Glory Glory to Baby Georgia

Aren't we just the cutest pair of baby dawgs. Of course we'll both be dead asleep before the game starts. We will be dreaming sugar dawgs pouncing on yellow jackets.

Look at Me and My Chair

Claire has her very own chair and Pearce loves to sit in it.

Babies Galore

Ken and Claire

Now he has held two babies.

Me and My New Skirt

Becky is an awesome models assistant. Mamaz is a phenomenal knitter.

I adore my uncle Randy.

Monkey In a Tree

€#

Working Turkey

My First Turkey

I've never cooked a turkey before and now I'm frying one. Amazing. First we get the cooking station set up and going. One propane tank, one fryer, and one chair (with the instructions on it)

Test

Sent from my iPhone

Big Brothers Rock

I think the picture says enough.

Elmo Gets a Segway

Pearce built Elmo a Segway and helped Elmo ride all over the room. Kristi is helping Elmo ride around the boppie

Just Call Me Squanto

Pearce is loving his Indian headdress. Today was Thanksgiving lunch at Westminster Christian Academy. They told me yesterday that the kids were going to make Pilgrim hats. Pearce showing up at home looking like a little Indian made me happy. He had to show Claire two or three times. This shot is of my dear little Squanto after a hard day of helping the Pilgrims survive the harsh winter.

Too Early Daddy

Claire's so happy I'm staying home she's cheering in her sleep. This is the best way to start the Thanksgiving week. Of course there is a lot of cleaning and decorating to do. Right now, however, I am going to get some sleep while she is still out. Though it won't be long.

Boiling Peanuts with the Pman

There's nothing like a brisk Saturday morning boiling peanuts. Testing out the business end of the turkey fryer. So far it is making a good show of being a full time peanut boiler. Pearce and I are out on the porch enjoying the fall morning; the train going by, pancakes on a stick, coffee, a wrench, and good conversation.

Friday Night at Nana's

I want FOOD! We're at Nana's getting ready for a bonfire. When Phil gets here with the fire pit we'll be in business. In the meantime we are fixing burgers and ogling bitty bear. Of course Pearce is learning the rudiments of fridge raiding.

More About the Iron Situation

Since I have been diagnosed with hemochromotosis and it is hereditary I thought I'd give the family the hint to check themselves out. Well, have a medical pro do it. If your an Elkins or related by blood you should probably invest in an blood feritin [sic] level or an iron saturation screen. I would tell Moms side but Mom was a one and only.

Andrew Elkins

Hurry Up and Wait

We went and saw the Gastro today. Didn't tell me anything I didn't really already know except that the northern end of normal iron levels is 50 and mine is somewhere north of 650. When the Gastro gets the final numbers back from my biopsy (yeah, I know, right) he will start taking my blood. The bleeding will go on once a week for about six months to clean me out. After that I'll only have to donate maybe once every couple of months. Of course I can donate more if I wish. That's the update for now.
Andrew Elkins

Mamaz and Papaz and the Bitty Babies

Mamaz and Papaz came to Rome today for a fly by. The Pman and Sister were in full swing loving on Mom and Dad.

No Turkeys This Week

Kristi and I went to the Exchange Club Family Resource Center's "Strikeout Child Abuse" bowling event tonight. It was the FRC's second annual strikeout event. I got a coffee mug last year. This year I got a lecture on bowling etiquette from an overly serious participant. Of course we got our T-Shirts. We had a great time, despite my perpetual second place. Kristi was really pleased with the turnout. I think were only two lanes not in use. Talking to Kristi I came up with the bright idea of getting together a group from the Church next year. The only thing I was disappointed with was that I couldn't string three strikes together. I love turkeys.

Tis the Season for More Deprevations

Below is an email our staff has just received and my request/response to Governor Perdue.

"PAGE has learned from Scott Austensen, the Department of Education's Deputy Superintendent for Finance and Business Operations that the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (OPB) will not be sending QBE monies to the school districts for November and December until the last day of the month, as they do in all other months.
According to Amy Jacobs, an official with OPB, the total amount of funds is $500 million and the QBE allotment will be released at the end of November and December due to cash flow concerns. She also indicated that local school superintendents were notified of this change in September.
Prior to this the state had, as a courtesy, sent the funds earlier in those two months so that districts could issue paychecks to staff before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. PAGE has contacted interim state school superintendent Brad Bryant to request that the courtesy be extended again this year, particularly given the morale situation caused by budget cuts, furloughs, etc. PAGE believes this move will work a hardship on all staff, particularly school support employees such as custodians, food service staff and others.We encourage concerned educators to contact Governor Perdue to request assistance in getting officials to revisit their unfortunate decision."

The link to contacting Governor Purdue is http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html.

And here is what I said to the office of Governor Perdue.

"People have made major budget decisions on the expectation that we would be receiving our paychecks at the same time we have received them for years. The budget office's decision to withhold the necessary funds to do this will cause hardship for many families at a time when we desperately need normalcy. Christmas is not the time to take money away from families. We in the education community have suffered cut after cut and now when we need it least of all, you are going to cut us again. Please show compassion to the people who hold and mold the future of Georgia. We aren't asking for more we just want what we are getting when we are accustomed to getting it."

The Season is Now Upon Us

Zechariah and Gabriel

from "The Birth of John" by me.

"...On the Lord’s Day Preacher Zeke did pray
When before him appeared Gabe
With the word of God to tell him
Fear gripped Preacher Zeke where he stood

Fear nothing Zeke said Gabe
Your Elisa will give you a son
His name will be called John
Bringing to you joy and gladness

Your boy will be filled with the spirit
No strong drink will he touch
Leading a great many to return
Preparing them for the return of their King

Preacher Zeke disbelieved Gabe’s words
Gabe in the power of the Word
Took Zeke’s voice and words away
Till the time that John should be born..."

How 'bout This Cute Dress

My first tights and my first dress and a headache band to boot. I'm ready for the field trip to the library Miss Laurie.

The Score Was This Big

Did ya see the size of the UGA score last Saturday? Wow. Why can't we do anything near that good back home? At least P-Man looks good in his new jersey.

Semper Fidelis for 235 Years

Happy Birthday to the Marine Corps

From Nassau to Fallujah to Kabul

May they always lead the way

May we always be faithful

As they are Always Faithful.

To Infinity and Eyond

Boiled Elephant Food Part Doo-Aaay

I think this would be more fun out in the cold all bundled up and stamping around tending the flame and the water. I'm just weird that way.

Boiled Elephant Food

What is the best thing to do on a fall Saturday morning? YOU GUESSED IT!! Boil some peanuts for the games to come. Of course when you do it in the house it tends to get a little humid, and not just in the kitchen. I am going to lay in some wood to use in the grill next week. Either that or get some fuel for my camp stove.

Andrew Elkins

What To Do With All Those Leftover Zippers

Hey! Just Call Me Rusty

I'm really not a patient person. The 18th won't get here soon enough. Knowing what is wrong is nice, but knowing what we're going to do about it would be even nicer.

Well, I shall drink my coffee, tea, and wine; eat my whole grains, rice, and beans; and keep molasses and red meat at an inconvenient distance.

Just Call Me Thomas

Magnet Suit Anyone

I have an appointment to discuss my treatment options with the Gastro on the 18th. Kristi is going so she can make sure all the right questions get asked. I prefer it that way.

I have discovered a whole bunch of ways to inhibit iron absorption in my body. Tea, wine, coffee have got to be my favorites. Of course there are beans, rice, grains, rosemary, and chili powder to name a few others. All favorites for me to cook with.

Right now the only way to get rid of the iron is to bleed. So, Dad has already offered to buy me some leeches. He also suggested the use of magnets to draw out the iron from my blood.

Too Much Cuteness

Brotherly Love

I Am Ironman

The Gastro has said I am suffering from iron overload. He did not specifically call it hemochromatosis, but I have to go in for a follow up soon. I'll put more info up as it comes in. I do know this though... No more molasses that is not fermented (rum).