Kids at work

Benjamin is on my lap right now so if there are random keystrokes they are his way of communicating. Every Friday is inter gen era tional day at my work. Benjamin comes nearly every Friday and Lev i come s when he can (school). People (that I work with) think that it's an easy day and it's extra fun, but not really. I still have to do my work, and be a mom. HOWEVER that still does not stop be from bringing them. The residents LOVE them and have adopted them as their own. Today is the annual FUN IN THE SUN day where the whole afternoon is devoted to the sunshine. We do water balloons and rent a massive slip-n-slide. I will post a ton of pictures (including the ones I have been promising) later!

PEACHES

It is peach season! We went peach picking on Aug 2-which was the hotest day of the year and got some, not many peaches and blackberries. They are really late this year. Since my children were so cute and helpful on Saturday we went with our friend Amber this Sunday also (8-10-08) and got LOTS of peaches and blackberries. Not too hot and the peaches were riper and juicey. I will post pictures next time.
Saturday Levi was so cute. He often does these "cheers" before bed. He usually stands at the top of the stairs and makes up something. Saturday night it was all about me. I'm not all that sappy, but this was so kind and amazing that I have to share. Levi's cheer went "Mom is the best! Mom is awesome! My heart beats for my MMMOOOOOMMMMM!" it was all sealed with a hug and a kiss. Levi has such a kind heart, wow he is amazing!
Saturday I took a lot of pictures of Benjamin, because he was so smiley and just CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!
I will post pictures later (probably tomorrow). Jacob has fire meeting tonight and I have LOTS of peaches to put up!!!

update

I was so excited to see a comment from Benjamin and Levi's favorite NICU nurse, H on my last post. She moved to NH and we have lost contact. It is amazing to hear from her and read her blog. I cannot convey how much the special nurses (especially H) helped us through those 73 days. They became part of the family, and know far more about us and the situation, wow is all I can say. H used to let Levi take my milk to the freezer. He always loved to see her and we even visited her after Benjamin was out of the hospital.
On with new news...
We are dog sitting for Keri and family--they have a boy golden retriever puppy. It has been a long time since we had a puppy, and my kiddos have never had a puppy so they are really not used to the running, licking, and puppy biting and Benjamin is just about done with it. He says "no, Shaggy" very well and "stop it, Shaggy" is good too. Shaggy is a good dog and has not done anything wrong nor has he hurt the boys. Levi has become Sadie's (our dog) protector. Sadie is a girl Shaggy is like a teenaged boy. Sadie wants NO PART of that and lets Shaggy know, but boys will be boys and you can hardly blame Shaggy for trying-Sadie is a pretty good girl. Levi just keeps telling Shaggy "no, leave Sadie's butt alone-it's hers not yours". Sadie is so laid back and gentle, so not a puppy (she's 8). It is fun to have Shaggy, it is just different to have a puppy and a boy dog. Shaggy is so pretty...
We went peach, blackberry, and blueberry picking on Saturday. All are really late this year because of all the rain. I have a lot of peaches to put up, the blackberries and blueberries are already done. I have a lot of requests for pie, yes dad you will get a peach pie...

The ROOM

Here are you see Levi and his friend R painting the first coat of white. BYE-BYE clouds! In life you must get some paint on your hands. Not worries he washes!
This is the "diamond plating" that I did on one wall. I could only do so much until the fumes of the spray paint got to me. I cannot believe people huff this for fun! The fire hose is the baseboards-Jacob's idea isn't it COOL! (BFD=Bethany Fire Department)

This is the ceiling. With real fire hose. We are getting more. The painting the hoses on did not work so good. I hate to paint ceilings!

Here is the "front" of the truck. I spray painted the blinds silver-only on one side. I plan to get a picture of the fieghtliner logo from the front of a real fire truck and put it on the "grill".
Here is the making of the head board cabinet. Both of the boys loved to play in them while waiting for installation.

Here are the finished bunk beds. Again we used fire hose. The "poles" are PVC pipe painted to look like the real thing. Gray sheets, we are waiting on Benjamin's fire quilt that will not match Levi's, but will be close. The yellow things at the bottom are air bottles from air packs. We also have retired airpacks and helmets. All we have left is moving in the rest of the furniture and putting on the quilts. They love to play, play, play in their room!

amazing

I think that it was yeasterday morning or the morning before...Benjamin got out of his new big bottom bunk bed and came into our room. This was good and bad-it was time for me to get up and he was just wanting to snuggle and go back to sleep-the benefits of big bed life...So he started laying on Jacob's belly-Benjamin's head was on Jacob's belly, Benjamin had is hands behind his head and his ankles crossed, I laid there thinking " I should get up and go to work, but this is a picture I want to remember" (it was 5:30 AM I was not taking a real picture). After a bid of self guilting I got up and started to get ready for my day. When I got back to my room to get dressed Benjamin was laying on my side sleeping then he started laughing-I mean LAUGHING. I stopped at that moment and again wanted a mental picture and recording-what could he be dreaming about, it was a good dream!
The inside out firetruck room is DONE! I will post pictures probably next week. My kids LOVE the room and the bunk beds. Jacob did an amazing job!
We are now getting ready for school. I cannot believe that Levi will be in kindergarten. He had not been little long enough. We just finished vacation bible school and I was amazed at the 5 year olds interacted, how much they loved the science room, all saying that Discovery Room was the "funniest room in the whole world". I was their leader and will probably stay with the 5 year olds next year, something about the freedom to have fun...
Jacob has been working a lot-we had a 17 year old drown last Sunday. Jacob helped with the recovery until Wednesday when they finally were able to get him out. What a life we lead. This accident will lead to more and more responsibility for Jacob. Jacob is such a good role model, he has an amazing commitment to public service. Jacob will be leading a lot of training for water recovery and rescue. This is the second teenager our town as lost in July. The high school will have their work cut out for them this year.
Gosh, what a cheery note. We are all good and I promise some pictures next week!!!!!

WOW

Well, the room is almost done and I will be posting pictures. Jacob did an AMAZING job on the bunk beds. Levi is EXCITED to say the least and patiently waiting for everything to be done so he can finally sleep on the top. Benjamin is really good at getting up and down off of his bed too. We have made them wait to get into the room until all of the painting is done, I think that I am done. I have decided to do a little bit less than I had planned because Jacob was able to get some really neat "retired" fire gear. We have really transformed this room I am a bit jealous-it is a room that will be fun for them to grow in-no white walls!!!
Vacation Bible School started for Levi last night, and Jacob had a rough call while he was working. Levi is old enough to know to listen when the pager goes off and he understands most of the time that when daddy has to leave someone is sick or hurt. Well this time it was a water recovery and some of the rescue team came and got our diving trailer, so Levi "needed" to know what was going on (I had endless questions about why did they get my trailer, was daddy hurt...). In the same time Benjamin had found Jacob's cell phone and was having a FIT that daddy had left the phone. Knowing that there was nothing to see and that Benjamin was way too stressed about the stupid phone, I went and gave a police officer Jacob's phone Benjamin was pleased. However during vacation bible school everyone was talking about the accident and Levi, I guess, said that you have to be careful around water, because someone drowned today, and my dad is trying to help him. It is the life we live. Levi is amazing that he seems to understand, because the next thing he said was, God was ready for him, I guess. Living in a small town everyone knew more than I did and what happened and who was there... they even were telling me things that were not true-the victim was 17 and several of the people at the church are teachers so cell phones were non stop during VBS. It is very sad and I can't imagine anything more horrible, unfortunately things like this happen and all you can do is pray that accidents will stop happening.
On with other stuff. I had a sleep study and I will be the proud owner of a CPAP machine, which, in therory, will keep me from snoring (and will keep me breathing) so Jacob and I both sleep better and I wake up refreshed and full of energy! I am a bit leary and not sure that I really want this machine, but if it will help me sleep and wake up refreshed then I will try.
Jacob is great and working hard to get everything ready in the house. He is pulling down all of the old ceiling in the dining room so it can be repaired, soon we will start with the toy room and get that done.
Benjamin is talking a lot and loves being in a big boy bed. He has really started to be a little boy instead of a baby. Levi calls him the "B Boy" and he calls himself the "L man". It is so amazing to hear them talk. Benjamin has started to call Levi "Buddy", which is great, he was trying to call him brother and I don't know why it just annoyed me-Benjamin will say "Vivi" for Levi on occasion.
It's another busy week for me at work, and with me helping with VBS I can't stay too late this week, hopefully the end of month stuff will go smoothly!

Times they are a changin'

Wow, I haven't posted for such a while, and again I will promise pictures later! We have been undergoing a lot of changes.
1-My mother-in law M moved to Florida. So Grandma M, Grandpa M, Uncle T, and Uncle A are all gone. I guess I should explain for those of you who do not know--Jacob's dad died 30 years ago. His mom was young and re-married and had 3 sons D, M, and T, then several years later met M and had A. So Jacob has 4 1/2 brothers that are much younger than he is. They are not very good at staying in contact, which is hard for me, since my extended family always did keep in contact. D and M stayed in Iowa, they both have a child. So it is a bit odd to think that we won't be seeing Jacob's family much.
2-Benjamin is in a big bed. Jacob and I continue to work on the room and so now was a good time to switch him to to a twin. It has made me a bit sad, he is my baby and he is so small, but he does well in his new bed, which is currently on the floor in my bedroom.
3-Our dining room ceiling will be getting fixed soon! We have a dry waller and he will start soon.
4-Levi and Benjamin have both had some time away. Benjamin spent an extended weekend with my parents, when he came home, Levi left. I will be happy on Saturday to have everyone home. It has been so nice having just one, I thought I would have forgotten what it was like to just have one--I didn't it has been FABULOUS! Benjamin actually talks a lot. Levi is such a good helper. WOW I love my kiddos!

I am having a garage sale with my friend K tomorrow and I am not ready, but I will be!
Benjamin turns two soon and we are having a party-kind of... we have invited everyone that we would have invited to his birthday party to spend the weekend at Table Rock Lake. We have not been diving since our vacation and I need to get underwater again. I will be doing a cake and we are not expecting any gifts. If I have missed you let me know if you want to go... Jeff and Amber are going to learn to SCUBA (I hope)!
Well, I can't really think of anything else... I will try to get pictures next time...