Liz's brag sheet

My family

2012-01-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Battleship

2011-12-13T20:04:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving was wonderful. We had family and friends and more food than we could eat. We were very thankful and blessed to be in such company.

A boy and his legos and cat (who steals legos)

2011-12-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

Khristmas Kitteh!

2011-12-13T19:58:00.000-05:00

Jim likes the tree. Mostly she naps under it, but sometimes something shiny catches her eye (and paw). Mojo ignores it.

My guys...

2011-12-13T19:55:00.000-05:00

Eric took the kids to Okmulgee the last weekend to help celebrate that park's anniversary. They had cake and a wonderful time.

Awyn has a flower...

2011-12-13T19:53:00.000-05:00

Sam's first Camporee

2011-10-11T07:55:00.000-04:00

Eric and Sam went to Sam's first cub scout camporee, and I think they had fun. Sam enjoyed the activities and meeting new friends.

Jumping off the board...

2011-10-11T07:53:00.000-04:00

The diving board is popular, although we don't allow actual diving. The depth becomes shallow too fast for that. Notice the landscaping in progress around Eric and Sam. We love the palm tree, the crepe myrtles need trimming, and we don't care for the junk trees that have been growing around the pool dropping leaves in all the time.

Pool Fun

2011-10-11T07:50:00.000-04:00

Awyn is wearing her lifejacket for an unknown reason. She really can swim, when she chooses to.

New Job!

2011-10-11T07:43:00.000-04:00

I've started a new job. I'm hoping it will remain family friendly. Right now it seems like the perfect fit for me for scheduling. I will be selling petcare products over the phone. I am enjoying the company so far, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Awyn started the gifted program, so now both kids are in the gifted program. I am very proud of both of them. Dance continues as well, and they are rehearsing The Nutcracker. This year it's a beach theme, so it will be a lot of fun. In the Spring they'll be performing in Alice in Wonderland. (I hope I got that right!)

Now I'm going to hunt down some pictures. If I have time before work.

Ten Years Ago

2011-09-11T16:23:00.000-04:00

When asked where I was 10 years ago on 9/11/2001, I have two answers. One is flippant and snarky, and the other is so honest it takes too long to tell. Out of respect, I’ll try not to use the snark that lurks even in the honest answer.
I first heard about what was believed to be a small, private aircraft accidentally bumping into the World Trade Center while I was in my car, driving to my morning class. It was one of those morning radio shows that is obnoxious but helped to keep me awake. I am not a morning person. My commute was an hour long, and I must have been at least halfway there, running late as usual. The announcers were laughing about the pilot needing a guiding light, etc. Then there were rumors that it might be an attack, but I didn’t believe it. In fact, I thought the whole thing was a morning show prank. I parked in the student lot, caught the bus up to campus, and went to class, and somewhere in there the second plane hit the other tower.

At this point, I have to say my class was in Middle Eastern Studies, specifically Israel and Palestine. There were Arabs, Jews, Palestinians, and more typical Arkansas natives in the class. The topic of the towers went strong and the teacher, a graduate student, finally gave up and let us go about halfway through class. It was interesting in how we were fairly united in horror at the idea of it possibly being a terrorist attack. We went back and forth whether or not it was domestic in origin, or an anti-US faction from another country.

I wandered over to the student union, to the glassy bridge where there was sure to be a giant TV turned on. There were students of all types in there, from all over the world. We all whispered together, to each other, sharing the same worry and fear about such an awful thing.

Here’s where I confess to my inner snark requesting a voice – at that point, I still didn’t think it was serious. Really. I didn’t see why people didn’t just vacate the building. I mean, sheesh, there was smoke and flame, but I was certain I would have gotten out. I couldn’t believe my eyes, seeing the specks falling from the towers that were people jumping. It was so awful that I couldn’t grasp the reality and let the snarky part of my brain take over.

Then the first tower collapsed. Suddenly, as if someone were standing on a podium directing, everyone started separating into little insular groups. The women with hijabs, the men, the women, all moved into little pockets that could have represented each culture, country, race. I was shocked at how complete the separation was. People were glaring at each other. It was very quiet in the room, and it felt hostile and full of fear.

The second tower fell, and I realized I was standing all alone.

Carters and Leonards

2011-06-28T18:19:00.000-04:00

We went to Sunday School at President Carter's church. Jimmy Carter is a wonderful Sunday school teacher, very charismatic. The service was nice and the kids had a blast. If you go to Sunday school and stay through the service the Carters will pose for a picture with you. You get one take.

Skip To My Lou

2011-06-28T18:15:00.000-04:00

Can't you just see his moves? He had fun with this song and number.

Tornado scene

2011-06-28T18:12:00.000-04:00

Isn't this rather trippy? Eric was manning the camera here. I like how artistic it is.

Sam's turn in The Lollipop Guild

2011-06-28T18:10:00.000-04:00

It had a long way to go...

2011-06-28T18:07:00.000-04:00

And here is the nearly empty pool that needed filling. It took two full days to fill.

Front door of Harrold House

2011-06-28T18:05:00.000-04:00

Awyn posed for us as we ran to check the level of the pool that we were filling. You can almost tell how flourescent her pants were. The tiara was a gift from Daddy for a show well danced. They were selling them in the lobby and she really wanted one.

Tapping as an Emerald City Citizen

2011-06-28T18:02:00.000-04:00

The pants are far more flourescent green than they appear in this picture. Trust me, they are eye-bleedingly green.

Awyn Represents The Lollipop Guild

2011-06-28T17:54:00.000-04:00

Hey, it's blurry because flash cameras weren't allowed.

Awyn is ready to dance!

2011-06-28T17:52:00.000-04:00

Awyn is standing out front of the Rylander Theatre. It's such a beautiful theatre!

I am a bad and lazy blogger

2011-06-28T17:39:00.000-04:00

I am infinitely lazy, and since I post so much to facebook anymore, I tend to neglect this blog. I have no real excuse except that I take a lot of pictures with my phone and it's really easy to instantly plop the photos onto facebook, and I'm not technologically inclined enough to get it posted to my blog. Yes, there's an ap for that. I haven't mastered it.

Also, very few people seem to be reading this. I'm not as entertaining as some of the more famous (or infamous) mommy bloggers out there. I don't usually have snarky or pithy statements to make. My typical post is a photo of the kids or a pet along with brief commentary on the subject of the picture.

I am still unemployed since moving to Georgia, and need to remain so until we close on our house. We are buying the house that I posted about a long while back. Somewhere on here in the last 6 months is a photo montage of the Harrold house. It really needs a better name than that, except we keep calling it that, and well, it's become a habit. I opted for Colonial One but Eric isn't 100% sold on that. (yes, my geek flag must fly.) (Think I can get a Colonial Fleet flag or Flag of the 12 Colonies?) (C'mon, Battlestar Galactica, people!)

The kids love dance, from which we get a summer break. Currently they are taking swimming lessons. Sam loves them, Awyn doesn't. Will probably sign them up for a second session since she has a really long way to go before she will be able to fall in, relax, float, and then swim to the side.

So now I will see about posting some photos, if I don't get interrupted by the making of supper or the screaming of childrens. Or something shiny, like a butterfl....Ooooooooh.

Big Cannon Boom!

2011-03-16T16:06:00.000-04:00

This 30 pounder is so loud that even I was covering my ears. They still were ringing. Normally I make fun of a cannon crew that does the silly duck and cover routine. These guys mostly didn't, but for this cannon, I don't blame them. In fact, the hand with which I was taking pictures didn't cover my right ear well enough and a cannon program at Andersonville last weekend made it hurt and ring all over again. So if you ever make it out to Fort Pulaski to watch the big gun, bring ear protection. Really. I can't even imagine how loud it would be with a full charge and actual round. I think you'd go deaf. After seeing so many cannon programs that I consider myself a conniseur of them, this one was very impressive.

Misfire!

2011-03-16T16:00:00.000-04:00

Watching a cannon program

2011-03-16T15:58:00.000-04:00

Well, Awyn is still eating her sugar candy.

Raising the 1st Confederate flag

2011-03-16T15:56:00.000-04:00

Sugar for a Sweetheart

2011-03-16T12:46:00.000-04:00

Dad, I need to concentrate. No Pictures!

2011-03-16T12:44:00.000-04:00

Tybee in the background

2011-03-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

Tybee island is in the background I think, across the water. If I'm selecting the right cannon that they posed in front of.

Cannon pose

2011-03-16T12:42:00.000-04:00

Up on top, next to one of the cannons. I believe the top part is called the esplanade, but I can't always keep up with the proper terms for military fort construction.

30 lb. Parrott

2011-03-16T12:37:00.000-04:00

Portcullis

2011-03-16T07:29:00.000-04:00

Yes, the drawbridge can be raised, and a portcullis drops down, adding even more security for the troops stationed inside. The moat goes around the fort and the little defensive battery at the point.

Georgia Flag

2011-03-16T07:26:00.000-04:00

Post-Union, Pre-Confederate. Didn't last long. It is rather pretty, isn't it?

Alligator!

2011-03-16T07:24:00.000-04:00

This poor guy wasn't feeling all that well according to staff members. Then a visiting yahoo decided to wrestle him and picked him up by his tail. The park first ejected the offending visitor and then had wildlife rescue come and relocate the gator.

Harrold House Movie

2011-03-04T22:12:00.000-05:00

Something I missed last time I published pictures.

2011-03-04T21:21:00.002-05:00

Happy Kansas Day!

2011-02-06T16:31:00.000-05:00

Eric and the kids wanted a Sunflower cake so I decorated one. Awyn is waiting to pounce on it.

A Boy and his Cat

2011-02-06T16:28:00.000-05:00

Jim is very patient with the kids. Here she's actually taking a nap in Sam's arms.

Museum of Aviation on Kansas Day

2011-02-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

On Kansas Day we went to the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB in Warner-Robins.

"This is what Sky Captain flies"

2011-02-06T15:37:00.000-05:00

Sam liked this model, and pointed out that it was what the hero in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow flew.

Kids begged for this picture to be taken

2011-02-06T15:36:00.000-05:00

The kids loved these planes

2011-02-06T15:34:00.000-05:00

No Title Needed

2011-02-06T15:33:00.000-05:00

Taking the pilot's seats...

2011-02-06T15:32:00.000-05:00

Awyn being Awyn

2011-02-06T15:31:00.001-05:00

Big Plane

2011-02-06T15:31:00.000-05:00

A Cat's rightful place

2011-02-06T15:23:00.000-05:00

See, Jim is growing.

Cowgirl Awyn

2011-02-06T15:19:00.000-05:00

Something she might outgrow...

2011-02-06T15:17:00.000-05:00

Entertaining the Cat

2011-02-06T15:16:00.000-05:00

Who would have thought laundry could be so fun?

Sam loves babies

2011-02-06T15:13:00.000-05:00

Sam was just dying to hold Hutch. He's a sweet baby. Sam has decided he'd like a little brother now. Maybe we'll get him a fish.

Meeting Marianne

2011-02-06T15:11:00.000-05:00

We finally had a chance to meet up with a friend from Alabama and her children. It was so nice to meet them in person. Lovely kids, lovely lady. We met at Huggin Molly's, a decent halfway point.

Zombie Infantry

2011-02-06T15:08:00.000-05:00

This is the statue outside the Infantry Museum in Columbus, GA. It's part of Fort Benning, and open to the public. They have some nice displays inside and out.

Sam under the marquee

2011-02-06T15:02:00.000-05:00

Sam under the marquee - this was right before Awyn's performance. His was later that evening. The Rylander is a restored historic theatre.

Flat Jim

2011-02-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

She's really growing very fast. She's more than tripled her size since she followed Mojo home. She's still a baby, so it will be fun to see just how big she gets.

Mojo with his Kitten

2011-02-06T14:55:00.000-05:00

Mojo wasn't too sure about these sleeping arrangements, but Jim loves her dog. As you can tell by her size, this is an older picture. She's really grown since then.

Sam with the frosting

2011-02-06T14:53:00.000-05:00

I helped the kids, but as you can see, they did some of the frosting all on their own, and all of the gumdrops on their own.

Gingerbread People

2011-02-06T14:22:00.000-05:00

We picked up a giant Gingerbread people kit at the after-Christmas sale. It included a pan, frosting mix, a plastic decorator's tip, a disposable bag, and gum drops. We made gingerbread people. (Awyn says hers is a girl) Can you guess whose is whose? Of course I will give it away when I post pictures of the kids doing the decorating.

Jim and shoulders

2011-02-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

Jim likes to sit on our shoulders, especially when we are at the computer. She's getting bigger, so soon this will be a little more of a burden than it currently is.

Art...

2010-12-28T10:36:00.000-05:00

I don't think the Reliant will win this one. The Klingon Battlecruiser remains upright...

Pink Legos...

2010-12-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

Awyn really wanted legos this year, and she sure got them. They're even pink!

Jim Recognizes Sam's toy...

2010-12-28T10:24:00.000-05:00

Ha, Ha, ha.... ahem. Jim had a good Christmas too. Only present she got was an appointment to see a vet for shots & a checkup.

Aftermath...

2010-12-28T10:21:00.000-05:00

Yes, we picked up paper constantly during the unwrapping. Some toys have been removed from their positions. Happy children are still playing. Thank you to everyone for all the goodies! We will be calling and writing and thanking everyone.

Lava Lamp!

2010-12-28T10:17:00.000-05:00

I think every boy needs a lava lamp to soothe them to sleep at night...

Unwrapping...

2010-12-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

Mojo find a good napping spot

2010-12-28T10:13:00.000-05:00

Yes, the dog really likes the pillow pets. Nice and soft for a grumpy old man dog. Here he's daring someone to try to move him.

Pillow Pets...

2010-12-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

It's a pet, it's a pillow. Yes, I managed to find a couple of this year's hottest Christmas toys at Walmart. Last of their kinds, all that was left were ugly bees and ladybugs. After Christmas they had the penguins, but Sam and Awyn are happy with what they got. They've been asking for them for ages.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-28T10:08:00.000-05:00

Note the piles of untouched presents under the tree... Another tradition in our house is that presents cannot be opened until after breakfast. They danced all around the tree, not touching a thing, excited about the upcoming wrapping paper carnage.

We're ready, Santa!

2010-12-28T10:05:00.000-05:00

Don't they look so sweet and innocent? Of course, at our house, Santa doesn't arrive until after kids are asleep for the night. We don't put any presents under the tree until they are asleep. That's our own little tradition not borrowed from anyone, and for more prosaic reasons than I want to list here. The kids are used to it now.

Is the Tree ready?

2010-12-28T10:01:00.000-05:00

Sam and Awyn have made the final adjustments to the Christmas Tree before heading off to bed. I like the hats, makes it more official, don't you think? Please note the plates framing the tree. This is the first year we've hung them. They are the 12 days of Christmas, and they came from Thelma and Lefty Leonard, Eric's grandparents. Thank you, Clarene, for giving them to us. They are beautiful.

Santa's Beer and Cookies

2010-12-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

Following a Leonard tradition, Sam and Awyn leave sugar cookies (no frosting) for Santa, and a good beer. (Santa has become a bit of a beer snob)

taking a bow...

2010-12-22T23:48:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-22T12:06:00.001-05:00

Yes, he knows he's good...

2010-12-22T12:04:00.000-05:00

It really shows how much Sam loves to dance on stage. He shines. He's come a long, long way.

Sam took his bow, and stole the show

2010-12-22T12:01:00.000-05:00

The girls in the ballet company adore Sam. They are waiting until he's big enough to be the Nutcracker.

Ready to Perform

2010-12-22T11:54:00.000-05:00

Under the marquee of the Rylander Theatre...

On stage as a polishnelle...

2010-12-22T11:40:00.000-05:00

Waiting for the show to start...

2010-12-22T11:28:00.000-05:00

Sam and Awyn danced in different performances, so they each got to watch the other dance. Note the fabulously spikey hair...

Stage make-up - On.

2010-12-22T11:24:00.000-05:00

My little doll & polishnelle...

Ready for the show!

2010-12-22T11:10:00.000-05:00

Getting Sam ready for his Nutcracker performance...

Sam at Dance

2010-12-11T12:34:00.000-05:00

Sam and his girls...

2010-12-11T12:09:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the picture quality, these were taken through a glass window with a cell phone. Sam adores dance, and the girls adore Sam. Not sure which child is going to need bars on their windows first. The cries of, "he's so handsome!" and the confirmation of other mothers that their daughters have crushes on him would make me nervous, but he's pretty oblivious to his conquests. This is his dance costume for The Nutcracker and The Wizard of Oz.

Dancing Princess

2010-12-11T12:06:00.000-05:00

This is Awyn's dance costume for the Nutcracker and The Wizard of Oz. I need to take in the top a little, and I didn't have the back pinned properly. Still, isn't she the sunshiniest ballerina?

Mojo and Awyn. And missing ipod.

2010-12-11T09:51:00.000-05:00

Awyn kept Mojo on his leash while the kids' beds were being delivered and set up. I took this picture because Mojo was actually cuddling with her on the couch, an unsual event. He was even letting her hug him. 30 minutes after this photo was taken, the ipod disappeared. We have scoured the condo looking for it, under and behind furniture, in any boxes or papers around where it is. For those who can't spot it, it's on the speakers above Awyn's head. The furniture store is denying that their guys stole it. They were so nice, and very professional that until I saw this picture it never occured to me that they would have stolen the ipod. I thought maybe we'd just knocked it off the dock or moved it. It's a situation that truly sucks.

Not sure our bedroom looks any better yet.

2010-12-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe it does, but I still have a lot of boxes to go through. Eric has done most of the unpacking and putting away.

Working in the bathroom.

2010-12-11T09:39:00.000-05:00

Isn't that shower curtain awesome? I even have the matching bath mat. We are digging the whole 2.5 bathrooms thing.

Our Stuff!!!

2010-12-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

The entire condo resembled this for a few days. Much fun in being reunited with our stuff...

Spock on the Streets of Americus...

2010-12-11T09:35:00.000-05:00

Note Dorothy in the background. Her dress was very sparkly and Awyn loved her. I think it was all about the bling. Awyn wanted to follow Dorothy around. Maybe she had designs on the very awesome ruby slippers... Good thing her wand was a prop, I'm telling you...

Cheeky

2010-12-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Every Princess Fairy needs a butterfly painted on her cheek.

Halloween Pet Parade

2010-12-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

Sam and Awyn entered into the downtown costume contest and pet parade. Spock, Princess Fairy, and Cowdog didn't win any prizes but did make the local paper. I thought they were fabulous. After the parade they went trick-or-treating and much candy was gathered and eaten. By the kids, not the dog. Mommy and Daddy shared in the chocolate and other parental favorites.

Me and FDR. Tres Chic.

2010-12-11T09:24:00.000-05:00

FDR and Warm Springs

2010-12-11T09:22:00.000-05:00

We are enjoying our exploration of our new state, and teaching the kids about FDR and his time at Warm Springs is an important history lesson. Also really cool and touristy (for us anyway).

Taking care of brother

2010-12-11T09:19:00.000-05:00

Awyn is mothering a sick Sam. He missed a few days of school and the doctor gave him some drugs to get over a sinus infection. He is much better now.

She followed the dog home...

2010-12-11T09:11:00.000-05:00

Mojo wanted to adopt a kitten. She followed him home when I was walking him last week. We are making a trial run of Eric's allergies. She's very cute. Mojo adored her at first. Now I think he's rather jealous.

We met President Carter

2010-09-25T17:06:00.000-04:00

He was signing books at the Plains Peanut Festival. Eric had to work today, so it was just me and the kids. We did have to stand in a long line and he wasn't personalizing anything. Sam does not believe that this is really Jimmy Carter. I personally thought all the secret service agents were a huge tip toward us actually seeing the real thing. Awyn was a little shy when he offered to shake her hand. I was trying to take lots of pictures, including using my phone, and only got one that turned out. I wish I had the picture of him and Sam and Awyn. I was quickly shooed out by a couple of agents dressed 'folksy'. Wish I had pictures of that too. A little too much gingham and vests doesn't disguise the dress slacks and shoes.

President Awyn

2010-09-14T00:45:00.000-04:00

Awyn's White House debut...

Ready for School!

2010-09-14T00:43:00.000-04:00

Sam and Awyn in their uniforms.

National Prisoner of War Museum

2010-09-14T00:33:00.000-04:00

Michigan Memorial

2010-09-14T00:20:00.000-04:00

One of the Andersonville memorials. I don't have words that truly describe Andersonville. Come visit, you'll understand.

Andersonville!

2010-09-13T23:54:00.000-04:00

Our destination, Andersonville National Historic Site.

Selma to Montgomery

2010-09-13T23:46:00.000-04:00

Sam and Awyn stand in a line with statues of marchers. This was a powerful and very well done site, Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail Interpretive Center.