Technical Savior strikes again

I was going to tell you about all the things I've cleaned up this morning thanks to a very active girl being in a mischievous mood, but I changed my mind. Instead I'll share with you a huge what was I thinking moment from this weekend.

Have you ever watched a movie or tv show where someones laptop or similar storage device is confiscated. Which of course they have previously deleted whatever incriminating information was on it. Yet miraculously it is retrieved and the person receives whatever just punishment is required. Now I, not being all that computer savvy never really thought about whether or not in the really real world that was actually possible. I just like a happy ending and accept them as they come. I have learned now that it is indeed possible and I am so thankful.

We took a ton of photos sat. When we got home I took out the SD card from the camera and put it into the card reader. Here is where I usually copy them over to the computer then browse through them. For whatever reason I started browsing through them right away from the card reader. Then of course life happened and I was away from the computer. Much later I sit down at the computer think oh, I didn't delete the SD card and proceed to do so. Then take it and put it back in the camera like I usually do. Do you see the step I missed? I DIDN'T ACTUALLY COPY THE PICTURES!!!!

I didn't notice right away, until I went to finish browsing through them and they weren't there. I sat looking at the Oct picture file wondering where are they? I closed the file and re-opened it, still nothing. Then it dawned on me, I didn't actually remembering copying them over. I sat in horror with my hands poised over the keyboard staring at the screen letting the realization of what I did wash over me. 150 pictures, some really cute ones, Samara's first time to the pumpkin patch GONE! When I could speak I said "um....Rod......I think I did something really stupid.....I think I erased the memory card without transferring it." By now it had really sunk in and vocalizing it somehow made it worse and here is where I threw my head into my hands and cried. Rod stayed calm instructing me to "back away from the computer." I think he was afraid that in my hysterics I was going to somehow make it worse! haha! So he checked the computer and the SD card and yes indeed no pictures. Still he's calm, I'm frantically pacing while he's trying to explain to me that it's fine, that the pictures are still on there he just has to find a program to find them. How are they still there when I deleted them? Something about that because I just hit delete and didn't re-format the SD card the actual pictures aren't deleted just the directory to find the pictures are deleted. Then we just re-write over them when we take new pictures. Since we hadn't taken any new pictures they are still there. So my wonderful computer savvy husband not only found a program to find the pictures on the SD card, he found a FREE program. I paced until he had the program running and it started finding pictures, then I sat in front of the computer and watched it transfer pictures one by one to the computer. It found not only the pictures we had lost, but a bunch from the summer, Payton starting preschool, and a ton of MP3's Rod had transferred to give his mom. Phew! Catastrophe diverted!

So yeah, once again Rod: Technical Savior saves the day. I will indeed be able to share those pictures with you as I am once again in possession of them. So if you ever do something stupid like delete a bunch of pictures off your SD card, remember, Don't panic just DO NOT USE IT! Then proceed directly to someone who knows what they are doing with computers and let them help you retrieve your precious memories.

And as for posting pictures that will come soon, this got long and I need to go clean, and play with my Payton.

Happy Monday All!

Today was a good day.

Samara still isn't 100% but it ended up being a really nice day so we bundled her(and Payton) up and headed to the Apple Barn. We jumped, slid(well Payton did), petted animals, fed animals, chased birds, ate hot dogs, went on a very bouncy hay ride, played with lady bugs, picked pumpkins, and of course took many many pictures. Which will come later.

Good Night!

Colds, YUCK

I hate having sick kids. I would much rather be sick myself. Payton I think is almost done hers but Sam is right in the middle. The congested, miserable, I don't want to be away from mom, and definitely not sleep, middle. There was a moment last night(around 2ish I think) when I thought I could grab my keys and go, where would I go you ask? Anywhere there was somewhere I could sleep, uninterrupted sleep. Yeah, then reality hits, darn reality. Hopefully we can all get healthy over the weekend.

The final product

What a very busy day we had. And it's late, and I'm tired, so tired I'm not even going to photo shop any of the pictures before I share them! The cupcakes are ready to go to Payton's Halloween party tomorrow. I'm very excited to dress her up and see all the other costumes. Very fun! Before I forget I got the idea's for the cupcakes here. I found this blog recently and quite enjoy it.

Baking today started with the cupcakes, Vanilla this time.

Ready to decorate.

Isn't her apron sweet?

When all was said and done.

And the rest.

Close ups of some favorites.

This one makes me giggle every time I see it.

Baking

Payton and I made cupcakes today. Chocolate ones, from SCRATCH! I'm very impressed with us. I haven't made cupcakes from scratch ever in my adult life(Sad I know). I did with my mom when I was younger. And they are so much better! Did I mention I was impressed with us? And in actual practice, it wasn't that much more work and the difference in taste is worth it! Yum! We are working on some Halloween creations to take to her Preschool Halloween party on Thurs. There are some Vanilla cupcakes and frosting making on the agenda for tomorrow!

The Chai Latte Incident

I decided after I dropped Payton off at school that today felt like a Chai Latte day(really what day doesn't?). So I stopped and treated myself. Back at the van Samara in one hand Chai in the other, I placed my drink on top of the van and put Sam into the car seat. I go to pick up the Chai and somehow catch the bottom of the cup on the roof rack and loose my grip. So now my drink is not only falling to the ground but spiraling down spewing chai in a circular pattern everywhere. Picture me watching, horrified, screaming NOOOOOOOOOOOO in slow motion. When it finally hits the ground much to my horror it rolls under the truck next to me. Thankfully the lid stayed on but I could no longer see my drink. Now, some of you might have walked away at this point admitting defeat. I was not so inclined as this was a treat and those darn things aren't cheap. So after doing a quick scan to see if anyone is watching I get down on hands and knees to peer under the truck. I see my drink and it seems to be within grasp, but not an easy grasp of course. At this point I don't care if anyone is watching I maneuver so that I can stretch far under the truck and manage to just get enough finger hold to move it towards me. SUCCESS! I get back in the van and go about accessing the damage. After wiping the cup down I am thankful to see that I am only missing about the top inch of my drink, YAY!!. I do however have a nice spray of coffee on my shirt and who knows what on my knees. It was worth it though, they are just SO yummy.

There has got to be a way to make something comparable at home. I think I'm going to have to experiment a little with that!

On another topic, I am a little annoyed with Payton's Preschool. She loves it, and over all I'm really happy with it. We both like her teacher, and the program. So where is the annoyance you ask? Well her Teacher is leaving, she is going to be managing the Musikids Day Care as of Nov 1st. She was already gone once for a couple weeks because she got married(which is understandable) but it took Pay awhile to get used to her replacement, then of course her teacher was back and she had to re-adjust again. Now She's going to have to re-adjust again. Sigh. I hope her new teacher is good and this will be it for the changes, all this inconsistency isn't good for the kids. There is also going to be 3 more kids in her class starting Thurs, as in the M-W-F Preschool class there is only 3 kids so they are changing to T-W-T and joining Payton's for T-T. Which is good because that brings Payton's class from 9 kids to 12 which means her teacher will get a helper. So the student teacher ratio is going to be better. But Waaaaaah......I really like Miss Sam. :(

Monday

My regularly scheduled Monday was interrupted. Interrupted in the best possible way. Rod took today off to give me a break and give us a family day since he was away at Men's Retreat this weekend. He's going to work 4-10 hour shifts to make up for it. Isn't it nice his boss gave him that option? And I feel so blessed to be married to such a considerate man.

And I'm sure I'll say it again

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, I have so much respect for single parents. That's a tough job, probably the hardest one I can think of. I feel so blessed to have Rod helping me navigate through parenting.

Rod is at men's retreat this weekend, I know I think they are crazy too! Camping in the wet & cold of October is not my idea of a good time. Maybe that's because well...I'm not a man! That would be why our ladies retreats include real beds and running water. I sure hope they are having a good time though.

Last night was hairy. Payton coughed until she threw up. At the time I wasn't sure what came first the cough or the vomit. I was so worried she had a flu. But she wasn't hot and after whatever flem was lodged where it wasn't supposed to be worked it's way loose she was fine. I cleaned and changed her and watched her like a hawk for awhile but she was fine. Thank goodness. Meanwhile Sam had already been up a handful of times and started screaming heartily again while I was occupied with Payton. I was starting to feel a little frazzled at that point. Eventually everything calmed down and I heaved a great sigh of relief. Said a little prayer of thanks, and was once again in awe of what single parents do 24/7.

The girls and I are off to have a sleep over at my Mom's. We haven't been for awhile and are very excited. So I better get back to packing. Have a good weekend all!

A little thrift store luv

It's been awhile! Truth is I've been humming and hawing about whether or not I want to continue blogging. There's been a lot going on within me and around me and I wasn't sure to what extent I felt "safe" sharing with the world. I'm still not sure but what I do know is that I've missed blogging. Therefor I am going to surge ahead and see what happens.

I've been feeling a great desire to create lately. So I've decided I am going to reacquaint myself with my sewing machine. I'm so excited! There are so many things I want to try my hand at! I have to remind myself to start small and go from there. I tend to overwhelm myself with the big ideas I get and never actually do anything. I dug through my fabric stash the other day, I found a few pieces of promising flannel. I have been wanting a new nightgown for Payton and have found that they are really hard to find. I think I have enough flannel for one, and maybe enough of the others for some jammy pants. And what do you think I found at MCC today for 10 cents? A nightgown pattern! I was so excited!

This is my little pile of thrift store treasures I found today. The whole bunch cost me $2.35.

I just love these little shoes! I fear they are a little boyish but I am going to put them on Sam anyways. They are real leather and so soft.

Guess how much? $1!

Turn them over and guess what? Old School Buster Browns! Gotta love that!

These are the flannels awaiting a makeover. The white(it looks yellowish here, sorry bad lighting) is the one I think I have enough of for a Nightgown for Pay. Then the clouds and bunnies for pants. I have enough of the clouds set aside for jammy pants for me. So who knows? Pay and I may be matchy-matchy in the future.