Our Ace of Hearts

2009-07-28T20:07:00.001-07:00

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2009-07-20T05:38:00.001-07:00

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2009-07-20T05:19:00.001-07:00

2009-05-24T07:25:00.001-07:00

Today's harvest!

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2009-05-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Orange picking is so florida.

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2009-05-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Mississippi cousins: Ace and Treasure.

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2009-04-19T15:21:00.001-07:00

A much better beach.

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2009-04-19T14:04:00.001-07:00

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

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2009-04-16T19:26:00.000-07:00

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

A Short Biology Lesson

2009-04-15T22:02:00.000-07:00

Raymond Bradley

2009-04-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

(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

2009-03-23T21:19:00.001-07:00

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

First Beach Day 2009

2009-03-23T20:56:00.001-07:00

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

2009-03-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

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

mo skilz

2009-02-28T13:48:00.000-08:00

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

My Two Valentines

2009-02-14T11:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-07T16:27:00.001-08:00

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

2009-02-02T18:34:00.001-08:00

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

Kory Nicholas

2009-01-25T21:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-18T18:03:00.001-08:00

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

2009-01-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-04T21:58:00.000-08:00

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.

Happy New Year

2008-12-29T19:32:00.000-08:00

So we've been in Florida visiting family for two weeks. I had big plans to blog on all our great times, with lots of super pictures and all that. Then we decided not to bring the camera, and my brother-in-law's photo sharing software won't let me download individual images without a yearly membership. So this "Happy New Year" is coming atcha from the Sunshine State, despite the Monterey family pic (it is, at least, a recent one). What can I say? You win some. You lose some.

:) Syb

Best Buds

2008-12-13T19:32:00.001-08:00

We always joke that Ace is his dad on the outside and me on the inside. But it's really true, which is why I completely understand how he can love his dad so darn much. :)

Happy Birthday, Grandma Lili

2008-12-08T22:56:00.001-08:00

We love you, Mom. Thanks for loving us first and speaking God's truth into our hearts from the beginning. You are a beautiful blessing to us.
Happy Birthday, Lili Angelique!

Two Weeks... No Internet...

2008-12-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name's Syble, and I'm an Internetaholic. It has been an excruciating two weeks. I've begged, I've pleaded, I've threatened to switch to Comcast. But, at last, after two botched orders and fourteen resulting days of agony, AT&T finally has us up and surfing. YEEEEEHAAWWWW! Moving is hard, not having the web at your fingertips is much harder. Ace was really missing his Wonderpets online games. Anyhoo, I have a gazillion pics that've built up over the past few days. I've processed none of them, so I thought I'd post this cool vintage snapshot my mom emailed yesterday. It's Ace's great grandpa on my mom's side (he's on the left), Harold Barkley. I don't know who the other guy is, but he seems like a nice enough fellow. I love old family photos.

I've really missed you all.

CyberSyb (AKA Ace's Mom)

Moving's Fun When You're 4

2008-11-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

If you're wondering why I haven't posted in several days, now you know. We're moving. There's barely time for anything but bouncing off the walls, and, thanks to the chain smoker who inhabited our new apartment before us, there's also barely time for eating and sleeping. So far we've spent about 20 labor hours scouring cupboards, counters, the insides of drawers... pretty much every square inch of the place with enzymes and bleach to get rid of the tar and nicotine. Even the air conditioner has to be treated. Fortunately, they painted, but that was the extent of their attempt at detoxing the unit. Oh well... we're getting a super good deal, and almost half of the units in the complex are inhabited by fellow Calvary Chapel Monterey Bay folks. And that brings me to the super cute pic, which captures Ace and his friend Anna watching a flick together on moving day one... actually, that was cleaning day one.
:) Syb

Tonsils & Adenoids, Begone!

2008-11-13T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ace had his tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday morning, and we got home today. Other than some pain, not a lot of sleep, and an all out WWF match in the anesthesia recovery room, it went well. He had obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Apparently his tonsils and adenoids were so huge, they were blocking his airways while he slept. He had what they call "+4" tonsils, which means they were almost touching in the middle. The resulting sleep and oxygen deprivation was causing a multitude of problems, like slowed growth velocity, agitation, aggression, very frequent night wakings, and just an overall inability to cope with the stresses of preschool-aged life. We were so relieved to get the diagnosis, because, frankly, we'd begun to worry. Actually, I'd never even heard of OSA in children until I reluctantly listened to a lecture on ADHD, given to me by a counselor from church. (I'm not a fan of the ADHD diagnosis, its treatments, and a whole lot of other stuff about it, so I would pretty much blow off anyone who suggested he might have "that" problem. What was really starting to bug me was that as his behavior continued to decline, that dreaded acronym was coming up more and more. I was starting to stress, not only because of the possibility of ADHD, but because his typical obedient behavior didn't fit the description. He wasn't a super disobedient kid with no attention span, just an energetic and exuberant boy who was a bit impulsive and really angry and emotional way too often. But, always the wise man, Arich convinced me that I needed to be open minded and at least listen to the CD for potential behavior management tools.) The first thing the lecturer talked about was actually a side note: many kiddos diagnosed with ADHD really have OSA. At first I didn't think much of it. But a couple of nights later, I went into Ace's room to check on him and, lo and behold, the kid wasn't breathing. I stopped and listened for about five seconds, after which he snorted and started up with his usual snoring. He's always been a snorer (which I didn't know is a red flag for OSA in kids), but I'd never witnessed an apnea episode until that night. We took him to the pediatrician a couple of days later. When he saw the monster tonsils, the pediatrician referred us to the ENT doc, and here we are three weeks later. The ENT said he had an obstruction (which resolved) as soon as the anesthesiologist put him under. It seems that God works in mysterious ways if I'll set down my pride long enough to listen to a lecture I think I don't need. This has sort of been a theme in my life.

From what I've read and been told, this surgery greatly improves quality of life for OSA kids in 95% of cases. Thanks for all your prayers. Keep them coming!

Happy Birthday, TBird's Dad!

2008-11-03T12:47:00.000-08:00

This great pic is Don (our new brother-in-law and Ace's Uncle) and Tbird, Ace's new cousin. Congratulations, Don, on your first ever birthday as a dad! We're blessed to have you two in the fam!
Love,
Arich, Sharon & Ace

The Whole Armor of God

2008-11-01T13:52:00.000-07:00

Classic Footage

2008-10-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Ace's First Finished Piece

2008-10-26T18:27:00.000-07:00

This baby's skillz continue to amaze his mom (what a surprise). It's Spider-man, BTW. We'll allow this pic to be used on the inside cover of his authorized bio one day, since it is, after all, the master's first finished piece. ;)

Happy Birthday Baby Ace!

2008-10-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday big guy! You're still our favorite kid in the whole wide world! We love you!

Papa & Mom

For Those Who Doubted Me

2008-10-08T20:19:00.001-07:00

Here's the proof that Ace's mom did, in fact, meet Bush Senior in the oval office when she was 14. I'm on the far right. So, how did I find myself in this situation, you ask? My best friend in high school had parents who knew people... and they were really nice to me for some reason. (Shout out to the Aldersons.) I even got to meet the dogs, who really did hang out in the oval office. In case you're wondering, Prez Bush was totally cool and down-to-earth. He showed me pics of his grandkids... awwww!

More Timbo Bird

2008-10-07T20:55:00.001-07:00

It just doesn't get any more adorable than this guy! We love you, T-Bird!

Hey Baby T-Bird!

2008-10-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

Arich's 'lil sister is a mom! Timothy Harrison Bird weighed in at 6 lbs. 9 0z. and 20 in. yesterday morning! Congratulations Aunt Andi and Uncle Don.

Welcome to the world little Timbo! Your cousin Ace can't wait to meet you, bubby! We love you so much already, cuteness face!

On Dreams & Shameless Bribery

2008-10-01T13:20:00.000-07:00

Take one and take two.
(Why don't I enjoy doing windows this much?)

Some Ramblings

2008-09-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

I had no idea what parenting would be like. It's the hardest thing I have ever done. Sometimes I think it's the suckiest thing I've ever done... sometimes, the most fun. Sometimes the sucky feeling outweighs the fun one, and on those days, it seems like the sucky feeling really dominates the big picture. But it doesn't, I guess. No... it doesn't. But I had no idea I would have to power through, with a cranky preschooler, those days where, before I was a mom, I would just not talk to people, and do my best to avoid any meaningful interaction. It was easy damage control, a pleasant sort of "checking out", and worked nicely most of the time on those off days. But nothing is easy, nothing works perfectly nicely anymore. There is no checking out. Now, on those occasional days when I wake up feeling like strings are tied to my forehead, my eyebrows and the corners of my mouth, constantly pulling my face and head toward the ground, I have to smile, bite my tongue, keep the fury out of my voice and meaningfully instruct and guide one of the wildest, most confusing, and, at times, most infuriating forces I have ever encountered: a high energy male preschooler whose temperament is identical to mine (plus a bit more testosterone). I had no idea that every mistake, every embarrassing outburst, every kid-ish, boy-ish thing he would do, I would somehow personalize, knowing I shouldn't, but, nonetheless, battling the subtle underlying belief that these foibles are the result of my inadequacies as a parent. I know kids are humans and they make mistakes, but I still struggle back and forth, back and forth, between what I know and what I feel. I, of course, have always played this tug o' war between the know and the feel -- I know I'm saved by grace, but I feel like a wretch, and so on and so forth. Haven't we all? But when you become a parent, you watch that internal struggle become real and take on a life of its own, with a will of its own. Worn out and hungry, it darts around like a shark, looking for what it can get into, and grabs way too much juice from the serve-yourself jug, which you must, as a good parent, take away. So it hollers, clobbers you in the leg, and bites you hard on the arm. You lose it a little and grab it by the collar of its shirt to escort it to the car, because, frankly, you feel the same way it does. And all this right in the middle of fellowship time after second service. Stellar parenting. Real good times.
No, I had no idea what being a parent would be like. I certainly didn't expect to be the parent of my own temperament, my own struggles. I didn't expect to love so much and care so much that every mistake, every failure aches and pounds down on my soul. I didn't expect to worry and take things so seriously. I know I need to lighten up. But it's hard to do that all the time, because some days are heavy, whether you like it or not. Some days are really heavy.
I gave birth to a dynamo. He is certain to conquer something. I know he'll conquer his own torments, with the help of God, who he's already learning to love. Believe it or not, in the moment-by-moment he's more obedient than most kids I meet. He's kind, funny, cute as a bee's knee. He loves people and talks to anyone. He's my sidekick, my buddy, my teacher and my spiritual reflection. I love him more than life itself. Would I die for him? It's like asking whether I'd take the next breath. I just want to do this thing right so badly that it hurts. I have never wanted anything so badly that I cannot control. And please don't offer up practical advice. I know and put into practice all the tricks, all the methods, as consistently as I'm able... I've read and am reading all the books. I'm just having a tired day, that's all. Really. Just tell me I'm not a horrible mom, and you understand how I feel.
It's so bizarre. Before I had kids, I knew worn out parents who would insist they didn't regret becoming parents, and that, if given the opportunity, there's no way they'd go back in time and avoid having kids. I used to think they were lying out of guilt. I thought I saw right through their little obligatory smoke screen. No way could they be working so hard at something that could be so completely frustrating and seemingly miserable at times, and yet be so totally in love with it. It went against everything I understood and knew... because I didn't know what it meant to be a parent. *Sigh* Thanks for listening to my hysterical ramblings. I feel better. Sorry about the typos, etc.
Syb

SPF

2008-09-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

On our walks lately we've crossed paths with a few sweet little Asian grandmas carrying sun umbrellas. Ace decided to give it a shot today. (Those little grandmas make it look so easy!)

Geogia Cousins

2008-09-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool photo of our adorable Georgia cousins: (l-r) Merritt Hope, Marley Kay, Angelina Maria, Bishop Faith, Graham Grace and Colten Layne. We love you crazy kiddos! I think that's my cuz Tommy in the background... love you, Tommy!

More Baby Jocie

2008-09-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here's a new pic of Ace's new cousin and her mom and dad. I am so in love with this kiddo!

Jocellynn Renae

2008-09-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

My baby brother has a baby! Lil' Jocellynn Renae Jenni weighed in at 6lb. 11oz. Monday morning, about three weeks early! Congratulations Josh and Mandy... and God bless Baby Girl.
We love you lil' one! Big kisses and hugs, and we can't wait to see you next month, sweetie pie. AWWWWW! You're so darn CUTE!
Love Aunt Shay, Uncle Arich and Cousin Ace.

Surf's Up

2008-09-01T20:29:00.000-07:00

The sun seems to have finally found the peninsula... and just in time for Up-High Bapa's visit. Today at Carmel Beach it really felt like SoCal. The sand was even warm! I think our little swimmer is beginning to discover his inner surfer...

For the Vanderschuit Boys

2008-08-29T15:19:00.001-07:00

Ace loved your message, and he talks about you guys all the time. Maybe one day you guys'll all be college roommates!

Syble (A.K.A.: Sharon, Shay, Pinwheel, Fire-cracker)

2008-08-24T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last time I tried to contribute to our blog I was chided for violating the character of the spirit behind it, but due to popular demand I believe I have no choice but to risk one of my last nine fingers to fulfill the request of our readers. Many of you want to see more than just Ace and his dad, but his mom too (the mastermind behind it). So, while she's down for a nap, I'm secretly posting -- hopefully you see this before she edits it. The pictures I post may not "capture her true essence", so they may be censored, and the voice I choose to write in may be silenced (she may flip over the computer --inside joke) if she feels like it doesn't agree with her vision for this publication. Never the less, here you go...I hope you like it.

Her given name is Syble, which explains the number of names that many of you know her by (depends on the personality you met), so some of you know Shay, some Sharon, and some Syble. She has nicknames like Pinwheel and Fire-cracker that tell of " her side" as her dad and brothers forewarned me. However, she is also, and more consistently, a dear friend to many of you, a great mom, and the best wife.

Why I Love Arich

2008-08-18T13:52:00.000-07:00

On February 12, 1995, I remember discussing with a friend over espresso how we would never stoop so low as to subject ourselves to an institution as patriarchal and oppressive as marriage. On Valentine's Day 1995 (two days later), in his apartment at UCSC, an adorable, long-haired, granola-boy art student looked up at me with his big blue eyes from down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes without hesitation. It has remained my crowning act of hypocrisy, and one of the best decisions I ever made.

That was 13 1/2 years ago today (we were engaged 6 months), and we were 21 and 19, so we've pretty much grown up together. (Arich has literally grown one inch in height.) Anyway, I just wanted to give him a shout out in this post, because he deserves it. So here it goes...

Why I love Arich and why I am a very lucky girl:

He has put up with me for 13 years. This is no small feat. Ask my brothers. (And consider the little convo about patriarchal oppression. Imagine being married to that flailing girl, and waiting patiently for her to grow up. So many wouldn't have; he continues to.)
He taught me to drive stick.

He taught me to lock my front door.

He lets me take the glory for his original witty quips (sometimes).

He doesn't put up with my evil side.

He loves our son more than he loves himself, and he's a dynamo of a dad.
He's gracious, forgiving and patient.

He will not stop until it's beautiful. This applies to the concrete, the spiritual... everything.

He's a hard worker, dedicated, honest and exceedingly loyal.

He tries with all that he has to please God and do His will.

He's an astonishingly adept spiritual leader, and he's been my most influential teacher.

He's the wisest person I have ever known. I don't say this lightly. I mean it.

I love you, babe. Thanks for 13 awesome years. I wouldn't change a single one, and I look forward to a whole bunch more. You're my hero.

Love,

Syble Sharon Shay Harrison ;)

Ace on Sharks & Sea Lion Guts

2008-08-14T13:41:00.000-07:00

Ace wanted to share with you some of the fascinating stuff he's been learning while living on the peninsula. Did you know dead sea lions have dirty black guts? See videos below...

Correction: Circa 88-89

2008-08-13T21:37:00.001-07:00

Arich had to correct me on the goth photo date... it was actually 88-89... I really am getting old.

Ace's Mom, Circa 1991

2008-08-13T15:14:00.000-07:00

...going through pics for a project... couldn't resist... The Cure, anyone?

The Force is Strong With Him

2008-08-13T15:09:00.001-07:00

Check out this Padawan's mad skillz (Darth Maul complete with light saber). Notice the advanced ability to capture dynamism ;).
Syb

Look at These Flowers!

2008-08-09T20:17:00.001-07:00

There's this tree/bush thing that grows by our patio. Just recently it busted out with these little beauties. Have you ever seen such fantastic flowers? God is such an artist.

Close Ups

2008-08-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

I took these pics the other day when we got home from the beach. Ace had this little weird spot on his nose, so I wanted to get pics of it to show the doctor in the event it metastasized to his lymph nodes and brain. Anyway... I don't know what it is about Ace's face, but, since the day he was born, it's looked the same up close. You can stand back a few feet and look him in the face, and he looks like an almost four-year-old blonde kid. But get this close, and there's my little baby. Maybe it's the macro feature. It just gets me. (Am I still going to be doing this when he's 20? Poor kid.)

Oh, the spot is gone, by the way.

The Gang

2008-07-31T14:04:00.001-07:00

Here's Ace hanging with his usual posse, the Castillo boys and the Denham boys. These guys love dirt, rough housing, and each other.

You've Gotta Love PG

2008-07-25T14:01:00.001-07:00

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Pacific Grove is a kids' wonderland. How many places in the world can you go to the beach and get a free kayak ride in a peaceful little bay with a super nice local mom? Not very many.
Syb ;)

Beautiful Cousins

2008-07-23T15:40:00.001-07:00

A couple of times a year we get pics of Ace's and my cousin Brandi's beautiful girls Graham, Bishop and Merritt. And every time we get a pic of them, Arich and I are reminded of my poor cousin-by-marriage, Tim, who is their dad, and who is destined to battle a subtle, but nagging and constant, underlying anxiousness for at least the next 20 years or so. What spectacular little ladies!

We Like Cookies

2008-07-21T18:55:00.000-07:00

In the above picture you see Ace demonstrating what we at the Harrison house call "The Cookie Trance."

Best Kept Secret...

2008-07-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine calls Gilroy Gardens the "best kept secret" around here. She's so right! We went a few days ago, and we had a total blast. Thanks Grandpa Doug!

Fourth with the Denhams

2008-07-08T19:20:00.000-07:00

We had a super time hanging out with our friends the Denhams (Bill, Claudia, Peter, Patrick and Stewart) on the fourth. They're a military family, so it was a real honor to celebrate with folks who are out there defending the rights we've grown up enjoying. Thanks, guys, for your dedication to our great nation.

Warning: Graphic Injury Image... For Reals

2008-07-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

Last week at the studio Arich got a 1/4" square shard of plaster shoved under his fingernail... all the way to the cuticle. Eh gads. Since plaster is not fibrous, they couldn't just lift the nail up a bit and pull it out with tweezers. Also, because it's organic, risk of infection was high, so the shard had to come out pronto. (Not to mention Arich was in a lot of pain.) So if you can't pull out the splinter, and the splinter has to come out... the nail has to come off. EWWWWW!!!!! They took off the bandage today at his post op appointment. Talk about an occupational hazard... but what a cool pic for the Wall of Pain.

Introducing... Our Wall of Pain

2008-07-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

In our close to 13 years volunteering in children's ministry, Arich and I have come across very few ministry components more outstanding than the great "Wall of Pain". As far as I remember the wall was the brainchild of Brent, a junior high pastor from Santa Cruz Bible Church back in 1994. With a kind iron fist and spiked mohawk, he helped effectively rule one of the most formidably rambunctious groups of junior high kids I have ever known. Injuries were common, tears (at least for pain) were not. We attribute this absence of whining and hem-hawing to... The Wall of Pain.

For years we've wanted to start one for Ace. At this point (thank the Lord) he's only had a few injuries worth posting. But the ones I have pictures of, I've thrown on this post, which will be the first of hopefully not too many more installments.

;) Syb

Let the Games Begin

2008-06-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

We've got a serious jock on our hands. This kid can already swim... and bust out kamikaze flips. Heaven help us...

You Won't Like Him When He's Angry

2008-06-20T15:18:00.001-07:00

Ah, yes... The Hulk Hands. If you have young sons or grandsons, you've seriously contemplated buying them, or you currently own them. They are the rare kind of toy that comes along for us. The kind Arich and I, not just Ace, want to buy. They epitomize what is good about most of comic book culture. Good guys knocking out bad guys and looking really cool while doing it. But, like many parents, we hesitated buying the Hulk Hands. They're great, but a little extravagant... and who wants to spoil the kid, right? Well, that's what grandparents are for! Thanks Up-High Bapa! Ace really loves them!

Disclaimer* In case Ace's inside out, backward and stained shirt leaves you fearing neglect, please know that such a presentation is common for Ace and typically arises not in the course of a day, but in that of a minute or sometimes less. Where the stains come from, I oftentimes have no idea, until I find one of the same element splashed, say, along the side of the couch. I do try to change him before we leave the house.

Worth a Thousand Words...

2008-06-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

I was surfing through Yahoo News a minute ago, and I stumbled upon an editorial written by a dad whose twin sons were born six years ago at 23 weeks. Today they're thriving little athletes. I was impressed enough to check out their website, where I found this pic of the boys feet today next to their little footprints at birth. Amazing and thought provoking stuff... http://www.jakeandjosh.net
Happy Father's Day,
Syb

Happy Up-High Bapa Day!

2008-06-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day Up-High Bapa! Thanx for being a great dad to me, and now to my son, too.Thank you for your devotion to the Lord, to honesty, righteousness, and to family. Thank you for your support and guidance. Thank you for your patience, grace, and perseverance. Thank you for always being there, and taking great pride in being a father. We love you!

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

For the greatest dad ever...

Nostalgia

2008-06-10T14:16:00.000-07:00

I'm going through old pics for a project, and I couldn't help but post a few of these. My little man is growing up...

My Artists

2008-06-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Ace the Artist... could it really be any other way? Check out the pure genius evident in the alligator piece. I was thinking the missing tail might have some symbolic meaning, so I asked the master. He said with barely perceptible indignation, "It's a baby one. Baby ones don't have tails." Ah, temperamental artists... I'll keep you posted on the progress of the T-Rex sculpture.

Memorial Mayhem

2008-05-29T14:59:00.000-07:00

Our friends the Wongs took us to Memorial Day festivities at the Naval Postgraduate School on Monday. Jonah, Noah and Ace had a great time terrorizing the echo-y hallways of the old building. I really don't remember how, exactly, I got them to idle their motors long enough to pose for this picture. I think the events which transpired during the 15 minutes it took for us to get through the building and out into the open field have been catalogued in my repressed memory files. Raising Ace is a wacky whirlwind... and an undeniable privilege. I'll miss it when it's over.

The Smiths

2008-05-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Monterey peninsula is home to the Naval Postgraduate School and the Defense Language Institute, which means we have a really large military population here. I'd venture to bet that close to 50% of the young families in our church body are military. So most of Arich's, Ace's and my friends are from military families. What I wasn't prepared for when we moved here is that military families LEAVE... inevitably, always. So if you're not here with the military, you're destined to get regularly abandoned by people you care about. No one tells you that when you sign up. *sigh*

The Smiths, above, returned to S. Cal last week. Left to right is Mindy, Jake, Samantha and Josh. Please keep this awesome family in your prayers. In a few weeks Josh leaves for one more tour in Baghdad.

Miss you, Mindy! And Ace says he really misses Jake!

Uncle Josh's Big Catch

2008-05-21T21:13:00.001-07:00

This was little brother Josh's (AKA Uncle Josh's) biggest and only catch of the day. I don't think banana slugs are good eatin', big guy.

A Momentous Occasion

2008-05-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

For the men in my family, fishing is not a sport. It's an integral part of life, like, say... eating... breathing... or cell meiosis. My dad and brothers know every lure, stinky bait, fishing line weight, water depth, water and air temperature, water and air visibility, every wind direction, humidity percentage, season, mating behavior, and gravitational pull of the moon, which might, in some way, affect whether the fish will bite. And the relevance of all these factors, of course, depends on the species of fish. They know them all, including their subtypes and which ones are "good eatin'" or not.

Long story short: Ace was born at 2:04 a.m.. By 10 that morning, "Grampy Doug" (my dad) was in the hospital room, bearing the perfunctory diapers and cute baby shoes, and a brand new kid-sized fishing pole and tackle box, which Ace used to catch his first fish on Saturday. This is big stuff. It was only a tiny little bluegill (the bass were spawning and the trout were in deep water due to the heat), but it was a real live fishie caught at Loch Leven lake in the presence of Grampy Doug, Uncle Josh, Dad and Mom. A most momentous occasion. Watch the video, and feel the power.

Syb

Sayonara Feedburner.

2008-05-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

If all goes well, this will be the last subscription post you guys'll get in your email boxes. I'm just not feelin' the love for this subscription thing. First of all, it seems way more like an email and way less like a blog. Second, I don't know if you folks have tried to respond directly to a posting, but it's impossible, so we never get feedback. I need feedback. I love feedback. So as soon as I'm done with this post I'll head over to Feedburner to remove it from the blog. I've found a way better way to keep everyone updated. I'll send out an email soon with the details.
Syb :)

Like I Said...

2008-05-15T13:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday while I was working on the post about Ace's and his Dad's Norseman tendencies, Ace was rummaging through the snow drawer, looking for a hat and gloves. The Nerf ball is (you guessed it) a snowball. I'm telling you, it's in the blood.
Syb

Polar Bears?

2008-05-11T14:39:00.000-07:00

It was only minutes following the apartment manager's announcement of "open season" at the pool last week before these guys were immersed. Never mind the 45 degree ocean air and the on-shore wind. It's gotta be the Norse blood. As a former student of anthropology, my theory is these two would be much better adapted to a life spent skirting the edges of Norwegian fjords, swords raised and beards frozen, always ready to conquer something or other.

This Vegas-raised American mutt will stick to the lounge chair... at least until things reach around 50 degrees or so. Today was warm, so maybe tomorrow. Did I say warm? Whoa. Am I going native? It was about 79 in the sun, with the ever-present slight bite to the wind. Not warm. Ah well... at least I still know how to drive over 35 mph, so there's still a bit of So.Cal left in this girl. ;)
Syb

Sigh

2008-05-05T22:00:00.000-07:00

I love these two guys.

THUNDER!!!

2008-05-02T14:39:00.000-07:00

"ThunderStix" were the highlight of Tuesday's post Bible study playgroup. As you can see in the pic, the kids had a great time safely brutalizing one another for a good hour straight. (Yes, I know the pic is terribly un-dynamic, but what can I say?) Deborah Flores is the cool mom responsible for bringing the sticks, which are really just a couple of pieces of plastic molded together with a self-sealing spout. You blow them up, and, viola! Thunder! I think they were some kind of promotional item from a convention the Flores family attended, and there happened to be a bunch of them left over. There's a hearty sort of sound when you bang one stick against another. But the kids seemed to prefer banging the sticks against other kids' heads, which, curiously, did somehow create a more interesting sound.

Until next time,

Syb

Beach Bubbles

2008-04-25T14:01:00.001-07:00

Today Ace's friends Shawnie, Ryan, Jake and Samantha met him at Lover's Point, and Shawnie's and Ryan's mom brought a bubble machine. Now, does it get any better than that? The beach... the bubbles... the sun. This is the life for little kids. Other than when Ace poured a pail full of northern California ocean water over the top of poor little unsuspecting Ryan's head (he's not even two, poor kid), the morning was just peachy. Lover's Point is the main beach in PG, a historic little beach town, whose streets are lined with flowers and trees and Victorian houses of various sizes (they range from about 400 square feet to about 5000). There are three parks within walking distance of our apartment, and every one is consistently brimming over with rambunctious kiddos. I still suspect a few of the moms who frequent the park are robots, but I can't yet prove it. At this point I do believe all the kids are real.
TTFN,
Syb

Papa's Work

2008-04-18T15:02:00.001-07:00

Last night we got to go hang out at "Papa's Work" after hours. To Ace, getting to go inside Papa's Work is as good as getting to go to Home Depot or getting an In & Out chocolate shake. Whenever we go pick Arich up, Ace suffers from a mysterious urinary tract affliction, whereby he MUST go to the bathroom in Papa's Work right away or he "might have an accident." Once inside, of course, the urgency suddenly disappears at the sight of the forklift or one of "Papa's Friends." So last night when he got to go into Papa's Work, and then got to sculpt with clay... well, you can imagine the joy... and the mess.

In pic number two, you can see some of the scientific reference Arich uses. In his work, everything has to be just right, because, as he says, "Subconsciously people recognize when something is amiss anatomically. They may not know what it is, but if a sculptor tries to fake it, it's obvious." Plus, when you're working in three dimensions, if one thing is off, everything is off. I don't know how he does it.

The third picture is Ace in front of an Olympic pommel horse monument titled Flair, sculpted by Richard MacDonald. The first time Ace saw it, he said, "I can do that." Knowing Ace, he was probably referring to both the gymnastic feat and the sculpting. It's great that he's exposed to such amazing stuff at his young age.

The 'Hood

2008-04-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

A few nights a week the three of us take a walk through the neighborhood for exercise. I just wanted you guys to get a glimpse of this incredible place. The pic at the top is the end of the road, where we turn around to head home. It's called Asilomar State Beach, one of the best surf spots in the area. Some nights we're late enough to catch the sunset. The video features our friendly neighborhood deer. These guys just hang out everywhere around here -- the apartment complex, the side of the road, the parking lots, wherever. It's the neatest thing. We don't know how long we'll get to stay here in Pacific Grove (called "PG" locally), so we're just trying our best to enjoy the moment. This is world class stuff.

Princess?

2008-04-14T16:18:00.001-07:00

I showed Ace the family blog just now, and he thinks it's really cool. So that's good. But when I told him the title of the blog, he said, "I'm not a princess."

I love this kid.

Home Depot Day

2008-04-14T14:01:00.001-07:00

Saturday was Ace's first ever Home Depot Kid's Day. Could the name on the box be any cuter? How cool is that? (It's certifiable: I'm a doting parent. Whatever.) Ace worked with his dad to build this cool flower box, which took them about 15 minutes. I just hovered around taking pictures for the most part. I did fetch wet paper towels a few times to clean up various messes Ace made with the wood glue. (Ha, hovering around cleaning up messes... sounds like just another day.) Other than that, I had the pleasure of watching an amazing dad and his amazing kid work together to make something really cool. I am truly blessed.

This is the first of what I hope to be many regular posts chronicling the ever-changing life of this little Harrison family. I'm thinking eventually I'll get the hang of this whole layout thing, but until then, try to look past the awkward picture placement, etc. I'm not really the artistic one, after all.

Don't forget to check back for updates.

See ya,

Syble!