New Computer and Photo Organization

My new computer arrived about 5 p.m. on Thursday. I've got it set up, but I haven't loaded anything on to it or moved anything over to it, yet. See reasons below:
This pebble picture is one of the standard wallpapers. I'll put something more personal on it when I load my pictures. This is the keyboard. It's nice and has a good feel to it. The touch pad is off center because of the 10 key on the right.

Following is the reason I haven't gotten to the new computer. I've been working on this project FOREVER it seems. I started organizing all our photos (pre-digital) several years ago and never finished. Over two weeks ago, I pulled it all out and started to finsih the job. It was a HUGE job! And I'm still not done. I put all hard copies of photos into photo albums. (See photo below). I took all the negatives and put them into sleeves and labeled them ( I am still working on this part. I ran out of sleeves and I've ordered more). I'm also organizing all the 8x10's, 5x7's and formal and school pictures from kids and grandkids into albums. I love to have things organized, but the process is such a pain. These photos show some of what I've been up to.

The negative sleeves. I have attatched the contact sheet when I had one, but it's harder to identify negatives without a contact sheet. And I have plenty without. This is a slow process.

I had 8 photo boxes like this one full of photos. Now I only have three with just negatives in them. I also had 3 large drawers in my craft/laundry room full of photos. All the 4x6's are in albums now. I'm still working on the larger ones and the negatives.

More of the mess. Crazy, huh?

These are the albums that hold the 4x6's. And yes, Netta, I used them ALL! The larger pictures and formal ones are going into regular scrapbook binders in sheet protectors. My plan is to make them more accesible to scrapbook random photos. There is no way to do them all...so I want to just choose photos to scrapbook and either print them (if digital) or pull them from these albums. Hopefully, this will inspire me to scrapbook more often.

These are now empty photo boxes. I'm not sure what I'll use them for...probably to organize stuff in my scrapbook/craft room. It's been real hot the last few days. Of course, it's a little harder for us without central air, but we're doing ok. We love you all. Mom

Tammy's Birthday

Today is Tammy's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! We hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy time with your family. We love you and we are all so grateful you married Alan and joined our family. Thank you for being a kind, patient and wonderful person. You are loved by our family. Enjoy these photos of Tammy and her family. Tammy, Alan, Robynn, Mari and Juliette on the day Juliette was blessed. Mari was baptised the day before and confirmed on this special day, also. What a sweet family.

Tammy with Mari in her pretty babpitsm dress.

Tammy in the pool with Juliette. Most of the grandchildren get in the pool or spa as soon as possible after they are born. It's a family tradition!

Tammy is always doing special things for her girls. He she is with Robynn a few years ago holding a homemade birthday cake.

So have great day, Tammy and we all love you!

(P.S. My computer has not arrived yet (it's 4:00 p.m.), but they said sometime before 7:00. I'll update you tomorrow.)

Computer Tomorrow

After telling me that the computer would not come until end of Sept to end of Oct, Amazon sent a notice that they have shipped it and it will come tomorrow. It will take a few days to set it up and figure out things. I'm excited.
We also have had such a nice (weather-wise) August, that the heat we are now experiencing is really kind of irritating. It's been up to 95 today. I know for some of you that isn't that hot, but you have central air conditioning and we don't! So we will endure and maybe I'll take a dip in the pool!
Also, FYI, Dad and I were released from our calling on Sunday. We have 2 more weeks in the branch and then back to home ward. We are feeling sad about it, of course. The branch has been such a wonderful calling the last 4 years. We will really miss it.
Love you all...Mom

New Computer Ordered

Dad and I went last week and looked at a computer that I was considering buying. I liked everything about it (except Vista...but can't do anything about that). I didnt' get it at that time because I wanted to think over some software issues. After a couple of days, we went back and sure enough...they had raised the price $100! So we did NOT buy it and came home and ordered it on line. (For $150 less than Fry's) The only bad thing is that it is really popular and it was out of stock at the two cheapest places. So I ordered it anyway and will wait until they get it in before they can ship it. It's an HP dv7-2180us. (See photo above)It's rated really high. It has 500G hard drive, 6G RAM, a 17 inch screen and a web cam. I do so much with pictures, I needed a lot of space to work with them. I love my present computer, but sadly it is inadequite and with the screen acting up, I have no choice. New stuff is fun, though. I am paying for it with some of my inheritance money that I have left. I'm grateful for it as I wouldn't be able to without it. Thanks, Dad!

I am also enclosing a photo of the headstone of Lewis Barney. I have been in email contact with my cousin JoDean (Barney) Pond. She and her husband hunted it down in Mancos, Colorado. The cemetary is very overgrown and she suggested that some of his decendents pool their resources sometime in the future to clean up the cemetary and gravesite. Any of you who read this let me know if you'd be interested and we will try to organize that at next Spring's reunion. I love all of you and will post again in a day or two. Love, Mom

Computer Issues

Hi guys. It's been a busy week with Dallas and Jeff and their family here. Hence the lack of post. My computer screen has been losing lines of pixels and I will probably be getting a new one here pretty soon. I have one in mind (with your Dad's good help) but it runs Vista and some of my programs won't run on it, so now I'm debating things. I use Photoshop a lot and my version won't run on it. The upgrade to Photoshop that will run on Vista, will set me back $400 plus! And that doesn't count some of the other programs. Frustrating. I'll keep you updated. I only took one picture while they were here. (can you believe that?) Anyway, I'll post again in a day or two and let you know what I decided. Love you all. Mom

Trip to Sizzix

I may try to post later, but for now a quick report of something fun I did earlier today. I got a call yesterday asking if I would come down to Ellison/Sizzix and participate in a focus group. They were the group and I was the focus. So off I went this morning. It was so interesting. I signed a waiver saying I wouldn't reveal anything vital to the product. They are working on a recording device for scrapbooking...different than anything they have had before. It will be very cool and I would buy it when it's released. Just say it would be great for Family History. I got a $100 gift certificate for Sizzix for my time. It was fun and interesting. I signed up a long time ago and didn't think they would call me, so it was a surprise when they did. Really fun.
Update: Dallas, Jeff and crew arrived yesterday for Peter's sealing on Sat. They are all enjoying our wonderful weather and are at Legoland today. There are 15 of them staying here with 2 more to come. Only Becky and her family are not. They are sleeping in every nook and cranny we have, but no one seems to have problem with that. Peter is excited and is with his fiance today. The next two days will be very busy, but wonderful. More later. Love, Mom

Company coming

Again, a fast post. The Meyers all (well, mostly all) come in tomorrow. I'm excited, but busy. I will post again on Thursday when they are at Legoland. I want to tell you all about the YSA conference and the Huntington Library (I went with Linda and her friend yesterday). Love you all. MOM

Time out for the conference

This is a quick post to let you know I don't have time to upload the videos today. Dad and I will be spending the next 2 plus days getting ready for this weekend. I won't have access to my computer for a couple of days. It will be used for registration for the State-wide YSA conference over this weekend. So I will be back with you next week. I spoke to Ryan and Tanja this morning. Tanja saw the Dr. and all is well with the pregnancy. She is about 11 weeks and is officially due Feb. 24. But she and Ryan figure it may be a little earlier than that. (Insider info). They promised to send a copy of the ultrasound picture so I will be posting it on the blog next week. We love you all. Bye till at least Monday. Mom

Jason and Becca's Visit

Jason and Becca and family came for a visit this last weekend. They arrived on Saturday and left on Tuesday evening. Alan and Tammy came on Tuesday and we had the day together. The kids loved playing with each other and we had a family BBQ in the evening. Linda stopped by to say hello to everyone before they left. I will post photos tonight (It's 11:15) and videos tomorrow. It was a great few days and we sure enjoyed it. Missed all of the rest of you, though. We love you all. Mom

Here are the four rugrats eating the BBQ dinner. The corn on the cob was THE hit of the night. They loved it and there wasn't much left for anyone else. The four kids (Liesl hiding behind Owen) in the pool. They sure enjoyed their time together and played both in the house and in the pool together. Juliette sure knows how to pose for a photo! She loves the water. On Monday, Becca, Grandma, Owen and Liesl went to the tide pools. We looked at the animals and then played in the waves. Even though we were only at the beach for an hour we got a lot of play time there.

Learning how to time the waves. Running from the waves!

Great photo of Becca and the kids. Liesl go so excited about the tide pools. She loved the sea urchins and crabs. Owen just before a wave splashed behind him. Looking for critters. These are photos from our time in the pool the first day. My battery died so I only had the camera in the water that first day. These are photos from their first day here.

Clara always wanted to stay on the steps.

Owen's "pencil" dive.

Liesl "taking off"!

Grandma and Liesl looking fetching in the water.Proof that Grandma and Grandpa DO get in the pool!