For Brett From Home (5/22/12)

Well, it has happened--I got computer help from my nine-year-old son. After seeing me struggle for a little while on the computer, Todd came in and fixed the problem for me. Don't ask me how it happened, but the desktop was rotated 90 degrees. Which means that working the mouse felt off as well. I'm still not sure how he knew the solution so quickly, but I was grateful that he helped me out before I got frustrated.

I was also paid a nice compliment on Ryan's behalf at school last week. The mom who comes in for Smiley Math (a once-a-week volunteer-run program that gives kids the opportunity to earn points by working out logic problems, etc.) chatted with me in the library. There was a calendar-related problem on their last worksheet, and she was impressed with the unique method Ryan used to solve the problem (relabeling the days of the week to calculate the question more quickly). She said Ryan was the only one who approached the problem differently and it really showed "thinking outside the box." I often get frustrated that Ryan goes through his work so quickly (and sloppily). She pointed that his desire to get done quickly helped him come up with an easier (and still correct) solution. It was a good reminder for me to look for the positive qualities in my children and not just be quick to criticize when things are not done my way.

I am finding it hard to eat up the food in the fridge and freezer before summer. I am simply not cooking like I do with you at home. (I would miss cooking more if it weren't for the baseball schedule.) My lazy protein has been cooking with eggs, quite often. A typical late breakfast or lunch for me is an open-faced fried egg sandwich with Cheddar on an English muffin. Mmmm. I have also been known to cook that for dinner when the boys eat at your mom's. It's also good as an after-the-boys-are-in-bed supper. It's good anytime of day!

I missed the roses blooming on the side of the house this year. I just didn't take the time to check on them. I didn't miss out on the hydrangeas. They are full of blooms and I have enjoyed cutting them and keeping a vase of them in the kitchen. I have vase full of beautiful blue blooms right now. I love them! I am also enjoying the gardenias. They don't last too long before they start wilting (inside or out), but they smell so sweet. I love them, too! I also love my pink Gerber daisies, though they are not producing as many blooms these days. I started quizzing the boys on the flowers I kept inside, just so they would know what some of Mommy's favorites are.

You'll never believe what I saw about two weeks ago: I drove by a young man rollerblading on Forest Rd. with his dog! After ten years of rollerblading with my dog in this neighborhood and a few more years in our previous neighborhood it was fun to see someone else enjoying this form of exercise.

I have been more cautious with Copper, though he has run off a few more times. Once, he ran off in the rain?!? But this last week has been good. I have also been trying to play Frisbee with him more, now that he will finally run for me. He gets so excited when he sees his toy come out. He doesn't even mind if the boys play too.

The wrens nested again in the very same spot. The babies just left the nest this afternoon. I think there were three fledglings. They were making a ruckus during my piano lessons. I explained to Todd and Ryan the conversations that were taking place between Mommy or Daddy Wren and the babies.
Mommy/Daddy Wren: Dinnertime, dinnertime, dinnertime. Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?
Babies: Food! Food! Food! Here we are! Here we are! Here we are!
Of course, it was much cuter when I was using little birdy voices to act it out. Todd, especially, liked it.
I was a little afraid of opening the garage door and moving the car out to go to baseball practice this afternoon. I didn't want to run over one of them. So I had Todd keep watch for me, and I think it worked out just fine. I have enjoyed watching the wrens this last week and it really made me miss you.

Crash!

For those who have been wondering where I have been (again...), I am still recovering from when our computer crashed a couple of weeks ago. Brett was able to do quite a bit of backing up while our computer was dying. He saved most of my photos. I thought that I had lost December 2008 and January 2009. I was devastated about losing Christmas! I was ecstatic when I found most of my December photos still on an extra SD camera card lying around. Christmas was saved!

Unfortunately, I did lose photos from our first family camping trip in January. Brett and I took the boys to a primitive site just a few miles up the road. It was freezing cold; we were the only crazies out there; but we had a great time. We hung out by the fire most of the time. Todd looked so cute sitting in his little red camp chair just chatting away (non-stop). I think Todd would have sat by the fire 'til midnight if we had let him. As it was, we called it a night closer to 9:00pm. Around 7:00pm, Ryan started acting tired and asked if he could go in the tent and sleep. I said okay, even though I was sure that he wouldn't settle down that easily when I left him to return to the warm fire. Imagine my surprise when I found him buried under the blankets, asleep, not ten minutes later. The next morning Todd and I explored a nearby trail while Brett and Ryan put out the morning fire. Todd was in his element there out on the trail. He loves examining the trail map, then going on in front to lead those following him in the right way. The boys can't wait to go camping again. I hope that we can find a good time us to go as a family again soon. I've also scheduled a camping outing with my friend Beth in March. We'll be camping by the beach then, and I'm really looking forward to it. Then, in April, our church is having a campout at a local state park. We went last year and the boys loved it. I know I can't pass it up this year.
[I just wish I had our family camping photos!]

I also lost the photos from teaching preschool last month. I think I'll still post about our activities in separate post, but oh! how I wish I had the photos!

Of course, if I had been more quick to back up all my photos and to upload them and put them in my blog I might not be crying now. Maybe I will learn my lesson. Maybe...

As it stands, Brett was able to get our computer to a functioning level, but we are still not very pleased with its performance. I am glad that I am able to get online and check my e-mail, etc. However, Brett has pretty much decided to buy a new computer when he sees a price that he likes. In the meantime, I am kind of in limbo as far as my photos are concerned. Brett told me not to put anything important on our hard drive. I haven't uploaded my photo editing software. And generally find that my photo-processing rhythm has been interrupted. It's kind of frustrating.

So, I'm a little frustrated now and a little sad about the photos I lost. But I have to keep telling myself how much worse it could have been. I lost a few weeks of photos, but I could have lost a year of photos (or more). Thank you, Brett, for saving Christmas 2008 (and 2007 and 2006...). Can I buy an external hard drive now?