's Kid

2009-06-22T05:05:00.017-05:00

My dad is a minister. He's been a pastor, a military chaplain, a hospital chaplain, and now an interim preacher. That makes me a preacher's kid, something people find intriguing.

EXAMPLE 1.
Everyone: "What's it like having a dad who's a minister?
Leslie: What's it like having a dad who's not a minister?

EXAMPLE 2.
Almost Everyone: There are only two kinds of preacher's kids. Are you the really good kind or the really bad kind?"
Young Leslie: The really good kind.
(Older Leslie: None of your business.)

It intrigues and it also intimidates people. I once invited a college friend to go home with me for the weekend. She got all freaked out.

Friend: I can't go stay at your house!
Leslie: Why not?
Friend: Because I sin every five minutes!

Friends have often told me they feel like my dad can see right through them. That would just be a combination of their guilty consciences and my dad's God-given talent to look people in the eyes, listen, and focus on what they're saying. There's no way he has x-ray vision or I wouldn't have survived my teen years.

Luckily for me, perfection wasn't part of the preacher's kid job description. My dad would assure you it wasn't part of his job description either, but I think he comes pretty close.

Father's Day

2009-06-21T18:33:00.012-05:00

In honor of Father's Day, here's my dad.

Dad growing up, up, up.

Dad holding baby me.

Dad ready to escort me down the aisle.

Dad seeing Cambryn for the first time.

My dad has always been very proud of his family; there's never been any doubt about that. Likewise, I've always been very proud of my dad. He's my hero.

Dad, thank you for making me. I love you.

Older Now

2009-06-19T13:52:00.003-05:00

I've aged a year since my last post. I figure it's better than the alternative.

Kennedyland

2009-06-08T16:22:00.006-05:00

Can you look at this without smiling? I can't. Thank you, JK, for inviting us to your party and taking this photo. Swimming, a giant inflatable slide, a moon bounce and, ohmygosh, mechanical bullriding?! Cambryn can hardly wait for your birthday next year.

History

2009-05-26T15:55:00.008-05:00

Sometimes I rewrite history upon request.

For example, here is my sister and her youngest son at school. Because you are wondering, he's wearing his Halloween costume.

And here is the photo my sister sent me. I'm sure the lady in the background is a very nice person. She just didn't necessarily belong in a photo of my sister and her youngest son wearing his Halloween costume.

Mother's Day

2009-05-10T15:54:00.039-05:00

In honor of Mother's Day, here's a look at my mom during each decade of my life.

The 1960s: She had three babies within four years. She was a homemaker and occasional beautician, helping my dad through college and graduate school.

The 1970s: She attended college and graduate school, then became an elementary school teacher. This is what she looked like when I was in high school. People started mistaking us for sisters.

The 1980s: She and Dad put all three of us through college, then helped my brother through law school.

(Dear Mom, I know you don't like your "big hair" pictures but it would ruin my theme to leave this out.)

The 1990s: She became a mother-in-law and grandmother, and buried her parents. She survived Dad's cancer, as did he. She retired early.

The 2000s: She's rarely apart from Dad now that he's semi-retired. They're hand-in-hand, thick as thieves, indivisible.

She continues to inspire me with her appreciation of beauty and art, her boundless energy, hard work, and most of all, her passion for family.

Mom, thanks for having me. I love you.

American Girl

2009-05-02T22:35:00.013-05:00

I never said this blog was chronological and speaking of birthdays, we celebrated Cambryn's back in January. She turned nine this year. That's pretty amazing considering I'm only two years older than I was when she was born.

So here's a special pic from nine years ago. Most moms have lots of these; I have one. Most moms are wearing gowns; I had on a black t-shirt. Spending the night with Cambryn in our own hospital room was very cool.

Cambryn needed an extra 24 hours in the
hospital to develop her sucking reflex.

Fast forward nine years and my mother-in-law and I took Cambryn on a road trip to the American Girl store and bistro in Dallas for her birthday. Cambryn was thrilled!

[Note to anyone thinking about doing this: don't even consider taking male family members to the American Girl store or bistro. Trust me. Take Dad's credit card but leave Dad at home.]

I couldn't help but wonder how many more years she'll get this excited about dolls. And doll clothes. And doll furniture. And doll pets. And everything else imaginable and even a few things you'd never think of for dolls.

Cambryn at lunch in the bistro with Julie, her brown-eyed blond doll. We were pleading with Cambryn to smile sweetly for the camera.

The "real" Cambryn with Julie and Ivy.

We haven't had a dull moment in at least nine years.

Eleven in Spite of Us

2009-04-16T11:39:00.011-05:00

Collin is now eleven years old. Oh how time flies when you're trying to keep your babies sweet and innocent and babies forever. Bear with me while I reminisce.

This photo was taken within the first few minutes we laid eyes on our new baby boy. Of course I held him first, then my husband got his turn. At this moment we were simply stunned. We had never changed a diaper, never attended a baby class, and didn't have a nursery waiting at home. Our families were very curious as to how we were going to manage. Perhaps bets were even wagered.

We had a borrowed car seat, a borrowed bassinet, some hand-me-down clothes from my nephews, and the new outfit you see here that I bought at Gymboree. Yep, a matching onesie, jacket, bib, cap, socks, blanket and if there had been matching sunglasses and cowboy boots with spurs I would've grabbed them, too. I told everyone in the store that I was having a baby in a few days and I'm pretty sure they thought I looked fabulous.

Or just delusional, but whatever.

Oh, and I had bought a package of ear plugs at Walgreens because I knew babies tend to cry and we had a 2 1/2 hour drive home. Maybe they teach you in baby classes that newborns mostly just sleep, but I had no idea.

Luckily our new baby didn't realize we were so clueless, because he actually thrived. He thrived!

Here he is, thriving at 13 months.

And then he grew to be eleven years old. Just like that.

Family Easter

2009-04-14T12:35:00.007-05:00

This isn't the best quality photo but here we are, all cleaned up for Easter.

Collin wasn't happy about tucking in his shirt. "I look like a farmer!" We have no idea why he thought that and please, no offense meant if any farmers are reading this. He's a city boy and doesn't even know any farmers.

Honestly, Jesus probably didn't care if Collin's shirt was tucked in or not.

Cambryn was just happy to twirl in a new dress, wearing "high" heels.

Telluride

2009-03-26T12:46:00.017-05:00

Here's proof that at least three of us went skiing over spring break. I took the picture so you'll just have to trust that I was there.

Or realize the likelihood that my husband would take the kids on a ski trip without me. Yeah, not happening.

See Forever, Telluride, CO

Notice the lack of jackets (jacket-lacking?). The temp was in the 50s, so great spring ski weather.

Cambryn was the "pink bullet," fast and efficient. She only made turns if she had to; she's pretty much a "point 'em straight down the mountain" kind of girl.

Collin, the snowboarder, got back on skis for the first time since age three. Wise choice, due to the snow conditions. His comparison of the two: with skiing there's just one direction to fall but with snowboarding, you can fall all over the place. In other words, skiing is easier.

They kept up just fine on the blue slopes.

Peaks Resort, Telluride, CO

Cambryn was equally excited about the indoor/outdoor pool with the 2-story slide. Which reminds me that the last time we stayed in Tulsa for a basketball tournament (Doubletree at Warren Place with its awesome indoor pool), Cambryn declared it the best vacation she'd ever had. Forget the beaches, mountains, and amusement parks. All she needs is a nice pool and a hotel bed to jump on.

Spring Break Survivors

2009-03-21T23:59:00.024-05:00

As usual, my husband booked the earliest flight possible for our spring break ski trip.

(Have I mentioned I have a sleep disorder? It's called Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome and doesn't much jive with earliest flights possible.)

So we "woke up" at 3:30 dark, got to the airport with a comfortable hour to spare, and boarded the plane at 5:45. Still dark.

And then the plane broke.
And couldn't be fixed until a part was flown in from Denver on a flight arriving in five and a half hours. Which would cause us to miss our connecting flight to Montrose, CO.

And being spring break, there were no other available seats to Montrose that day. And being spring break, our options for the rest of the week were limited, too.

So spring break was not looking good.

But then we discovered we could salvage the trip by flying into Telluride instead of Montrose.

Ohhh boy.

Telluride was, in fact, our final destination. We just hadn't considered actually landing there. We've always flown into Montrose and then driven the 1.5 hours to Telluride.

For good reason.

Think about it: Telluride is a ski resort and people ski during spring break, yet we had no trouble booking four seats that very day. Four seats together!

To drive that point home I've written the following research paper, just like in junior high except I didn't cite my sources and Google didn't even exist back then anyway.

Telluride Regional Airport, the highest commercial airport in North America, is known locally as the USS Telluride because landing there is similar to landing on an aircraft carrier. The short landing strip sits on the edge of a mesa. Three sides, including both ends of the runway, plunge about 1,000 feet to the San Miguel River below.

You're looking at the runway.

If that's not scary enough, it's surrounded on all sides by mountains exceeding 14,000 feet and last, but not least, there's a big dip in the middle of the runway. You know that touchdown bump at landing? You get two of those at Telluride. Bump, dip, bump.

I haven't even mentioned the weather yet. Winter flights are often diverted to Montrose and other airports due to duh, it's winter in the Rockies.

Luckily, only the top 5% of pilots are allowed to land there. They have to be specially qualified (as well as have major coconuts) to contend with the extreme altitude, rotors, strong turbulence and down-drafts associated with the cliffs.

So although it might not be the nation's most dangerous airport, it's certainly one of the most "thrilling" landings.

Don't they look thrilled?

We spent an extra six hours waiting for parts and flights, which as you can imagine with kids was no picnic unless you're picnicking in Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain and blows away anything not pinned down by a brick until you just give up and go eat in the car, but the Colorado skies were sunny and clear, our elite pilot was on the money, and we landed at Telluride and lived to brag about it.

Stay tuned for more spring break...

Happy Birthday, Misha!

2009-03-04T13:59:00.003-06:00

Today is my little sister's birthday. She lights up the room, the party, and the whole wide world like few can. I hope her wishes all come true.

Happy Birthday, Misha!

I Love These Boys

2009-03-03T02:06:00.003-06:00

And the one in the red shirt? He's my favorite. I fell in love with him the moment I knew he was mine.

Hers Must Be Different

2009-02-20T11:33:00.003-06:00

I can't remember who sent that to me, but it made me laugh. There is a Super Wal-Mart 2.12 miles from our house and I go inside it maybe twice a year. I've said repeatedly that if I were ever to have a panic attack, I'm pretty sure it would happen while waiting in a Super Wal-Mart checkout line. The last few times I've been there, I've simply abandoned my merchandise and walked out empty-handed.

Luckily there's a Super Target which also happens to be 2.12 miles from our house. Ahhhhh, Target: my home away from home, my comfort zone. I love all your cool stuff, your big clean aisles and your short friendly lines. Thank you for saving me from panic attacks.

Some Might Argue

2009-02-18T11:56:00.007-06:00

Your Spiritual Number is Two

You bring kindness and harmony into other people's lives. Whenever a situation or idea seems extreme, you try to lend some balance.

Right now, your life is about benefiting from choices you've made in your past. You have done your best to be a good person, and it is starting to pay off.

You are an idealist with interesting ideas. You can't help but see all of the beauty in the world. But you are also aware of the world and its limitations. You have realistic expectations.

What's Your Spiritual Number?

Hair?

2009-02-17T14:39:00.006-06:00

Speaking of my husband, you might not recognize him in this picture. I didn't, the first few times I saw it.

Please note: Some of the faces have been doodled to protect the innocent, just in case anyone at one of these parties was ever remotely innocent.

No Secret

2009-02-15T22:13:00.005-06:00

The secret's out. After two years, my husband has discovered my blog. And read it. And sent the link to his friends. And tried to give me suggestions for it.

I guess this means he knows the dining room is a different color now. It's a good thing I didn't blog about replacing the dining room chandelier.

I never made a big deal out of the blog because he has this innate distrust of the internet. Of course now he's wondering if someone will find it and sta1k us. That probably won't happen, though, because I'm pretty sure sta1kers always google the word "sta1k" before zeroing in a sta1kee and I just totally saved us with that 1.

I also made a point of not mentioning my husband much on the blog but I might all of a sudden be smelling fresh meat.

Merry Christmas Card

2008-12-27T00:06:00.018-06:00

Just in case yours hasn't come in the mail yet. :o)

Cambryn is laughing because my husband was standing behind me doing something funny. I'm better off not knowing what it was. Let's just say the end justified the means.

I hope your Christmas was very, very merry.

p.s. I have a new camera.

Cousins

2008-12-23T00:35:00.009-06:00

One of my mom's passions is genealogy. She spends a lot of time researching our family tree and often calls me all excited about filling in a missing piece of our heritage or meeting another long-lost relative online. I'm fascinated by our direct lineage but when she starts in on distant cousins or in-laws I can't help but get lost. Tonight she caught my attention, though. I'd like you to meet my 10th cousin...

George

And my other 10th cousin...

Barack

My husband, ever hard to impress, has always said if you go back far enough, we're ALL cousins. This probably proves his point.

Christmas Rejects

2008-12-21T13:07:00.012-06:00

I'll admit, even I've checked my blog to see if I've updated it yet. And been disappointed. I'm finally here to fix that, thank goodness.

Do you have one of those perfect families that turns up the Christmas music, pours the eggnog, and snaps a photo of your beautifully dressed, well-behaved children in the blink of an eye? Oh, maybe you'll take TWO photos, just so you can choose the better one? Well, that's not our family.

Here are a few photos from one of three different sittings on different days. One constant you will see is Collin's ever ready, sweet smile. Another constant you'll see is Cambryn's inability to sit still. Throw in the puppy, and it's a real party.

"Cambryn, you'll need to stop talking while I take the picture. And could you get Angel to sit up and look at me?"

"OK, don't choke her. Whoops, caught you blinking!"

"Nope, I blurred it. Cambryn, you need to raise your head up, please, and I think you're still choking Angel."

"No, Angel! Don't bite Cambryn!"

"Collin, why don't you try holding Angel this time. And Cambryn, quit making goofy faces, please."

"Ummm, Collin's in focus; Cambryn, you're not. Why don't we just take a break. Maybe we can do better next time."

Yes, it's gotten a little easier as they've gotten older. When they were toddler and infant, I actually cried! Thankfully no tears were shed in the making of this year's card, which I will now address and mail. Some might actually arrive before Christmas. There's always (Christmas) hope!

New Plan

2008-11-26T00:58:00.010-06:00

Woohoo! I'm thankful to announce that my cell phone plan has been upgraded to include:

1500 anytime minutes (shared with husband)
unlimited nights and weekend minutes, with nights starting at 7PM
unlimited text messaging
unlimited internet access

That might not seem like a big deal to you, but this is what I've been dealing with:

not enough anytime minutes
nights starting at 9PM
no text messaging
no internet access

I was so excited, I took a picture of myself on my cell phone enjoying my new minutes. At least one friend, one sister and one parent will appreciate this news. And remember the post about my broken camera? It's still broken.

So I didn't really take a picture of myself on my cell phone. I borrowed someone else's phone.

And someone else's hand.

Hers, to be exact. Maybe she won't mind.My fingers aren't nearly that bony, no offense. I'd take a picture and show you, except my camera's broken.

Happy Birthday, Tim!

2008-11-13T10:17:00.008-06:00

Today is my little brother's birthday. He's seventeen months younger than I am and we'll just leave it at that. He's a very good brother. I highly recommend him. And I hope he gets all his wishes today.

Happy Birthday, Tim!

Broken Camera

2008-11-13T01:50:00.008-06:00

This is a picture of my camera that no longer works. Until a replacement falls in my lap or I buy a new one, I won't be posting any new photos.

In other news, I find it hard to add posts without photos.

Still in other news, a small creative urge hit me. It didn't knock me over but it forced me to revamp my blog. It made me add those stripey legs.

And stay up way past my bedtime.

Obviously.

Everything Princess

2008-11-04T13:00:00.015-06:00

I'm still sharing old Halloween pics here because nobody asked me to stop. Hopefully I'll be done with Halloween by Christmas so I can start in on Thanksgiving before New Year's. Because that's how I roll.

2002
Little Ballerina Princess

The pink costume included a tiara and tutu which she could easily remove. And did.

2003
Bride Princess, age 3
Here she is, practicing her dreamy look for the future groom. Oh, wait. Now I remember. Her memaw wanted to take a picture but Cambryn couldn't take her eyes off the TV long enough to look at the camera so she's killing two birds with one stone, posing and watching TV all at once.

2004 (maybe)
Rapunzel Princess
Are you detecting a theme yet? No matter what she was, she was a princess. You don't think this sweet girl would ever be a scary ole zombie, do you? Of course not!

Next post:
Zombie Bride Princess

Old Navy Animals

2008-10-29T23:17:00.009-05:00

If I concentrate really, really hard I can remember Halloween 2000. I had a 2-year-old and a 9-month-old and my life was a little blurry from lack of energy.

A lot blurry, actually. Words cannot describe just how energy-lacking I was. In fact, I'm getting tired just thinking about it.

Long story short, I ran into Old Navy and grabbed the costumes closest to the check-out line. Collin liked being a frog. Cambryn couldn't care less. We trick-or-treated at the zoo. The End.

It's a good thing they were so cute at this age. And if you think for one second that those manicured hands are mine, go back and read this again.