Photo Disaster

Well, we’ve been MIA in blogging mainly to do my BFF visiting with her eldest daughter and our travels around Orlando keeping us very busy, and then the sickies invaded the entire Hamilton household…even Nonnie managed to catch it.  Yuck!  The boys have been fine for about a week now, so we are hoping that first cold was the worst of it for Winter. 

Back to the disaster.  This week when I tried to put a cd together of my friend’s twinkies birthday party pictures, I noticed I could not get any pictures off of the server. Yes, it takes an entire server to store all my pictures. I thought nothing of it, went on with my busy week, but then I tried to do a little catching up last night and was still unable to get to the server.  Low and behold, after Matthew tried without success, he called HP and they said, well, the server is just a computer without a monitor, and it sounds like the hard drive crashed.  Huh?  What? Excuse me?  Of course we were devastated at the news, but Matthew has been able to take a few files off the server and put them on our computer, so I am hoping he can salvage most of them…although it is very time consuming and he was up past midnight last night trying to work on it.  Fingers crossed he or some other professional can work their magic to restore the files.  I will be looking into Mozy storage immediately, but if anyone else has any suggestions of where they store their data, I would love to hear it!!!

Disney was awesome. My BFF since I was two and I met up with another “old” friend who lived on our most awesome street as a kid.  We were able to bum our way into Epcot and the Magic Kingdom for free. I was so sad to hear that the boys, Matty and my mom could not meet us on the Sunday of the trip because of their awful coughs, but we still had fun.  It was ridiculously cold that weekend, so that was a little bit of a downer, especially with how ridiculously beautiful it  has been, but we managed to stay warm.  I know the boys would have loved, loved, all the princesses Annie got to see that day.  Here are a couple of cute pics…stolen from FB.  I am thankful I found time to upload a few pictures after our trip…really, really, really hoping I can get them all back from the server, sniff, sniff.

We’ve been at a lot of play dates this week to make up for lost time during our sickies.  My favorite one was the super hero play date.  My awesome friend Sara got an idea from another web site where you create a cape for the kids to decorate out of an old t-shirt.  I think the parents t’s worked great since they had a bit of length, but even an old, dirty, stained one of theirs that still fits around their noggins would work as well.  You just cut on one side of a seam if your shirt has one to help it not completely fray up, and then cut the sleeves off and around the neckline to maintain the cape, and voila, super hero cape extraordinaire!!! You can even use the sleeves to make a mask!

Yesterday we spent the most beautiful weather day at Sea World.  It is crazy to me to be wearing a tank top, shorts and flip flops in the middle of November.  The boys were really good for the most part…no real disasters of running off, talking back, or throwing any tantrums – it seems they save those for days we stick close to home – so it was even more enjoyable for all of us.  The dolphin area of Sea World, not even the amazing Horizons show, just the feeding area and underwater viewing area, are just too amazing. Not to mention that their artic area now hosts a Polar Express experience; which is super cool since that is the boys favorite movie. It was the first one they watched, and couple that with trains, and the idea of Christmas, and they are sold.  They got to talk to Santa.  Both were eager to let him know they wanted a big digger and a fire truck.  However, when we went to stand next to the big version of the actual Polar Express train, the boys were timid and scared – something I was not sure they boys possessed.  I think the next time we visit, of course we’ll be going again and again, they will be more sure of it.  This was the last thing we did before departing, so they were over-tired by that point in the day.  Nonetheless, what an extraordinary experience for these boys.  They have seen the Shamu show more times that I had ever before, and they are not even three yet.  They love it and I cannot wait to see them grow to appreciate it more and more.  The pictures of the dolphins are cool, the top ones are of a dolphin before feeding time.  He/she was using a leaf to play catch right next to the viewing area.  So playful and adorable!!!

One of my favorite shots ever!

Rals, super excited to touch the ice in the artic area where they visited Santa.

Raleigh whispers to Shamu Santa that he wants a digger…

Rals entranced at the Shamu show

In other news, we are so happy that our friends Heath & Jane welcomed another healthy, beautiful girl in Sydney. Happy birth day Siena! Well wishes to two of my friends who are not feeling their best, Miss A and Miss N.  I hate to see you girls in pain – get well soon!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

The big day has finally arrived. Now that is over, I am so happy.  Whew, this whirlwind weekend has been nuts.  We’ve been busy.  Even busier than usual. It did not help planning a Halloween party for about 35 families this weekend.  Then another birthday party today and squeezing in naps and trick-or-treating in, too.  We had a great afternoon grilling out with our neighbors/friends and their little boys.  Nonnie was here to help out and lead on the crew during the trick-or-treating.  The dads held down the fort at the houses while we searched for booty.  The boys were pirates for Halloween.  We really have been playing it by ear for the final day, depending mostly on weather. It was hot, so Spidey and Batman were out – the masks were too much – and the “po po” and fireman were worn the night before at the block party, so pirates seemed best.  Plus, our friends were all being pirates, so it worked out perfectly.  Four little scallywags running the ‘hood searching for loot…precious!

The block party the night before was cool for the boys.  They had a bouncy house to rock in (princess theme no less) and lots of older women to harass.  We were exhausted, so we were ready to have an early night. Rals, on the other hand, did not feel that same vibe.  He fell asleep around 9:30!  Tonight, they were out just after 8pm. Tomorrow is a low key, chill out day for sure!  Our birthday party for the princesses was great.  The boys were actually pretty low key themselves, so they were easy to watch and I was able to try to relax myself.  We got a really good compliment that the boys seemed much older because of their social skills and sharing abilities.  Yup, they are social – no doubt about it!  Friendly and always wanting attention from whoever throws it their way.  Rals and Gus tonight had no problem knocking on doors and asking for candy  At one point, I thought Raleigh was going to hug a lady as she opened the door.  He started singing “candy, candy, candy” in a real sing-song voice and was hilarious to watch and listen to.  He even started kissing his candy before he put it in his bucket.  What  a trip!

 

Here the boys are trying out their broomsticks.  The found a hat left over from the party.  I said I was a good witch while I tried it on, and Rals was quick to point out that I was a “sassy witch.”  Hmm…not sure what to think of that! 

Check out Rals’ expressions in the next two – SHEER JOY!!!

The night before pics!

Daddy actually smiling!  Wow!! We were on a hay ride…aka, hay thrown in a trailer attached to an SUV.  The boys had fun, the pre-teen girls on the ride were singing Taylor Swift, and it reminded me of my youth singing Debbie Gibson, then they started singing “California Girls” by Katy Perry, and Matt and I both looked at each other and thanked our lucky stars we had boys at that very moment!!!

this morning, Skyping with Nannie
& Poppy!

Happy Halloween!

Today we’ve hit the multiples club Halloween party and we are about to go to our own block party.  Tomorrow it is a princesses 3rd birthday party and then of course, the piece de resistance, trick-or-treating!  Here are a few cute pictures of our week.  I was able to borrow a cool camera today, but I don’t have the SD card yet, so I am anxiously awaiting those on Monday night!  So much fun, but so much work.  Of course it was well worth it, particularly because we had great turnout for the Club today.  Lots of fun and lots of cuteness!

 

no smiles here!  hopefully on the other camera!

Seriously, how cute is Gus holding Miss A’s little hand??