Yeah, it's been a while

Needless to say I have not been very good about keeping you all posted. So here is the run down:
Levi-almost ready for summer school as a 1st grader! Spent his birthday money on a dwarf robo hamster named Matey Whiskers. He is very proud, but Matey has been so scared he doesn't do much yet. First t-ball game is in 2 weeks!!
Benjamin-growing a little at a time, however talking ALL the TIME, complete sentences. We had him tested to see where his milestones were (through parents as teachers, they do it on all almost 3 year olds) and he actually does many of the 36 month milestones, which surprised us all since he is 32 months and he was so early.
Jacob-done with his first semester, taking the summer "off", teaching A LOT of PALS, ACLS...and taking several classes provided by work. Looking forward to diving A LOT.
Me-teaching a lot of different stuff, my friend Keri and I are starting a new project to expand our PTO (PTA) to include some activities, not just fundraising.
We started a bit of a garden as we usually do, just hearty stuff. I grew broccoli and cauliflower one year, but I really do not have to time for those picky plants-clipping the flowers, covering them from the sun...I just have too much other stuff...
Jacob and I are going to the Mayan Rivera this fall, hoping to do some diving and I really would like to zip-line.
Wow, we are much busier than that, just day to day stuff...

wow, is it really that hard?

Tonight Jacob met me at the door "I'm leaving", off he went to a fire, of course. I had driven by this fire, so I half expected him to meet me at the door. Levi has homework again. When did kindergarten get so hard? I mean homework? he's FIVE. This may be punishment for the parents. After a day of school to sit and have parents (well, me) sit and harp about getting homework done is just a great finish to the day. I usually do not mind, the reading and the counting, and the writing, but just writing for the fun of writing is just hard for me. Maybe I am just tired and ready to relax. Jacob was going to make my requested supper, now, I will probably be making something simple-my knight in shining armor is saving someone else's diner...Boys are great. Benjamin was the crowned prince of the Veteran's home last Friday (pics will come). Levi loved his party at school.
Unfortunately I have to close. I spent some time on facebook, so my computer time is about up, I am being requested to read and proof read the numbers...

Where to begin

I have been a bad, very bad, blogger. It has been about a month, and I will probably update monthly and with pictures from now on. I have just gotten really busy, both at home and work. I do have a prayer request, if you are the praying type. I have a friend Keri whose daughter K (3) is Downs Syndrome and is currently in the hospital coughing up blood-not a really good sign...They are in the hospital and who knows when they will be home again. The last time K did this was 2 years ago and she was in the hospital for several weeks.
All is good at my house, we are just helping our friends...Levi starts hockey again soon, Benjamin is becoming a pro skater. So that is all, kind of sad how boring my life is-huh?

Happy New Year!

Wow, I cannot believe that this year is over! What a great year we have had!
It was so fun to send Levi off to summer school then "real" school. I'm sure in the future I will be so sad to see him leaving for school. Seeing him learn to skate and play roller hockey, watching t-ball, and seeing him get better at soccer. He now reads and writes. Levi kind of rides a bike. He has become a great big brother, protecting his little brother, playing with his little brother, and yes antagonizing his little brother.
Benjamin is now a talker, repeating so much that is said. He now runs and jumps and plays. He is now his chronological age TWO. There are no more extra doctor's appointments, no more cautious optimism, he is just him. He has learned so much with Levi as a great role model. How to tackle, how to antagonize, how to play. He now wants so much to play hockey and go and do everything.
Jacob is the best husband ever and 2009 will start a new chapter for him, he will begin his journey for his Bachelor's Degree in fire science. This will take a few years, but it is a dream of his to have his degree. He coaches t-ball and soccer. He loves watching Levi skate. He has learned that Benjamin is a good little helper and gives Benjamin good helping jobs. Jacob continues to create the things I dream up. He is a GOOD MAN!
I just keep perking along. I continue on my journey to be a healthier me. I have found some mental health in teaching a little bit of Sunday school and always strive for balance. I think I have become good at keeping us together and in the right place at the right time...this year I have really missed Jas, we so often have the same issues at the same time, it would be nice if we lived closer. Too bad neither of us are in the position to relocate...
I will be with my two little boys tonight, Jacob will be off fighting fires. No doubt we will be in bed asleep well before midnight.
so HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

the things kids say

Not sure if Levi made the paper last year, but this is his letter to Santa this year:
For Christmas I want a DS and Mario Super Car Game to go in the DS. I want Star Wars DS game. Come on a different day because dad works on real Christmas.
Your friend, Levi
Ok, so I knew about the DS, however I have asked him Thousands of times which games NEVER did either of these come up. Jacob is doing a scrabble today....
Merry Christmas!
GO FREEZER BUNS!!

Christmas is coming the goose is getting fat...

The Sunday before Christmas and we are still very unsure of when our celebration will be. We have been so lucky for so long that and this year is really the first time that our occupations have gotten in the way. Jacob works the 25th, I work the 24th and we have extended family on Saturday. We have told Levi that we will call Santa to make arrangements, but for when. There is a promising chance that Jacob will be home about midnight on the 24th/25th-which entails him working the 24th day- this is what we are hoping, but I hate to completely plan that because if something happens and he ends up staying all night then we have to wait for him to come home. Levi is SUPER excited which makes Benjamin SUPER excited. I love watching them...
We got to "play" Santa for a family in the town that I work, the CNAs asked for donations and got TONS of them for a family in need. Levi is pumped about all of the stuff in my office for the girls. Again it makes me so thankful for the things I have...I have never needed anything for Christmas--like toothpaste, shampoo, sheets, towels. It is a good time to remember what good feels like.
Today we did Sunday school. We do this rotation in Sunday school for the kiddos, in which for 8 weeks we use the same lesson and just apply it in different ways. Jacob and I always do the cooking week. We made edible Christmas trees- with sugar cones, green frosting, popcorn, and cookie decorations. This is a fun thing to do, but can be messy! We talked about how even though each of us had the same things to decorate with none of the trees were the same, kind of like people. We talked about what Christmas means and one of the boys said it is not as much fun when you don't believe in Santa. I asked him why he does not believe and he said he "knows" (mind you there are little kids also in the room) I said well wasn't God the first Santa- he gave the best present-he was surprised, and I said maybe there is a little Santa in all of us, and you just have to believe in giving and Santa makes sense- sometimes I surprise myself... I have Levi convinced that snowflakes are Santa's eyes and ears to watch over everyone. On that same note Levi had a bell today and he was ringing it in Jacob's ear, J pretended he did not hear it. Levi was very upset believing that J did not believe in Santa (don't get it watch Polar Express), J then said is that a Santa sleigh bell? Oh I can hear it...
So Merry Christmas, and may you all find more that you need in your celebrations! Oh, as for the title of this post, well, I do love John Denver the the Muppets Christmas Carols...

it's been a while...

Sorry it's been a while. I still have several pictures to post (maybe this post-who knows). This post may be a bit rambly (yeah a new word) but I am watching HOUSE. We have been great and the boys are enjoying the Christmas season. We had our Christmas celebration with my parents this last weekend. They are still on the getting stuff "high" that happens this time of the year.
Hockey is over Levi's team fought a good fight, but they just could not put the puck in the goal, which is a key to winning. Now Levi is focusing on school. Which has been shortened and cancelled because of snow and cold. If we were farther north school would not have been cancelled. We have snow today and are expecting more ice and snow on Thursday.
Benjamin does not enjoy the snow as much as Levi, Benjamin likes to look at the snow and kick the snow, but God forbid any snow gets on him. He just has a fit.




Here are some Hockey pictures. Levi is goalie!

Here is Levi getting some instruction.

My little boy consumed by goalie gear.

Here are my boys working on their future toy room. They are working on it now for that matter...

A very sweet and tired Benjamin.

I did some face painting...

Special thanks to Am, who taught me how to do this spiderman face.