tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55824772024-02-28T05:23:44.865-06:00Leach FamilyCreated to chronicle Bonnie's pregnancy, the upcoming arrival of Baby Leach, and Leach Family life in generalBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.comBlogger565125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-42701136959939684352007-09-16T21:55:00.000-05:002007-09-16T22:07:44.574-05:00EmmysI am not a big fan of award shows, but I'm up waiting for Jim to return home from Karl & Heather's wedding and learned that I somehow missed the fact that Don Herbert died this summer. I seem to remember that my inspirational high school physics teacher (a.k.a. the one who shaped my college path and professional career towards science and engineering) was tapped to replaced him as Mr. Wizard backBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-20238323791855607912007-09-04T21:48:00.000-05:002007-09-16T21:50:48.934-05:00Labor DayFor the long Labor Day weekend we got in a lot of family time, some social time with friends and a lot of cleaning up projects around the house. We toyed with going to Splashtown, but with the ongoing threat of rain (and plenty on our 'to do' lists) we ended up not making the trip. Today, Spencer informed me that "the reason we didn't go to Splashtown yesterday was because it was Labor Day. LaborBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-80215563704814984562007-08-17T09:52:00.000-05:002007-08-17T10:51:55.717-05:00finger foodOn Tuesday, Spencer had a fun dinner and got to try a few new foods with his hands. He had a chicken drumstick for the first time and really enjoyed trying to figure out how to eat around the bone. Afterwards, we shared a steamed artichoke and also thought that was great, learning how to pull of the leaves, dip them in melted butter with lemon, and scrape off the tasty part with his teeth. Now Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-24331788414238610592007-08-10T09:36:00.000-05:002007-08-10T09:52:02.843-05:00singer, songwriter & scientistI have always loved listening to Spencer sing, it is so darn cute. Especially when he goes for those high notes without fear!Last week he made up a song on the ride home from school with Jim. He entered the house and started singing to me, to the tune of Beethoven's Fifth: "Hel-lo Ma-maaaaa.... I miss you much.... I want to go... to Tot Shabbat... It's at the teh-em-ple!"Last night we were Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-8770365014146416172007-07-31T21:15:00.000-05:002007-08-02T21:39:56.910-05:00the blue tubeThe blue tube is what Jim was handed during the Rice commencement ceremony in early May, and the actual diploma was only ready about a week ago.This past spring, Spencer became more tuned in to the fact that Jim was spending long days finishing up his MBA program. As graduation approached, we talked up the fact that Jim was almost done and wouldn't have to go to Rice University all the time any Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-88091172488575267472007-07-25T21:59:00.000-05:002007-07-29T22:31:04.594-05:00another swim day?I think we should have accepted the fact that Sunday was supposed to be the only swim day this month for Spencer and me. Yesterday on the ride home from school he asked if we could go swimming, so today I sprinted home from work and packed up our swim bag before picking him up. I started to get a bad feeling watching the outside temp from the car display start to tick down 90-89-88-87 during the Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-39001054234814838812007-07-23T10:29:00.000-05:002007-07-23T10:49:50.765-05:00swimming!It has been well over a month since Spencer and I have gone swimming due to the ridiculous amount of rain in Houston during June and July. So when temps hit 90 and the sun peeked out a little yesterday afternoon, we quickly put on our swimsuits and dashed off the the YMCA. It even rained during our short drive there, but was sunny again when we arrived. It felt great just to relax and enjoy the Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-90838702749815138812007-07-05T13:24:00.000-05:002007-07-05T14:07:47.030-05:00Happy 4thLuckily, the morning rain didn't prevent Spencer from having a blast swimming with friends in the afternoon. He helped decorate some chocolate haystack firework cookies to bring to the party. They were tasty & festive. It was the first year Spencer was old enough to stay up until dark to watch fireworks, and he was impressed and amazed.I thought of a few more recent conversations with Spencer Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-31493568999371820012007-07-03T09:45:00.000-05:002007-07-03T10:04:03.449-05:00"Did you hear what Spencer said?"The set up: Jim and Spencer were playing in the living room with an inflatable ball. Jim sent the ball over his head, and Spencer explained that was not the correct way to pass it to him. He exclaimed, "No, no, no, no, NEGATIVE!"The set up: at the end of a fairly typical weekday, we were all having dinner together and Spencer was running his mouth non-stop. It was humorous as he told stories and Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-34349037478265752222007-05-20T20:41:00.000-05:002007-07-03T09:45:14.713-05:00graduated!Jim is now a Rice MBA grad! In addition to the excitement of the investiture and comencement ceremonies, this past month we also celebrated this accomplishment with no less than six different parties! Travel will consume most of the upcoming month, so I think we'll have to wait until July to start enjoying all of that free time together folks keep talking about.Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-80593285114839558682007-05-07T20:06:00.001-05:002007-05-07T20:06:25.739-05:00Why we like HoustonSaturday was an awesome day, and reminded me why I love living in this city. Now that Jim has finished up all of his course work the three of us had some fun as a family. We went downtown to the Texas Dragon Boat Festival - the weather was simply perfect and the event itself unlike anything we had seen before. We cheered for the boats in the bayou as they sprinted across the finish line in front Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-13460207625538180592007-05-02T19:34:00.000-05:002007-05-06T19:39:17.640-05:00Fetch!Spencer, Jim and I were having a blast together playing ball together after dinner. We were rolling and bouncing an oversized super ball to each other and laughing our heads off. In my mind, I was having some flashbacks to the fun times we had with all of our foster dogs in the years before Spencer entered our lives. And with those thoughts in my mind, I tossed the ball past Spencer so it could Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-86183586008361203142007-04-22T20:21:00.000-05:002007-04-25T13:43:36.925-05:00sports-festThis weekend Spencer watched three different sports for the first time and had a blast. On top of that, he was well-behaved which meant Jim and I were able to enjoy the weekend with him that much more! Spencer sat on the sidelines watching his very first soccer game (under 5 league) and was delighted to no end that he had the chance to dribble all around during halftime and after the game. He is Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-87491278514353521482007-04-18T22:13:00.000-05:002007-04-18T22:26:43.202-05:00who needs WebstersI think we have always talked to Spencer like a big kid, and ever since he began signing/speaking, his vocabulary has increased at amazing rate. He is constantly asking for definitions of words he is unfamiliar with, and it is so funny to hear some repeated back that he learned elsewhere. This weekend was Jim's birthday. Spencer was SERIOUSLY upset by the fact that not only was Jim not having a Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-29169230878768850942007-04-11T21:54:00.000-05:002007-04-24T12:35:50.337-05:00milestonesI have hesitated posting this recent accomplishment, not wanting to be too much of one of those blogging mamas bragging about their kid all over the web. But after sharing with a couple of friends, it was pointed out that this blog IS Spencer's "baby book" - his journal for recording all of his greatness, so it would be remiss not to write about the fact the SPENCER IS READING AND SPELLING! We Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-45881245817571343062007-04-09T09:03:00.000-05:002007-04-19T09:46:34.656-05:00the pictures i didn't takeWe were in NY for Passover last week when that huge springtime front came through and brought flurries in April. Spencer enjoyed the change, and didn't mind the cold. But before the temps dropped, Spencer and I enjoyed a terrific day together in the city at the beginning of the week. We rode the train in to Grand Central (an adventure in itself) and then walked up Fifth Avenue enjoying the Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-1627505857777080162007-03-30T16:14:00.000-05:002007-03-30T16:22:25.466-05:00the complimenterI'm not sure if this is learned behavior, or just part of Spencer being a 'nice guy,' but lately the compliments have been flying and it makes me feel great. "Mommy, I REALLY like your red pants!" "Your skirt and shirt are pretty!" "Mommy, you have nice lips and teeth." "This meal is delicious!" "Mommy, I like you a lot PLUS a little. Daddy, I like you a little PLUS a lot." Who knew having a kidBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-90493382462451238932007-03-22T12:52:00.000-05:002007-03-22T13:09:04.641-05:00Being differentWhen Spencer was in the 18-24 month classroom at his school, there were two girls in his class both named O. As they all turned two, they were assigned to one of the two different toddler classes for the next age grouping, and the O's were split up. Spencer isn't particularly close with them, but we hear about all of his friends from time to time. Yesterday he was telling me a story about "the O Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-6687262316686418972007-03-13T20:27:00.000-05:002007-03-13T22:08:56.204-05:00delayed gratificationTonight at dinner Spencer was dipping veggies into some dressing and he informed me, "I didn't use any dressing on that last bite so I would have more left for those later." And I was filled with so many emotions, not sure exactly what they all were. It made me a little happy, a little proud, a little content, and a little at peace. All for a seemingly silly comment from a toddler. It just seemedBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-87504165295482095022007-03-07T21:45:00.000-06:002007-03-07T21:50:03.512-06:00do we really talk like this?Tonight it struck me as funny hearing myself tell Spencer "you need to wear underwear if you want to help me cook dinner." But, as usual, he managed to take the prize(s) for unique utterances for the night by blurting out "awesome mommy!" in praise of our meal. Then while getting ready for bed he informed me "there are FOUR O's in 'poo poo!'" And as I was saying goodnight he stared back at me andBonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-88315937916967929532007-02-22T21:41:00.000-06:002007-02-22T22:26:46.406-06:00nerdy spencerOf course, that is meant in an endearing way. Last weekend Spencer and I checked out the Frog exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and it was as cool and impressive as I had hoped it would be. But, almost better than that, was the fact that there was a big event going on for GEMS and there were exhibit tables set up throughout the length of the museum lobby educating kids about Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-10713339566190085792007-02-21T20:20:00.000-06:002007-02-22T21:39:55.908-06:00Deep Thoughts, by Spencer LeachAfter tucking him in bed in the darkness, Spencer inhaled deeply through his nose and informed me "if you stick two fingers in your nose you can not do that. you can not breathe through your nose if you stick two fingers in it. that's why you should only stick one finger in your nose."Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-42322441241101394442007-02-16T10:32:00.000-06:002007-02-16T11:55:04.388-06:00swimming classWe signed Spencer up for swimming classes to get ready for summer. Now he's old enough to take the classes without mommy or daddy in the water. Man, oh man, it hasn't been pretty. Jim and my mom have taken turns bringing him, and neither came home with good reports. Including horsing around to the point he fell underwater and had to be rescued by a lifeguard. That experience of watching him in Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-61263893704137133112007-02-01T22:24:00.000-06:002007-02-08T22:24:09.384-06:00valentines messagesTo get ready for the Valentine's Day celebration at Spencer's school, we were asked to send in enough signed valentines for each friend in the class, plus some stickers to be used for a project. I found some fun puffy stickers in the $1 spot at Target - a bunch of different cute and colorful drawings of animals with hearts. Jim and Spencer were looking over them together and talking about the Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5582477.post-1169907840794121142007-01-27T08:16:00.000-06:002007-01-27T08:24:00.796-06:00PlutoLast January Spencer learned about the solar system at school, and shortly after that came the stunning announcement that Pluto was no longer considered a planet. We decided not to share this news with Spencer. And I was secretly hoping that before the subject rolled around again at school this year that perhaps the scientific community would reverse their decision. We know that has not happened,Bonniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09822869126882385012noreply@blogger.com0