Back up your computer!!!!!

Well VERY bad news... the other day I turned on the computer and instead of it turning on all I got was a folder with a question mark in it!! It turns out that our hard drive is broken.....

Good News:
We have Apple's extended care plan so they will fix the hard drive for free!!

Bad News:
They can't get our data back... including all of our pictures of Eli, etc.

Good News:
A private company may be able to get our data back!

Bad News:
It can cost up to $3,000!

Good News:
We have an external hard drive that we backed up our computer onto!!!

Bad News:
The last time we backed it up was August 28!!

So, lesson learned... back up your computer and do it often!!!!!!!

The blog will be silent until we figure this all out! :-(

Super fun weekend in Durham!

We went to Durham this past weekend to go to two Christmas parties and we had a blast.  We got to spend some time with Andrea's parents and see a lot of good friends.  

Bath time in the sink.

Duck blanket.

Jeremy and Eli.

We went to the Hawkins' second annual christmas party and of course there was food everywhere and the house was beautiful!  The ornament decoration station was in full swing and all had a good time.  I was a zombie around 9:30 but we stayed around until 11:30 because we couldn't pull ourselves away.

Walt and Heather.

Hawkins' Party

For the Hawkins fun, click on Eli.

On Sunday, we went to the late service at the Summit and thoroughly enjoyed it.  We really miss the Summit, and it was great to get a fun, true, and well prepared message from scripture!  After church we all watched "I Now Pronounce you Chuck and Larry" and we really liked it.  It was a little crude but it was very funny!   Then it was off to the bible study christmas party.  

Looking festive with Grandma.

The rare naked time.

Elvis has left the building.

Eli in the boot.

We had an awesome White Elephant gift exchange and then laughed for hours!!  I had set a strict departure time of 9:00 PM and we ended up leaving at 11:00 PM.... it was a late night getting home but it was worth it!

Almost the whole bible study gang.

Bible Study Party

For all the bible study party fun click on Elvis above.

Fun at the Mall and other randomness!

As the title states we ventured to the mall this weekend... actually, believe it or not, it was not our first trip to a Charlotte mall since we moved here!!  I would be ashamed but it is the Christmas season and REI was our main destination both times!!! :0)  At REI I promptly spend my Christmas gift from Pops, and then we went to the mall where Andrea used a small portion of her gift from Pops.   (I am sure the rest of it will be here for a while...)  

Walking around the mall with Eli pointed to the world in the sling was a lot of fun.  I don't know if it was because of the crowds, or Charlotte, or if I just noticed it more but we got a TON of smiles, stares, and comments.  He's a looker!

Eli tucked into his sling.  He has graduated

to a sitting position and loves it!

I didn't think he would fall asleep like this but he did!  

He takes after his mom a lot :-)

We don't really read to Eli much yet because he doesn't seem ready.  However, the other day I read to him one of his books from Aunt Jill; he didn't really care, but baby books are cute and fun!

Story time that Eli could have cared less about.

Eli and I also listened to his first UMaine hockey game on Friday night!  Maine played Northeastern and unfortunately lost in OT 3 to 2.  At least they are doing better than predicted this year!  

Eli sporting his "first t-shirt from UMaine" that our friend 

Aimee got us... probably an original from campus!!!

Finally, as I type this post Eli is INTENTIONALLY playing with some toys that hang from above his chair!!  This is very fun because although he has hit them before it always seemed random and spastic or he was not looking at the toy when he did it.  This time he is starring at them and being very intentional with his hand movements.  It looks very awkward for him and like it is taking A LOT of effort and focus, but he is enjoying himself!!!

Thanksgiving in Kentucky

This past week we went to Elizabethtown, Kentucky for Thanksgiving with my family.  We had a good time and came home exhausted.  It took eight hours to drive to my parents house from Troutman and Eli did great.  We left at 4:50 AM and Eli slept almost the whole way and didn't get upset until we were one mile from my parents house.

Wild and Wonderful West Virginia.

We ran into a bunch of snow in West Virginia and it was great!  I love and miss snow so much so it was a nice treat!

While in E-town we pretty much hung out and Eli entertained us all.  It is fun to see Pops and my parents play with and hold him.  Eli also got to meet some new people.  He got to meet some long time friends from the lake, Deborah and Mike and Stan!  

Eli & Grandma

Eli & Grandpa

Eli & Pops

Eli & Aunt Jill

Of course we had Thanksgiving dinner and it was great.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberries, corn casserole, sweet potato casserole, rolls, and chocolate chip pie!!  There was also a discussion about corn vs green beans.  I love corn and was pro corn casserole, but a few others would have traded the corn for green bean casserole....

The day after Thanksgiving we did Christmas because we were all together and it beats mailing gifts.  Eli got a doorway bouncer, books, clothes, and some They Might Be Giants kids CD's!!  

Dad and I put up the Christmas lights.

Eli & TMBG!!  AHH starting him early!!

Eli's first time in the doorway bouncer.

 

Eli and friends Stan, Deborah, & Mike

The whole family

On the trip back we tried the route through Tennessee because MapQuest said it was about the same as the route through West Virginia.  I did not like this route because the interstate slows way down through the mountains, where as the WV route is 70 all the way :-)  Thankfully Eli did great again sleeping most of the trip from 2:15 PM until 10:45 PM when we got home and then he slept again from 1:00 AM until the morning!!!!