Got a Bug...

Not me, the laptop (aka Dill). I still don't quite understand what happened. The last time I used Dill, I was sitting in our trailer at Morro Dunes....

I was downloading all of the great photos of my parents, Franky, Alex and I that we had taken over Easter weekend. I was connected to the wireless network they offer (with the intent of posting an entry). I decided to work on the blog later. Instead of logging off, I just closed Dill.... I didn't open it until after we got back from our trip. When I did, it shut itself down right after I had logged in. Dill was not happy with me!!! The feeling was pretty mutual.

After that, I pretty much ignored the fact that I had a laptop or a blog for that matter. I enjoyed the time I spent with my parents while they were here, worked, played, chased Red...

So today was the day. A whole month and a half later. I called Dell.

They determined that Dill had caught a bug or had a problem with some sort of update. The man on the other end told me they would need to restore Dill to its factory settings (meaning I would lose everything on the computer).

Luckily, we have an external hard drive. I was able to save my 2000+ pictures. (You all thought I was joking when I said there is a paparazzo in our household! That's just the pics I've taken since Oct. 2007!!!)

Well, things are back to normal and I have a lot to catch everyone up on. Lots of silly things have happened that I have to share. So, stay tuned. : )

HaPpY New Year

Where did the year go? I'm a little behind. I've been busy writing a three page resolution list! JK. Actually, I decided that this year I am not going to have"resolutions". Instead I am taking the lead of a life artist (aka scrap booker), I admire. She suggests having a word for the year.

My word for this year is "patience". (Do I hear laughing?) I think it is a great word to aspire to. I'm not just referring to patience with Red. I tend to be very inpatient with life in general. So, that said, I will be thinking about my word of the year a lot.

I also have some goals set for the year. (Goals are something to reach for. The word"resolution" makes me cringe!)

Weight loss and better health are two of the goals Franky and I have established together.We've become very inspired by The Biggest Loser and decided to take "before" pictures to keep us motivated, refer back to when we become fabulous, or to use as an appetite suppressant in the mean time! I will not go into more detail but, will say my Mom and Dad are still laughing at the description I gave them over the phone and are begging me to send the pictures to them... NO WAY!!!

A goal I have set for myself for 2008, is to have a page or mini book published in a scrap booking magazine. Last year I would have an occasional scrap booking day here at home. This year I am going to try to have one once a month so I can practice! : )

Wishing you all a New Year filled with happiness.

Is It Just Me....

Or did Thanksgiving just fly by with the only proof of it passing is my snug fitting pants?!

We had such a amazing time over the Thanksgiving holiday. Franky had been in Texas for two and a half weeks and didn't get home until the day before Thanksgiving. It was so aWeSoMe to have him home. We spent the holiday eating, visiting with family and camping. I'm thankful for so many things but those three are at the very top of my list. (Family should probably come before eating...)

I hope you all have many things to be thankful for and have an amazing time celebrating them on Thanksgiving and every day.

Happy Veteran's Day (a little early)

Red head was happy as a clam when I told him I wanted to take some pictures of him with the American Flag for Veteran's Day. I got him dressed then outside we went to our favorite "at home" picture spot. He was doing his very excited wiggle dance when he saw that I was handing him the flag. How cute (until he started to wave it around like a sword!). I guess maybe it might not have been such a good idea to let him be a pirate for Halloween.

On Monday is Porterville's Veteran's Day Parade. I LOVE this parade. I get the goose bumps listening to the bands play the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful. Last year Red Head could hardly contain his excitement. He loved the bands, fire trucks, color guard (he yelled right along with them) and the Shriner's zipping around in their funny little cars. I can't wait to see what he thinks this year.

Today we went to Exeter's Chili Cook-Off. (Franky and I had been to this before. We got there too early. Salivated over the smells of the cooking chili. Got too hungry to wait for the sampling and ended up eating something else and then going home.)

Me, Alex, Grandma Mary, my best friend, her future daughter-in-law and her adorable grand baby went to check it out. We got there too early. Salivated over the smells of the cooking chili. Got too hungry to wait for the sampling and ended up eating something else. (Sound familiar?) Instead of going home though, we walked around the shops and visited. It was a fun day.

I hope you all have a terrific weekend. Enjoy Veteran's Day.

P.S. Happy Veteran's Day, Dad. We love you.

News...

I have some very exciting news. We have been discussing this for a while and this week we have started an exciting process. Franky and I have decided to try to adopt again. We are both giddy with excitement at the possibility of being blessed with another little one. We have quite a few hoops to jump through as we are going through our county and have to become licensed as foster parents before we can be placed on the list of parents waiting for their baby.

We have been talking to Alex for some time about adopting a baby. We've told him how exciting it would be to be a "big brother", to teach a little one all sorts of fun things and to have someone to play with. At first, he said, "No, I don't want a baby. They cry." Next came,"I want a brother AND a sister."

Before becoming licensed, we have to prepare the room we plan to use for a baby by getting the nursery set up and "baby proof" the house. When they told us this at a class we attended, Franky and I had to laugh. See, Alex (being a much anticipated/spoiled only child) has his own bedroom as well as another room (the future nursery) that is his play room. This is where his Thomas the Train table, ride on train, basketball hoop, Lightening McQueen television, workbench and a myriad of other toys "live" (as redhead would say).

This made me wonder how to get Alex used to the idea of giving up his playroom. So, today I was talking to my Mom. She suggested that we ask Red Head where he thinks a baby might live in our home. Her theory was that if it was his idea, he may be more willing to let his brother or sister stay in his play room.

I thought this was a great idea so when Franky and I picked up Alex from school and were on our way home, I asked, "Hey Bubba, if we get to adopt a baby, where do you think we can put their bed?" Well, I kind of blew it. I had forgot to cut Frank in to my little strategy and he immediately spouts up with, "How about your play room?" Without missing a beat Alex says, "No, how about the laundry room?" Franky and I cracked up.

We have some time to warm him up to the idea. Somehow I don't think licensing would approve the laundry room as an adequate space!!

*I have to say "Thank You" to Red Head's adoptions Social Worker- Roxanne. She was amazing during Alex's adoption process and was actually the person who put the "bug in our ear" about adopting again. She's such a blessing to us! : )

What a mess!!!

I have been promising Alex since September that we would get this Halloween gingerbread-house kit we saw at Target. So today was the day. While Alex was taking a nap, I mixed the black/ orange frosting and put all of the candy out in little bowls. I have never made one of these.

That frosting is the stickiest stuff! (I think I've found a new scrapbook adhesive...) It tasted pretty good. A little suggestion though, if you ever use black frosting, don't eat it. Five hours later, I still have bluish-black teeth. Ready for Halloween, I guess.

Alex and I had a blast decorating it. Franky kept trying to eat the frosting. Wonder if he's looked at HIS teeth?! Alex kept saying, "Daddy, don't eat our house!!!" : )

It is now proudly displayed on our kitchen counter. It has a few finger-dents in it (and a couple of frosting-bare spots from red head licking it). It has a built in security system as the frosting has taken on the texture of stucco. Do people actually eat these things?

Dill...

We recently purchased a new laptop. It is a Dell. It is a great shade of green. It has lots of really neat programs and a wireless card that lets you access the Internet from anywhere in our home. Franky has named it "Dill"

The Problem:

I absolutely love it. I use it every spare moment and I confess... I take it to bed with me. (Sad, I know.) This has opened me up to a lot of chastising by Franky.

Dill is being considered the"other man" in my life.

On weekends, I stay up late playing music and surfing the net. Franky will roll over every so often and either roll his eyes, ask the time or tell me to "turn that thing off and go to bed". I was up until 2:00am this morning. Not such a good thing when the rooster (red head) wakes the minute light hits his room!

Oh,well. I guess there are worse things!