We are a solid 4.

So technology is the theme at the Heimke House this month.  

After months of continuous issues, Libby the Laptop bit the dust earlier this month. She had crashed a couple of (very inconvenient) times and had shown me the dreaded blue screen more times than I could count. Because I have a mobile business, it’s very important that I have a functioning laptop at all times. It’s kind of imperative for me to have access to client files/internet/programs in order to make money. Go figure.

So when Libby crashed for the third time, I bit the bullet and bought a new laptop. And even though I haven’t yet been able to afford my dream computer, my new Toshiba works beautifully. She’s lightweight, has Windows 7 and- best of all- does not show me her blue screen.

As the Washburn luck goes, I also began having problems with my iPhone 3G. Actually, my cell phone crashed days before our wedding and they had to restore it to factory settings, meaning I lost EVERYTHING. All emails, contacts, settings…everything. And at a really inconvenient time, I might add. 

The phone was working great for a few months, except that it was really slow (thank you, 4.0 software!). Last week, it started getting much slower and randomly began shutting down and restarting itself in the middle of applications and at rest. Fearing the worst, I immediately backed up my iPhone (again) and made (another) appointment at Apple’s Genius Bar.

Now please let me explain something: I do not do anything on my electronics to cause viruses. I don’t download updates that are not prompted by said computer or iPhone, I don’t download links from strangers and I certainly don’t visit dirty sites. I honestly don’t do anything weird or especially “tech-y” that might encourage a nasty virus to take over my electronics.

Yet while I am explaining my problem to my assigned genius, I feel like I have to prove that something really is wrong with my iPhone. It’s like I was afraid he wouldn’t believe me, so I babbled off all of these issues hoping to convince him that I didn’t do anything to cause it.

And then it happened. The phone restarted itself in his little genius hands. Score one for me.

He immediately agreed with me that that wasn’t supposed to happen. He checked my account and- Washburn luck again- I am out of warranty. So I could pay $199 to have my current 3G fixed (and it would still be out of warranty) or pay $199 to have a new 4G (with a new warranty). Hmm… What’s a girl that loves technology to do?

So of course I bought the 4G. The timing is not the best. I wish this would’ve happened next month, but it is what it is. I have to have a phone that works. Like the laptop, it’s crucial for me to do my job.

I went home, showed the husband and he was naturally jealous. Although that man has the patience of a saint and was willing to wait for it, there was no reason to- he has the ability to expense the phone. So off to the Apple store we went. Within 24 hours. Just like when we bought our first iPhones.

We are now both proud owners of this bad baby:

And to relieve some of our guilt, we were able to wipe our 3G’s and sell them on Craigslist. So in all, I only spent $50 on an iPhone 4 that works like a charm and Ryan’s purchase is a wash. How cool is that?

My name is Wesley. I like to Dance!

Yesterday we had the privilege of celebrating this precious child's second birthday! 

The theme was Wesley's FAVORITE show, Yo Gabba Gabba!

Always one to follow a theme, Mary made a few of us these shirts to sport at the party. (I wore mine all night)

Wesley got just a few little presents, as you can see.

Of course her favorites items were her two pair of new shoes (a girl after my own heart!), her new Columbia fleece (that I'd love to borrow) and a baby doll that poops (or something.)

She blew out her birthday candles all by herself...

...and dove right in to the icing!

Mr. Chris took his turn playing with Plex...

And Gamma snuck in some cuddle time.

 
A good time was had by all...certainly Miss Wesley.

Sissy and Rynan love you very much!

Counting My (Material) Blessings

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I found myself reflecting on all of the things I am thankful for. Of course I am most thankful for my Lord and Savior, who sent me a wonderful husband who loves me. Of course I am so grateful for family (old and new) and for my friends that bless me every day.

But with this post, I am going to tell you about the things in my life that I am grateful for (besides all the mushy stuff). The things on this list make me happy, make my life easier, help me get work done, are just super-cool, or are a combination of all of these things. Sure, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks for family and friends, but it’s good to be thankful for some of our stuff too, right?

1.       My Electrolux vacuum. If you know me, you know I am a neat freak. You also know that I have these two that put off a lot of hair and track in a lot of dirt. It makes me crazy to have to use an actual broom to sweep, but my current vacuum is just too cumbersome to drag up and down the stairs frequently. Enter the Electrolux, or “Lizzie,” as Ryan and I call her. We received Lizzie as a wedding gift and let me just say- she's one of the best gifts we received! She’s lightweight and has lots of sucking power; she just sits in the corner minding her own business, waiting for me whenever I need her. She has a head that pivots, which is always important for those hard-to-reach corners. Best of all- she’s cute.

2.       My IT Guy. He’s smart. He’s patient. He is a great multi-tasker. Whenever I am having technical issues (which is more often than I care to admit), he always patiently walks me through the problem, encourages me to “use my words,” and often times fixes the issue before I can stop complaining about it. He is so easy to work with. Love him!

3.       Our Rainwater system. Ok, so in total honestly, I am not very thankful for this monstrosity that now sits in my backyard, but I am thankful for my husband who cares enough about the world our children will live in (and about saving money) to set up this system. Truth be told, it’s a great way to recycle rainwater to the 30% of our backyard that it will reach. More than the system, I am thankful that I have a husband that will see something on DIY Network and will actually do it himself. He’s crafty like that.

 4.       Check out this bad baby. Another fabulous wedding present. Our Nikon D5000 is so freaking cool. You don’t even have to know what you’re doing and the camera takes phenomenal photos. Ryan and I both enjoy photography (Side Note: Did you know that Ryan actually taught a photography class in high school?)  I love documenting our lives through photos and can’t wait to use it this Christmas! Here are a few photos from Michael’s football game that I took with our “nice” camera.

5.       Social Networking. Facebook and Twitter, to be specific. I love that I can keep in touch with the daily happenings old and new friends and family, monitor everyone’s baby bumps and keep tabs on the latest news and updates from my favorite organizations, restaurants, retailers, and news media. Besides the ability keep me informed, these channels entertain me; whether waiting before an appointment or just killing time, these mediums give me instant information about the things I care about. In addition to the personal benefits, social media is a great marketing tool for businesses, but I will let you read all about that here.

6.       Chick-Fil-A is my super-food. I know that technically Chick-Fil-A is fast food, but I don’t count it as such. The #1 with cheese and a Dr. Pepper is MUCH more healthy than anything I could get at McDonalds. In my mind anyway. I probably eat Chick-Fil-A at least once a week and don’t apologize for eating that yummy goodness.

7.       G-Chat/Text Messaging. Sometimes, I don’t want or need to talk to you. I need to get a piece of information from you and move on. G-Chat and Texting allows me to do just that, without all of the small talk and needless conversation that distracts me from what I am trying to accomplish. Charming, aren't I?

8.       So in my family last year we implemented a mandatory Amazon.com wish list. At first I was skeptical and felt bad for making this list. NOT ANYMORE. I have reaped the benefits of giving the perfect gift without the agony (and hassle) that goes along with mall shopping. I have also been the recipient of perfect gifts, so that’s good too. Ordering is super easy and shipping costs are low. The gifts already come boxed, so literally all you have to do is wrap it. Oh, and returns are really easy too. Not that you need to because you already know it’s something they want. See? Everyone wins.

9.       My Snuggie. I actually have two Snuggies (blue and pink) so I have gifted the blue one to Ryan (which he loves too). It’s cold outside and I can’t stand to be cold. So why not wrap up in a blanket that still allows you to move around? Sure, I look like a monk, but who cares- I AM WARM. (Side Note: Does this woman remind you of anyone?)

10.   Good Insurance. I’ve always had insurance, but as a business owner, I have had to pay for individual insurance, which is very expensive. It cost me almost $400 a month for general insurance and did not cover any of my neurological visits or prescriptions because my migraines were considered pre-existing. So basically, if I had a migraine, I had to suffer through it because I couldn’t afford the $500/month prescriptions. But now that I am married to Ryan, who has exceptional insurance, I can afford the prescriptions needed to prevent and abort my headaches. If you’ve never had a migraine, you might not understand the debilitating effects they have on your life. So to have the ability to take a pill and move on with your day headache-free is something to be thankful for.

Oh, Charlie!

I know this is really random, but I came across one of my favorite YouTube videos and I thought about all of the Charlie's I know...

Here's a very funny Charlie....



And a photo of the cutest Charlie I know....

Here's a very troubled Charlie...

Our beloved Charlie Brown...

A very "in-charge" Charlie...

And that concludes the most random post ever. The end.

November 17 is a REALLY special day

November 17 holds much significance for my family. It’s a day that three of our most precious loved ones share a birthday. Here’s a little bit about all three of them:

First up: Wesley Elizabeth Washburn

Two years ago, God blessed our family with this precious child who is- without a doubt- a perfect combination of all of the wonderful attributes her parents possess. Wesley is a “girls girl;” she loves dressing up and will choose a “swishy skirt” above any other item of clothing in her closet. She is quiet in large crowds until she’s comfortable- then she’s ready to entertain you. She loves her Squishy, Yo Gabba Gabba and can belt out a mean “Twinkle, Twinkle.” Wesley is one of my life’s greatest blessings and I am so proud to be her Sissy.

Jo Ann Washburn (Momma Jo)

Momma Jo would have been 81 years old today. Almost 2 years ago, our merciful Savior brought her to Heaven to end her suffering here on Earth. While it was painful for us and we still miss her every day, I know that she is in Heaven where she can move freely, where she remembers everyone’s names and where she is, undoubtedly, passing out peppermints. This Thanksgiving I am going to attempt to make Momma Jo’s famous mac-n-cheese. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about it- it’s a lot of pressure. But I know she’d be proud of me for trying! I love and miss you Momma Jo.

William H. Locke (Grandaddy)

Wesley and Momma Jo also share a birthday with my Grandaddy Locke. He was a man that loved his family fiercely and made sure that we all knew it. Grandaddy would call each of us each Saturday morning; we all had a time slot (mine was 10 am, Matt’s was 10:30 am). If he didn’t reach us then, he’d keep calling until he did. Faithfully each week, he would call to check on us. I miss my Saturday morning calls more than I thought I would. Grandaddy passed away peacefully in his sleep last spring. While it was completely unexpected, I am grateful that he did not experience any suffering. I know that today was difficult for Grandmomma, but I continue to pray for peace and comfort for her daily.

So how cool is that? My maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother shared a birthday with their great-grandchild! And it turns out I have a second-aunt or something whose birthday is today AND so is my good friend Jenny (Williams) Earl's.

We will celebrate Wesley's birthday on Saturday with a Yo Gabba Gabba celebration. I will be sure to post lots of pictures of the birthday girl and party.

Happy birthday, Family!