Bummer!

I have not posted for a few weeks because my computer is very sick. It was acting strange when I tried to respond to someones e-mail, it would only recognize every other character when I typed. Of course when John typed it wouldn't do it, John claimed operator error. Then I tried to post and blogger would only pick up a few pictures, but not all. Then I would try and add the photos that would not post and it was hit and miss. John looked at the computer and we shut it down and attempted to restart and it won't restart. It is saying it doesn't recognize the Microsoft programs. John took my laptop to one of his co-workers and they are trying to look into it, but need the disc to re-boot. Dell did not give us the disc when we bought the computer, instead they do an online boot. It sounds great, but if your computer is sick and it won't recognize any programs you can't reboot via the web. So Dell sent a re-boot disc in the mail and I am patiently awaiting.
Well............... I am generally pretty good about uploading our photos to at least Snapfish, but we had 2 months worth and then it turned into 3, then 4. All of our photos from Anika's, Lexi's and Alexander's birthday party are on my computer, including ALL of our hundreds of vacation photos. Cabo, Pittsburgh and Baltimore and 2 years worth of photos that I did not back up onto a disc, but all of those are on snapfish (not theCabo, Pitts and Balto pics).
I saw the computer guru at Lexi's dance performance today and he said he would try one more thing once he got the disc, but it didn't look good. This guy is the best of the best in the computer world, recovery, security, etc... if he can't do it, we don't think anyone can. I told John I would rather have my lap top dismantled and somehow recover the memory and place it on another computer and save the treasured photos. A tough way to learn. I hear the voice of my computer professor, saying ALWAYS back-up right away. Hopefully we get the pictures back. It just kills me that we may not have any photos of Lexi's number 10, Anika's number 3 and Zander's number 2. I had photos of our friend's Lamar and Kawana's farewell dinner, etc... If anyone has any thoughts or ideas or had something similar happen to their computer, please let us know!
So no pictures, no posts, but I wanted to put some posts up, before the "Big Crash"! I wanted to wish our wonderful daughter, Alexis, a happy 10th birthday. Our sweet, little, baby boy, Alexander a happy 2nd birthday. Happy birthday to our good friend, Bernadette, who is expecting a beautiful, baby boy in October. Happy birthday to my Mother-in-law, Shirl, we hope you enjoyed your birthday, yesterday. Congrats to Rick and Trish, Rick has been diagnosed as cancer free after having a lung removed and 16 weeks of chemo, praise God for answeared prayers. I also wanted to post a sad farewell to our good friends, Lamar and Kawana and their beautiful children who left Japan and moved to Germany.
The heat index in Japan has been pretty much black, about 98 degrees, 86% humidity with a real feel of about 110 degrees. I LOVE the hot weather and we have been spending a lot of time either at the outdoor pool or filling up the kiddie pool in the back yard. John finished putting up the fence last week and it is the difference between night and day. The sod John put down last month is happy and it so nice to have grass and no longer a lake and mosquito infested mud pit. I can now let the kids play in the backyard while I cook dinner or make lunch. It seems like I am able to get so much more accomplished now that I don't have to be with Anika and Alexander every moment they are outside. Alexander got a Step 2 Playhouse for his birthday on Monday. He loves it and so does Anika, between the playhouse, the pool and the riding toys they have a lot to keep them occupied. Although I am out there every second when the pool is filled.
Youth Services on base offered several day camps for 2 hours a day for a week at a time. Lexi did the cheerleading camp last month, basketball camp 2 weeks ago and dance camp this week, all free. Dance camp ended with a performance today that was a lot of fun to watch. Afterwards we came home and experienced our first "Real" earthquake in Japan. We have had a few jiggles and vibrating quakes, but nothing like today. A few cake pans fell down from the shelf and something else crashed, but I am not sure if it was inside a cupboard or upstairs. It was frightening. Anika and Zander were eating lunch at the table and I was talking to someone on base that worked in Garden Maintenance. I just heard this crashing in our house and I was thinking what the heck is that, then I started loosing my balance and I realized it was an earthquake. Anika kept yelling the house is breaking, the house is breaking Mommy! The lady from housing said, "I hope this ends soon". It seemed like it went on forever, but was probably less than a minute. It turned out to only be a 4.5, but it was one of those rolling earthquakes with a few slips in between. It was enough to shake me up. Growing up in Southern California it takes a lot to rattle me, no pun intended:)
After I assured Anika that the house was not going to break we went outside and filled the pool up and relaxed and played. So pretty much our summer days have been spent going to the family workout room, where Anika and Zander can play with other kids and then we hang out at the outdoor pool with friends or in our fenced in back yard.
We have an unexpected trip back to the States on Monday. A nice surprise to find out we would be able to make it to my Uncle Don's 80th Birthday Bash in Durango. We will be able to see our family and friends and help celebrate with Uncle Don. We are really looking forward to going, but it is bittersweet, because John won't be able to come, because he can't miss anymore work. So the boys will be staying behind, my friend Edi will be watching Zander during the day. Zander is completely comfortable with her and she has lots of kids at her house for Zander to play with and plenty of toys and then Dad and Zander can hang out in the afternoon and evenings. Alexander will be much happier with this game plan rather then coming with us. As most of you know Zander doesn't travel well and doesn't do well with change. I am a little apprehensive now that the time is drawing near to leave for Durango. I have NEVER been apart from any of our children for 8 days and I can't imagine not seeing him everyday. We will spend 6 days in Durango and then have a few days before Lexi begins 5th grade and Anika starts preschool on the 1st of September.
I hope everyone is doing well and having a wonderful summer that is shared with family and friends. I look forward to hearing from you.