Matthew's Conflict Resolution Skills Shine Forth

After an afternoon of frustration (yet another potty-training fiasco), Matthew had spent a good amount of quality time in his bedroom. (I like to make him stay in there for as at least as long as it takes the odor to fade -- today's event required an extensive stay even with the window open.)

Anyhow, he had been testing the boundaries of his confinement by increasing the distance of his trips outside his room. Eventually, he came to me asking if he could join his sisters outside. Here's the conversation that followed:

Me: "Dude, I don't think you've spent enough time in your room."

Matthew: "Mommy," he says in a very serious tone. "I need you to be nice to me."

Me: Looking at him, incredulous.

Matthew: "What you need to do is have a deep, deep, deep breath ... like this." At this point, he patiently demonstrates breathing in through his nose and blowing it out of his mouth.

Matthew: "See Mommy? Have a deep, deep, deep, deep, deep breath ... That will make you feel better," he says encouragingly.

Me: "Wow. Gee, thanks, Matthew."


It's the least he could do, don't you think? Having sent me into a fit of frustrated cursing not 30 minutes before? No wonder he loves Daddy more -- of course, he never poops in his pants on Daddy's watch.

California Adventure part 2

Here's some of our favorite photos of the trip, including lots of fun shots of family members - enjoy!

California Adventure

Our adventure began on Christmas Day -- we left our home that afternoon and after a quick flight, made it to Burbank, California -- where Aunt Hilary and Uncle Greg live. We didn't get to their house until after 9 p.m. (which is 11 p.m. in Texas, way past our bedtime) -- but the party was still going with Poppy, Uncle Rich, Aunt Lene, cousins Stephanie and Amy. Plus, we got to meet our newest family member, Cousin Emma! She was so cute and adorable!

We had a fun, action-filled week, including visits to the La Brea Tar Pits, Disneyland/California Adventure (we stayed from 8:05 a.m. until almost midnight!), the Grove and Farmer's Market (home of the American Girl Store), and a family Christmas celebration with Rita and Bill, Andrew and Bryan, Joann and Hector, Ashley and Kevin, plus the aforementioned family from the first night. What a party!

Elisabeth's favorite part of the trip was Disneyland (particularly Big Thunder Mountain) and the American Girl Store. Catherine's favorite part of the trip was seeing her new cousin Emma and going to Disneyland -- particularly the California Screamin' upside-down coaster at California Adventure. Matthew's favorite part of the trip was the Rocket Ride at Disneyland and eating in a train car at Carney's restaurant. Mommy's favorite part of the trip was Cousin Emma, who she claims as her own child, and mommy and daddy loved experiencing Disneyland with the kids, particularly Matthew, since it was his first trip there. And let's not forget the food -- the Leones are all about the food -- including an incredible funnel cake at Farmer's Market!

Christmas 2008

For our first work, we wanted to give a digital snapshot of Christmas. So we pulled together all of the photos Elisabeth took from the second she got her camera to the second we got on the plane to LA Christmas afternoon and turned them into a video. You'll see pictures of presents, action shots of presents, Christmas breakfast and even some people, plus a few final pics at the airport. We used our new computer to add some sound and effects. Enjoy!

New Sheriffs In Town

Little change of plans...Tiff's fallen off the wagon when it comes to blogging, so we're going to try something new. This past year, Santa brought Elisabeth a digital camera, and Daddy made a resolution to "journal" on a regular basis. And a few weeks ago, the light bulb went off in Daddy's head -- I can chronicle our family, show Elisabeth's great photos, and together we can learn to blog.

So, like ying and yang, peanut butter and chocolate (or jelly or pancakes or pretty much anything), salt and pepper, Bono and the Edge, I give you, "Brad and Elisabeth."

We'll do our best to be more frequent in posting Leone haps. We look forward to hearing from you!

First Day of School

Finally. The day we've been waiting for all summer. We were up early to beat the rush and got to school with plenty of time to spare. We dropped off our supplies and took quick pics with the new teachers and that was that! Elisabeth is in 3rd grade, her teacher is Mrs. Crow. Catherine is in 1st grade with Mrs. Marder. It's going to be a great year!

(Because of the ridiculous overcrowding in our 2-year-old school, the entire third grade is out in the portable classrooms. They couldn't put kindergarten, 1st or 2nd grade out there, since it's a 10 minute walk to the bathrooms inside. They didn't risk putting 4th or 5th grade out there because they were afraid they'd leave campus. So the 3rd graders won! It's like a little village out there. Complete with puddles of stagnant water breeding mosquitoes in the incessant heat. Hopefully this will be the last year with this portable business, as a new elementary school is being built about two blocks away. But I digress ... )

Anyhoo, I am excited to be back into a routine, although these little girls will be very, very tired by the end of the week.

My conversation with Matthew after we returned this morning went like this:

Matthew: Where are the sissies?

Me: Uh, Sweetie, they are at school.

Matthew: No, they are in the game closet. (Looks in the game closet.)

Matthew: They are not there. I know! They are hiding under my bed. (Looks under his bed.)

Me: Sweetie they went to school, they'll be back this afternoon.

Matthew: Oh.

He's been wandering around aimlessly this morning. It's awfully quiet around here ... It may take Matthew some time to get used being the lone man in the house again. Poor kid.

A Conversation with Matthew

We spent yesterday at the pool, enjoying our last day of freedom before school starts tomorrow. Matthew and I were resting on a chair and having a snack. I was distracted, watching the girls in the water, when Matthew turned my face toward him and began this dialog:

Matthew: Mommy, listen to me.

Me: Yes, Matthew.

Matthew: Mommy, I have a very important job.

Me: You do? What is it?

Matthew: I make people happy.

Me: Yes you do, Matthew! And that is a very, very important job.

Matthew: That's all.

It's incredible to think that just a few months ago, we were struggling to understand anything Matthew said. And now, out of the blue, such insight! Such wisdom! I wish I could say this was his "full-time" job -- it's temp work, at best. But it's almost enough to help me forget the time-outs and trips to the naughty step. For a few minutes. (The picture above is, obviously, not from yesterday. He and Brad were feeding the Lories at the Lisbon Zoological Park a few weeks ago. At that moment, Matthew was definitely making us -- and the birds --happy.)