Computer troubles

My laptop died.  :(  It has been having issues here and there for awhile and last week, as I frantically attempted to back up everything, it called it quits.  Fortunately, I *think* I got everything backed up.  The laptop is in the shop, hopefully being fixed, and will come back like new.  To be honest, it's been sort of nice not having the laptop to take up precious time...and it really helps that I still have my smartphone and kindle to keep me connected to the outside world.  :)  Using the desktop, on the other hand, is not my idea of efficient productivity.  But at least it still works. 

Anyway, on to more important subjects: MY BOYS!  :) 

If you can believe it, Noah is TEN. 1-0.  10. Unbelievable.  Since we celebrated his half birthday last summer, we didn't feel like we could let him have a big party on his actual birthday but he still got presents, got to pick out the restaurant for supper, had a birthday cake and took treats to school.  He was a little upset that we didn't spend the whole week celebrating, but once he got his rather large and expensive Lego set, he seemed to get over it.  ;)  His pick for supper was IHOP and he had all-you-can-eat-pancakes.  Let's just say IHOP didn't lose any money on him.  I think Josiah ate more than Noah did.  lol  He must've eaten all he could though, because when we came home for cake & ice cream, he didn't have any!  The big Lego set was together in about 4 1/2 hours but he spent the rest of the weekend playing with it.

Noah also brought home his report card on his birthday, which in his case, is never a bad thing.  He once again had all A's with an A+ in Language Arts and Drama (shocker, I know).  His reading scores are way above average and he just continues to do well in all subjects.  It's so nice that he loves school and is such a good student.

Josiah and I are really enjoying the new Playtime activity that we go to each Wednesday.  Today he got to paint a picture of a tooth with a toothbrush.  It was very cute.  :)  And speaking of cute, my very sweet boy made me so proud today.  He was very good at sharing - during gym time, they had a bowling game set up and Josiah did a great job of sharing the ball whenever he was asked to do so and loved re-setting the pins, whether he was the one knocking them over or someone else.  Also, at the end of Playtime, I reminded him to say thank you and good-bye to the teachers and he went over to one of the ladies and thanked her and said, "I want to hug you now!" and gave her a big hug.  What a sweet boy!!  He also has started writing his name - it's almost recognizable - and he reads letters and numbers as we drive.  We stopped at a local grocery store this morning and he spelled out the letters - R-A-Y-S.  When I asked him what that spelled he yelled, "Ray's!"  So not only is he cute, he's a smarty pants too.  lol

Despite the computer issues, I do have pictures to share.  Hope you have a great week!  (spring is getting closer... my bulbs have started sprouting!!!)

We survived...

... this year's colds... well, so far.  :)  Noah started it, gave it to Josiah, who then gave it to me and now Michael is in the throes.  I really thought it was going to miss him but now I think he may have it worse than any of us.  At least there's no snow on the ground... (I don't know how this is a positive for him... he doesn't have to shovel?) All I know is that last week I whined about being tired of being cold and a few days later, it got to 60.  Sadly, it didn't last and I'm back to being cold again.  However, I just read a friend's blog and they have a half inch of snow on the INSIDE of their windowsills because it's so cold where they live, so I really have nothing to complain about. 

I realized on Saturday or Sunday that I hadn't blogged last week.  I have no idea where Wednesday went.  Did we have a Wednesday last week?  Maybe that's the problem... time isn't going fast - we're just skipping random days here and there so it feels like time is flying.  :) 

Anyway, we're back to a more normal routine.  Noah goes to school, practice piano every day, takes piano lessons once a week, plays video games, reads books, plays with his Legos and draws.  Josiah & I started two new activities this month.  I discovered a group that meets at a local school and is sponsored by Help Me Grow.  They do stories, music time, free play in the gym, a craft and play time with toys.  I also joined a book group that is all moms that meet at the McDonald's playplace and our little ones play while we discuss.  :)  I've also managed to return to a more manageable amount of time at Noah's school and have found a few spare moments in each day to catch up on my own projects!

Pictures are from Josiah's new playgroup, our attempts at avoiding cabin fever and a few from the big snow we had at the end of December. 

Happy New Year!

Hope you enjoyed all those pictures we took last week... because this week, I don't even have one.  Ok, I actually have 5, but they're not that great and though my children are undeniably cute, the pictures are of them rolling around in the snow, so you can't even see their cuteness.  ;)  Also, Noah has had a horrible cold since Thursday or Friday and Josiah's cold hit Sunday so we've been spending a lot of time on the couch resting and trying to get over this gunk.  Gummy & Grandpa got it too though so far, Michael & I have avoided it.  I have that "feel it coming" sort of feeling but am using vitamin C and positive thinking to try and ward it off.  (It could work...)  It was a quiet New Year's Eve, to say the least.  The "kid champagne" is still in the fridge, the poppers still waiting to be popped... we were all fast asleep in our beds at the stroke of midnight.  We may have to start a new tradition to celebrate Epiphany!  :)  Sparkling cider just gets better with age, right?!?

So, happy New Year and all that.