Neighbors

All of our neighbors are retired...on all sides of our house. They were a little worried when we initially moved in because we had a bunch of college guys helping us move our treasures. Once they realized we were newlyweds and it would only be the two of us living here I think they were relieved.

We all lived a quiet, nice little life of retirees and never home full time employees. They were and still are all friendly, with the exception of one that was recently rude so I've decided I don't like him anymore, and would ask how we were doing and always wave. Stephen has helped several of them with moving heavy things, etc. We had a great quiet little end of our street.

Then...

We brought home our screeching Gabriel. I felt bad leaving doors and windows open during swamp cooler season because I was worried all the neighbors would be bothered by the crying. They were all still nice to us anyway. The cute couple that lives right across the street from us are especially nice. They are a fun, super social, couple from New York. They've brought a cute little gift over after each of the boys arrived and send little Christmas gifts for the boys. Really we hit the jackpot with having them for neighbors, it's like the kids have a 3rd set of grandparents. Lincoln even waves and jabbers at them when he sees them. *Just a side note the wife has mentioned how bad she felt for me after Gabriel was born because she could hear him crying all the time. She said, "I told ---(husband) that baby must have awful colic or something with all the crying." So, I learned my concern that all the neighbors would hear the constant crying was valid. :-/ They still love us... and Gabriel...so all is well.

Recently, the husband came over for something. They hadn't noticed my ever expanding girth yet. He looked at my big ol' belly and exclaimed, "Whoa, what's that?" We kinda laughed and said it's what was planned for next April. He laughed, slapped Stephen on the shoulder and said, "Ha you dirty old man!!" It was hilarious! I wish I'd had a camera to catch Stephen's expression.

I still feel like the noisy intruders on our quiet end of the street. Now all the neighbors have to listen to the boys squabble and their mom yell at them. I'm sure it's a lovely thing for their golden years. We're working on bringing calm to the house and yard....for the benefit of all those in the surrounding areas. :-)

I AM SO
SICK OF THIS DAD GUM FLAMING HEAT I COULD JUST SPIT....among other things that have crossed my mind.

My plants are withered and dead.
My house is a hot mess...literally both of those.
The devil himself left 3 weeks ago.
My little dears are hot and cranky.
My sparkling personality is a dream to be married to.
Ok, I'm done.
Time to put on my big girl pants....right after it cools off, till then only a shirt.

At Long Last...

Stephen has been able to convince the new internet service to work, then with some more coaxing convinced my computer to be friends with it. I've been enjoying eating my bon bons and catching up on all my blogs.

Stephen's extended academy and first tour (yep I took a picture of his first day) continued till the Friday before school started. That meant we had the grand total of a Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning to enjoy our summer vacation. We squeezed in a trip to the new aquarium at Arizona Mills Mall and had lunch at Rain Forest Cafe. We bought a kid's meal for Gabriel; he wolfed it down in 5 minutes and was asking for more and more and more. I guess it's time to start ordering adult sized meals for him. He finished everyone else's meals as they got full. We've never taken the kids to an amusement park or done any of your typical vacation things so they have nothing to compare a day trip to the aquarium to; it was declared a vacation and we didn't let them know anything different. :-) My amazing aunt and uncle let us spend the night at their house despite the fact that they were flying out of town the next day at 5:00 AM. Our kids have fun memories of playing in their backyard and playroom and were as excited about seeing my aunt and uncle as they were about their "vacation" to the aquarium. They noticed the water park off I-60 and have asked for another vacation to there. How long you think we can pull off driving an hour and a half and have them think they're vacationing? Wednesday was 1st grade orientation. While we were all waiting to go in Gabriel started talking to a boy he knew from last year...this is what we heard:

Other boy: "I went to the beach and....(missed part of it, but listed several things he did)

Gabriel: (excitedly) "I went on vacation too!"

Other boy: "Where?!?"

Gabriel: "PHOENIX!"

Gabriel didn't have a reaction to the other boy's expression, so I've told myself he didn't notice it. What's a parent to do? We just smiled at each other. As the big boys talked to each other about their vacation we didn't correct them but always referred to visiting the aquarium. Now they're referring to going to the aquarium rather than vacationing to Phoenix. It makes us feel less lame. We did take pictures and I'll post some....someday.

Then Gabriel started school the next day, Thursday. We're having our usual schedule change behavior issues, but I've instituted a new policy that seems to be helping ever so slightly. He has been able to stay on GREEN since school stared. That tells me he's at least behaving there and saving all the naughty crap for his lucky momma at home. I'll take a well behaved kid in public and terror at home over the reverse any day. Although, he and Garrett have ZERO ability to control themselves and behave when they are together in public. Last year doing homework was painful. This year is going to be T O R T U R E, and we've only had one week's worth so far. Deep breaths and very limited amounts every day should make it work. I am happy to report that it's only the language stuff that's killing us, he flies through the math homework. Every time he tells me he's not smart because he can't read I remind him that there is plenty he can read (I remember clawing through it all last year) and that he's a lucky boy that got Dad's math brain. Math brains are good and something I'm jealous of. I'm not sure how to help him feel like a confident smart student in the subjects that are strengths while pushing him along in the other subjects. I guess that'll be this year's goal for myself. When I see other people making him feel dumb because of this reading stuff I want to scratch their eyes out. I'd love to beat 'em. I also have pictures of his first day that I'll post someday.

Garrett also started his second year of pre school. He's very disappointed he's not in kindergarten, but will just have to live with it. Academically he could probably handle kindergarten, but the whole sit in a chair for longer than a nano-second completely escapes him. I've often wished the boys had a switched birth order; Gabriel could really benefit from an older sibling learning stuff for him to pick up on. Garrett's teacher said it's been cute to watch him take the oldest student role. He needs to feel all grown up every now and then, it's good for him. He tells me all about what he learns everyday. I couldn't miss his first day and have a picture of that too. (wink wink you know how that'll go.)

Now, we're WAY last minute cramming a birthday party in for Gabriel. I've wanted to just scrap it so many times, but we told him he could have a "soldier" party and I can't bare crushing his little heart. He experiences enough crushing blows I want him to know that when his mom and dad tell him something he can depend on it.

Once that's done I think I've talked Stephen into helping get them all in for pictures. Garrett still hasn't had 4 year old pictures...yeah his birthday was in March. Just want to make sure he develops a healthy case of "middle child syndrome", poor kid. Gabriel is due for his 6 year old pictures, and that Lincoln is due for his 18 months pictures. Stephen manages the two not being pictured and sends them in one at a time. Then while I go through and pick what to order he takes them far, far away from me so I can think. IF they behave during that time they get ONE dollar to get a cheap toy from the dollar section.

That will take us right to my first day back to work. I have enormous amounts of anxiety about how to pull off this semester. I've never had to go back to work so quickly after the birth of a baby, but life is what it is and I'll have to be back a week later. I can't even begin to express how much I need the boys to step and do the things that they need to do ie. dressing themselves in the morning, sitting and eating breakfast without messing around. After a baby comes I'll have to be nursing and pumping while trying to get all 5 of us ready to leave the house for the day by 7:00 am. Am I nervous?? Y E S ! My income will depend a lot on them. I'm scared I'll fail horribly. I hate feeling like a failure. Knowing this was coming is why I instituted the "When It's Time" rule. When it's time to go, we load up and go. Gabriel has come very close to going to church in jammies and has gone with NO food or still hungry several times. He's slowly seeing that I'm not joking. When it's time to load up and go...that's exactly what we do. Garrett has run out of time a few times too. He's catching on more quickly. I'm hoping that this will help get us all to the places we need to be on time.

(DEEP BREATH) Here we go...

Well That Backfired!

Stephen got a new calling a little while ago. He's now got meetings he needs to attend the whole morning before church, lots of paperwork stuff to do during church, and tithing/fast offerings/more paperwork stuff after church. I've been apprehensive about how this will all work out to say the least. In all honesty I doubt I'll EVER be even close to on time again.

This morning I decided it was time to lower the boom on these naughty big boys that are teaching Lincoln how to be a naughty boy. I got them bathed and into separate rooms to get dressed. I explained to each of them that they would not get a bite to eat till they were completely dressed for church; and, when it was time to leave we were loading up and driving off. Lincoln is dressed by me so he got a full breakfast and I squeezed in a quick bowl of Fruity Cheerios. Those things are SO good! Garrett got himself dressed and managed to slowly eat half a bowl of cereal. That kid eats SOOO S L O W, dinner can easily take him 3 hours. Poor little, helpless, gonna be 6 next week, Gabriel just couldn't get his own socks and shoes on. Ohhh, wah wah wah. He'd flung his socks all over his room in a fit and couldn't find one so he wah wah wahed about that for a while. Finally he found it then wah wah wahed about how he can't put his own shoes on. It was 8:40 when this was all going on; we have to leave at 8:50 to get there close to on time. I just quietly decided that I wasn't going to fight with him and he'd go to church in whatever state he was in. I truly believed I'd be taking a kid to church wearing one sock and no shoes. I had to laugh to myself because I knew this would be the Sunday they sang Happy Birthday to him in Primary and THAT would be hilarious to see.

He managed to get everything found and on just in time, but not in time to eat. He grabbed two baggies of snacks left from yesterday's trip to Thatcher and thought he'd eat them in the car. NO WAY!! I'm mean, hot, and T I R E D. He was going to live with this natural consequence and hopefully make better choices next Sunday. If he doesn't I should have a good picture. :-) He was only allowed to eat that food after he'd reverently walked out to the car at the end of church and gotten buckled in. Oh how I hope this makes an impression so that next week will be more efficient.

You may be thinking, "Uh why did we have to see a picture of your lovely summer pregnant feet?" In the process of giving my kids natural consequences I COMPLETELY forgot to put my own Sunday shoes on and that's what I ended up wearing to church today. Nice. Note to self hang the nice shoes on the door so you don't forget them and look like an idiot.

Thoughts on the Monsoon...

I only had the camera in my phone...it does not do these justice.

I figure if I'm going to get ripped off on the rain at least we're sent some pretty sunsets.
This was a bright, vibrant, beautiful sunset!
We pulled over and all five of us sat there and watched it.

Oath

Since I missed a MAJORITY of Stephen's graduation, when he told me about taking the oath in front of the board I decided to go. Yes, that made me weird and I was told that I'd be the only "regular person" at a fire board meeting. I was ok with that and promised to sit quietly and behave...which is much more than I can say for all the kids I farmed out. Gabriel was at his "summer school" classes. My mom took Garrett to swim lessons and Lincoln got to hang out at home with a babysitter.

I had to hurry to get there on time. It felt like I'd driven too far and missed the road somehow...just then I found the road. I parked one minute late, grabbed the ignition half of my keys and got in quickly. It was nice to be able to sit and watch him take his oath uninterrupted. After the oath I stayed for a little while to just see how the meeting went. I'm very glad I did. As each issue was discussed the board brought up very good questions, and the chiefs had very good explanations. It was very obvious that both the board members and chiefs try to make decisions based on the good of the community they serve, not their bottom line. I appreciated that that will be the employment environment Stephen will be working in. They were also honest, moral people that consider ethical ramifications of each decision. My Mr. Straight and Narrow will be a good fit in that kind of environment and I know that he'll never be asked to compromise his standards or do anything questionable. That's a comfort.

He's with a good district, and working with lots of good people. The meeting was actually pretty interesting. I loved watching the tact that was employed in describing a specific group...I think I would have used different descriptors. ;-)

At family night this was explained:
-We will risk our lives a lot for a life that is savable.

-We will risk our lives a little for property that is savable.

-We won't risk our lives for something that is already lost.

Safety is a BIG thing and knowing that he'll never be hurt or killed by running into an empty building that is already lost has brought peace to my mind. I'm struggling with several things with the kids right now. One day I thought I was about to break and had the terrible thought I could end up alone with them. My next thought was, "Oh no no no I was NOT sent single parent kind of kids." Knowing what a priority safety is brings comfort and calm to my mind.

As I left I discovered that I'd actually put the wrong half of my keys in my pocket. GRRRR! I was SO embarrassed as I walked back into the lobby. However, I did get to meet and chat with the receptionist...she's a really nice lady. She called a couple of the on duty firefighters over to help me. Have I mentioned how embarrassed I was. I didn't tell them who I was connected to, but they knew I was one of the new guy's wife. Poor Stephen is hitched to such a bumbling wife. They had the door popped open REALLY fast. The guy said, "I was a thief before I did this." Hilarious! I thanked them and they assured me that they wouldn't tell. {;-D That night when I told Stephen how fast they opened it he asked if I'd told them, "Wow last time I did this it took a lot longer to open it." That's a different story I'll tell you another day. Each key for that car costs nearly 100 bucks (bought online for cheaper) so obviously we don't have a spare. We'll be getting one of those very soon...because I'm bumbling and my brain is being sucked out at an alarming rate these days.

Long Ramblings on Graduation

STEPHEN GRADUATED!!

It has been a grueling 14 weeks while Stephen completed the fire academy. About mid way through he told me that he ate lunch in his truck everyday so he could get some studying in. I felt bad that he had to sacrifice the camaraderie the guys that stayed inside were enjoying. Try as I might there was really no way to get any peace and quiet for him to study in at home. Once the book work was done he began eating lunch with the other guys. I was glad he got a few weeks. He did well academically, despite the lack of study time, so he led his group onto the stage for the badge pinning. Poor guy carried a heavier load here at home than I would've like, but when I'm pregnant I'm pretty much useless. He's always kind about it though.

Our camera didn't like the lighting so many of our pictures didn't turn out well...at all. I'm pretty sad about that. I wasn't able to get pictures of everything I wanted due to the 2 hour wrestling match I had with Lincoln. Now I discover not many of the few I did get didn't turn out. Grrr! This is a big thing; I wanted it well documented dang it. I'm blessed with the world's most amazing friends, one offered to take Lincoln for me....about an hour into it I was thinking, "Dang, I should have left this little critter." I wanted him in the pictures after...not thinking about all the pictures I'd miss in the meantime.
I guess normally the chief pins the badges on the new firefighters. The training officers talked about how important families are and as a nod to them each guy, and the one girl, got to choose who would pin them. Stephen chose me! You may think that's a given, but there was one guy that had his wife and dad fighting over who would get to do it. He never made the decision and just let them fight it out. I will tell you there was a very hurt wife from that situation. It made me sad to look into her eyes. Stephen thought it was crazy too and said, "The wife should always win in that situation." That's one of the many reasons I love him. I'm grateful I got to be part of such an important event. This night was the beginning of a new career, and life for us; we both got to be a part of it and that made it even more special.

The whole combined class. There were recruits from 3 different agencies represented. This was kind of a record breaking effort in collaboration. The 3 agencies pooled resources and had a combined academy. It's hard to see the sculptures in the middle of them, but one of the recruits made each of those bases. The red thing hanging in the middle is each department's emblem...hand crafted by him. He did an amazing job!

That Stephen of mine is a smart guy, he had to speak for a few minutes, because he was Valedictorian. He'll kill me if he knows I told, shhh. I was standing in the lobby with Lincoln, when he saw Dad and I wouldn't put him down to run to him that Lincoln got mad and LOUD. So, I missed part of Stephen's speaking part too. I had my Dad running the camcorder and oh how I pray nothing went wrong with it. I haven't had the time to check it yet. What I did hear was great. By the end of the night Lincoln would have NOTHING to do with me. He wanted to cuddle his Dad and that was final. These boys sure love their Dad.

Here's the reason I decided to haul all three kids with me. I wanted the family picture at the end of the night. Stephen said I looked like I was mourning because I wore black. I explained that it was navy blue and not black and that I'm pregnant and limited on what I can wear. A large portion of my maternity clothes are dark solid colors because that's what I have to wear for work. A large portion of my regular clothes are also dark solid colors. I was working full time when I was pregnant with Gabriel and most of these clothes were purchased, thus the dark solid color. He said he didn't care but noticed that most of the other wives were in bright little sundresses. I then pointed out that I can't wear cute bright sundresses even when I'm not pregnant. :-) I had wanted to try to get out and get a new outfit that was brighter colored, but that ain't gonna happen with the boys in tow. Oh well, it is what it is. At least we all made it and I think the navy coordinated with his clothes quite nicely. :-D

Now he has a year of probation. I have more anxiety about that than I did about the academy. During that probation time all they have to do is not like you and declare you're not a good fit to get rid of you. That's a little scary. He's good at getting along with others, understands the rookie hoops he'll be jumping through, and is conscious of what and how he says things. Everything should work out, I'm just high strung and a worrier. **His shift is the one that works Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's...Here's to the Rookie.** The kids are young and won't even notice a change in day. :-)

You can't really see Lincoln's jammies...they have fire trucks on them and glow in the dark. They are hand me downs from Gabriel. *Side Note: When Garrett wore these jammies the glow in the dark FREAKED him out and we had to put them on inside out.* I just thought it was funny that those are the jammies he's wearing considering where we'd just come from. The other day Stephen asked, "what's up with all the firefighters outfits?" I can honestly say they're all from when Gabriel was this size. I just thought they were cute and bought them...6 years ago. Which coincidentally is about the first time this career crossed Stephen's mind.

Many years ago he thought this looked like a career he'd like. He did a little research into it, but nothing like he did before he applied for this job, and kept it in the back of his mind. He was crazy busy with work and school at the time...and babies shortly after that...and wasn't able to pursue it. Well, work stopped and he wasn't crazy busy anymore. I've learned there's a fine line to tread during employment transitions. I felt I needed to support him in his endeavors, but at the same time didn't want to encourage the beating of a dead career horse. Fortunately, he still had this in the back of his mind and when he was ready to let go of some dreams, worked through the feelings a bread winner has to work through, and take a leap in a TOTALLY different direction, he was willing to do it with all he had. In order to make a sound, informed decision he called and talked extensively with every firefighter he knew (including one call to Idaho). He spent many hours on the internet reading things from leadership within the industry. Once he decided he was going to apply he spent several more hours researching and learning about the two departments that were hiring. We were blessed that these two departments made a change and only required applicants to be EMT certified. That meant he took a 4 week, INTENSE, EMT course at the beginning of the year. From that he had a month-ish of interviews with a heavy dose of praying (meanwhile his wife was discovering she was pregnant) and she added another heavy dose of praying. Then we waited for a call, and she finally told him about the new one on the way. We couldn't believe he'd gotten on. It's normally a long process of repeated tries to get on with a fire department, we were prepared for that and brought to tears, ok I was, when he actually got on. Within a couple of weeks he started the academy and has been doing that for the last 14 weeks. His department just added on two more weeks of training...puts some kinks in a couple plans, but we'll adjust, he has a job after all. Getting him employed has been pretty much all we've done this year. He's happy and ready to work. We're happy and ready to have a life back.

This morning Garrett said, "Dad, someday you'll be a firefighter." Stephen responded, "I am a firefighter." Garrett laughed and said, "No you're not! You're a person."

Yes, he is a person, a great husband, Dad, and human being. It's nice to have the less stressed Stephen back.