A Year in the Life

I've Moved!!!

2007-01-06T07:11:00.000-08:00

I'm really excited about my new website. I will no longer be blogging here or at My Life at a Glance. From now on, I'll be at Nothing Gold. So, update your bookmarks to take you there, and, if you have a link to my blogs on yours, I would appreciate if you would change it to the new site, too. So, come on over, and make sure to tell me what you think.

www.nothinggold.net

Christmas with Kyra

2006-12-27T10:26:00.000-08:00

Kyra was sick on Christmas Day. Mom took Elijah with her to the family dinner, and Chris was at work. Kyra and I played all day. Owen mostly watched when he wasn't asleep. Here's a picture of Kyra playing with the Barbie computer that Mamaw Velvet got her for Christmas. Notice what she was eating, a roll, cheese, ham, and some marshmallows. Obviously, she was feeling better by then.

Here's a couple of pictures of Kyra when we were playing Pretty, Pretty Princess. I definitely picked a winner with this Christmas present. It's right up Princess Kyra's alley.

Opening Presents

2006-12-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

Since Daddy had to work on Christmas Day, we opened our presents early Christmas Eve before church. We didn't have time to take a lot of pictures. Plus, Daddy was the one taking them, and about half of them were blurry. Daddy isn't the supurb picture taker that Mommy is. Here's a couple good ones, though.

Thanks, DiDi!

2006-12-18T20:42:00.000-08:00

DiDi (Chris' aunt Dianna) sent us a basket of cookies for Christmas.

Kyra was ready to dig in!

You can't really tell here, but Chris was enjoying some cookies while he studied for his test. (He was chewing when I took the picture.) Owen's wishing he had teeth.

Elijah helped himself to quite a few.

As for me, I'm going to say that I haven't ate any and couldn't tell you that all five kinds are delicious and that the triple chocolate are my favorite. See, if there's no picture (cough) evidence (cough, cough) then I couldn't have ate any.

Thanks, DiDi!

Sleepy Babies

2006-12-18T17:23:00.000-08:00

Why, hello there!

2006-12-18T17:22:00.000-08:00

Kyra (and Elijah) in the Church Christmas Program

2006-12-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

The Wandering Shepherd

2006-12-18T16:24:00.000-08:00

This is a video clip of the kids in their manger scene at church last night. This was in the middle of the older kids' Christmas play. I don't have any still pictures, because I took the video. You can't see Kyra's face in it, but she's the little shepherd girl beside of Elijah. See if you can tell why I called it "The Wandering Shepherd".

Beautiful!!!

2006-12-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

This is a video I took of some of the teenage girls at our church singing "O, Holy Night". It was so absolutely beautiful that I had to share with with all of you.

Hard at Work

2006-12-16T14:14:00.000-08:00

Here are Kyra and Elijah hard at work peeling their clementines. Elijah was so proud of himself. He kept saying, "Me do it all by myself, Mama."

Let Me See Your Funny Face

2006-12-03T19:50:00.000-08:00

Superman

2006-12-03T19:49:00.000-08:00

Prune-Face

2006-12-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

An Interview with Superman

2006-12-03T19:33:00.000-08:00

I apologize to all of you without a high speed connection. This movie is kind of long (about four minutes, I think). It's really cute, though, so I had to share it.

Kyra's Rendering of Mommy

2006-11-30T11:02:00.000-08:00

So, last night at church, Kyra drew this lovely picture, and said that it was me. I held it up to show Brooke and Faith who were standing there talking to me, and said, "It looks just like me, doesn't it?"
To which Kyra said, "Yeah, except it's prettier."

Then, I pulled the dagger from my heart, and laughed. Kids say the darndest things, right? Yeah, right. Little brats. (Kidding!) (Kind of.) (Yes, I'm kidding.) (Sorta.) (No, I am. I'm kidding.)

Big Boy

2006-11-30T10:57:00.000-08:00

An Afternoon Photo Shoot

2006-11-27T19:32:00.000-08:00

Owen woke up from his morning nap, today, and I thought he looked completely adorable peeking over the side of his bassinet. Of course I ran for the camera. When I left the room, though, he thought I was just leaving him, and he started to cry. So, he looks quite sad in this picture.

Then, Kyra came along to help cheer him up.

A little kiss will make it better.

What's he looking at so attentively?

Why, his big sister, Kyra, of course. Owen loves Kyra.

Even with the crazy, hack-job of a haircut, the cuteness is almost unbearable.

Kyra sang a crazy, made up song to Owen, and tried to hog his video.

They are just two little peas in a pod.

She's just so darn cute!!!

Kyra took a turn behind the camera.

And we end the pictorial of our pajama party with the classic "hold the camera out and take your own picture" shot.

Kyra's Quote of the Day

2006-11-25T10:06:00.000-08:00

"I am NOT a job-girl!".

A Geography Lesson with Kyra

2006-11-20T09:09:00.000-08:00

He's in the Army.....Again.

2006-11-12T11:04:00.000-08:00

Chris took his Oath of Office this morning. He is now officially in the Army again. He was given his oath by Bro. Mike Beech, who is a Chaplain in the Army Reserves, and who pastors a church in our area. I thought that it was pretty cool that a Chaplain administered his oath, and also that it was done on Veteran's Day weekend.

2nd Lieutenant Chris Harmon and 1st Lieutenant Mike Beech

Here he is with his proud, adoring wife (who, I assure you, is not as fat as the sweater she is wearing would make you think).

My Boys

2006-11-08T09:50:00.000-08:00

A Chip Off the Old Block

2006-11-08T09:49:00.000-08:00

Owen's 1st Solid Food

2006-11-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Owen and his Great Grandfather

2006-11-04T19:10:00.000-08:00

Here is Owen and Papaw J.

Pouty Kyra

2006-10-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

Kyra and Fun Uncle Luke

2006-10-30T19:57:00.000-08:00

Superbaby

2006-10-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this picture!

2006-10-30T18:47:00.000-08:00

The Kids Before Church Sunday

2006-10-30T18:32:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Owen

2006-10-30T18:16:00.000-08:00

Elijah's Quote of the Day

2006-10-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

"Whoa, Mama! Whoa!"

Elijah's Video for DiDi

2006-10-26T19:59:00.000-07:00

Owen's Message for DiDi (he mostly just looks cute)

2006-10-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Kyra's Message for DiDi

2006-10-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Neighbors

2006-10-21T15:58:00.000-07:00

Owen and Collin

2006-10-21T15:56:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Boy

2006-10-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

Sweet Feet

2006-10-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

2006-10-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Owen Was Sleepy

2006-10-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

How to Extricate Yourself from a Baby Brother You Don't Want to Hold

2006-10-21T15:22:00.000-07:00

To: Lindsey From: Kyra

2006-10-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

Little Artists

2006-10-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

Elijah's Quote of the Week

2006-10-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Elijah and I were playing in the floor. We were having a real mother/son moment, when he looked up at me, adoringly, and said, "Mama...you not nasty."

Why, thank you, Son. You're not nasty either.

Happy Baby

2006-10-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

Elijah's Own Brand of Crazy

2006-10-06T07:33:00.001-07:00

Moody

2006-10-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

"Watch her grab the camera. I'm so cute. I'm so happy. She can't resist this smile!"

"Why do I get the feeling that you are mentally captioning me, Mom?"

"I'm not feeling so happy anymore. Why is everyone looking at me? I don't exist purely for your photographic enjoyment."

"I can't handle this. Too.Much.Pressure. Where's my paci?"

"Okay, I'm good now."

Boys

2006-10-02T08:40:00.000-07:00

Here are the boys in their matching shirts. I had envisioned a sweet picture of Elijah holding his baby brother...angelic smiles on both of their faces. This is what I got. Oh, well. So goes life with boys.

Kyra's Field Trip to the Corn Maze

2006-10-01T18:21:00.000-07:00

Kyra picked a pretty flower when we first got there.

In front of the big hay bale spider.

Elijah really liked the corn maze!

I just really liked this picture that I took. Doesn't it look like it belongs in "Country" magazine. Look at the sky! It was a beautiful day for a field trip.

Picking a pumpkin with Daddy.

Petting the sheep.

The whole gang!

Kyra's Version of "It is Well With My Soul".

2006-10-01T14:25:00.000-07:00

The Kiddos

2006-10-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Another Ballgame

2006-09-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

Most people take pictures of the kids on the field. I prefer photographing the kids in the stands.

Dr. Pepper Makes Me CRAZY!!!!

2006-09-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Which is why Mommy won't let me drink it, usually. At Uncle Seth's ballgame, though, Mammy had a bottle of it, and I just helped myself. Thirty minutes later I collided face first with a concrete bleacher. Maybe I shouldn't have drank the Dr. Pepper. It does seem to make me crazy.

Mommy's Little Sweetie-Pie

2006-09-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Owen is getting so big. He will be three months old in only four more days! Where does the time go?

Sleepy Girl

2006-09-21T12:17:00.000-07:00

Kyra was so tired when we got home Tuesday night that she fell asleep on the stairs on her way in the house.

At the Zoo

2006-09-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from the zoo on Saturday. Chris had his company picnic there. We had a good time, as always.

Elijah rode a white tiger on the carousel.

Kyra just rode a horse.

Kyra was seeing if her wings were as wide as the condors.

Looking at the turtles.

Kyra got her face painted.

Kyra's 1st Field Trip

2006-09-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

Since the older kids were going on a field trip to Crown College for a tour, Kyra and the other younger kids went on a half-day field trip to Hardees for lunch and to the park. Me, Elijah, and Owen went with her. They had a lot of fun. Even though it was just a very simple little field trip, Kyra was very excited about her first field trip.

Kyra on the teeter totter.

Kyra playing with Emily and Taylor on the merry-go-round.

Me and Owen.

Kyra and Bro Mike on the teeter totter.

Kyra had dropped through the jungle gym several times already, but she apparantly forgot that she knew how to do it. She looks scared here, huh?

Me and my boys.

Elijah was a little monkey!

Bro. Mike pushed Elijah in the swing. Elijah was pretending he was flying like Superman.

Mrs Tammy and Mr Magoo

The whole gang!

At the Ballgame

2006-09-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

Owen with his Aunt Misty

Luke got stung on the lip by a yellow jacket that was on the rim of his Pepsi. Poor guy!

My brother, Jason, just came home from Iraq. We are so happy to have him home safe and sound. We were seeing him for the first time at Seth's ballgame. He was very excited to see his nieces and nephews for the first time in seven months. He had never met Owen before, since Owen was born after he went to Iraq.
Here he is with Keinzie...

Elijah...

Kyra...

and Baby Owen.

An Evening at the Park

2006-09-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Throwing Rocks in the Lake

Playing on the Playground

Sleeping like a baby.

2006-09-03T13:38:00.000-07:00

Kyra and Mamaw Velvet

2006-09-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday, Elijah!

2006-09-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

Elijah had a wonderful birthday party last night. He got a set of Superman dishes, a Superman sippy cup, and a Superman birthday cake.

"But....isn't Elijah's birthday in March?", you ask.

Why, yes, it is. But that doesn't matter when you have a doting grandmother and two crazy, adoring great-aunts. They don't care about silly little details like dates and years you've been alive, or even things like confusing young children about the concept of birthdays and age. Nope. It doesn't matter to them. All they care about is spoiling.children.rotten. Rotten! ROTTEN!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

2006-09-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Elijah watching Uncle Seth play middle school football.

Me and Owen.

Kyra ~~strangling Daddy~~ watching the game with Daddy.

2006-09-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

This is Owen with his great grandmother, Mamaw Geraldine (Chris' grandmother). Aren't they sweet together?

Silly Kids

2006-09-03T12:58:00.000-07:00

Kyra told me that they were pretending that they were at the movies. I asked her why didn't their chairs face the t.v. She acted like that was a stupid idea. Instead, they "pretended" that they were watching a screen. Silly kids.

A Boy and his Dad

2006-09-03T12:52:00.000-07:00

2006-09-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

2006-09-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Conversation with Elijah

2006-09-01T11:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Elijah came and sat beside of me on the chair. I rubbed his head, and said, "I love you."
He leaned his head into my hand, and said, "Thanks."
I was thinking, "Thanks? That is not the response I was expecting." I said, "You're welcome."
He looked up at me sideways, and said, "Me love you, too, Ma-Ma."
"Thanks." I said.
He grinned real big, and said, "Me welcome."

And then my heart melted.

Where I'm From

2006-08-22T11:44:00.000-07:00

I am from a gravel road that leads to the mountain, from the falling down mailbox, from Mayfield ice cream and macaroni and tomatoes.

I am from the house full of kids...loud, noisy, messy, and fun.

I am from the blackberry bushes and yellow jacket nests, the creek in the woods where we played and splashed and lived a thousand kid adventures.

I am from potlucks at Christmas and losing their temper, from Mamaws and Papaws and Mom and Dad. From shirtless boys with buzzed hair and bare feet.

I am from the shortest in the class and crooked teeth and freckles. Campfires and bluegill. Spankings and tears. From sucking my thumb will make it fall off and coffee will stunt my growth.

I am from washed in the blood Baptists. From Wednesday night services, week-long revivals, and Sunday School. From “Jesus Loves Me”, stolen money in the offering plate, turn around and stand up straight.

I'm from the woods of East Tennessee, boiled okra and watermelon with salt. From the man who prayed for a wife who could cook. A baker's dozen of kids, and a ring for a heifer.

From hand-me-down clothes, broken bones, and crawdads. From fishing in papaw's pond in clothes made by my mom. No air conditioning and crickets at night. From creepy mouse up my leg, bluegrass, and rummy.

I am from photos in an album, by Papaw's chair, stained with tears. Young brides and marriages that last. I am from veterans, and coal miners. Black coffee and Copenhagen. From barbed wire fences, skinned knees, and trust in the Lord.

I wonder why we were late for church?

2006-08-22T11:21:00.000-07:00

Buddies

2006-08-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

Owen

2006-08-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

"He's Popeye the sailor man! Toot! Toot!"

Big smiles!

Pudding Face

2006-08-21T08:29:00.000-07:00

Sound Asleep

2006-08-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Kyra's First Day of School

2006-08-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

Kyra waking up for school. Seven o'clock comes early!

All dressed in her new school clothes.

Eating breakfast...a princess pop tart and strawberry milk.

All ready to go.

Kyra showing off her new princess backpack and Supergirl lunchbox.

Why can Daddy never snap the picture at the right moment and take a good picture of me? I had to add it, though, because these are the only pictures of me and my baby girl on her first day of school.

Daddy missed the kiss! It looks like she blew me off. In all actuality, we had a long, adorable smooch...that he missed!

Of course, I take great pics of him.

A smooch from Daddy!

Leaving the house...

...and we're on our way to school.

The Many Faces of Owen Shane

2006-08-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

Apparantly, he's a lot like his big sister. Case in point...

Such a good big sister!

2006-08-14T20:35:00.000-07:00

There Goes the Neighborhood

2006-08-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Collin and Owen...Collin is one week older than Owen.

Piper and Kyra were going to pose with their baby brothers, but Elijah kept crawling away.

Claire was reading the kids a story. It's hard to believe that when I moved here four years ago, neither of us had kids yet. Now, here we are with six kids between us. (Claire has a baby boy already in Heaven.) It appears that we have taken it upon ourselves to populate the neighborhood.

2006-08-10T09:25:00.000-07:00

Brothers

2006-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

2006-08-01T22:39:00.000-07:00

The first time this video plays, it is sometimes very jerky. You can either hit play, and then hit pause right away and let the gray bar move as the song plays while it's paused (does that make sense) or you can just hit play again when it's finished. If it plays through once, then it won't be stopping and starting the music the second time. Please, please, please leave me a comment and tell me what you think. I've worked hard on this tonight (for like three hours). Hope you like it!

Create your own video for free at www.onetruemedia.com

Pretty Baby

2006-08-01T09:41:00.000-07:00

Our Zoo Trip

2006-07-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Chris and I took the kids to the zoo yesterday. We had a good time. These pictures are not in chronological order, but I don't guess it really matters.

The kids collecting eggs by the chicken exhibit.

Kyra brushing the goat in the petting zoo.

My little barn owl.

Kyra coming down the slide.

Brushing the baby goat.

Daddy, Elijah, and Kyra looking at the elephants...or should I say, looking at the elephants' butts. They weren't real interested in being watched from a more flattering angle.

The black bear was finally out where we could watch him, pacing back and forth on the log! The last two time we had been to the zoo, we didn't get a good look at the bears.

Kyra and Elijah looking at another bear from inside the cave.

Don't worry! Elijah's a careful driver.

Mommy, Owen, Elijah, and Kyra with the baby camel.

Kyra and Elijah riding the camel.

Elijah's Quote of the Day

2006-07-28T14:14:00.000-07:00

"Me naked!"

(This is Elijah's daily quote, since he says it every day...usually while grinning from ear to ear and doing a little naked dance. Boys!)

Owen's 1st Tub Bath

2006-07-28T14:09:00.000-07:00

Three Little Cousins

2006-07-26T20:52:00.000-07:00

Kyra, Kylie, and Keinzie...say that three times fast!

Princess Pouty Face

2006-07-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Brothers

2006-07-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Kyra and Papaw Jay

2006-07-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

Owen with his Great Grandparents

2006-07-26T19:07:00.000-07:00

This is Owen with my Papaw Jay and Mamaw June.

In case you were wondering...

2006-07-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

...the recent influx of pictures is due to the fact that my camera fits quite easily into my diaper bag. When I have the camera handy, I tend to take more pictures. My kids are just so constantly adorable, I feel the need to share them with the world. You're welcome.

Be honest....

2006-07-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

He makes you want a baby, doesn't he?

Well, at least for a little while.

Hangin' with Kylie

2006-07-21T20:27:00.000-07:00

Mommy's Baby Boy

2006-07-21T20:21:00.000-07:00

Playing at the Park

2006-07-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yum Yum!

2006-07-21T20:03:00.000-07:00

Me, My Brother, and Our Babies!

2006-07-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

2006-07-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Pics from Papaw's Company Picnic

2006-07-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

Kyra, Elijah, Luke, and Seth had a good time playing on all of the blow up things that they had to play on. I was too hot to bother with taking pictures of anything else!