Jamie and I decided that after eight years, the Air Force life is not for us any more. Jamie's enlistment ends in September. As I have posted a couple of times, Jamie has been looking for and applying for jobs since the beginning of this year with the hopes of having a job ready for him as soon as possible. He has applied at several fire departments in western Oregon up and down I-5. At the end of May, Jamie interviewed with DPSST, the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, for a fire training coordinator position. They interviewed him and a few others in the morning and called him in the evening. They told him that he was chosen to advance to the next round in the interview process, the background check. After a long, nerve wracking wait, they called last week. They said they completed their investigation and offered him the position, and.....
He accepted!!!!!!!!
We are very excited about this opportunity and are grateful for the way that everything is working out. We are looking forward to being much closer to the kid's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Jamie is also excited that we will be able to live in Jefferson and he can volunteer with the fire department again.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
My Big Boy
Riley loves to crawl. He goes every where and over anything. He quickly learned to climb the stairs. He is very good at it and has only fallen once, luckily it was only one step. He has not learned to climb down the stairs, and won't let me teach him. He goes up the stairs several times a day and goes to his room to play. When he is ready to come back down, he sits at the top of the stairs and cries to let you know he is ready to come down stairs. This also means that he can climb up on JJ's bed, but can't get down.
Saturday Riley went upstairs to play. When it was about time for his nap, I went upstairs to put him in bed and this is what I found:
Riley sound asleep on JJ's bed and pillow.
I grabbed the camera, snapped a few photos and tucked him in. Then I hoped that JJ could hold out on his nap until Riley woke up. Riley cracks me up with the positions that he sleeps in. Many times Riley looks like he feel asleep sitting up and just fellow over.
Saturday Riley went upstairs to play. When it was about time for his nap, I went upstairs to put him in bed and this is what I found:
Riley sound asleep on JJ's bed and pillow.
I grabbed the camera, snapped a few photos and tucked him in. Then I hoped that JJ could hold out on his nap until Riley woke up. Riley cracks me up with the positions that he sleeps in. Many times Riley looks like he feel asleep sitting up and just fellow over.
Brotherly Love
I can tell that JJ and Riley have a close bond. They love to share with each other, most of the time. And it is very cute to see in action. They share toys, clothes, food and even pacifiers. The other day Riley bumped his head and I was walking over to pick him up. JJ was standing next to him and took the pacifier from his mouth and gave it to Riley. It was so sweet to see the way JJ takes care of his little brother.
The other day, I came downstairs and found that JJ had gotten into some cookies and he sat down with Riley to eat them together.
JJ also says Riley's name now. I love hearing it. I hope they always stay this close.
The other day, I came downstairs and found that JJ had gotten into some cookies and he sat down with Riley to eat them together.
JJ also says Riley's name now. I love hearing it. I hope they always stay this close.
Happy Birthday Sammi
I can't believe how old my kids are getting. Sammi turned 7 this month. We had a little party at home this year. A bit of a change since the last several years we have been out of town during her birthday. Sammi got several things she has been asking for and she is very excited about all of them.
She has been asking for a t-ball set. I am sure she doesn't really understand the difference between t-ball and soft ball or base ball. I thought wiffle ball might be a good start. Hopefully they only hit the ball with the bat.
The base requires helmets to be worn when you ride a bike or scooter. Not a bad idea. She has been asking about riding a bike or scooter to school since she say the other kids doing it. She won't get the chance since we are moving before she starts school this fall. But she can use it when we go on walks, in the back yard, or at our next house.
What kid doesn't like to color?
And what is probably Sammi's most favorite birthday gift, her scooter from Grandma and Grandpa Orr. She would ride this all day long if it didn't get to hot. She was a bit upset that she wasn't great at it when she started, be she is learning fast and doing well.
She has been asking for a t-ball set. I am sure she doesn't really understand the difference between t-ball and soft ball or base ball. I thought wiffle ball might be a good start. Hopefully they only hit the ball with the bat.
The base requires helmets to be worn when you ride a bike or scooter. Not a bad idea. She has been asking about riding a bike or scooter to school since she say the other kids doing it. She won't get the chance since we are moving before she starts school this fall. But she can use it when we go on walks, in the back yard, or at our next house.
What kid doesn't like to color?
And what is probably Sammi's most favorite birthday gift, her scooter from Grandma and Grandpa Orr. She would ride this all day long if it didn't get to hot. She was a bit upset that she wasn't great at it when she started, be she is learning fast and doing well.
Playing in the Water
Nothing like playing in the cold water when it's 95 degrees and hotter outside. Of course, we have to wait for it to cool down and get out of the peek sun burn time. The girls sure have enjoyed playing out side, with or with out the sprinkler, this summer. I feel very lucky that we have a yard that allows the kids to play outside and we know they are safe.
Samantha
Andrea
JJ
He doesn't care for the sprinkler much, but he does enjoy playing in buckets of water.
Even the dog, Cocoa, is having fun in the water. Well, really she likes to play with rocks and dropped it in the water and is trying to get it. But it keeps her cool.
Samantha
Andrea
JJ
He doesn't care for the sprinkler much, but he does enjoy playing in buckets of water.
Even the dog, Cocoa, is having fun in the water. Well, really she likes to play with rocks and dropped it in the water and is trying to get it. But it keeps her cool.
Friday, July 24, 2009
JJ in June
JJ loves to put shoes on. Any shoes that finds will do. I knew that with summer coming I would be able to get a pair of "Crocs" for him that hopefully he could put on himself. I did find a pair. He loves wearing his shoes so much, that when he sees them, he has to have them on, period. Doesn't matter if he is wearing his jammies with feet, or wearing just a diaper. So there are many days like this around our house. He was like this with his sneakers too. Many mornings we took Samantha to school with JJ wearing his sneakers over his jammies.
Oh the funny things little ones get into! Notice the shoes.
The lighting in this picture is a bit bad, but again, notice the shoes.
Samantha got this rocking horse six years ago I think. Each of our kids has enjoyed it. JJ has now learned to climb on and off, and to make it rock and slide across the room.
Oh the funny things little ones get into! Notice the shoes.
The lighting in this picture is a bit bad, but again, notice the shoes.
Samantha got this rocking horse six years ago I think. Each of our kids has enjoyed it. JJ has now learned to climb on and off, and to make it rock and slide across the room.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Riley in June
You'll have to excuse the dirty window (it's dirty from the outside). The dog likes to jump on it with wet feet. But I wanted to get some pictures of Riley watching the kids. Does this make me mean?
What do you think he is trying to say here?
I don't know if I am ready for this. I hope that he is just interested in it because the girls use them.
Playing in the window.
JJ started doing this last year at our last house. He would get the tips of his toes on the molding around the floor and pull himself up to look out the window. I finally found a box that was the right size for him to step on so he could look out the window, and eventually play in the window. He brought this activity to our current house. Now he is taller and the window sill is lower. It didn't take long for Riley to catch on. Now he likes to peer out the window and play there (though his type of play is bang on the window).
When JJ was learning to crawl at our last house, he would crawl into his bed room. We would wonder where he was and then hear this toy. I got several pictures of him playing with it, and now have several of Riley too. The picture on the left is JJ from last May, the picture on the right is Riley from June.
We have these "peek-a-blocks" and "roll-a-rounds" that Riley just loves. If you haven't seen them before, they are balls or squares with things inside, like pets, zoo animals, cars, different visual things. We have had a lot of these a long time, but I think Riley has liked them the most. It's funny to watch him because he goes up to the box they are in, and reaches in to select just the right two. And not just any two will do, it has to be two that make noise, the louder the better. Then he sits and shakes them.
What do you think he is trying to say here?
I don't know if I am ready for this. I hope that he is just interested in it because the girls use them.
Playing in the window.
JJ started doing this last year at our last house. He would get the tips of his toes on the molding around the floor and pull himself up to look out the window. I finally found a box that was the right size for him to step on so he could look out the window, and eventually play in the window. He brought this activity to our current house. Now he is taller and the window sill is lower. It didn't take long for Riley to catch on. Now he likes to peer out the window and play there (though his type of play is bang on the window).
When JJ was learning to crawl at our last house, he would crawl into his bed room. We would wonder where he was and then hear this toy. I got several pictures of him playing with it, and now have several of Riley too. The picture on the left is JJ from last May, the picture on the right is Riley from June.
We have these "peek-a-blocks" and "roll-a-rounds" that Riley just loves. If you haven't seen them before, they are balls or squares with things inside, like pets, zoo animals, cars, different visual things. We have had a lot of these a long time, but I think Riley has liked them the most. It's funny to watch him because he goes up to the box they are in, and reaches in to select just the right two. And not just any two will do, it has to be two that make noise, the louder the better. Then he sits and shakes them.
Summer = Popsicles
Ahhh, Summer. I sometimes think of Summer as the race to get ice cream and popsicles home before they melt. The choice of taking all the kids to the store just for the cold treats in the morning when it's cool, or rushing like a crazy person in the heat when dad has the kids. The kids don't mind what you choose, as long as they get to enjoy this treat on hot days.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Grandma Orr's House
Water slide! Sam has enjoyed this for a couple years, but this is the first time that Andi has really tried it. She had fun, but only went a couple times. This is probably just the start, next year, I think we won't be able to get her off, like Sam.
JJ cooling off.
Riley was getting very tired, but was fighting us on going to sleep, so we dragged the playpen out to put him in. JJ liked running all over the yard and down the drive way. He was tired too. He also started a funny new habit that night. He started calling out "Sa-a-am! Sa-a-am!" It was so funny. Every couple times, Samantha would answer him. He would take a couple breaths and start all over. JJ learned that night that if he says our name, we will respond.
S'mores
JJ cooling off.
Riley was getting very tired, but was fighting us on going to sleep, so we dragged the playpen out to put him in. JJ liked running all over the yard and down the drive way. He was tired too. He also started a funny new habit that night. He started calling out "Sa-a-am! Sa-a-am!" It was so funny. Every couple times, Samantha would answer him. He would take a couple breaths and start all over. JJ learned that night that if he says our name, we will respond.
S'mores
Stuff a Bear at Home
When Grandma came to visit in May she brought a couple bears to stuff for the grandkids to play wit at her house. The girls had lots of fun and didn't want to give the bears back.
Samantha with Papa Bear.
Andrea with Brother Bear.
Samantha with Papa Bear.
Andrea with Brother Bear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)