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Greetings From Harrogate...
Monday, 18 September 2006
Birthday
Topic: Ryan

Check Out Blinkyou.com for thousands of custom glitters and layouts

Happy 2nd Birthday Ryan!

Lot of love,

~Mama and Daddy


Posted by hkvlayman at 1:26 PM BST
Sunday, 17 September 2006
Birthday Party
Topic: Ryan

(Sarah took this wonderful snapshot for us on our camera!)

Today we had Ryan's birthday party (since his actual birthday is tomorrow). We had a great time, and I will try to post details soon. I just had to get his photo posted!


Posted by hkvlayman at 9:25 PM BST
Friday, 15 September 2006
Fountains Photos
Topic: Ryan

I realize it's been about three months since I said I would post Ryan's photo session at Fountains Abbey! (That's why I don't make statements like that anymore!) Finally, here they are! I think they turned out great. It was fun looking at them again! Enjoy!

Link to Photo Album Ryan at Fountains Abbey

Posted by hkvlayman at 1:31 PM BST
Wednesday, 13 September 2006
Photos
Topic: Day Trips

Here are the photos from Mother Shipton's Cave. I had a few more, but a bad memory card ate them. Yell

Link to Photo Album Mother Shipton's Cave

Posted by hkvlayman at 10:09 PM BST

Topic: This and That

Not much is up, but I wanted to post this cute one of Ryan and Larry. Ryan is enjoying licking his first beater (I made whipped cream).

Things will get busy soon. Friday I am babysitting, Saturday will be crazy with party preparations and a meal delivery to a friend who had a baby, as well as helping Sarah take photos at the air force Ball, and of course Sunday is Ryan's birthday party. I had wanted to go to the Harrogate Flower show (which I missed last year because I was in Germany for Ryan's first birthday celebration), but it looks like I won't really have time.

I haven't forgotten about the pictures from Saturday I need to resize and post.

Hope everyone's having a nice "hump day!"


Posted by hkvlayman at 9:47 PM BST
Monday, 11 September 2006
Mad, Sad, and Keepin' On
Topic: This and That

(This photo was taken during my trip to Mother Shipton's Cave. I showed it to Larry and he said it looked more like Italy than England!) 

Being an American, a patriot, and a military spouse, I can't let today go without an acknowledgment. (It used to be that someone was automatically a patriot if they were an American. Sadly this is no longer the case.) Concerning Sept. 11, 2001, I am angry. I will keep it at that. I like to keep this blog a friendly, non-political place. So in that spirit, instead of a rant, I offer a link to a publication that states far more completely and eloquently than I ever could, sentiments on today. If you're interested, here it is: http://archive.patriotpost.us/pub/06-37_Brief/ If you're not, then that's ok too.

Yesterday the Animal Planet (in the UK at least) had a Crocodile Hunter marathon. It was so hard to see Steve Irwin on tv, bigger than life, knowing he's gone. The death of a public personality has never affected me like this. I watched interviews with Steve, and saw him talk about his parents, his wife, his children, all the creatures he's encountered. I was brought to tears by his passion and depth of feeling. He was one of those rare individuals who was truly doing what he was born to do, and loving it with every fiber of his being. People like that accomplish incredible things, and Steve certainly did. I didn't know until yesterday that a while back, Steve traveled a great distance to rescue a stranded diver. He went out of his way, using his own resources, asking nothing in return. He said anyone would have done the same. I'm not so sure.

I realize people die every day. Good people. Exceptional people. I realize that every day horrific things happen to innocent people and creatures. There is so much ugliness, evil, and senseless loss in the world, it's staggering. If I let myself, I could get sucked down into it and literally lose my mind, because it's all beyond my comprehension.

So that is why, after writing about Sept. 11, and Steve Irwin's death, that I can turn around and share the lovely day I had on Saturday. Because moving forward, and celebrating life, and beauty, and the positive things, is the only way to keep from getting lost to the darkness in the world. Because those who have gone on to the next adventure after this life, would want us to keep living, to enjoy ourselves, and to share our joys.

Saturday, at my friend Sarah's suggestion, we took the kids and visited Mother Shipton's Cave. It's only about five minutes away from my house, and I'd always been curious about it. http://www.mothershiptonscave.com/main.htm The cave itself is actually only a very small part of the whole area. As always, getting there is part of the fun. There's a very small entrance for cars to drive through. I drive a Honda Accord, and let me just say that I cleared the entrance with only inches to spare on both sides of the car! (I honestly don't know what people with bigger cars do.) The elderly gentleman at the toll gate complimented me on my skillful entry. There were tons of scrapes where others weren't so lucky.

Once in, Sarah and I parked our cars. The parking area is by the river Nidd, and by the beautiful viaduct it runs through. There are stroller friendly, tree-lined paths wandering through a very scenic area. On the other side of the river you can rent row boats, or enjoy refreshment at restaurants and cafes. It kind of reminded me of Germany and the Main River, in Veitshochheim.

We made our way to the actual Cave, which is near a petrifying well. There is a well you can dip your hand in and make a wish, which of course I did! There is also a small "museum" and gift shop (isn't there always?), along with play areas and a café.

Ryan was tired when we first got there, but was a trooper and enjoyed himself. He got to run around a bit, play on the swings, and be outside for quite a while. The area itself is beautiful and relaxing, and of course it was great to spend time with a friend!

(More photos to follow at some point - hopefully soon!)


Posted by hkvlayman at 10:04 PM BST
Sunday, 10 September 2006
Photo Overload
Topic: This and That

I have finally caught up on most of my photo posting! Here are a ton of photos from the last month or so:

Link to Photo Album August and September 2006 Enjoy!

Posted by hkvlayman at 4:16 PM BST
Friday, 8 September 2006

Topic: This and That

("Which way???" This was a sign at Bolton that made me laugh! The Strid is the nearby river.)

Today we had another gorgeous day, weather wise. (I'm not trying to rub it in, honest!) We barbecued for dinner, which is always nice, since I don't have to cook! :D

The afternoon sun was streaming through the kitchen windows. Ryan wanted me to blow bubbles for him. We have one of those nifty battery operated fan bubble blowers that go with the push of the button. With the sun coming in like it was, the bubbles were absolutely beautiful. They were shining brightly in iridescent rainbow colors. I'm pretty sure I was more impressed and mesmerized than Ryan was. It's the little things.

Larry gets ESPN on his computer, so he gets ESPN magazine in the mail. The magazine is in the bathroom, so I picked it up to have something to read. I was amazed to find that not just one, but several of the articles were of interest to me. I guess it pays to read something you normally wouldn't, once in a while.

A week or so ago, a friend of mine posted that she's going to be leaving here next year. It struck me then the nature of friendships in the military. I've spent the last year here feeling kind of new, working on building a life, meeting people, becoming a part of the community. It hadn't hit me until my friend's announcement how really very temporary things are in the military. Luckily, some of the people I've become friends with have remained close over time and distance. I'm hoping that will be the case with friends I've made here. Technology certainly makes it a lot easier! However, it's still weird for me to suddenly contemplate soon being on the backside of our time here, rather than still being just arrived.

Today a moment I'd been semi-dreading finally took place. I'd put Ryan in his crib while I went to take a shower. I came back to check on him once before getting in. He was sitting in the rocking chair with a huge smile on his face! I put him back in his crib, and watched him crawl out of it, and onto the chair. Hmph. We're going to rearrange the furniture in his room tomorrow! :D The funny thing is, I put him down for a nap later in the afternoon, and he didn't try to crawl out again. I'm hoping he stays in for the night tonight. I know he's near the height and age for transitioning into a toddler bed, but I really think he likes the security of the crib still. We'll see. I guess it's always hard to let kiddos grow up. I have to laugh because I remember being all worried about this six months ago. I didn't even need to worry then!


Posted by hkvlayman at 10:04 PM BST
Thursday, 7 September 2006
Spiders and Neck
Topic: This and That

Yesterday wasn't too fun. Since last Friday I've been having a bad muscle spasm in my right shoulder. It was at its worst yesterday. Of course since I had a doctor's appointment this morning, I woke up and it was magically almost back to normal! :) I guess I just needed to scare it into submission!

I forgot to mention that at Sherwood Forest, they had discreet information signs along the various paths through the forest. One stated that there are around 200 various species of spider in the forest, some of which jump. How fun!

Also on the topic of spiders, Larry caught another Enormous Spider on the stairs tonight. (Barry, you'll be happy to know that bug vacuum is getting quite a workout!) I really don't think spiders ought to be that big - unless they live in the rain forest and eat birds.

We were blessed with some really nice weather today. Sun, with a cool breeze. I know the closer it gets to the end of the year, the less likely sun will be, so I am enjoying every bit we get!


Posted by hkvlayman at 9:35 PM BST
Tuesday, 5 September 2006
Bolton, Etc.
Now Playing: Larry playing Xbox Madden
Topic: Day Trips

Yesterday we wound up going back to Bolton, rather than Hadrian's wall. It was still a really nice day. We went with our friends, Tom and Carissa and their two kiddos. We'd been to Bolton Abbey before, but the whole area is rather large, with different areas you can park at and walk around in. We parked at a couple stops past where we'd visited previously. It was very enjoyable and relaxing to take a long walk with friends.

Afterwards, we had lunch at a pub at Tom's suggestion. It was nice. We had the best service I'd encountered since we've been here! It's so hard for us to go out to eat, since it gets expensive in a hurry (with the horrible exchange rate). It's just awful to realize you've spent almost $18 on a bowl of pasta with chicken. Other than that though, it was good.

Last night I went to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" with my friend Sarah. That was fun! I hadn't seen a movie in a theater since "Star Wars Episode III" over a year ago. That was the first movie I've seen over here. They had - no kidding - thirty minutes of commercials and previews before the movie. I thought that was a bit excessive! I really enjoyed the movie though. Many swashes were buckled! :P

Lately Ryan's been going through a phase where he's picking out mismatched socks. He knows full well how to match things correctly, but for the last couple of days, he's picked out socks of two different colors. Oh well. I figure it's not hurting anything and if it makes him happy, it makes me happy! :)

I met with the Harrogate Harriers again tonight. I had a really great run. I told Larry I feel like Goldilocks: the first time I ran with the Harriers it was too fast, the second time too slow, and this time just right! :P I felt good and was able to stretch it out a bit and push myself. That always feels good. The people are so nice, and this is such a scenic area to run in. The only down side tonight was nettles. The lady I was running with said she thought she'd heard we didn't have them in the States. (I've never seen them in CA, but I'm not sure about the rest of the country.) I told her we have earthquakes, fires, mudslides, and riots. We didn't need nettles. She heartily agreed! :D


Posted by hkvlayman at 10:05 PM BST
Updated: Tuesday, 5 September 2006 10:09 PM BST

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