Meet the Bulldogs

These are MY Bulldogs!

Learn from my Mistakes

I learn EVERYTHING the hard way! EVERYTHING!
Not just somethings....allllllll things!
Computer issues are no different!  See that silver box that has the words "Data Recovery" on it?
THAT is my most recent lesson.
See the small black box with the white tag?  THAT is what has TAUGHT today's lesson.
In my Photog classes I always beat the "Print It" drum....what I have forgotten was the "Back Up" drum!  I had 2008, 2009, 2010 and half of 2011 on that small black external drive....
Yeah, you know what I'm fixing to say... it crashed!  Personal, professional, yours, mine... EVERYTHING!
So!? What now?  I had to send that $100 external drive to California to some really nice people who don't work for free.  They recovered everything, so far as I can tell.  And because they felt sorry for me they did it for free! Yeah! Right!
This mistake (not backing up my backup) cost me $1,797.76.
Ok, new mantra....Print, Backup, Print, Backup, Print, Backup, Print.......Backup the backup....

Early Morning Visitor

Peek-a-boo!

 

(Cell Phone added to show size of turtle, not because he needed to make a call)

I know my neighbors think I am insane but hopefully they are growing accustomed to seeing me do strange things at strange hours....such as laying on the ground in my pj's taking pictures of turtles!  No one stopped to "help" me so I guess they are used to it by now!
This guy came to visit this morning... the girls and the dog found him (her, whatever)!  Because the girls were not hip on touching him they carted him into the yard on an "easy roller" (toy thing) and he then became the object of everyone's attention until he got fed up and crawled away.
No doubt he was looking for water....aren't we all!

First Day Tradition, MY homework!

I know this will make some call me Betty Crocker or whatever but years ago my mom started something that stayed with me.  Fresh Baked Homemade Chocolate Chip cookies on the first day of school. 
So in fine keeping with my moms ways I have performed this labor of love for my kids. (Secretly I eat the dough, but don't tell the kids, they think I do this only for them.) 
Wish you could smell and taste them coming out of the oven, even as I load this blog, but since you can't you will just have to wonder how incredible they are!

First Day, Ira

Emily, 6th grade

Raven, 6th grade

Blair, 10th grade

Well, they are out the door again for another first day.  My entire family is in Ira right now...the girls are in class and Shawn is cooking hamburgers for the schoolboard's first day feed.  My house is quiet, all I can hear is the clothes dryer.... MY summer has begun!

New Cars, Old Friends

Tessa and Blair, about age 4

Where the Blacktop ends the gravel begins...

 As every parent knows, you have to buy the car when it comes available rather than waiting until they are old enough to drive it.  The added advantage to this is that they get to dent THEIR vehicle NOT YOURS, and they also get accustomed to driving theirs and have no excuse for the speeding tickets once on their own!  That is the approach that the McCowen's and the Holladay's took when looking for Blair's and Tessa's vehicles.  Another nice thing that happened....the vehicle so completely suited the personalities!  Almost as nicely as the shoes!

The difference in the personalities is evident.

Tessa and Blair, not 4 anymore......

Blair and Tessa have been buds since age four when Deanna and I met every Tuesday morning for Stay at Home Mom's playgroup!  It was so fun to watch them get together once more for the celebration of another year of friendship and growth.  I truly hope that these girls stay friends for the duration!