What a Weekend

Me and My Big Girl Caitlin and ahhh...the other violinist. Crazy fire show.... Sophia and Caitlin throwing some gang signs or something....LOL All the girls



It's been a good weekend. Friday night we celebrated by spending the evening watching TV and doing pretty much nothing. Saturday Sophia woke up better...way better. Hooray! Not only was she better she had a birthday party to go to and everyone was invited. Bob took the kids to the Academy Theater for the party and then he and I went out and did a bit of shopping. It was nice to have that time together.

Our afternoon was peaceful. Bob worked outside and I was inside. At 5 we went over to the Stewart's. I was going out to the Miz Kitty Vaudeville Show. The Stewart's babysitter was on her way. When she got there Bob asked her if she minded if our kids stayed. Bob scored. She said that was fine. Bob went to a movie. The Kitty Show isn't his thing...I don't know why but it isn't. I, on the other hand, love it.

I handed out programs at the door before the show and laughed a lot during the show. There were a bunch of friends there and we all enjoyed ourselves. If you are around and inclined, you should come some time. It's like nothing you've ever seen before. After the show we all went out and had a drink and a bit of something to eat. I took a cab home. I usually do when I go to the Miz Kitty Show. I ride with someone there and cab it home....

This morning we all got up and went to church. We're trying to be consistent with church. We want the kids to participate in the Christmas Pageant. They have never wanted to before and this year is the year...finally. They practice after church so we really need to be there for that and for, well, CHURCH! For us, it's the right thing to do and I think it's a good community for our children.

When we got home Sophia and I quick, made some cookies. We were going to the Trans Siberian Orchestra where Caitlin Moe was performing as one of their featured violinists. The cookies were for Caitlin and anyone she wanted to share them with. They've been on the road for weeks and it is a crazy schedule that they keep. That and eating on the road can be brutal. They were in town less than 24 hours and did 2 shows. We wanted to host a dinner but they didn't have time. Cookies would have to suffice.

The show was at 3:00 and we were a bit early. We had seats in the 8th row, awesome. The show was really something. Rock and roll Christmas. The lights were going, lots of lasers and pyrotechnics, it was amazing. And Caitlin was great. She spotted us in the audience fairly early and gave us a couple of waves and lots of smiles. Sophia felt like SHE was a star. It was very cute. T

hose musicians are the hardest working group of musicians I have ever seen. They were running and jumping the WHOLE time. AND I know they have done this the past 2 days, twice a day in 2 other cities. Exhausting! They load in the buses after their 7:30 show tonight to head to Salt Lake City. I am too old for that, I can't imagine!

I was smiling the whole show. Partly because it was just good fun. Partly because the guy next to us was singing and playing air guitar A LOT! There was a big fan group near us. They told us that they had been every year for like 10 years. They were all going crazy. It was fun to watch. Everyone was just really enjoying themselves and that is what it's all about.

After the show Caitlin came out to say hello. She had wanted to bring us back stage but because of the tight turn around they weren't letting anyone back there. We chatted and took a couple pictures. We handed over the cookies, Caitlin was grateful. She is such and nice girl. I wish her luck and a good night's sleep.

Bob had dinner all ready for us when we got home. He and the boys just hung out and stayed home. They DID clean the basement. Good job boys!

It was a really nice weekend. Our week will be great too. Monday is a regular Monday but after that, Bob, Sophia and Coulter are off all week. We're doing a family snack day in Kees' class on Wednesday and then we're going to Mom and Ed's for Thanksgiving. It will be a fun and busy week. I hope your weekend was as fun as our's.

Catch Up

Last week Coulter and Kees had their family nights at school. So cute. The kids write their own plays, make their own costumes and sets and then invite their families to the show. The plays are hilarious and sometime you have to use your kid brain to understand what it's about.

Kees was not too keen on being in front of a crowd. He was excited all day. His part was the Pink Transformer Fish. Hugh? Yep that is it. He got on stage, looked into the crowd, shrunk to the floor. When he saw me he came straight over and took his costume off and sat in my lap. He's 3....I a think that is what Coulter did then too.

Coulter's was the following night. He was a Perocious Penguin (no one is sure what that is) and their play was called the Cloudalanch. The clouds (I think what most of us would call fog) came down to the jungle and could only be driven away by the sun with some assistance from a group of sled dogs....in the jungle. Hugh? Yep, that is it.

Friday Sophia and Bob went to the Father Daughter Dance at her school. She was so cute. She said, I think for the first time (and with panic in her voice), "I don't have anything to wear!" Hugh? Yep, that was it. We, of course, found her something to wear and she was fine, beautiful in fact. I even let her wear a little make up. They had a blast. Did the limbo (Bob held the stick), chicken dance, all the kid kind of dances. They even got a great picture!

Then on Saturday Sophia and I went on an epic bike ride. We went 30 miles on the bike with the tag along. I do not have any pictures of this because I was too dang tired to stand by the time we were done. It took 5 hours with a couple of stops. There were big hills and such but we had a great time but we were dog tired. I will say that I was only a bit sore so I guess there is something to that working out. OH and I got a new bike seat the next day. My BUTT HURT!!!! I think those little seats are part of an evil conspiracy! Have you seen my butt? It does not fit on that little seat. Even Sophia's butt hurt so it isn't just me. I went first thing on Monday and got a new seat. That is my old seat sitting on the new one. BIG diff. Better for my, ahh, physique.

Sunday was spent around the house and then shopping for our summer trips. It was really a nice day.

And yesterday I surprised Bob with a date night. We went to dinner and then to Star Trek. I really enjoyed it and I don't know the first thing about Star Trek. It was worth seeing.

So that is it for now. I think that gets me mostly caught up. No wait. There are a couple of penis stories but those will have to wait until tomorrow.

The Leek's Got Talent

Tonight was our church's talent show. Clara our favorite babysitter, fiddle teacher and buddy to the kids and Sophia played in the show. As a matter of fact they were the first act up. The girls had planned to wear matching clothes and hair to give them a finished look. Sophia has been practicing and getting ready for a week now. She said she was really nervous but I could tell she was really ready to go.

Sophia rode over with Clara and Rebecca to the church so they could practice a bit before hand. The boys, Bob and I arrived shortly after them for the potluck preceding the talent show. We all ate, even Sophia, which after thinking about it for a bit surprised me because I knew she was nervous.

So the show started with the introduction of the emcee. Then he introduced the girls. You should have seen them. Clara went up and said that she was Sophia's "Babysitter, fiddle teacher and her friend." I thought that was about the sweetest thing that she could have said. Sophia was so cute. She was standing there looking up to Clara. I was so proud. A year ago she wouldn't go to the front of the church to listen to the children's lesson. Now she is up there performing like a big girl. I just can't believe that I have a kid performing! I can't believe what a lovely girl she is becoming. I can't believe how confident and self assured she is. I can't believe how blessed I feel and how proud I am of her. And I am also so pleased that she has such a wonderful example of a young woman as she has in Clara.

They play. They played really well and Sophia has only been at it for 8 weeks. Oh, look at her go. She is amazing. They are amazing. Clara is so gracious. That is a real pal that will play with you up there. Then half way through the microphone falls down. It crashes to the floor. But it didn't seem to bother either of them very much. And it was fixed and off they went again. It was really cool.

After they were done Sophia came back to sit with us. She was very proud of herself. A couple minutes later she started asking me, "Mom. What's your talent?" I said that I wasn't going to do anything. After lots of pestering from my children I decided that I would sing Summertime. Honestly it's a no brainer for me. The emcee called Sophia up and she introduced me. She said, "This is my mom Heather Leek and she is going to sing a song called Summer. Please give her a big round of applause." Again she blew me away. She hadn't planned that. It was totally off the cuff but she was confident and did a really good job. I said that I had to sing a song because my kids had been sitting in the back asking me over and over if I had any talent. I sang my song. It was pretty funny because I don't think most people knew that I could sing. I've been known to sing a song or two.

So the evening went really well. We had fun and Sophia amazed me. It is an amazing thing to see her grow. I know that we have given her the tools but it is she who has to put the pieces together and grow and she is doing an incredible job. I am blown away. And to Clara....thank you so much for doing this with Sophia, for being her mentor, for being such a good example and for being a big sister and friend to my girl. I couldn't hope for anything better for my girl then you.

So the Leeks have talent and next year look out, the boys are getting in on the act too.

Wormytails Bad Adventure

Coulter's class did a play today. Preschool plays are ahhhhh, interesting to say the least. Coulter and his classmates wrote, casted and acted in Wormytail's Bad Adventure. I have to say, it was hilarious.

Enjoy.....