"Kim, don't you mean 'crash and burn'?" Actually, no. Let me explain. I have been offline for over a month now. (Did you notice? Please tell me you noticed!) My laptop's power adapter started sparking and smoking one day while I was working. After a good scream--I thought a snake was coming out of my laptop, ridiculous I know--I unplugged the laptop and let both of us cool off. After ensuring Apple* that the adapter didn't burn our house down, I didn't have to call 911, and our insurance adjuster didn't come out, the local Apple Store graciously provided me with a new power adapter ... despite their claim that it happened because of "normal wear and tear." However, my laptop was never the same. Start-up became really slow, it would suddenly shut down, and then eventually I couldn't even launch any applications. It was totally dead. I never thought being unwillingly cutoff from the "outside world" would be so awful! Hopefully I will have another laptop soon and be able to connect with everyone again!
In the meantime, take it from me, unplug your laptop whenever not in use lest you burn your house down.
*Despite this little episode, I still widely favor Macs over PCs. Just wish they didn't cost three times as much!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Baby haiku
Number 4 is on the way
Welcome new baby
October 5 is the day!
Welcome new baby
October 5 is the day!
That's right—we're pregnant! Here is the “announcement” we sent our parents:
Are you as surprised as we are? I guess something special did happen in January!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Nothing special 'bout January
I remember learning this song in early elementary school.
A friend with a January birthday used to take offense to this song, but it is hard to deny that January is a slow month in the Sparks house. It seems that all we did outside of our normal routine was repeatedly fight against various illnesses! I am optimistically looking forward to the blog-worthy months ahead, but in the meantime here are some January highlights.
E. just started practicing for the Easter musical “Come, Messiah, Come” with his homeschool co-op and our church. He really enjoyed the first official practice and I was really quite surprised that he enjoyed drama, even initially. They will be performing on Palm Sunday and I think he will be a little orphan boy. (Hopefully he doesn't try to drop-kick any of the other “orphans”!) He is doing really well at school and we have officially moved on to first grade work this semester. We have spent a couple of weeks on telling time and after next week he will be totally able to read an analog clock. He wants to learn how to count money, too, but we might hold off a couple of months on that one. Once he learns how to count it, he will only want to spend it too! ;)
S. has been practicing her counting and is moving on to getting down 1-15 ... although normally she starts counting with the number 3. Thankfully she is also expanding her color repertoire and finally acknowledges that there is a color besides pink! I never took the plunge in trying to potty train her by fire after Christmas like I had planned, so she is still just using the potty a few times a day. It sure would be nice to get her out of diapers without all the MESSY work involved. There is an innovative job idea for someone—contractual potty trainer. A lucrative business opportunity that won't ever go down the flusher!
P. is getting so big. She is definitely growing faster than either of the other two ever did. Her little 12-month clothes just keep getting smaller and smaller. I was hoping to wait until spring before she needed to progress to 18-month, but I don't think I can hold it off much longer. ("Fat girl in a little coat ... ." Ok, just kidding; she looks nothing like Farley and her clothes aren't that tight!) Her hair is growing quite quickly, and unfortunately quite unevenly as well. I am in denial that her cute blonde locks need cut, and Tyler is trying to talk me into getting that first trip to the salon in before she has much more of a mullet. On a random note, she is also newly scared of Mickey Mouse.
As for Tyler and me, we bought a new broom and dustpan. Woo hoo—January excitement! Who says that January isn't special?
There's nothing special ‘bout January
Not a lot going on
There are 31 days of nothing much
I get so bored I yaaawwwwn
Each day seems to drag along
With nothing to look forward to
So I guess I'll sign this little song
‘Til January is through
Not a lot going on
There are 31 days of nothing much
I get so bored I yaaawwwwn
Each day seems to drag along
With nothing to look forward to
So I guess I'll sign this little song
‘Til January is through
A friend with a January birthday used to take offense to this song, but it is hard to deny that January is a slow month in the Sparks house. It seems that all we did outside of our normal routine was repeatedly fight against various illnesses! I am optimistically looking forward to the blog-worthy months ahead, but in the meantime here are some January highlights.
E. just started practicing for the Easter musical “Come, Messiah, Come” with his homeschool co-op and our church. He really enjoyed the first official practice and I was really quite surprised that he enjoyed drama, even initially. They will be performing on Palm Sunday and I think he will be a little orphan boy. (Hopefully he doesn't try to drop-kick any of the other “orphans”!) He is doing really well at school and we have officially moved on to first grade work this semester. We have spent a couple of weeks on telling time and after next week he will be totally able to read an analog clock. He wants to learn how to count money, too, but we might hold off a couple of months on that one. Once he learns how to count it, he will only want to spend it too! ;)
S. has been practicing her counting and is moving on to getting down 1-15 ... although normally she starts counting with the number 3. Thankfully she is also expanding her color repertoire and finally acknowledges that there is a color besides pink! I never took the plunge in trying to potty train her by fire after Christmas like I had planned, so she is still just using the potty a few times a day. It sure would be nice to get her out of diapers without all the MESSY work involved. There is an innovative job idea for someone—contractual potty trainer. A lucrative business opportunity that won't ever go down the flusher!
P. is getting so big. She is definitely growing faster than either of the other two ever did. Her little 12-month clothes just keep getting smaller and smaller. I was hoping to wait until spring before she needed to progress to 18-month, but I don't think I can hold it off much longer. ("Fat girl in a little coat ... ." Ok, just kidding; she looks nothing like Farley and her clothes aren't that tight!) Her hair is growing quite quickly, and unfortunately quite unevenly as well. I am in denial that her cute blonde locks need cut, and Tyler is trying to talk me into getting that first trip to the salon in before she has much more of a mullet. On a random note, she is also newly scared of Mickey Mouse.
As for Tyler and me, we bought a new broom and dustpan. Woo hoo—January excitement! Who says that January isn't special?
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas highlights
Merry Christmas! We had a very relaxed day with present opening, food eating, and toy playing (in that order!). It was really great watching the kids open their gifts and thoroughly enjoy them today. Tomorrow, before the break of dawn, we are traveling to Ohio for a visit with our families. So, in a way, the holidays will continue for the kids for almost another week. Hmmm, I think we needed this day of quiet, reflective family time!
One of E.'s favorite gifts was skateboarding gear.
All of the kids breaking in one of P.'s gifts.
One of my favorite photos from the day!
We bought Chester a new chew toy, which kept him busy all morning. And his teeth are cleaner, too. Mission: Accomplished!
S. loves everything pink. So did she like her new pink Pony? I think so. =)
Poor thing. Opening gifts is tough work!
This is the game we spent over an hour putting together today. It was worth it though ... a fun marble race, and it stands almost as tall as E!
S. loves wearing my shoes, sneaking into my makeup, and putting on Tyler's deodorant (his must smell better than mine!). So we got her a little clothes chest with outfits for three princesses. She is absolutely adorable all dolled up!
The biggest hit with P. today is what Tyler began calling, "The Freaky Horse." This present was a dumpster dive. I normally abhor pulling things from the trash, but I am so glad that I "saved" this little guy. P. enjoys it so so much.
All of the kids breaking in one of P.'s gifts.
One of my favorite photos from the day!
We bought Chester a new chew toy, which kept him busy all morning. And his teeth are cleaner, too. Mission: Accomplished!
S. loves everything pink. So did she like her new pink Pony? I think so. =)
Poor thing. Opening gifts is tough work!
This is the game we spent over an hour putting together today. It was worth it though ... a fun marble race, and it stands almost as tall as E!
S. loves wearing my shoes, sneaking into my makeup, and putting on Tyler's deodorant (his must smell better than mine!). So we got her a little clothes chest with outfits for three princesses. She is absolutely adorable all dolled up!
The biggest hit with P. today is what Tyler began calling, "The Freaky Horse." This present was a dumpster dive. I normally abhor pulling things from the trash, but I am so glad that I "saved" this little guy. P. enjoys it so so much.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Say cheese! Ok, STOP saying cheese!
When mom and dad were in town, we ventured out to try and capture some good pics of the kids. I think we succeeded! Surprisingly, my most photogenic child—S.—ended up fizzling out first and refused to smile anymore. We told E. to just keep saying cheese so that he wouldn't stop "smiling," but the photographer got sick of hearing it and actually told him to stop!
We ended up getting a good pic of each of them individually and a good group shot, so I was glad we went. If these copies look a little distorted, I think they are; the online quality isn't the greatest. Enjoy!
We ended up getting a good pic of each of them individually and a good group shot, so I was glad we went. If these copies look a little distorted, I think they are; the online quality isn't the greatest. Enjoy!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Our little pumpkin has turned 1
With all three of our children having their birthdays right on top of a holiday, P.'s is definitely going to be the most challenging to truly celebrate. Born on Thanksgiving Day, I had a lot to be thankful for this year ... including not being in labor! (Sorry for the joyful exaltation to all of my soon-to-deliver friends, but when Macy's parade started I was absolutely giddy that I didn't have Pitocin running through my veins at that moment and didn't have to demand that the TV be shut off because the Sesame Street float was grating my nerves.) We stayed in town for Thanksgiving so we were able to have a little party for her and my parents came in for the weekend. Here are some photo highlights and a video to enjoy. The video is of a birthday card being opened for the first time and her reaction to it (thanks, Aunt Jayme ... the girls are still playing with it!).
My favorite thing to do with P. is just watch her from across the room. When she catches me watching her, her entire face lights up and she gets a huge smile on her face knowing that she wasn't overlooked or forgotten. I hope she grows up to know that she is worthy of such secret admiration! She is such a sweet, sweet girl. I hope this next year only brings out more sweetness in her little personality. Happy birthday, Sweet P. We love you!
Birthday dinner—pizza, pizza, pizza!
Opening her first gift.
S.'s reaction when she was told none of the presents were for her. =)
My favorite thing to do with P. is just watch her from across the room. When she catches me watching her, her entire face lights up and she gets a huge smile on her face knowing that she wasn't overlooked or forgotten. I hope she grows up to know that she is worthy of such secret admiration! She is such a sweet, sweet girl. I hope this next year only brings out more sweetness in her little personality. Happy birthday, Sweet P. We love you!
Birthday dinner—pizza, pizza, pizza!
Opening her first gift.
S.'s reaction when she was told none of the presents were for her. =)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
"I like your car."
"I like yours, too."
"Is it a Jeep?"
"A Subaru."
I love this sport utility vehicle Veggie Tales silly song! The girl in it reminds me of an old friend from Kentucky.
For E.'s birthday this year, grandma and grandpa bought him his own Jeep. (Why wait until you are 16?!?) The kids love driving it around and P. even got a ride. Here they are breaking it in ...
"Is it a Jeep?"
"A Subaru."
I love this sport utility vehicle Veggie Tales silly song! The girl in it reminds me of an old friend from Kentucky.
For E.'s birthday this year, grandma and grandpa bought him his own Jeep. (Why wait until you are 16?!?) The kids love driving it around and P. even got a ride. Here they are breaking it in ...
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