Sorry, still on Todd's computer... but check this out!

December 23, 2009

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Harris,

As the year draws to a close, I wanted to again thank you for your generosity to TMH (Tallahasse Memorial Hospital) and its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  Your gifts are truly a loving and beautiful tribute to your daugter... Mallory Esme Harris.

I know you think of Esme everyday and, as you do, please be assured that she is not forgotten here at TMH.  Her name is on the Wall of Honor in teh Hospital Atrium and will soon be on a new memorial plaque that is being designed for the NICU area.

Most Sincerely,
Paula F.

Isn't that amazing... hand written...not a form letter.... how cool that she used Esme and not Mallory!!!!   We had just driven through Tallahasse and had we known we would have stopped at the Hospital.  Todd and I are hopeful there will be some sort of ceremony, if you are reading Sharon D., do you know anything about it?

Happy New Year to all.... how cool, no cancer and a letter about our daughter... cool!

Cancer Free!!!!!

Hello All... still on Todd's computer, so no pictures available at this time... but, the title says it all... thanks for all the prayers!  The Nat

See...

A Christmas decoration I have control over... changing the background of the blog...

Sorry, I am on Todd's computer and cannot load any photos.

Sad news about Urban Meyer... truly hope he will be well and glad he made the right decision.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas... we are having lots of fun in Tampa... still not looking forward to Monday... we will let you know how it goes after we meet with the oncologist on Wednesday!

Are you ready?

Look, Frosty is still shopping, are you?

Luckily, I think we are all done, unfortunately, I still have to go to the center of shopping hell... the mall.  I have been known to say in similar situations, the only way you could get me to do it was to pay me... so, there you are... they are paying me... work, work, work!

I realize it has been a while since a recent photo of the boys has been posted. 

Here they are in the front yord in front of our normally half lit deer... Todd keeps hoping the two will mate and have a moose (and I thought I made bad grades in biology)... Dat Dat said he doesn't  understand why we don't have more deer... they spend 11 months in a dark attic... what are they doing with all that time?

No, this is not the Christmas photo... even though it is December 23, that still has not happened... we have not had a real chance to make it to the beach on a pretty day with all the boys present or healthy.  So, we did not forget any of you on our mailing list, it just hasn't happened yet... sorry.

Forgive the look on Todd's face... I think he is at the age where a genuine smile is either that or extremely forced... better luck next time.

Finally, an update on Willard...

Apparently, Willard prefers the warm coastal waters instead of the icy Arctic.

So, the last two days we have been draining the water and filling it back with warm water and we think he may have grown a little more.

Merry Christmas Y'all....

600 times its original size? Yeah, Right!!!!

So we decided to put a comb under Willard to measure his progress. 

I do still think he is growing, but the only way he is going to be 600 times his original size is if we build a pool and leave him in it for a year or so!

Willard is gonna stay in his ice cold bath until we return from Tampa and then we will have to find some thing to do with him... maybe  he can be the new mascot for Dirty Dick's Restaurant down on the beach!!!!

I was reading another blog this morning... a woman was reminiscing about all the wonderful events leading up to THE BIG DAY... Christams... including visits from family, opening gifts and all the Merry excitement in general... she also referenced the After Christmas Blues...

Now Todd and I have a "disagreement" EVERY year about the tree... Me, I want it down immediately after the festivities, Christmas night would work for me.  I mean really, the artificial limbs, LED lights and Disney Ornaments just look so sad and empty.  Now my husband on the other hand wants it up until at least New Years... well, he has got his wish this year, unless I can find a way to take it down before we leave for Tampa at 6am on Christmas Day... yes, I know unlikely.

Also, I am forbidden to take it down without supervision. 

Why, you ask?

While we were living in Orlando, actually our last Christmas there, on January 1, 2000, seeing as we had made it through the unyeilding hype of Y2K, I was putting away the Holiday supplies which I was expressly forbidden to do... let's just say I am not always a good listener and my big toe and an ancient tandem Schwinn bicycle (I swear Tim, if I ever see that thing again...) don't mix well and can result in a "quick" trip to the ER, featuring 5 stitches and a tetanus shot (my ten years will be up in a couple of weeks).

Truly, I am not a scrooge, I really enjoy Christmas, though not the fact that the radio stations start playing Christmas music the day after Halloween...

The best part though,

this...

Our family.

I love watching the kids opening their gifts, watching their innocence and sheer delight, it is my favorite and to be honest with you, my least favorite part.  There is a part of our little family that is always missing, forever broken, no longer tangible.  I wonder would she hang with Sarah and Jess, wish she were old enough to be just like Kati, loving all things "Hantana," or would she be overbearing with Madi and Grant, wanting to mother them, or would she be so influenced by Todd, Grady, Grant, Timmy, Mason, Ayden and Dylan that she would be the worlds biggest tomboy. 

Dat Dat and I can only wonder...

Have a Great Day Y'all...

Oh, and Happy Anniversary to Me Me and Foe Foe!

Ha!  Did you hear the one about the difference between Santa and Tiger Woods?

Dat Dat had to call 911 this morning....

OOOO... that got your attention didn't it?  No, don't worry, the Triple Trouble is just fine, other than some nasty green stuff flowing freely from Grant's little nose.... YUCK!

Anyway, this morning, as we were walking out of the front door of the church, Todd Jr started, pointing and freaking out.  Adump truck had flipped and crushed another truck.  You can see a photo and read the article here... www.nwfdailynews.com/truck-23918-beach-panama.html

Dat Dat never takes his phone into church, but for some reason, this morning he had it on him and was able to call 911 while there was still dust flying.... we are all so glad that everyone is okay.

I have taken photos of Willard, but I am on Dat Dat's computer right now so I don't have access to the pictures.  I will try to get the photos up tomorrow.

What is growing in the bathtub?

So, yesterday was Todd Jr's Christmas Party at school, and look what he brought home!

I have decided to name him Willard.

He lives in the upstairs bathtub.

Apparently you can leave him in the water for over a week and he can grow upt to 600 times his original size.

Here is a wider shot.  We are going to see if it really works.

Currently he is a little bigger that he was yesterday.

Um, can you tell it has been raining here way too much that we have come to this.

We will keep you posted on Willards progress.

The Triple Trouble is getting very excited about Christmas.. (and I am ready to take down the tree).\

Grant has finally stopped pulling the "Mouse" (that means Mickey Mouse) ornaments off the tree... I never knew there was such an art to using superglue... and you know, nail polish remover does not work when trying to get it off your fingers!!!!   Grady and Todd cannot get enough of the candy canes on the tree... oh, and Dat Dat too.

On a completely different subject, christopher & banks is having 70% off on several items. 

If you live close to one, you should check it out.

It is almost time to get....

Todd and I are sooooooooo EXCITED!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Final Season

Can you guess who my favorite character is?

How can you not like love Sawyer?

Since I post the blog, I refuse to put Todd's favorite on... can you guess who that would be?

Kate, of course!  Yeah, I know, she's hot.

So, for those of you who do not watch LOST, you are REALLY missing out! 

However, I don't suggest starting on Feb 2 without joining Netflix or renting the previous seasons... you will have absolutely NO IDEA what is going on... but it is worth the rental!

I will be sad when it is over... but I cannot wait for the beginning of the end...

Okay, I just realized that I did put Kate's photo on... twice.  But they are tiny and if I could erase her I would... even though I do hope she ends up with Sawyer and not whiner Jack!!!!

Busy... always.

I know, I constantly feel like I am apologizing, but agian I am sorry it has been so long.

First, all is right in the world again, Grady is home.  Me Me safely returned him to his place of origin last week.  He had a WONDERFUL time and was honestly confused about whether he would rather be in New Orleans or here in PC, you know how Grandparents are.... spoil, spoil, spoil.

Next, we want to wish Me Me, Foe Foe, Dada and Uncle Tim all a very belated Happy Birthday!

This past Sunday we were so excited to have Beeka Beeka and Patrick come for a visit.  We went out to dinner and had sooooooo much fun.  We were so touched that they came to see us, it is so nice having Patrick close again... for those of you who do not know him, he is a chef and has been in the Vancouver and Seattle area for several years and has recently returned to the Montgomery area and we are all thrilled!

Christmas is of course looming ever closer and we are looking forward to visiting with Grammie, Dada, Grandad, Gigi, Grace, Cory, Madi, Mason, Tim, Susan, Kati, Timmy, Sarah, Jessica... and don't forget Frankie and Bogie!  However, I am not looking forward to the Monday after Christmas... it includes a syringe incased in metal inside a metal box with a radioactive dye in it... yuck!  PET scan here I come.

Isn't that the sweetest face?  This photo was taken at my Nana and Father Dear's house 2 years ago.  Looking at it reminds me that even though I forgot to write about it in the last post, there are so many things for which I am thankful.... there are so many it is hard to list them all.  Our family, it goes without saying, with out each and every member, this last year could have been so much more stressful... there are no words to express our gratitude... For the MeMe's, Foe Foes, Grammies and Dadas who literally dropped everything, to be everything.  For most amazing husband in the world, who loves us all unconditionally, makes me laugh often and even chose to embrace my recent "hairdo" without being asked.  For the Triple Trouble, who remind me everyday, that life is truly an adventure, and though I get frustrated from time to time, there is nothing more important than my family.

Finally, we have additions to the Grant Albert James Harris Dictionary...

"Munnels".... Muscles

"Gucky Bipur".... Yucky Diaper

"Mimma".... Simba

"Ninny"... Candy

"Padwick"... Patrick

Grady, Grant and I were at Target this morning and saw a woman with a Great Tshirt on... on the front it said "I don't say Happy Holidays..." and on the back "I say Merry Christmas!"

Merry Christmas!!!

Happy Thanksgiving and Double Trouble

So, did anyone else eat too much Thanksgiving Turkey?  This is our cousin Patrick "listening" to Todd Jr reading The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.  We had such a good time on Turkey Day!  MeMe, Foe Foe, Beeka Beeka, Uncle David and Patrick all came to our house for the day.

I am afraid this is the only shot of any of our turkey.  We all decided that Nana would love this, she is always wanting to give the boys a chicken leg to eat!  Initially, this was Todd Jr's turkey leg, but he abandoned it for playing outside so, Grant grabbed it off his plate and made it his own.

We did take some food photos.

These are Double Chocolate Gooey Cookies (courtesy of Paula Dean, Y'all)

Jenny Rook Cake... courtesy of MeMe!

Yes, that is fudge (homemade) icing!

Isn't this cake beautiful.  Patrick made this one!  He is an amazing chef.

Maybe we can get him to host next year:)

While Thursday was great, we actually started the week with not so nice weather, but we braved the clouds and went kite flying at the park.  I know it is hard to see, but those are a couple of Spidermans flying high over Panama City

I really did think the kite flying would be a bigger hit.  Um, it wasn't.  I guess the boys thought there would be a little more to it.  Oh well!  Todd kept trying to run with his and Grady's kept hitting the ground.

Now, Grant did not have a kite, we thought that would be a little much and he was just as disinterested as the other boys, but never fear, Grant can always find something to get into.

Like a mud puddle! 

I know it does not translate well in the photo, but he was a MESS!

I had to strip him down to his diaper to get home and the mud around here STINKS!

We really did have a good time with Me Me and Foe Foe.  We went down to St. Andrews and walked along the water and played at the playground.  We also had lunch at the Captain's Table.. yummy!  However, Foe Foe was considering not going with us since all the Harris' were decked out it their Gator Gear!  That's Right!  Go Gators!!!!!!

Todd Jr on the Monkey Bars... appropriate!

Me Me and Todd Jr trying to see who could swing higher!

Grant contemplating joining the swinging competition!

Mommy, I landed in the sand!

So, you may have noticed in the title Double Trouble.  Yes, we are with out a little man right now.  This morning, Grady grabbed his monkey backpack, a sippy cup and hopped into Me Me and Foe Foe's car and headed to New Orleans!

There he is all packed, buckled and ready to go!

Apparently all was well until they hit the Florabama line... then there was an unprovoked melt down!  I spoke to Me Me a little while ago and he is okay now.

Wish Me Me and Foe Foe luck!

Again, we hope everyone had a special Thanksgiving weekend, got lots of good deals if you shopped on Black Friday (hope you didn't buy anything from Best Buy), and Congratulations to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and our favs the University of Florida Gators... lets go grab that SEC Championship and make our way to the National Championship again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No Longer a Baby...

That is right, Grant is now officially a TODDLER.  His actual 2nd Birthday was yesterday, but Saturday was a very busy day, so we decided to celebrate today....

I know it seems strange to have a football cake for a 2 year old, but he LOVES football, he even sleeps with one.  The lady in the Publix Bakery actually made this one especially for him... check out the GATOR orange and blue... sorry Foe Foe, no Auburn Tigers here.

Grant kept blowing out his candle before we could sing to him, it was sooooo cute!

Thank you to everyone for the phone calls, he loves having "Happy Birthday" sung to him.  Just like last year, I imagine we will have to keep it up for a week or two until he gets tired of it.

Well, I mentioned yesterday, Grant's real B'day, was really busy!

Here are the boys waiting for the Lynn Haven Raider Mighty Mites to take the field in the Bay County Championship Game.

It was a beautiful day, if not a little warm for the first half.  I even had my jeans rolled up.  Let's just say, noone wanted to get to close to me at work.  (I had to race there right after the game.)

Here is Todd Jr. (#75) sitting the bench. 

Which is where we thought he would be for the entire game.

Until...

With 4 minutes left in the game, which LHR was winning 22-0, Coach Cedric called the defensive subs to get ready to get into the game...

And yes, there he is (in the very center of the photo with black arm pads and orange socks) having taken the field.  And guess what? 

Just after this photo was taken, he tackled the ball carrier!!!! 

Woo Hoo!!!  Go Todd!!!

We were all very excited and proud.

And even though there have been some challenges, he really wants to play again next year.

And even though everything should go your way on your birthday, sometimes you just need a time out...

He is still cute, even when he is in trouble for climbing up the bleachers after Mommy and Dat Dat told him "NO"...

Well, we hope everyone else had a great weekend and we wanted to let you know that we changed the setting on the blog comments, so you should be able to leave a comment if you like without having to open a Google account.

Sorry We Have Kept you Waiting!

I am sooooo sorry it has taken me so long to post!

So, check out Todd Jr on his official birthday!  He had a wonderful Wolverine Cake from our favorite place... Publix.  For those of you who don't have a Publix, well... too bad... move to FL.  It was a busy night, Football practice, etc., but we had a nice little celebration at home.  He is so excited to be 8!

And as if one Birthday party wasn't enough, we had to have another when Grammie and Dada came to visit and since Grant's Birthday is in a couple of days, we had to celebrate his too... with what else, a PUBLIX CAKE!  When the cashier rang me up, he asked if it were 28 or 82, I giggle and told him it was 8 & 2... I thought later I should have just gotten a 10... oh well:)

As I mentioned, Grammie and Dada came to Panama City to visit... we had so much fun, we went to the playground, the beach, Granny's (mmmm.... fried chicken), celebrated birthdays and went Trick or Treating.  This photo was taken on a beautiful day in St. Andrews, by the bay we had so much fun and even saw a live horseshoe crab that a woman had rescued from a fishing net on the beach... cool.  Oh, yeah, and a dead jellyfish her grandaughter was throwing around... yuck!

So, onto Halloween.  Todd Jr. decided he wanted to be Wolverine. 

He has also decided that he wants to be GI Joe next year... I have a feeling that will change before we get to next October... heck, probably before we get to next week.

For at least six months, Grady has been talking about being Indiana Jones...  with a whip. 

Well there you go!  It was so funny because it was breezy out an he kept losing his had just like Harrison Ford in the film.

Finally, here is our little "Merica" (Captain America). 

He was soooooooooo funny. 

He would not let go of my finger for the first several houses, the he realized how things worked and took off on his own.

He would walk up to the house, say "reet" (trick or treat) and "ant ooo" (thank you) when they loaded up his bag. 

I was even offering to hold his bag for him and he would give me a stern look and say "NO!" 

We all had lots of fun and got way too much candy... of course!

Here are Grammie, Dada and the boys at Todd's November 2nd Football game. 

We were all glad to be there to support Todd, but very frustrated that he and many of his other sweet teammates were only put into the game with less than 1 minute left in a game that the Raiders were winning 20-0. 

Not to mention, it was a game that had no bearing on their position in the play offs, which by the way, they made it to the Bay County Championship game again this year, it will be on Saturday November 14.

 I am sure he and many of his teammates will not be put in the game, but we wish the boys who will be playing Good Luck... needless to say, we are looking forward to soccer season, where there is more equal playing time for ALL of the members of the team. 

We will have to make a decision about future football experiences later in the Spring.

We had a great time with Grammie and Dada and are looking forward to seeing them again at Christmas.  We are now gearing up for Thanksgiving.  MeMe, Foe Foe, Beeka Beeka, Uncle David and maybe even Phillip, Suzi and Patrick will come to join us for the day...we are so excited!

And I will leave you with this amazing photo of Robin...

Now you may ask, what is so speical about this photo? 

Isn't it just a picture of your hairless Golden Retriever?

Yes, but what is amazing is that she is in the kitchen, she has never been in the kitchen, but she was so curious about Bogie and Frankie (Grammie and Dada's cats) that she ventured it. 

Her problem is that since she had her surgery to fix her achilles, she rarely ventures even onto the tile... and she has never been upstairs in our house. 

Again, sorry it took so long to post... I promise I will try to be more timely... have a Great Day!

Look Who is EIGHT!!!!!!

Can you believe it?

  Eight years old!

 I decided to include some photos in this post that were a little older and after we have our CELEBRATION tonight after Football, I will post more photos.

Technically, this is not Todd's first Halloween, his first was spent, at 4 days old, in the Pediatric Wing of Tallhassee Memorial Hospital with a billirubin count of 25 with shades over his eyes and lying under a phototherapy lamp.  So, this was his first Halloween to Trick or Treat.... and we only went to one house... but isn't he the cutest Dumbo you have ever seen??

This is Todd at 2.  What a handsome young man...

I made sure to edit this so I would not be sent to jail...

We had always heard that potty training a boy would be really difficult, but Todd Jr was really easy and rather funny... check out the goggles... can't remember why insisted on wearing them...

maybe I don't want to.

I am not sure if we have ever put a photo of Robin on the blog... well, here she is... Dat Dat caught Todd and Robin napping by the front door one afternoon. 

The first day we brought Todd home from the hospital, she walked right up to him licked him on the face and turned around and walked away... guess she decided she had no choice to accept him.

She is such a good dog...  yep, she is in a cast in this photo, for those of you who don't know, it is a long story and it involves a road trip to Michigan, a lacerated achilles tendon, trips to the Vet School at the University of Florida, and a corrupt veterinarian...

Finally, for the last photo for this post...

This is Todd at Aunt Grace and Uncle Cory's wedding.

He and is cousin Timmy were ring bearers.  He was sooooooooooooooo Good!

He carried the pillow perfectly and he watched Grace and Cory intently... My only regret was that we did not get more photos of him dancing at the reception... he danced until the last song was played and he was disappointed to leave.

Dat Dat and I are so lucky to have such a special little big boy. 

He is a wonderful son and a great big brother and we are so proud of him.

Since I was Called Out

Since I was called out about posting my pictures of DC, here they are.  I visited at night while I was up in Annapolis for a recruiters summit and went to DC on my first night off and it was spectacular.  The picture to the right is taken from the bottom of Lincoln Monument looking over the reflecting pond (lake if you are in Florida) at the Washington Monument with the Captiol Building just to the right.  It was awesome being there and looking at the lights reflecting.











The picture of the left was from the top steps of the Lincoln Monument back over the reflecting pond.  If you look close, you can seed the pillars of the Lincoln Monument on both left and right foreground.

Here is ole Honest Abe himself.  If you have not been, he is huge.  Must be about 30 feet high.

This is a seal in the World War II memorial.  This was absolutely beautiful tribute to the men and women who served in WW II.    Made me think of Grand Dad.  In case it is not said enough, thanks Grad Dad for your service.

To the right is one of the pillars that mark the perimeter around the WW II memorial.  It is the one for the State of Florida.

Of course I had to visit the White House. The President was busy that night and I wasn't able to meet him.

This is the doorway to the Espicopal Church (Church of the Epiphany) in DC right around the corner from the White House.

and last but not least, this was what I cam home to, a full bed.  Altough it was great to be up there it would have been better to have the family there.  I enjoyed my time, but nothing beats home with the family.