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!!!