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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A "Tricky" Photo Shoot

Happy Halloween from My Cute Little Witch!








P.S. Little Leighton was THREE MONTHS OLD last week! Here she is in her little owl costume for yet another photo shoot. I promise we do other, more educational and stimulating things besides taking pictures.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

A Yumhaw for Y'all!

Meet our newest afternoon/after dinner (Who are we kiddin'? After breakfast, too.) snack obsession:


We're here to tell y'all:  These cookies are scrumptious!  We first sampled the Oatmeal Dark Chocolate and fell in love. Then, one day last week, as I (TLC) was perusing the Target aisles, I came across the Chocolate Almond Butter. Equally as tasty! We'd be hard pressed to pick a favourite.

Since these are super healthy, they're basically negative calories. And they help us forget all about Red Velvet Cupcakes. Well. Almost.

Happy Sunday Evening!

Monday, October 22, 2012

Fiasco

The best laid plans…of The Leightons. Sometimes things just don’t go as one hopes.

Last Thursday, all three Leightons got up bright and early. (Well, two of them usually have no choice—since Little Leighton prefers the wee hours of the mornings.) They planned a Field Trip to Hobby Lobby! All they needed were paper plates and napkins for TLC and some spools of grosgrain ribbon for ELC. They were only going to have approximately one hour. Little Leighton’s feedings require precise timing (so TLC is not forced to feed her in a restroom or in between the clothing racks at Target—TLC’s not one to flaunt her Mamahood, if you get our drift).

They piled into ELC’s car at approximately 10:02 a.m. Clean and madeup—with actual makeup on in the form of blush, mascara and lipstick—and with great anticipation for the fun they truly believed they were about to experience.

ELC parked at the Hobby Lobby near TLC’s casa at approximately 10:11 a.m. Yes. It is that close. TLC extracted Little Leighton from her carseat. ELC got her purse, TLC’s purse, and the diaper bag. None of which are light. She could have used a pack mule.

As they got inside and got two carts—one for Little Leighton and the few items they needed and one for their “luggage,” ELC looked at her left hand. In it was TLC’s garage door opener. Not her car’s keyfob. She searched all the pockets of her purse and her jeans for said keyfob. No luck.

ELC: Hmmm. Wonder what I’m doing with your garage door opener in my hand? (She said this an air of calm in her voice—because she’s a GOOD actress.)
TLC: What?
ELC: I must have grabbed it instead of my keyfob. (Said keyfob is required to start ELC’s car. She’s had the car for over three years. It’s taken her two and a half years to get used to not having an actual carkey.)

(ELC quickly looked away from TLC’s confused face. Why, and HOW, did her doors lock? Because she vividly remembered hearing them lock. After she hit the button to lock them. BUT—and here’s the kicker—the doors should NOT have locked. Not if she’d left the keyfob inside. It wasn’t supposed to happen that way. It was a safety feature!)

ELC turned away before TLC could see the terror in her eyes and quickly headed out to the parking lot, saying: I must have left the keyfob in the car. Be right back!

She knew that couldn’t be true. She had to have dropped it. It would be somewhere on the ground between the store and her car.

And…yet…it wasn’t.

She went back into the store and found TLC and Little Leighton exactly where she’d left them. Paper products’ aisle.

ELC: Maybe I put them in the diaper bag.
TLC: Mom, you didn’t find it? And the car is locked? And our minutes are counting down? What are we going to do if you can’t find it? I can bet money it’s not in the diaper bag. Or my purse.
ELC: Don’t worry. I’ll find it.

Long story short: After another trip back to the car—and after TLC made a search between the store and the car—and back—herself, ELC discovered the keyfob. In one of her cupholders. Inside the locked car. Twice she’d looked into the car from the driver’s side. The third time? She looked from the passenger side. Yep. There it was.

HOW? How could this happen? Her extra keyfob was 2 ½ hours away—at her home. If Her Sweet Hubby (HSH) left work right then—it would take him over three hours to get it to her. Tick. Tick. Tock.

She went to break the news to TLC. She was, frankly, slightly shaking with fear. The look on TLC’s face when ELC told her? Not pleasant.

TLC: Mom, how many times have I told you to lock your doors with the keyfob—when you get out of your car—and not from the handle? So this can’t happen? How many?
ELC: Fifty? (She knew it was at least a hundred.)
TLC: Call Triple A.
ELC: I don’t know if they can get the door open. I’ve not had to call them since we bought this car.
TLC: Call them. HURRY. Or I’m going to be feeding Little Leighton in this restroom. I won’t like that, Mom. I really won’t.

ELC called AAA at 10:31 a.m. They would have somewhere on scene by 11:01 a.m. ELC and TLC needed to be back at TLC’s casa—for LL’s “lunch”—by 11:30. (They had originally included just enough time for a lunch stop at Sonic on their way home.)

ELC then called a Toyota dealership she knew was about 20 minutes away. First told her sad tale to the poor young woman who answered the phone. She put ELC through to a nice young man in the Service Department. He broke this tidbit of info to ELC—as gently as he could: If the AAA person could not get the door unlocked? The car would have to be towed to their dealership.

Prayers were immediately sent up. To God. To Jesus. To The Leightons’ Guardian Angels.

At 10:47 a.m., a delightful AAA man drove up. Towing a car. He’d decided to stop at Hobby Lobby on his way to the repair shop so we wouldn't have to wait on him. He even apologized! ELC considered kissing him. He got the car door open at the very moment TLC walked up. Life was, once again, good. Until three seconds later. ELC’s car alarm went off. Her keyfob should have stopped it. It didn’t. The keyfob battery had to be dead. AAA Man put the emergency key in the fob into the lock on the door. Praise the Lord—the alarm stopped. (BTW: Little Leighton slept through all of this. Why does everyone try to be so quiet when she’s home—in her room? She slept through an alarm loud enough to be heard ten miles away. She should be able to sleep through Henry’s barks at the UPS Man’s knock or the phone ringing, right?) AAA Man took the keyfob apart and showed The Leightons what kind of battery was needed. It was one of those weird little round ones. He said to give him a call if that didn’t work and they needed a tow.

At this point, TLC decided she would walk to a Walgreens—about 200 yards away—to purchase a new battery. She might have thought that was better than her deep desire to plot ELC’s demise.

Once back with the battery, The Leightons were able to be on their way home. It was now 11:18 a.m. LL was still asleep. No napkins, plates or ribbons had been purchased. There was, however, time to make that Sonic stop. The tots? The Day’s Saving Grace. And The Leightons were beyond grateful for answered prayers and one magnificently kind AAA Man. Maybe, in the end, it only seemed like a fiasco.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Mortimer and the iPad

I just had to share this SILLY picture My Sweet Hubby (MSH) texted me of Mortimer:


I may not know how to work the iPad, but Morty sure does!

He was clearly tired of reading about all the political "malarkey" via his online Wall Street Journal subscription and decided to use it as a pillow to rest his weary head.

P.S. There's TBBB in the background. He doesn't even want to learn how to use the iPad. He's anti-technology and pro-rawhide-ology.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

LL Round-Up!

It's time for another edition of:

Please Humour Me While I Share Lots O' Pics Of My Precious Princess Little Leighton!

Here's what we've been up to lately:

This is what Princess LL wore on her first trip to Nordstrom.
We believe:
The bigger the bow, the better!

Seriously, Mom.
What in the world do you have on my hands and feet?

LL LOVES to check her Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
before she heads to Dreamland.

Henry has proved to be quite the reliable and dependable babysitter.

Teddy Buddy Boo Bear, on the other hand, has not.
We caught him snoozing on the job.

That's right, folks!
Her first pair of sunnies are LEOPARD PRINT.

Happiest Saturday, Dearest Readers!

Smooch.  Smooch.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

The Perils of Date Night

So last week, TLC and I agreed she and Her Sweet Hubby (HSH) needed a Date Night. Since Little Leighton (LL) made her grand arrival eleven weeks ago, her parents have had one night out. And it was only for dinner. They were definitely ready for dinner and a movie. I got to their house Wednesday eve.

Thursday was a full day. TLC and I took LL for her first trip to The Mall. Nordstrom had been calling TLC's name for several weeks. We needed to also make quick runs to JC Penney's, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, and Williams-Sonoma. We strolled The Little Sleeping Princess with determination and focus. She did FABULOUS. (Okay... She had no clue where she was. But we're confident she's going to love to shop!)

Friday TLC visited January in the hospital. She had a new baby girl!!! I practiced my Nanny-sitting skills for that evening. Later, when TLC came out of her room all spoofed and prettied up, ready for her night out on the town, I got teary. She looked dazzling. She and HSH ventured out to a restaurant they hadn't tried, with the plan to see the movie Taken 2. Little Leighton and I settled in to our night of Grammy Only.

TLC updated me, at least every 20 minutes, about their status. Until they arrived at the movie theatre. For almost two hours, all I heard were the sweet sounds of LL sleeping and Henry snoring. At 10:30ish, I got a text that they were on their way home. But then I got another one. TLC had fallen on the way to their car because it was dark and they were walking in grass. Her idea. Yep. Not the best choice. (I don't think the tall heels she'd chosen to wear -- although stylishly haute -- helped her situation.)

Once home, TLC broke into tears. HSH could help her with LL Saturday and Sunday, but what would she do if her ankle was as bad -- or worse -- on Monday? When HSH had to go to Oklahoma?

Duh. Grammy to the Rescue. Making sure TLC iced her foot every hour-on-the-hour Saturday, HSH and I got her caught up on grocery shopping, laundry and some housecleaning. Sunday morning, HSH took care of LL while TLC directed me on packing for our two-hour/three-day trip Southwest to my country casa.

Now it's Tuesday. TLC's foot is a teensy bit better. She's still icing it. My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I have done everything we can to help her stay off of it. Although Little Leighton says she loves the country, we'll head back to The Big City tomorrow. There are no other Date Nights scheduled, at this point. I'm fairly certain TLC will be wearing flats on the next one. And picking the path that is a well-lighted sidewalk. Bless her sweet heart and foot.

Have a Terrific Tuesday. Wherever in the World you are!

BY THE WAY: This is our Two Hundredth Post! Shootin' for Three!!!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

We're Famous!

Look what ELC just discovered whilst browsing the "Winter 2012" Garnet Hill catalogue:


We're over pumpkins.  We've moved on to Christmas!

P.S. Just kiddin' about the pumpkins.  We LOVE 'em.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Ane and Drew

When I think about what I’m going to share, it blows my feeble mind. Thirty nine years ago, I met Ane and Drew at a small State Univeristy in Texas. Wwwhhhhaaaaatttttt? 39? Yikes. Can’t be. It was my third college. Long story. But even though I’d gone to two other schools—quit and worked full-time for a year in Ft. Worth—I wasn’t too much older than these two cutie-pies.

Ane was my roommate. We didn’t know each other before that moment we arrived at our dorm. I don’t remember if we’d even talked. Neither of us knew anyone, actually, when we met that “move-in” day in September. She had grown up in Austin. I’d been in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex since 6th grade. She was beautiful. Blonde. Pretty smile. Free-spirited, honest and brave. (She brought both a horse and boat to school. Not at the exact same time. But she could back a trailer like no guy I knew. Until I met my husband. I should make them have a contest.) I remember knowing our thrown-together relationship was going to work. No doubt! And it did. We were roomies for two years. Then Ane made the difficult decision to transfer to Texas A&M. She wanted to pursue a degree she couldn’t get at our college. I was crushed.

Drew lived on another floor of the dorm when we all moved in—but we met her early on. She, too, was beautiful. Grew up in a small town near Austin. She was tiny (still is). But full of sass and spirit. FUNNY. (She had a car she called "The Flying Turtle." Because it wasn't fancy and "sporty" and, well, fast. We sang our share of Tanya Tucker songs riding around the country in The Flying Turtle during our time together!) I pledged a Social (campus) Club with Drew. Ane pledged the next semester (after giving us a hard time for putting up with all the cRaZiNeSs we endured for seven weeks as pledge sisters).

For my three years at my "final" college, two while Ane was still with us, we laughed. We cried. We partied. We complained. We cried some more. We went to class faithfully. Mostly. (At a small college—in classrooms with not too many students—it’s quite noticeable to the professors when one is not there. Attendance is pretty much required.) We believed. We cared. We did stupid things. We did smart things. We changed. We stayed the same. We experienced. We dreamed.

Here is a “club” picture of us I copied out of our 1975 annual (TLC cropped and edited this for me. Thank you, Little Mama. Thank you very much.) Yes. We might have been at a bar. I’m in the middle. Geez—why didn’t someone tell me I needed bangs? Ane is in front of me—black hat with a flower—to my right. Your left—as you look at the picture. Drew is behind me. Looking right at the camera. My left. Your right. That’s our cherished friend, Liz, holding a can of Diet Coke (That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.). My Big Sis, Meg—who I still adore—is to my left. Your right. No hat.


We had a LARGE time in college. Very large. Special/Dear/Treasured Memories.

Recently, Ane and Drew came to stay with me at my country casa. They spent an afternoon and Saturday night. My Sweet Hubby (MSH) cooked us a delicious dinner. Breakfast, the next morn. He's a keeper, that Man O' Mine. There wasn’t a moment of silence between the three of us gals. For hours and hours. We hadn’t seen each other for many years. Yet, as happens to y’all, too, with close friends, it was like we’d been together the week before. We headed over to our Barn apartment at midnight. MIDNIGHT. I went back to our house at 3:00. That would be A.M. Crawled into my bed at 3:30.  (We’re close to hitting our 60s Decade! I say: WE ROCKED. BTW: We each had one small glass of wine. That’s it. VERY different from our college years. We apparently got wise.) We laughed. We complained. We shared. One or two of us might have cried. We laughed some more.  

We promised it wouldn’t be years before our next visit. We always say that, though. Hopefully, this time, we’ll stick to it. We don’t live that far from each other. It’s so senseless to lose touch with friends you cherish. Especially now. Having instant access to communication! 39 years ago? We had telephones. (Calls that were charged as “long distance.” I know. This is sooo foreign and mysterious to our young folks of today.) We had mail. “Snail” mail—as it’s called. Oh, and I guess we had Western Union. I never once sent a “telegram” to anyone. Nor did I ever receive one. Does Western Union still exist? Hmmm.

Thank you, Dolls. For the joy you gave—and continue to give—to me…I love you, both!