Dear Vera Bradley

Thank you so much for the lovely catalog I received in the mail - both yesterday and today. There are so many lovely things I need- and the duplicate mailing did not go unnoticed. You are such a clever lady with your umbrellas and eco-friendly shopping bags. I would be the hippest girl at the market (not that I would remember to actually take the bags with me)! I could just imagine my initials lovingly monogrammed (by Natalie of course) on the garden tote with matching gardening gloves. Who knows what masterpiece to do list I could write in my mini notebook with the matching pencil collection. Nice touch Vera! However, at this time, I am working on a project that requires a better use of my resources. Don't worry Vera, I will be back- just not right now. Oh my dear sweet Vera, fear not! Your bags will be the official bag of the Baby D.

Love,
Sandy

The great BlackBerry disaster of 2009

I am not sure if I had blogged on this blog, or just reported on Facebook- but I have become the chief surgeon of the BlackBerry trackball. My skills were harnessed out of a need to solve why my BlackBerry would not scroll down. After much internet research, I have successfully preformed many surgeries in the past 2 weeks. So yesterday, when the trackball wasn't cooperating, I dove right in. All of the usual techniques didn't seem to solve the problem. I decided to dive a little deeper. I found the root of the problem immediately and was thrilled that the removal of the lint might fix this once and for all. Then upon reassembly something tragic happened. One little piece when flying... and this piece was about the size of a pencil led .........and it was magnetic .........and don't ask why- but I was performing surgery in Mr. D's car...... and it flew into the abyss between the seats. I thought, when Mr. D. gets back from being in the store- I will just have him reach under the seat and get it. NO SUCH LUCK. We came home and spent at least 2 hours searching every inch of the car for it. We used a million different techniques- with no luck at all. We went to the T-mobile store to see what it would cost to replace the phone and even with my phone credit we were looking at a small fortune that could better be used on our other project. So, we came back home and I went online and ordered a new trackball for less than 10 bucks. Now, until it gets here- I am limited on my communication with people. With the mobility I have available with my current trackball situation I can....

- answer the phone if I happen to see/hear you at the time you call.
-call people who's numbers I have memorized (... so, Mr. D. or my Mom at home, oh and Julie and Kate - how have the easiest numbers in the world)
- I can call anyone in speed dial-- wish I had programmed people into that.. but I can call Mr. D. since he had programmed his number into #1 when I got the phone.
- I can see that I have messages/text but I can't actually see them - just the annoying blinking light and the number count on the screen.
-I can send a text to the last 3 people I called- but can't read if they send me one.
-I can check my voice mail if I call BlackBerry from another phone

...and that is it. So, until Wednesday or Thursday or whenever the part gets here-- SORRY!! and GOOD LUCK communicating with me.

Thursday 13: Thirteen things I did since I blogged on Monday

1) enjoyed my time at the beach
2) flew home
3) loved on Brady
4) ate at Cozumel- of course
5) went with my mom to her surgery
6) visited my Granny in the hospital
7) visited my super awesome vet cousin
8) watched the boys next door
9) returned to work
10) got a million hugs from my class
11) set up a 1-800 number
12) Daisy Scouts
13) shopped with my Mom before she went home

blogging from the beach

Just a quick note to let everyone know that things are wonderful here. We are having fun. Our meeting was incredible and we are excited about what is ahead. One more day to play and then home tomorrow.

Thursday 13: The lost and never found edition

All of you know how I can tend to fall on the disorganized side of life at time. Here is a list of 13 things I can never find. (some I haven't even looked for yet! Hehe!! )
1) my blue tooth
2) my blue tooth charger
These two items are lost and found frequently-- but can be lost at the same time, but both are NEVER found at the same time. I was using my old blue tooth- which I going to give to Kate when I found my actual blue tooth- but Brady found the old blue tooth first.....
3) batteries (We have several things needing batteries in this house. I can find batteries but not usually the size I am looking for at the time.)
4) The cord that would let me talk to Meredith on the web cam... (Meredith- how long have I been looking for this?!)
5) The mini mouse for my lap top
6) Perfect software for my web building/digital scrap booking type stuff.
7) The battery for the portable DVD player (not the new one, the old one).. I have to watch it plugged in.
8) My sanity--- haha!! 0ften misplaced
9) my patience, even more often misplaced.
10) My rewetting drops at 6 in the morning.. I am always feeling around for them- even though I have several bottles and they always end up being either by my bed or on my sink in the bathroom.
11) addresses and phone numbers- I never know where these are if they aren't in the Blackberry.... and finding an address and a stamp on the same day- well, that is like a fairy tale.
12) my label maker (and if you find it, see #3) who knows where this is- and it should be easy to find since it is in a box CLEARLY labeled "label maker".
13) My car keys- while I currently know where these are- there have been many many mornings where they have not been so easy to locate.

Kate's Top Secret Muffin Recipe

My school had a bake sale today. It was organized and executed by the Elementary student in the 1st-3rd grades. Earlier in the week they sent a notice around asking the faculty to bake something if they could. I didn't bake anything (pick your jaws up of the floor-- I actually said NO to something!). I wanted to make something, but with being sick, and getting ready to go out of town, and hanging out eating ice cream cones with Parker and Caleb,... and LOST being on last night-- I just didn't get around to going to the store, buying ingredients and making something. i did spend a small fortune- so I feel like I did my part. Anyway, this morning I rounded the corner and was able to snap a picture of Kate preparing her top secret muffin recipe for the bake sale.
Looks like it is as simple as stuffing Publix muffins in to Ziplock bags and pretending you made them. Only Kate- gotta love her!!

Caleb can't have an ice cream cone

OH YES HE CAN!!!

Today I got to spend the afternoon with Parker and Caleb. I always like to take the kids for an after school snack on the way home- because there isn't a lot of "kid food" at my house (yet!!). I got in the car here was the conversation.
Me: what will it be boys, chocolate sprinkle doughnuts or ice cream cones??
Caleb: (In a sweet little whisper) Ice cream
Parker: Caleb can't have ice cream cones
Me: and just why not
Parker: he is too little and he will just make a mess
Me: Caleb- do you want an ice cream cone
Caleb- (laughing)
I started driving to Sonic. All of the way there - Parker continued to explain to me how messy it would be, and how Caleb would need his in a cup, and on and on and on with a million reason on why the 3 year old thought I was being irresponsible. Finally I just summed it up for Parker with "Caleb can have an ice cream cone- just like he can have a bath". He actually did a great job with it- and loved every second of it. He even almost ate the paper because I had forgotten to take it off. Was it messy? Yes, but more importantly it was fun. (Just putting it out there for you Meredith- this is the kind of Aunt I am!)

Parker had a great time as well! And, true to my word, before they left my house- I gave both of the boys a bath. I had so much fun with them.