Saile Christmas : divine intervention & surprises

This year because of Christmas falling on a Tuesday and limited days off work, we celebrated with my family the weekend after.  Originally, we were going to do our Christmas Eve traditions on Friday and then Christmas day on Saturday, but that changed when Zack got his job and would be leaving with my dad to drive to L.A. on Saturday morning.  We geared up to squeeze it all into Friday night once we all got to my parents' house after work that evening.  However, due to car issues, Zack ended up flying out on Sunday afternoon, so we got our weekend-long Christmas after all!

Friday night we ate our roast beast (mom always called it that, like in The Grinch!) dinner complete with figgy pudding (yes, she actually makes the stuff mentioned in the song We Wish You a Merry Christmas - it's more like a bread cake).

Saturday morning we got up and did our stockings, then had the traditional giant homemade cinnamon rolls.  This year mom added a full breakfast of eggs, sausage, and bacon to the mix because we weren't eating until later in the day.  We then opened presents with Christmas music playing the background, and it snowed all day long (making it seem like Saturday should have been the actual Christmas day!).

The biggest surprise of the weekend was when my mom told me that a bunch of my extended relatives from both sides of the family were coming down for the afternoon/evening to have dinner.  What a wonderful surprise to get to see them all and celebrate together!  My grandpa Grower, grandma Saile, two uncles, aunt, and two cousins drove through the snow to visit.  We had a feast complete with ham, scalloped potatoes, rolls, veggie casserole, and fruit salad, all wonderfully homemade by mom.

After dinner we enjoyed playing games and catching up, and it was a treat to have dad home and off for the weekend.  The whole weekend was full of tons of food, games, and relaxing with family.

Sunday morning after attending church together, the five of us drove to the airport.  We watched Zack through security before giving a final wave goodbye.  It was sad to see him go, but so exciting for him to start his new job.  And, I am so thankful that by Zack's car acting up, God showed us that He agreed we all needed the full weekend together :)

our current state of existence

This is what our apartment looks like right now:

There are packed boxes in almost every room of the house.

Most of our things are in those boxes, so we are living out of our closets and on paper plates/cups.

(Thanks again to my mother- and sister-in-laws for packing our kitchen for us!

It was one room I didn't think I could handle.)

And if you know me at all, this means that I feel completely discombobulated and stressed.

I am even more excited to move and unpack into our new home.

Counting the days and anxiously awaiting a closing date!

happy snowstorm everyone!

Col deciding how to start un-burying our cars :) 

We can't complain, it's 12/27 and this is our largest snowfall so far this year.  It was actually kind of fun (and it's so pretty!) to get an early morning workout and dig out with Col this morning (and no, I don't think I'll like doing this on a daily basis once we have our own driveway to clean out). 

I'm very thankful for having my grandpa's car this week, because my little Sookie Suzuki would not have made it through the deep snow very easily since it's so light.  So hooray for big ol' boat car.  I plowed out in no time!

Happy winter everyone! 

Merry Christmas from the Leathersich's!

Merry Christmas to us!

Col and I received a very happy Christmas gift today: the arrival of our commitment letter for our mortgage!

So many steps closer and closing is in a couple weeks.  Can't wait! :)

Breaking News!!

My brother is awesome!!  My mom called today and filled me in on a change of plans for our family's Christmas celebration coming up this weekend.  The change was that we'd have to squeeze our time into just Friday night because...

my brother got his dream job!! 

Even though he recently moved back from a couple years in L.A. to NYC this past year, he will be relocating back to L.A. on Saturday.  He had an interview and was hired by CBS to be a videographer/video editor, which is what he loves to do.  This time in L.A. will be so different for him because he'll have a steady, contract, full-time job.  Even though I'm sad that he'll once again be farther away, and that we will have to cut our Christmas short since he and my dad are driving out there Saturday morning, I couldn't be more proud of all his hard work.  Zack, this opportunity is amazing and I'm so happy to share in the news with you (and obviously brag about you a little).  It's just another excuse to visit California since we didn't get to last time.  I love you bro!!

P.S. I'm totally pulling for you to eventually get a job as a cameraman on The Amazing Race, so once you find out who to speak with, I could put in a sisterly good word for you ;)

"See you later," not, "Goodbye"

My friend whom I've known since Kindergarten is pursuing her dream and moving to Nashville in the coming week.  It's so hard and so scary to put yourself out there and jump into the unknown (I was similarly petrified when I moved to Spain for 5 months to study abroad), but I couldn't be prouder of her for taking the risk.  Saturday we got to spend the afternoon together in our hometown exchanging Christmas gifts, making truffles, and getting smoothies from this tiny coffee shack.

Her impending move made me remember how I felt when I left for Spain as a 20 year old college student.  I had my freak outs, bawled my eyes out saying goodbye to family and friends, and thought more than once, "What the heck am I doing?!"  However, that 5 months was so much more than I could have ever imagined and all my fear and tears were worth what I gained while there.  At the end of my journal from that time, I wrote these lyrics from Superchick's song Suddenly:

"And suddenly it isn't what it used to be,
And after all this time it worked out just fine.
And suddenly I am where I'm supposed to be.
And after all the tears, I was supposed to be here."

Isn't it funny how God knows what's best for you even when it feels like the worst idea ever?  Even when things don't turn out the way we imagine them, He stretches us, grows us, and shows us His love all along the way.  I am praying that the same will be true of Deanna's quest to Nashville.  As I wrote in her Christmas card, "Go get famous!"  I love you friend!

i L.O.V.E. coming home to this

we interrupt this busy season with a long overdue blog update

December has always been a busy month with Christmas and holiday celebrations, not to mention both the birthdays of my brother and I.  This year has been no exception plus add in the fact that we are buying a house and closing in early January.

Thankfully I've had time to enjoy the season and therefore my blog has suffered a little.  Here are some highlights:

-yearly holiday brunch with friends

-Deanna's going away party

-babysitting 3 precious babes over the course of a couple days

(nothing better than a baby falling asleep in your arms!)

-birthday dinner with my in-law family

-cookie swap with work ladies (we each had to make 96!!)

-dessert with Rach for my birthday
-my car looking like new after 10 days worth of repairs thanks to the hit and run before Thanksgiving
(and a small rust spot from another incident being repaired for free!!)

-holiday breakfast with tons of yummy food and a funny white elephant gift exchange at work

-first legit snowfall of the year, 12/21/12



on this, the day of my birth

I was born 26 years ago at 5pm.  I came out screaming and starving; barrel-chested with huge round cheeks.

I wasn't screaming my arrival this year, but I'm so thankful to celebrate another birthday.  Most of the day was spent at work, but I was spoiled by gifts, lunch, cake, and everyone's favorite song, Happy Birthday.  Afterwards I enjoyed chai with my most wonderful, cute pregnant roomie.  Once Col got out of work we headed over to Label 7 for dinner to redeem a Groupon, and it was so so good.  We stopped at Wendy's on the way home to grab free Frosty's as dessert with some coupons that we had, and topped the evening off by watching Parenthood (which, by the way, was a heart wrenching episode!).  And this is not to mention the extended celebrations with friends and family before today and planned for after.

Once again I am blown away by the amazing people that God has blessed my life with.  Blame it on just watching It's a Wonderful Life, but the famous line from it is so true, "Remember George, no man is a failure who has friends," and I'd like to add family to that too.

Life is short, and we've been reminded of that once again recently.  So this year, more than ever, I want to remember and be thankful for the blessings that God has given, especially in the form of relationships. 

And so, thank you to each and every person who shared in my birthday by wishing me a happy one.  You are all dearly loved and appreciated!  Here's to 26!

good things

-a night of volunteering with small group
-having our upstairs neighbors over for a fun evening of dinner and games
-dinner with small group girls
-decorating the tree and front porch with hubby
-seeing old church/Batavia friends, despite difficult circumstances
-2nd annual soup and sweats party with small group
-Christmas music and movies

visit to Geva

For my birthday this year mom and dad took us to see A Christmas Carol at Geva.  I've always wanted to go there, and it was great!  Afterwards, we drove by our new house to show it to them and enjoyed dinner at Napa Wood Fired Pizzeria.  Thanks mom and dad!

Q Christmas Party

All dressed up with a work Christmas party to go to.

  

We compromised events tonight and not only enjoyed the party 

but caught half of the Knighthawks exhibition game too.

mini birthday party

homemade crunchwrap supremes

delicious mini chocolate cake

Thanks to Deanna for throwing me my own two-person birthday party! So glad to have a fun afternoon with you before you move. Love ya! :)

time to get the Christmas tree!

my hubby is the best and cut down our tree for me this year; a first for him!

we went in the pouring rain, but still had fun

we got a clearance tree, which was cheaper and is bigger than last year's!

Happy 24th birthday, little bro!

*winter wonderland open house*

Today we held our last get together at our apartment.  We had a "winter wonderland" theme, and I tried to make all white foods (which half worked and was tasty nonetheless).  We had a great time with everyone and even were able to enjoy a little of the South Wedge holiday fest.  Thanks everyone who celebrated our last in the apartment!