Some of My Favorite People in the World...

I {heart} family.

First Days

Monday was a day of firsts for our family.

For Beth, it was the first day of teaching in her new classroom with her new class. She's worked hard getting ready for this year.  She says that it looks like this is going to be a really good group of students.  She took pictures of them and they are all so cute!  I hope they know how lucky they are to have her as their teacher!

Jake started his first day of his third year of college.  He just got asked by a professor to work in his lab which is really exciting.  He'll be working on some kind of Mathematical Biology research.  Honestly, I wish I could understand and remember when he explains all this science to me but it's totally over my head!     It had something to do with writing equations for some biology stuff.  You'll have to ask him about it!  

Scott started his first year of college down at S.U.U.  To say he's having the time of his life would be an understatement!  He is totally living the college life. He said his first day was "pretty dope" (which pretty much means "awesome"!)  He said he thinks his classes and teachers seem like they are going to be great.  An exciting time for him!

For Cole, Monday was the first day that he didn't have to go to school when everyone else did!  He actually started his Junior year on Tuesday. But this is going to be a big year for Cole.  He's got a super hard schedule but he'll do great!  His golfing has been incredible lately!  He's one of the top two on his team this year which is really exciting for him.

Max started the 6th grade. I actually remembered to take a picture of him before school!

Isn't he cute?  I mean, really?

I can't believe my Peter Pan is growing up!  I think this is going to be his year!  He's bound and determined to do his best and learn all he can so he'll be ready for Middle School next year (yikes!)  He's got a good teacher again this year so I know he'll do well!

Emma started 2nd grade (2nd grade!) and I don't think there was a more excited little girl in the world!  

I don't know what how it happened exactly but over the summer she probably grew two inches and gained 100% more confidence.  I love it!  She isn't quite as afraid to share her ideas and experiences.  She's been reading a lot over the summer and practicing her math facts so I know she's off to a great start!  I cut her hair again.  For some reason, she has an extra spring in her step when her hair is shorter.  She must know how cute she is!

It was my official first day back to work.  I'm happy to be working again but I'm going to miss summer!  This year is going to be different at work (a lot of changes) but I think it will be good.  I really am blessed to work at such a great school!  And I debuted my first bulletin board at school (It's a lot more stressful putting one of these together than you think! Especially coming up with a cute one for Computers!)  

AND

Lee's official first day back to work!!!  

He just got a job as a sales representative for YESCO (Young Electric Sign Company)!  His first day couldn't have gone better!  I think this is going to be a great fit for him.  (And he gets his very own office!)  It's a well established company and we feel so blessed!  This is the type of company that he actually feels secure with.  I'm so happy for him!

This past year has been a difficult one for our family but because of the help from others and many, MANY prayers, I'm here to say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! 

 This is going to be a great year! 

 I feel so blessed!!!

I Thought I was Going to Die!

I recently had a little panic concerning my computer.

My desktop computer, containing all of my pictures
 taken from 2004 - the present, crashed.
(I thought Mac's weren't supposed to crash!)

I took it into the shop and they said they would have to re-image it 

(a.k.a. erase everything on it and reset it).

For a $250 fee they could "try" and make a back-up of the hard drive but they couldn't guarantee it.

(Yeah, right.  $250 might as well be $100,000 right now.)

I cannot express the heartache I felt.

The voice of my Multimedia professor echoed in my brain..."Save early, save often and always in two separate places."

Why didn't I back it up? 

 Seriously? 

I woke up with mini panic attacks trying to think of what I was going to do.

Well, after praying for help one night, I remembered about an old external hard drive I had.  I went downstairs and dug it out of the desk drawer, plugged it in, and lo and behold, 

most of my pictures were on it!  

I also remembered at one time I thought about backing up my pictures on an online storage site.  I can't believe I remembered the username and password (sometimes I amaze myself with my "Rainman" abilities) and there were even more of my pictures.  I went through the major events in our family since 2004 and I found every picture from them.  The remaining pictures were on my laptop from school.

Can we say MIRACLE?

All I have to say is, prayers are answered and I'm so grateful!  

(Now, they are backed up in two different places and I need to start getting them printed out little by little.)

So, my advice for the day...

Backup your computers and print pictures as you go.

One good thing about this is I found some really cute, fun pictures I forgot I had.

Like these, for example... (She's about 18 months here.)

Where did my baby go?  

Funny little cutie!


p.s.  Is it pathetic that I have almost the same things on my walls and the same table cloth I had in 2005?  Oh well.  At least I have pretty yellow walls now (more on that later) and I got rid of the lovely eucalyptus leaves tied with a bow!