If you give a guy a computer ...

Life is traveling at a fast paced speed as I certainly can not believe that we are entering May in less than 24 hours. Do you know what happens after May? Summer. And we all know that summer goes even faster as we long for the start of school and routines to hold off a little bit longer.

Once summer is over, we start a high schooler and a seventh grader and the busy continues. From there we enter Fall and the Holiday Season with two birthdays in the house, and the extended family gatherings for our annual Halloween Party, and of course my favorites, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years.

Yep, 2013 is already over.

Or at least that what it feels like.

I knew that being the Communication Volunteer for my Chapter's Canine Companions for Independence was going to keep me hoppin' and it has, but what has changed more drastically in recent weeks is our total revamp of our household electronics. And during the revamping we have been juggling to get our tasks completed.

It is a necessity for my husband's career that he use the latest and greatest of electronics. His business is two fold, so the areas that are not related to his full time responsibilities in the line of our main income, we obviously must pay out of pocket. You can see where I am headed.

We have dribbled in computers and gadgets into our household throughout the years, but like all things technology related, what is fresh today is out tomorrow. The biggest of these was his computer. It had seen it's days of maintaining critical thinking, and was slowing down and crashing and not holding up it's fair deal. One can not function very long in my husband's line of work with a computer that does not produce. He had fought an extra 12 months with this fiasco, so it was a no-brainer when we had the budget to move forward with a change.

Have you read the book, "If you give a mouse a cookie"? We can relate by changing the phrase to "If you give a guy a computer". If you upgrade one computer you might as well update them all because it just creates a huge chain reaction.  Let's see if you can follow:

My hubby upgraded his computer, so his prior computer is flattened and being restored to become my computer, but in the meantime of the transfer I have two computers at my desk in the kitchen: the Mac that my hubby purchased second-hand last summer to replace my laptop that was fading but still in the house as a backup for the kids' use. But because his prior computer is not completely ready to be used and reliable, it is sitting here next to my Mac on my small desk as we plug away at swapping and transferring and getting it ready.

During this process, my daughter shared her need of computer-time from now until the end of the school year because of a (valid) enormous science group project. My Mac is out of commission in that regard because it is "too old" for the latest and greatest files and programs that are required and shared from the school's computer based learning. My laptop is even more outdated. That left my hubby's computer, that was crashing and he was spending much more time than necessary getting his jobs complete. Squeezing in my daughter to the line up of it's use was getting not only annoying, but unrealistic in getting any of us to bed in a decent hour.

As a result a Surface Tablet was purchased. The kids love it as it speaks all of the same language as their school districts technology requirements. They can now get their projects accomplished efficiently without piggybacking onto their daddy's work time and space. So glad for my daughter's use of persuasion. She made it happen and it has been a lifesaver.

My girl's phone was also overdue for an upgrade, and my son had been borrowing my husband's iTouch. Granted these are "fun" items, but there was a solution. My girl used her gift of reason to say that she could upgrade her phone to an iPhone and give her personal iTouch to her brother which would provide dad's iTouch back to dad full time. It worked. Nice.

During all of the compute upgrades and phone upgrades it was mentioned by a great salesman that we could also upgrade our television provider, internet provider, and house phone provider. After doing the math we found the salesman to be sharing truth, and we are scheduled for a house upgrade of all-things-technology-service-providers tomorrow for a significant monthly savings.

But it doesn't stop there, my husband ran to a big box store for one thing and called me from the store for another. There was an amazing sale on a television that we had on our Wish List. Why not purchase it now, so that when the cable guy came this week, he could get this one set up on the wall during installation and insert all the needed wiring upgrade to accomplish this change. Yep, we bought an upgraded television and have an idea of hanging it on the wall, freeing up a particular shelving unit in our Family Room.

This created an impromptu Room Make Over on Sunday night of our family room. Moving the furniture and putting the family room television to our bedroom, our bedroom television to my husband's office, and the new television on the shelf waiting to be hung by the television man. I like the new room layout; it feels more cozy yet makes better use of space.

So, from what started as a simple and necessary computer upgrade for my husband, created an entire turn of events of all electronics in our household. We are done for many years, but I must remember that they will all be crashing and needing upgrades at the same time in the future. Saving never ends.

If you give a guy a computer ... 

Band Field Trip

Yesterday my son had a band field trip to a Center House in the big city. With the logistics of a 13 week old puppy at home, I could not swing being a Chaperone. I offered to drive separately and just be an observer at the event with our puppy (his vest allows entry to places pet-dogs can not be), but my son nearing his Teens made it clear that it would be just fine if I just stayed home.

Knowing no parental chaperones attending but one sweet, trusted, and dear friend - I put in my request that my son be in her grouping. The band director easily accommodated and we were set.

My son had a blast!! And I received a handful of fun phone pictures from my friend about their day's adventure. It felt as though I was there. I received a text from my son on his bus ride home that it was the best field trip.

The boys really did have a great day, and they all included my son who was the only sixth grader in their group of seventh grade boys. Hats off to those mature 7th graders!

Tonight we get to enjoy the band concert - looking forward to a musical evening.

Thanks, SW, for taking care of my boy and creating a whole lot of coolness to the group!

Book Report

My son had a Spring Break assignment given the day before the kids were let out of school from his English Teacher. The class had to independently choose and read three Avi books during the months of February and March. The assignment was to pick one of the books and do a book report. The report could be a standard essay, or it could be creative.

My son chose his favorite book of the three he had read; A Place Called Ugly. He had visioned making two bird houses to represent the main focus of the book about a boy who was left by his family and fixed up his house in boy-style. The adventure turns when there are threats that his house would be demolished, and rather than seeing it destroyed, he lit the house on fire watched it burn to the ground.

Avi. Although I have never read his books, the descriptions that both of my children have told about the books they have read are very deep. The premises always sound so depressing, but the kids seem to enjoy the story lines. Keeps them reading, thinking, and analyzing, so yaaay!

After seeing the cost of wood, and knowing he is not a wood worker and would need a lot of assistance, he decided to switch genres of this project. He made his houses out of Foam Core, $1 a piece at the dollar store. Can't beat that! He had enough material and time to practice, start over, and finalize.

My son works in shifts. This project took all of Spring Break, but not because it was truly that time consuming. His attention span can easily sway if something better and more exciting comes about. I have learned early in his academic career to let him sway, because if I demand a sit-down-get-it-done, it  is just not worth the end result. So long as he gets the job done by the deadline, and goes to bed on time, and has a pleasant attitude, then he is taking ownership and working the way he does best.

I love the end result. He and a small handful of other students volunteered to turn in their projects first on Monday. They had to present a detailed summary of their book with a dozen facts to support their project. He text'd me after school (Piano Monday ~ he goes to my parent's house after school until 7:30p) that he received a B- for lack of supporting detail.

I was disappointed but supported the grade that he will learn from the experience and do better next time. A few piano lessons later I rechecked my phone and he had written - "Kidding. She loved the project and I got an A+, 100%".

Nice. He verified with me the teacher's comments and grade when he came home (smirk).

Spring into Braces

I am going to make this short. I can feel the pain just thinking about this contraption that my girl had inserted today at the Ortho. Of course I am not going to ask to take a photo of her mouth, so the next best thing for our memory-book is this illustration I found on the internet.

My girl is tough. I would be crying and in bed and vowing to never exit until this was taken off.

But rather, my girl is finding herself continuing to smile and laugh and carry on. Well, okay, so she took a much deserved nap after school, but during the hours of wake time she looks to be in pain, but says otherwise. She admits it is uncomfortable, but she is not complaining.

She definitely takes after her daddy.

Her appointment was scheduled mid-day and she was going to just come home after the hour appointment. But, she learned recently that she had to make a Science presentation at the same time she was scheduled to be in the Ortho chair.

Thankfully, our Orthodontists' scheduling desk is amazing and supportive of school over teeth, and the sweet employee wiggled my girl's appointment to earlier in the morning. The compromise was that my girl still had to have her spring put in today, but she could attend Science class to get her presentation grade. Pain or no pain, she made it clear to me that she was not going to miss this grade.

Two hours after returning her to school, she came out smiling that her presentation went great!

I am not sure how long this spring will be in place, but the purpose is to correct her 70% overbite. They promise it is a much quicker procedure than wearing rubber bands. I think it is obvious that this will work better than rubber bands as it is 1) metal, and 2) you can not cheat and remove it throughout the day. Thankfully, there are perks!

I love you, my tough girl!! You take pain exceptionally well without complaint. I think dancing on that broken toe two summers ago taught you more than you thought it would!! (wink). xoxo

Easter Dinner & Entertainment

Because I only gave my son the opportunity, but did nothing in the way of teaching, coaching, or mentoring my son, I feel that I can say without prejudice that my son is an amazing Chef. He took full responsibility for the portion of the meal that we provided for our Easter dinner. It was fantastic.

Thank you, Mom, for providing the cooking-instruction, how-to, and motivation when your grandson was a little one. It remains his passion. 

While I am not a huge ham fan, his preparation of the glaze and heating it to the right amount so as not to dry it out was great. He selected, chopped, and roasted the veggies that consisted of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, yukon gold potatoes, asparagus, and red peppers. His seasoning of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, rosemary, and thyme was spot-on. And finally he made homemade Mac and Cheese with a combo of Sharp Cheddar and Guyere. It was the best!! 

Our meal was rounded out by my sister-in-laws rocking pear, date, and gorgonzola green salad with a homemade dressing that is always amazing. She is the best salad maker ever ~ she is very creative in her creations! She also brought our entire extended families favorite recipe of carrot cake. It has been a go-to favorite for decades. 

My mother in-law brought the staple of Fruit Salad to share. She always has the right mix of ingredients and dressing. It would not be a holiday without her Fruit Salad. Rolls and drinks rounded out the meal. Everything was just so yummy! Being able to eat outside was the perk of the afternoon as our temps reached in the 70s. Finally, a sunny and warm Easter ~ just as it should be. 

The kids did not have interest for an egg hunt, so we exchanged that for coloring Easter Eggs. Nobody can be too old for a little creative fun. The kids enjoyed dipping, dying, and being silly with their creations while chatting with Grandpa. It was nice. 

Easter was a relaxing day to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior while enjoying the love and friendship of our extended family. We are thankful for so much. 

Harlem Shake Easter Edition

Recently my hubby clued me into the new dance craze; The Harlem Shake (but then I heard just today that it was being replaced with a new one). Harlem Shake is similar to Gangnum Style where a person or group makes it big on cyberspace with a made-up dance and it spreads worldwide in a frenzy. The Harlem Shake has done the same.

My understanding is The Harlem Shake is a solo dancer who starts this particular song, and then at a sixteen minute mark, an entire group of people start dancing behind the solo dancer dressed in costume.  The ad-lib of the actual dance moves makes it fun and worth seeing the creativity of what people feel called to dance in the moment. Simple, with no purpose other than to have fun.

We hosted Easter this year for my husband's side of the family. The weather was amazing so we ate out on the patio and enjoyed the weather all day. As the evening was nearing dark, and before the celebration moved inside for dessert, my husband thought it would be fun to create The Harlem Shake.

His family is up for anything creative, and anything that produces a laugh and a good time. It was an easy sell to the kids who immediately ran upstairs to find their costumes. A quick Harlem Shake 101 to my parent-in-laws and they were willing to give it a try. I personally think they made the entire video!!

I love watching this video; especially knowing each personality in Real Life - this really is priceless. My sister-in-law, my brother-in-law, and I volunteered (and thankfully were accepted rather quickly) to control the camera, the video camera, and the music.

Enjoy our Harlem Shake Easter Edition!!!