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Today's harvest!

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Orange picking is so florida.

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Mississippi cousins: Ace and Treasure.

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A much better beach.

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Carmel-by-the-sea... 75 Degrees.

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I am attempting to post from my phone. I need to get with the times.

A Short Biology Lesson

Raymond Bradley

(Uncle Ray's wife, Carolyn, Aunt Dar and Uncle Ray)
(Uncle Jimbo and Uncle Ray)
(The Grapes of Wrath)
(Clint and Ray Bradley -- Ace's great grandpa and great-great uncle)

My Uncle Ray passed away in Jackson, MS (my birthplace) last week. So I wanted to give a shout out to a great man.

As many in my family know, Uncle Ray had a way of keeping things light as a feather, which is probably how it's even possible that my favorite memory of him isn't from childhood, but from the days following my Dad's tragic death. It was a dark time for obvious reasons, and my brand-new husband and I were blessed with the opportunity to stay at Uncle Ray's house in Mississippi in the days surrounding the funeral service.

My husband, Arich, is reserved and shy and is a born-and-raised California boy. Uncle Ray was to be his crash course in the subject of "Deep South," a fact of which Uncle Ray was acutely aware and by which he was utterly delighted. The duration of the four days we stayed with him, Uncle Ray "couldn't seem to recall" Arich's name. No matter how many times Arich answered the gravely-voiced question, "Boy, what's yo' name?" Uncle Ray still managed to "remember" it as Chuck, Steve, Stan, Stu, Mike, Surfer Boy and a few others which I can't recall. Uncle Ray did finally "remember" Arich's name on the way out the door when he hugged his neck.

To add to this torment, Arich and I joined him on ride to the convenience store in his old pickup truck. As we buckled up, Uncle Ray buckled down with a Saturday Night Special he'd pulled out from under the bench seat. He proceeded to drive slow down the country road that led from his house, eyes darting left and right, with the gun in his steering hand because "It's what you gotta do when you cain't trust nobody."

In that four days we heard of endless escapades out west, of smoochie poohs riding on the back of chopper bikes, of building great things and taking long road trips with my grandpa, Clint (who is another story all his own on another day), and of motoring around the Sierra Nevadas in "The Grapes of Wrath," his do-it-yourself motor home, which amounts to an elaborate fairy-tale sort of cedar-shingled shanty built on the bed of an old black pickup, and which sits on the side of the road in Truckee, California, as a local curiosity to this day.
I honestly don't think my husband has laughed as much in the past thirteen years as he did in that four days in 1996.

Ace's Sketchbook

We found this in Ace's sketchbook the other day.

First Beach Day 2009

The sun has been out for a couple of days, and we've had a high of about 56 degrees. Nonetheless, the viking must swim.

Gymnastics

Ace wakes up every morning asking the same question: "Is it gymnastics day?"

mo skilz

Check out Ace's latest: Papa Turtle and his baby. The Florence Academy better get ready for this kid!

My Two Valentines

To Ace and his Papa:
I thank God every day for both of you handsome fellas, my two greatest earthly blessings. I'll love you forever.
xoxo
Syble Sharon Shay & Mom

My Bubba Bear

I got my early Valentine from Ace today after Home Depot project time. I've figured out that this kid is utterly oblivious to his preciousness...

Anakin

Check this Anakin Skywalker Ace drew tonight. He's been working with his How to Draw Star Wars book. Maaaad Skiiiilllzzz!

Kory Nicholas

I thought I better post some recent pics of my lil' nephew, so he doesn't disown me. The "Can't Touch This" vid is from a few years back. Love you, Kor!

Kory's Moves

This is my and Arich's first nephew and Ace's oldest cousin. He's also one of my favorite kids in the whole world. Check out this video, and you'll know exactly why. The moves speak for themselves...

My Guys

We had a nice hike at a beach between Carmel and Big Sur proper this weekend. It was seventy-two degrees with a light breeze and lots of sunshine... one of those days that reminds you why you love California.
:) Syb

Mellow Sunday Night

I really like this pic Arich took of Ace before church today, so I thought I'd post it. Not a whole lot of interesting stuff has been going on around the Harrison house since we arrived home from Florida. We've mostly been settling in and finishing up the unpacking (we moved two weeks before leaving for Christmas vacation). Right now we're just chilling together in the living room watching Return of the King again... Go Frodo! ;)

Florida Christmas

So my brother-in-law copied 200 pictures to CD for us to bring home from Bapa's house on the east coast. How cool is that? A very small percentage of those is included in this mighty fine Florida slideshow.