Here in Lawrence...

For those of you who might not keep tabs on the iamspartacus.net web site, I thought I'd point you to some recent photos of our kids. ...After all, what's the point of a family blog if we can't use it to shamelessly pimp photos of our own children? Anyway, turned the living room into a photo studio the other night and got some shots of all the kiddos -- some cooperating, most not. Click on the image below. Oh, and special thanks to Annie -- my awesome studio lighting came compliments of her.

Black Friday

Well, Black Friday is almost over everyone and by my count only three people have died in shopping related incidents!

1 worker was trampled at a Rhode Island Wal-Mart

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/11/28/2008-11-28_worker_dies_at_long_island_walmart_after.html

2 people were shot at a Toys-R-Us in Palm Desert, CA

I've trying to figure out what this means about people. Any suggestions?

Pirate Float on the Kaw

Here's a link to a photo in today's Lawrence Journal World of the annual Up A Creek Kid's Pirate Float on the Kaw River this past summer. You will see Andrew, Logann, Kaysia, Jessica and Martin among the little thieves. They had a great time digging for buried treasure (that Shannon and Craig hid) along the way. *Hope this works! Jeannie Sr

http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/2008/nov/21/159446

The Great Big Self-Explanatory Poll

Hello Everyone,

Please be sure to take part in the Great Big Self-explanatory Poll! I know this can be a sensitive topic but it's anonymous!

-Zak

Thanksgiving celebration

Well it's time to plan our Thanksgiving Day. I've provided Jon, Renee and Becky separate maps to our event but enough about that for now. They know what to do. So, let's get this going.

Jeannie and I plan to host a Wednesday soup/salad supper at our house and anyone needing lodging is sure welcome here. We have lots of room and a wood stove that will be warm & toasty so if you can stay with us we'd love to have you.

For Thanksgiving day we have reserved the retreat camp near our house. For you that did not get the tour it's a lot like the Grange except there is more outside stuff to do - if the weather permits. I think right now we need to know who is planning to come for Thanksgiving Day and for Wednesday evening; later we can work out who brings what. Please let Jeannie and me know by e-mail or posting on this blog your family's plans for this giving of Thanks Day.

Love to all,

Marcus

Thanksgiving 2008 will be hosted by Marcus and Jeannie, as Renee' and Lee have a full month of November--driving from Florida to California, and returning just in time for Thanksgiving. This summer, during our Quiltie Chick gathering, several of us toured the church camp just up the road from our home and decided to give it a try for this year--Chihowa Retreat Center. We have it reserved for Thanksgiving Day. Spacious kitchen and large gathering room and plenty of outdoor trails for those who would like some exercise and fresh air. We promise to get an official invitation posted shortly, and will host a supper for those who want to come on Wed night. We should have beds for any who want to plan to stay with us.

Hope all are of you are doing well! Love, Jeannie Sr

I Did it...

Thanks Ashley, I need all the help I can get. Quick question. where is Thanksgiving this year. Is this still a Merritt activity??

Addison Renee Harding

Born October 7th at 10:43 P.M. 8 lbs 5 oz, 20 1/4 inches. Click on our family website link for more pictures.

Harding baby making its entrance...

Just read on Ashley's blog that her water broke and she headed to the hospital!

How are you doing?

Hey everyone just checking it to see what is new in your neck of the woods. :) I don't know if anyone is reading the Merritt blog or not. I am curious to see who comments to this post...... I have been keeping up with Ashley's blog about the baby coming soon. I am sooooo excited to find out if it is a girl or a boy. Jason have you figured out how to post? Call me if you need some help. It's not as user friendly as other sites I have used....Zach I would love to hear some more history from you. Thanksgiving is coming up so I think this blog will be a great place to make plans......I hope all is well with you and have a happy day......Love all of you Kelly

Zacs poll

Zac.. When I first looked at your new poll I had no idea what Pericles had done. All I knew about him was is was from Athens. As for Marcus Aurelius I was lost. I had no idea who that was. So I looked them both up and made my vote. I really enjoy reading your polls and history. John and I are really into the colider. It was on discovery yesterday so we watched it. It was about how they built it.
Have a happy day
Raquel

Here you go Jay...

Jason...Sign in at the upper right hand corner with the user name and password that Raquel created....then click on new post and start typing...If you hover over the icons on top of the section that you are typing in you will see a spot to click on to add images....Add those first before you start typing...I have found that to be easier...I am sure everyone would love to see pics of your kiddo's...

Good Luck...I have to stop slacking now and start working!!!

Ashley

Mom and Lee in Ft. Worth

I talk to mom every day. She and Lee are in Ft. Worth with The American Red Cross at the head quarters. Some how they got bumbed up to supervisors and than Managers. hee hee So they are helping to figure out plans for all the volunteers. I told her thats what happens when you are smart and good with people. You get pulled in without even knowing it hee hee I told her I would be watching for them on CNN. hee hee We had a big laugh about me telling her to make sure that her nails are done and to buy some waterprof mascara and other things because she was going to be on national news. It was really funny. Probably one of those things that you had to be there for but I am glad that I made her laugh. She and Lee have been working so hard the past week with not much sleep so I am sure it must be stressful.
Raquel

Poll Results

Here are the results to the recent poll:

The Sarah Palin pick will most likely...

-Help the GOP ticket (1)

-Hurt the GOP ticket (4)

-Have a negiligable effect (1)

And there you have it. This poll has been replaced by a new and equally interesting one.

-Zak

Zac

Zac I don't know how to get rid of my post in the recipe group. I posted it there on accident. OPPS .....Can you get rid of it for me.
thanks
Raquel

I learned how to use this .... yeah me

This is pretty exciting. I am not very techy so I feel pretty proud that I can even do this. Although I havent finished yet, so maybe I shouldnt get too proud just yet. Lets call this a "test".

No news here really just enjoying everyone's posts. Im going to go look at the recipes next. I KNOW I can make a contribution there. Posting pix will be my next challenge. I may need to recruit Ashley's help for that.

My quilt guild is having our annual quilt show this week-end so hopefully I can post some pix of the items I entered.

Thank you Raquel for doing this....talk to you all soon ...Love Becky

Jason

Jay I am so glad you posted and shared with us what is going on in your life. I am ashamed to say since we live in the same town that I don't know more. Everytime John sees you in Lowes he comes home and tells me about it. He says that Fairlyn is one of the prettest little girls he has ever seen. He also says things like wow they are really getting big. It is sad when my husband watches them grow up and I have not even seen Morgan since he was a baby. I would really like to change that. I do not work so I have a lot of time doing nothing. I hate not working and the adjustment has been hard. I have almost given up on the doctors to figuring out what is wrong with me. Name a doc in Tulsa and I have probably gone to them or at least know who they are. hee hee The docs keep putting me on nerve pain pills and they make me suicidal so I don't take them. I went to my primary doc yesterday and told her that I am not taking the pills and that I don't see any reason to take pills that make me crazy if we really don't even know if I need them. She is sending me to a nurologist (I cant spell) to run some tests on me feet. I hope and pray that they can figure out what is going on. I am really sick and tired of the pain. I hope we can get together soon. Love you Bunches...... Big hugs to you and your family Kell

Update Mom and Lee in Orlando

Opps I first posted this under recipes.

As you all know the hurricane took a turn and is not going to hit Florida. Because of that Mom and Lee have been in a lot of meetings and classes since they have been there. One of the days they were there they had classes all morning and had a few hours so they went to Tampa to see Derrick, Annie and Brendan. They had a great time at the beach. It was a short visit becasue they had to get back to Orlando but they all were so happy to see eachother. I was so jealous. However I will be seeing them in November. Brendans first birthday is November 7th. Mom Lee and I will be driving there for his birthday and his babtisim. Derrick and Annie have asked me to be Brendans God Mother and I am so excited about that. When Annie told me I was about in tears. You will all love Annie. She is a wonderful young lady and wonderful to Derrick and a wonderful Mother to Brendan. We are very happy to have her added to our family.Sorry I got side tracked....Mom and Lee will be finding out either today or tomorrow where they will be going next. It will be either Texas or Louisianna. My hat goes off to both of them. They work long and hard days. I am very proud of them.I hope you all are having a good day.Love all of you bunchesBIG HUGSRaquel

Discussion Boards

Hello Everyone,

I finally made the discussion boards, which are just links to other blogs. You can leave posts on them in the same way you can leave a post on this one. Same account, same everything. Here's a little explanation of each:

History Board: This one was my idea. It seems there are a lot of history buffs in the family, so I thought that this could be a place where we could all share something we are passionate about. The history board is meant for debates, "what if"s, historical news (yes, it exists), or whatever else you want to post. I've made the first contribution, a paper I wrote on the Second Amendment. Of course, nobody has to post anything fancy. I'm still in school so I produce that sort of thing occasionally.

Recipe Board: On request from Jeannie. The purpose of the recipe board is pretty self-evident. I also added a recipe search tool in case anyone needs ideas... maybe.

Oh, one other thing. Make sure to sign your name at the end of each post so thing don't get confusing, what with some of us using the same account and all. :)

-Zak

Mom and Lee are headed to Orlando

Mom and Lee are headed to Orlando with the American Red Cross. I will keep you posted when I talk with her. They have not left yet but they are making their airline arrangements today.
I hope that everyone will enjoy our new family blog. If it is possible please set a side a small time out of your week to check in and let us know what is going on with you. As I have told Shannon I am not like my mother in the sence that I am not the worlds best speller. hee hee

Ashley or anyone else who knows their way around this site to add or change anything as to how it is set up. I am new to blogger so I have not learned my way around it yet.

Also anyone who has Uncle Jons email or Annies please forward this to them. I don't have their emal addresses.

DO NOT GO TO MY MYSPACE PAGE It has a virus. I am going to close it down and start a new one. I will let you know when I have it done

BIG HUGS
Raquel

Great Idea!

Wow, I came to check out Raquel's blog and found that someone had already posted a link back to my family web site -- I feel so honored! Okay seriously, very cool idea, Raquel. It will be nice to have a central place the whole family can go to catch up on what the rest of all of us are doing. Sadly, I don't keep my own web site up to date nearly as often as I would like, primarily because our evenings and weekends are pretty busy with kid stuff (the other day I actually had to stop and think when someone asked me how many kids I had!), but I'll try to throw updates this direction as well.

-Shannon
http://www.iamspartacus.net

Looks great Raquel

This is the website I use for Lauren's blog. It is very user friendly. I will be posting things about Lauren and the new baby for sure! Thanks for getting this started. I added a link to our family website. It is mainly about Lauren but you can click on Harding Family and see what we are up to! Other's can add to that list as well. We can include Shannon's family website, Caren's and Raquel's, etc...

Ashley

Test

Hello Everyone
I am not for sure how to use this site so this is a test so I can figure it out before I send this to all of you. hee hee
Raquel