Your Incredible Neighbors: HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

Seven children make for busy, fulfilling life

Things are seldom quiet at the home of Crystal and Mark Harris on the other side of the mines west of Green Valley.

Their seven children make sure of that.

Seven children…

Making sure the kids get to school on time, that all have a chance at breakfast, keeping them in clean clothes, seeing that homework’s done, that all the stuff has been bought for the Anamax Park concession stand and the dinner’s on time are all part of Crystal’s job, “Mother 24-7.”

She’ll be the Shero today, Mother’s Day, but she’ll also reach out to other mothers—hers and her mother-in-law. Both live nearby.

How does she get around with a husband and seven children?

“We have a 15-passenger van,” she said.

So far, none of the children are licensed to drive.

Her children are Brandon, 19; Ramsey, 17; Preston, 15; Brett, 14; Blake, 12; Payson, 9; and the only girl, Lacaya, 7.

Crystal’s house is built for fun and use by a lot of people.

There’s a game room containing a pool table, table tennis set up, Foosball game and air hockey. And there’s a huge fish tank holding some oscar fish, one of three tanks in the house.

There are also various connections to the TV where young amateur musicians can play along with some of the video programs. They subscribe to a service to deliver first-run movies on tapes.

Usually friends come to the Harris house, rather than the kids going visiting.

There’s a trampoline out back.

But a lot of time is spent in sports, Little League and soccer. She’s one of the moms who operate the concession stand.

During a discussion about cooking for a large family she confided, “Lately we’ve been eating a lot at the park.”

Husband Mark, a carpenter, had taken Friday off to help Ramsey on his Eagle Scout project, helping build a playground at a nearby church.

Ramsey’s in a bit of a bind. Eagle Scout projects have to be completed before the Scout turns 18. That’s coming soon for him, and he may have to be hospitalized soon for a kidney transplant.

“He’s had one, but it isn’t working out so well,” said Crystal.

Older brother Brandon is an Eagle Scout.

Animals are a part of the lives of the Harris family.

A dog was enjoying a large fenced yard in the front and inside is a cage where a white bunny was munching on apples Friday morning.

In the backyard there’s “a killer duck” a cranky male plus another female duck, two roosters and four hens, “enough for some eggs now and then,” said Crystal.

The Harris family has also raised goats and pigs, she said.

Crystal said she gets her love for animals, probably from her mother.

“She had snakes, lizards, a monkey and a raccoon” among other things, Crystal recalled

“We have the land and room enough for the animals,” she said.

This time of year is ideal for living in semi-rural Arizona, far from city noises and traffic, “But we can sit out back and enjoy the lights of Tucson,” said Crystal.

Her life is somewhat hectic, but quiet at times, she said.

Asked how else she spends her time, Crystal said, “Well, I do a lot of laundry.”

Asked for a Mother’s Day wish, she said, “I just want my children to be healthy. I wouldn’t change any of this.”

And asked about the hard work, energy and effort it takes to raise a busy bunch of kids, Crystal summed it up:

“I just wish I had more.”

jlamb@gvnews.com | 547-9749