Blog Break

Whaaa Whaaa.

My laptop is opening to only a bright blue screen.

Hence the prolonged Blog Break the past few weeks.

There is something in me that doesn't like to post without pictures.

And my pictures are trapped on my laptop. 

All 3,570 something of them.

(for reals. that's the last # I remember seeing at the bottom of my iPhoto page)

Hence why the thing crashed, I am led to believe.

Whaaa. Whaaa.

So for now....

while I figure out just what I am going to do in the computer department

(Macbook Light, Macbook Air, hobble along with Mateo's handmedown, praying to the Laptop Fairy)

I will be posting really sad pics from my ancient cell phone.

This is one of my recent favorites.

The kids celebrating Aunt Kate's birthday (from afar) with SusieCakes cupcakes!

I think it's time for tech upgrades across the board.
Considering this is an AWESOME pic for my phone.
And any webpage I try to open results in "page too large to load"
And the "F" key never works.
And neither does the down button.
So I am left constantly scrolling to the right......
FOREVER.

Yes. Time for upgrades across the board.

Mateo and I had a good laugh yesterday when we realized the number of new items we will probably be dropping some serious cash on soon. 

He said, "I know we're late to this party, but I think it would be wise to buy some Apple stock."

Yes. That was a good laugh.

Welcome to The Real OC

Four of Katherine's girlfriends from college flew in on Friday for the Bridal Weekend festivities. They came from all over - Missouri, Texas, Michigan, and New York - so I wanted to do something special, something quintessentially "Newport" to welcome them to California and thank them for making the trip. That night, I took them out on an electric Duffy Boat for a cruise around Newport Bay.

I decorated the boat with a "beachy" theme and gave each girl a sand bucket full of California essentials: a gossip magazine, bottle of Corona, sunscreen, lip balm, flip flops, squirt gun, bubbles, seashell soap, Ring Pop and flower lei. I wrote a little "Thank You" on the back of a Newport Beach post card and tucked it inside.

My brother Andy was our knowledgeable captain as we took in the sights and enjoyed yummy appetizers. I was hoping for a gorgeous sunset, but it was a little too overcast.

I really enjoyed getting to know these girls better, as I have heard so much about them from Katherine. It was especially fun for me to finally meet Brooke, my Laptop Fairy! She rocks in real life even more so than in the blogosphere.

Katherine, Rachael, Julianne

Jane, Brooke, Me

After sunset we docked at the Cannery and went upstairs to the bar. Just so happens that the cute bartender on duty Friday nights is our "baby" brother Charlie!

He took good care of us and the night ended up being a family affair when he was able to get off early and hang out on this side of the bar with us. (Mom - this pic framed is your late Mother's Day present!)Kate and the girls stayed out partying late into the evening, but around 10 I called it quits to go home and make scones and frost diamond ring cookies...Saturday's Tea Party was fast approaching and I was seriously going MAD!

You Gotta Believe

Remember back in June when I posted about The Curse and my belief in the Laptop Fairy? Guess What? She DOES EXIST!! Look what came in the mail last Friday.

Brooke went to college with my sister. She is a young Mom of twins and come to find out - a faithful reader of Bringing Up Burns! When she noticed my posts dropping off after The Curse, she emailed me the following words:

"I just recently had twins (they are eleven months already!) and you have given me such inspiration and encouragement through your blog. I check it all the time and leave my computer smiling when you have a new post up. I know it sounds kind of crazy, but not many of our friends have children yet and therefore can't quite relate to the sweat you work up just trying to get bathes done or the joy of seeing your baby figure something out on their own for the first time. Reading your words, and just knowing that others go through the same joys and trials that I do is really comforting."

Brooke then asked if she could GIVE ME HER iBook! I can't tell you how FLOORED I was by this generous offer. She and her husband had both recently gotten new computers and she said she would love for her iBook to have a new home where it would be put to good use....especially if it meant more timely posts on the Blog!


The iBook is presently at the Apple shop - getting retrofitted with the latest software, also generously provided by Brooke! But once it's back later this week - watch out World Wide Web! I plan for Bringing Up Burns to have daily posts during the week to honor Brooke's generosity. I am excited to learn a Mac and all that it has to offer. Even more so, I am excited to be able to upload and edit pictures!!


Thank You Thank You Thank You, Brooke! I'm not sure you understand all this gift means to me. You have inspired me to be more generous in my Random Acts of Kindness. I pray our paths DO cross one day so that I can give you a HUG. Until then...posts will have to do. God Bless You!

I've Seen the Light

The Light Green that is. Apparently after taking this fun little test, I've discovered I am ready to go this GREEN - but not ready to go this GREEN. How "Green" do you want to be? Take this humorous test to find out.

Also - I know I promised pictures. I even spent most of nap time yesterday trying to figure it all out. Only to discover I can't add any applications (Zoombrowser, Picasa) to Matt's work computer. SO - the need for a new computer of my own is ever growing. There's such a thing as a "Laptop Fairy" right?! Hopefully she'll visit us soon and we'll figure out a way to come up with the money to swing one! Until then - I think I am stuck downloading pics onto a disk at my Mom's and then coming back here to blog...ugh.