Pancake Feed

Rexer is back at work, I am so thankful that he got off a little early yesterday. We have our big Pancake fundraiser that Rex and I put together (with lots of help) for the Fire Department this Saturday. Rex has done such an amazing job this year. It is really exciting to be so involved with our community. So far the money we raise will help about 440 children. We are expecting to have about 500 this year. We have a new partnership with Sumner Police and they will be providing about half the gifts this year. This will free up some money so we can help with other things for families like gas, motels rooms, blankets and prescription drugs. This project is a huge undertaking, but totally worth it. We have done a lot of advertising in the local papers and we have a huge banner across main street in Sumner. It is always amazing to me how generous people are. Times are hard for everyone, but people are still giving and wanting to help in any ways they can. There is this great corner store in Sumner that every year gives $200. They are so faithful. Last year we made about $8,000. I just wanted to thank everyone for all of your support and encouragement. Rex and I get to shop for the kids and see the families response when they receive the gifts. It is an amazing thing to see the look on the parents faces when they realize that they will have gifts to give their children this year.

My Family

Now it is my turn to write in this wonderful blog/journal that we (Cin) has created. I absolutely love to do this. It is an opportunity to share with everyone that doesn't get to be in our everyday life. So, that said here is my blog.
I finally went back to shift work on Nov. 30 2008. It felt like HOME SWEET HOME. I never realized how much I had missed being on shift work. To be back and a part of the brotherhood was very nice. I had people calling me from other stations telling me that it was nice to have me back on shift. That felt really good. But I MISSED MY FAMILY MORE THAN ANYTHING because I ended up doing a 72 hour shift. My normal shift was Sunday and Tuesday but there was an opportunity to pick up a 24 hour shift on Monday down in Sumner. The 72 hour shift wasn't bad but being away from my family was hard. I really missed them a lot. I missed playing with my son and just sitting and talking to Cin. My love for my family has grown even greater than I could have even imagined. ( And yes I have tears in my eyes right now). God has blessed me in may ways and I can not even imagine what is to come. I thank God every day for the many blessings he has given to my family.
During my 72 hour shift Cin had come by the station a couple of times and I got to see my beautiful wife and my little man. I enjoy them coming by the station. It makes me feel proud and honored to have my family come to my other home and for them to get to know my other family. The guys at the fire house are great and our department is very family oriented. Sometimes family members will come and have dinner with us or just stop by to say hi. It is really nice that we can work at such a great place that allows things like that. In fact on my last 24 hour shift Cin came by and dropped off a freshly baked pumpkin loaf. That did not last very long. The guys from the other stations were there and we all devoured it. So finally the end of my 72 hour shift came to an end I was off to wild land training. I was only there until noon but I could not wait to get home. In the 72 hours I was at work Ryan had picked up speed and awareness. I could not believe how much he had changed in the 3 days I was gone. It is crazy how fast they grow. I cherish every moment I can with my family because if there is one thing I have learned so far in life is that it can all end in a blink of an eye. We take a lot for granted and that is normal. But I try everyday to take a step back and watch and enjoy the small things because who knows when it will be your last. Try to enjoy life to the fullest and do things that you want and enjoy. Life is precious and is a gift from God.

Pull ups

So after Ryan's bath tonight I could hear both Rex and Ry laughing hysterically in the bathroom. I was drawn to the laughter and went to inspect. I found Rex holding Ryan and he was doing mini pull-ups on the bar that holds that shower curtain. I am not sure where Rexer comes up with all of these crazy ideas. I never new he was so creative. I guess as a parent you will do anything to get a smile or to hear your child laugh. This is not the first time that they have turned our bathroom into a mini gym. If you all did not know the towel rack also can double as a chin up bar. I think it is so amazing that they both are entertained by the simplest things. So of course we took about 10 pictures and had to video tape it. Someday Ryan is going to be so embarrassed by us and all the pictures that we take. But until then we will continue to snap shots like this one!!! Hope you all enjoy.

Call the Fire department

So last night before I went to bed I started the dishwasher. I was on the phone with Rex and I had noticed that the dishwasher was really loud. We continued to talk and I did not think anything about it. Once I hung up the phone I noticed that it was quite, good I thought whatever was wrong with the dishwasher had fixed itself. I laid in bed trying to get to sleep. I could not stop thinking about the dishwasher. So finally after about 5 minutes of me trying to convince myself that nothing was wrong I went downstairs to check out the dishwasher. I am so glad I did. When I opened the dishwasher door smoke came pouring out. I make a majority of Ryan's baby food. I put it in little containers to store it. One of the plastic containers had fallen and melted. It smelled sooooo bad. I was unsure what to do so I called Rex. He proceeded to ask me several questions and than asked if I wanted station 12 to come and check it out. Everything was fine, but I thought it was just humours. I could just imagine the ganter that would go around the department.

Today is an interesting day. Rex is on the last day of his 72 hour shift and he just called to let me know he has a wildland class tomorrow. That means that he will not be home until about 5pm and than back at work for another 24 0n Thursday. I am so thankful for the overtime, but it is so quite around this house without him. I love being a Fireman's wife, but sometimes it is so lonely. I have to be independent and do a lot of things that he normally does. Like taking out the trash and feeding the dog It is a weird feeling to know that I have to be able to survive without him. I had lunch with the Gonzales family and Grandpa Ralph, but it is not as much fun with out Rex. We got our Christmas tree on Saturday and decorated a little around the house. I have finished all the decorating, the weirdest thing is that Rex has not seen any of it. Today we went and saw him at work and he started to cry when he saw us. He loves his job, but he loves his family more. I am thankful that Ryan has been sleeping through the night and taking good naps. That makes it easier on me. I never realized how much Rex misses out on until we had Ry. Prospective I guess. Ryan discovers or does something new everyday and 72 hours is a lifetime to a child. I also miss him like crazy. So I pray that he gets home early tomorrow and that the next 28 hours fly by.

Pancake Feed

Just a reminder the East Pierce Fire and Rescue Pancake Feed is on December 6th at Station 13 in Sumner. It is from 7am to 12pm. Hope to see you all there!!!

Go little guy go!!!

As a parent you are always excited when your child reaches the next milestone. It is exciting to see your child figure out the world around him or her. Well needless to say Ry started to crawl. He has been moving around pretty good for a while, but on Thanksgiving he really started to take off. It is insane how fast he goes. While setting up the Christmas tree on Saturday I sat him down so I could run upstairs to grab a diaper. By the time I got back he was pulling on the tree. I am so thankful that he has reached this big milestone, but boy we are in trouble.

Christmas Tree

We went and got our first Christmas tree for our new house. It was a lot of fun. Julie had found a place close to there home in Gig Harbor. We were all excited to support the local tree farm, but when we got there it was not what we had expected. I am not kidding we drove up and about 95% of the trees were the same size as Elisha. It was so funny. The girls thought it was a blast because all of the trees were little. Some how we all found our trees, but we had to hunt for them up hills and through mounds the dog poop. The Gonzales family found their tree first at the top of the hill. And I am not kidding we found our tree at the bottom of the hill in the corner and Mom and Dad's was somewhere in between. Julie and Rex must had steeped in dog poop like 3 times each. So on the way home in the truck it smelt like dog poop and tree sap. It was one of those days that everything was so funny that almost everyone almost peed their pants. Once home, we put up our tree and and of course a fire hat was the first thing to go on our tree.

God is Good!

Tonight my little boy was so exhausted from the past few days that he fell asleep in my arms. God is good. I sat and cried my eyes out watching my little boy sleep in my arms while he held my hand. Rex came in the room and put Ry in his crib. He took the opportunity and stood and snuggled our little boy. Ryan Blesses me every second of everyday. I am honored to be his Mommy.

Family

I woke up this morning so excited to have Thanksgiving at our home tomorrow. I cannot believe that we will have about 35 people coming over to our house. I have to admit at one time I felt a little overwhelmed, but the more I think about it I feel Blessed. The more and more people I tell that 35 people are coming to my home the more I understand that this is not normal. Growing up we all tried to always celebrate holidays together and over the years as we all have gotten married we just have added more family members to the madness of the holidays. I know that I sound silly, but I thought all families did this. But like I said I am quickly realizing that this is not the case. You do not have to come from the same blood line to be family. So to the Buchanan, Kenyon, Gonzales, Rutkosky, Rutkosky, Roggenkamp and Orcutt clans; Rex, Ry and I would like you all to know on this Thanksgiving the thing that we are most thankful for is all of you. I know that I say this often, but we would not be the people we are today with out all of you. The best part is that we as parents get to share all of you with our son.

The simple things

Life can get so crazy that sometime we all need a reminder to slow down. Yesterday was my reminder. Mom called us early in the morning, she had made french toast-my favorite but only when my mom makes it. It is no secret that I love to spend time with my family every chance I get. But yesterday seemed extra special for some reason. Julie and the girls stayed the night so they were already at Mom and Dad's. So we packed up and all went over in our pj's.
We showed up to Johanna in her undies, Elisha fully dressed everyone else in their pj's and Julie and Grandpa Ralph still asleep. We ate a wonderful breakfast. I was enjoying my french toast and I looked over and both my parents are sitting around this little pink table with their Granddaughters. It was the cutest thing to see my Father sitting at a little pink table. The funny thing was that this is normal. My parents are amazing Grandparents, to all of the grandchildren. They love all of them and have special relationships with each individual child.
It always is amazing that my mother's sparkly house turns into a mad house with stuff everywhere when we are all there. She does not even blink an eye. They have every toy and everything there so we are all comfortable. Leroy showed up after work. We just had a great relaxing day with family. My favorite part was bath time. All three grandchildren took a bath in my parent's big tub. Which us kids us to do. After that it was the bed time routine. Lotion and pj's. Johanna turned up the music, and everyone danced and laughed. Well some of us cried- only because it was so amazing to step back and see the innocence of all three children. The room was filled with little giggles and all of the children trying to sing. Ry even tries to keep up with his cousins. At Gram's house the kids get to jump on beds and stay up late. They even get extra treats and tons of hugs and kisses. I guess what I am trying to say is that, family is family. And simple Sundays are so important to have. Life goes by so fast. I remember when it was Julie, Brian and I in that big tub in my parent's room. And now my son is in there with his cousins. WE ARE SO BLESSED-what else can I say.

Daddy and Ryan

I always love when Rex has time with Ryan, just the two boys. This is a picture of Ryan in Rex's Yamaha sweatshirt. This picture reminds me of me when I was little. He is all snugly in a sweatshirt that is way to big. Rex and Ry spent the morning together. I took Grandpa Ralph Christmas shopping. It was really nice to spend one on one time with him.

Morning Tea

I have decided that my favorite time with Ryan is in the morning. He usually wakes me up-big surprise. I can hear him playing in his crib or talking to his doll. Than I try to get him to come and snuggle with me in bed, this never works anymore. Ryan hits the ground running when he wakes up. So we wake up and walk around the house and open the blinds saying good morning to the sun. Than I put him in his highchair and I start breakfast. I usually have a cup of tea, toast and banana and he usually has his baby food. Lately he has been eating almost half my banana and today he had a bit of my whole wheat toast. The days of having a nice quite breakfast are over. I do not consider myself a morning person, but Ryan makes me want to get up. Everything is new to him and he seems so excited to wake up and start a new day. I love having my son as a date for breakfast. We are always in our pajamas and nothing else in the world seems to matter.

Rex has been tagged

1. I never thought I would be a singer, but I sing to my son every chance I get.

2. I wear boxers at home and boxer-briefs at work. :)

3. I love to do all of those honey-dos around the house.

4. Every time I get a hair cut, I take another shirt to change into because I hate all of the hair on me.

5. I secretly want to be a photographer, I love to take pictures.

6. I love new shoes, especially new tennis shoes.

7. I still have and wear a shirt from 6 grade baseball- Go Braves!!!

I have been tagged

How Fun, I have been tagged, by my Sister Julie. I am tagged and supposed to share 7 things that you don't know about me.

1. I am done wrapping my Christmas presents!!

2. I cry almost every night when I watch my little boy sleep. There is something so special about the innocence of a child.

3. I cannot sleep if my house is messy. (Thanks mom)

4. I love to cook and bake for others, I always have a meal on hand in case anyone stops by for a visit. So please stop by anytime if you are hungry :)

5. I love to organize and have a place for everything. I am a nerd at heart.

6. I want to adopt at least 2 children.

7. This is new-I love to cut coupons and find sales. It is kind of addicting.

I hope that you learned something new about me!

Trying to escape

Last night Rex and I laid Ry down for the night. About 20 minutes latter we could hear him in there moving around. He likes to roll over and play with his toy that is connected to the crib. He has figure out that if he kicks it or hits it the music will stop and start again. He also has a doll that he sleeps with that his Aunty Niea sent him all the way from Germany. Anyway last night we both went to check on him and it looked like he was trying to escape. He had pulled down the bumper and was reaching his arms out of the rails of the crib. It was cute that we had to take a picture. We were laughing so hard. I think it is one of those things that is only funny to the parents but I thought I would share.

Little Man

I love this picture. Ryan just woke up and Rex had just changed him. His hair has a mind of its own. I love that he has rosy cheeks when he wakes up. It reminds me of Grandpa Ralph. Two nights ago Ryan had whole wheat noodles for the first time. He loved them. I cannot believe he is seven in half months old. He is crawling better each day. It is pretty funny to watch. He officially has a play room. Our extra room is now an office and play room for the kids. It has turned out really cute.

My Amazing Husband

Yesterday I was taking a nap because I had a terrible migraine. Rexer had a work meeting so he was out and about. Instead of waking to a crying baby I awoke to a beautiful bouquet of Lilly's and roses. It was a nice change. Rexer always has a way of making me feel loved, appreciated and beautiful. I am thankful for my amazing husband and honestly really wanted to share.

P.S He also spent way to much on these flowers so I wanted others to enjoy them.

We are done Christmas shopping!!!!