Christmas Week

Merry (belated) Christmas from the Leavitts! We have officially entered recovery mode around here. And I got a feeling it's going to be a few months long...

We had an exceptional holiday and a grand Christmas week. It started out a bit rough as Brandon prepared for trials and Abby and I struggled to survive some public school acquired plague, but it ended rosy and bright!

2.5 days into aforementioned plague, I couldn't take being in the house any more. So Abby and I (sans Brandon, since he is the typical low-man-on-totem-pole-associate) bundled our recently de-fevered bodies and headed to springs preserve. Now you may question my judgment taking a sick kid and a sick mom to a public, freezing festivus. And I don't blame you. But you try taking 2 days of Barbie movies and see how long it takes you before you're willing to chance creating a global pandemic. 'nuff said.

We finally have enough little ones for a Christmas eve nativity. Not to toot my own (and sister Kari's) horn, but I do believe this was a quality production. She had costume and set design and I was on script and soundtrack. I mean look at this shepherd!

another shot from springs preserve. she loved her blinged-out christmas tree face paint. So much in fact, that I let her keep it on for way too long...so long it ended up looking like a nasty skin bruise. Again, mother of the year!

We had an epic Leavitt family christmas eve party- complete with matching jammies and lobster tails. I'm spoiled rotten!

I think my favorite part of our nativity was watching baby Logan and Makena in their lamb costumes crawling along the floor. Our Three Wise-Dads were quite smashing in their paper crowns, bathrobes and various lady's scarves.

We did feast and feast and feast- on who-plum pudding and rare who-beast. (That's my shout out to the grinch- an all time favorite.) My little family actually feasted on chocolate strawberry whole wheat waffles with whipped cream. Sounds way better than who-beast, eh?

She only got one thing she asked Santa for...but I still think she ended up pretty happy. If two hours playing P.I.G. in the backyard and rolling her scooter through the house mean happy, then we're there!

Fleas on a Dog!
(feliz navidad, according to a five year old)

Updates

In true Jamie Leavitt fashion, I've missed a lot. The above picture is of thanksgiving. And no, that isn't my beautiful face next to Brandon. That's our friend Priscilla's beautiful face. You can also see that beautiful face here http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=8793&vid=1&pid=871031. Yes, she's a Gap model. And Brandon insists he keeps staring at this picture because he looks so handsome in it. While it is true that he is a stone cold fox, I have my doubts about his stated reasons for loving it :) But heck! I want to look at Priscilla too. She's insanely lovely, warm, and fun to have around. Ok, let's move on from my insecurities into an update-dump...

First, an update on my goals for my 31st year. I said I would blog 4xs a month- I accomplished that for November. This is my first post for December, so exciting stuff really needs to happen in the next few weeks so I'm motivated to write about them. Oh, and I was a vegetarian for a week and loved it! My family on the other hand felt tortured. I could easily rock that lifestyle, but I'd need more Birkenstocks and clothes made from Nepalese wool. That's all I've accomplished so far. Amen.

A few items of potential interest I missed...

• I took an LSAT for fun. Rocked its socks. Nice to know Mama's still got it.
  
• Done Christmas shopping.
• We had an excellent turkey bowl this year.
• We had a super fun double date with our good friends the Chatwins. It was not fun because my food was good though. I had toxic green Thai chili dip with pork rinds (curse my adventurous spirit). It was, however, fun because our 30-somethingness cleared out an impromptu Asian teenager disco-tech.
  
• Niece Brinley was baptized and I cried like a newborn babe all the way through it.
  
• We've gone to some seriously funny parties and brought home some seriously entertaining white elephant gifts.
  
• My mom had a birthday. No, she wouldn't like it if I told you which one. So I wont (which you may consider a happy late birthday gift, mom).
  
• Abby and I participate in the annual penguin run even though it was sub-ARCTIC conditions here in Vegas that day (like high of 50!!!)
• I had my first parent teacher conference. Painless when your kid is perfect- loved every minute!
• We had dinner with Chef Niel. He "plated" my dinner for me and refilled my water constantly. (I sent a thank you card that night, the service was that good at his restaurant/house.)
• Brandon went snowboarding for the weekend while I babysat pretty much every kid I know. Have I mentioned I need a break?
• Abby, some of her friends, and I went to a Christmas light parade that was magical in every way. It was awesome. Henderson- it's a place to call home!
• Abby had her first Cheerleading camp and was a super star. She was the "flyer" and I lost about 30 seconds off my life hearing that. They tossed around my little dumpling like she was pizza dough and she loved every minute.

That about sums up the last 2 weeks! Peace and prosperity- to all a good night, on dasher!