All about D

Just thought I would give ya'll a quick update on D. D has been keeping himself very busy lately and it has been a long time since I have done an update on him so I am gonna have to go back a little ways. =)

D is still working for the fire department and keeping busy with all kinds of new certifications and classes to help him promote to Captain in the next couple years. Last Spring 08'(told you I was going back a ways) he went to Hazmat school for like 5 weeks in Flagstaff, to be trained in how to deal with and clean up Hazardous materials and such, this was about the last time I did an update on him. Well, he finished class on a Friday and Had to start paramedic school on Tuesday of the following week. Your probably saying what I thought he was a paramedic and your right he is, he originally went through paramedic school in 2005-06 when we were planning our wedding but the department trying to save money sent him threw a program that we later found out was going to expire in January of 2009. Which would mean he would loose his certification and pay. So an opportunity arose for him to go threw a bridge course. It was a 5 month LONG class and he finished with the class last Fall. Then he was on to studying and preparing to take the National test. He passed that with a very good score in January, YAY! So once again he is a certified paramedic, one that will not expire. =}

All while this was going on he some how found the time to complete his Associates Degree in Fire Science. D had taken many classes before getting hired with the fire department, and it slowed down over the years. Well over the last few years he really started working hard at it and finished it up. I am so proud of him, he has a college degree, and he did it while working a full time job and being the sole supporter of his family.
D has also been very busy doing lots of different side jobs. He has been re-modeling kitchens and bathrooms. He has such a talent and does such beautiful work. Although sometimes the extra money is nice, it is just not worth the amount of time he is away from us. Between working at the station and these side jobs there was one month where I think we saw him a total of three days, so not cool. He has a couple things to finish up on one more job then he is planning a break from that for a while. Here are a couple pictures of one of the kitchens he has done.

Oh no we aren't done, I told you he is busy and it's been awhile. Also in the last couple of months D has started a second/third job. He is now working for the local ambulance company. So far he seems to really enjoy it. He only has to work 48 hours a month, and the nice thing is it is scheduled and once it's done it is done. He is hoping that now that he is finishing up all his side work this will help us make things a little more comfortable with the bills and it won't keep him away as much as the side jobs do. Ill have to get a picture of him in that uniform because he just looks so cute in it. =)

With all that being said, you would think things would be slowing down a bit, but you have to remember it is D were talking about. =) Just this past week D started yet another class/certification for the fire department. He started TRT school for the next 5 weeks. TRT stands for Technical Rescue Training. He is one who will be trained in how to save hikers, and rock climbers, or people from the lakes and such. They have been teaching him how to repel this week, next week they head to Laughlin for Swift water rescue training the week after that they learn confined spaces rescue, so basically how to get people out of buildings that have collapsed. This class is so much different then the others he has taken. It is much more hands on a physical, he is loving it! I will do a post after the class is done and update you on it as well as post some pictures from his training so check back in about 5 weeks for that.

What the future holds for D. He is currently thinking about again, going back to school and getting his nursing degree. It would only take him about a year to get, and the pay raise that would bring to him would be huge! He really doesn't wanna be a nurse but would like to use it as a stepping stone to something else when he retires from the fire department. He has also recently bought a dirt bike (without telling me, oh he was in so much trouble!) that he hopes to have some free time in the future to use. I just wanna say how proud I am of D and how much I love him. Thank you so much for all you do for us honey. Well, I think we are about caught up on D, check back in a few weeks for more on his TRT class.

Big Girl Bike

Grandpa & Grandma Bates got A this bike for her birthday. She just loves it! When she first got it she was not quite tall enough to reach the pedals so she just pushed it around with her feet. Then she was tall enough to reach but wasn't strong enough to pedal. Well now she is tall enough and strong enough and she pedals her bike all over the house. Thank you Grandpa & Grandma!

All about A

Well A is 29 months this month, 1 more month and she will be 2 1/2, WOW! A is doing great! She is getting so big and she is so dang cute! She got her daddy's & big sisters smarts because let me tell you how smart she is. She can count to 20, she can recognize most of the letters in the alphabet, she can say her ABC's and she talks up a storm. Hmm I wonder who she gets that from? =)

She is still very much into singing, dancing and playing instruments, everything is a drum around here. We have had a fun summer full of lots of swimming and water fun. A is an outdoor kinda girl, if it involves being outside she is game for doing it. It's a good thing we live somewhere it doesn't get too hot.

A is totally potty trained now too, which is so exciting! She is such a big girl and we are so very proud of her. We are still babysitting the two little boys and A really enjoys having them around to play with, she also loves playing with her friend Reece. A will start "preschool" in just a couple weeks here at home, yup I am finally gonna put some of my ed-ja-ma-cation to use. =) Here are some pics and a video of A over the last few weeks. Check back next month for her 2 1/2 year update.

17 Months -August 2008

wanna know whats sad, she is still wearing those same PJ's this year.
Her Princess side Her Sporty Side

Swimming at the neighbors

She has become quite the fish

A, Nanny Sarah & Reece

Playing with Mommy's shoes

Enjoying a Popsicle on a warm day with Arlo & Zeno

She is just so sweet when she sleeps

She loves her baby swing

Can't get enough of the water

Fun in the Sprinklers

Playing outside

Isn't she beautiful?

mmm shes loves ice cream, just like her daddy & big sister

Peek-a-boo

Cute video of her playing peek-a-boo.

Don't forget to scroll down and mute the music so you can hear the video.

A day at the Lake with the Kargs

I am so behind at getting this post up. A and I went down to Phoenix last weekend and got to spend some time with the Kargs. We were very lucky to get out on there new boat. We had a blast and the weather was beautiful. A loved going fast and swimming in the water. I enjoyed working on my tan and swimming n the water, it was so refreshing. Thank you so much for inviting us out with you guys, we had so much fun!

Mommy & A

A & Uncle R holding hands

Our little Model

I love the color accent function on my camera

A Karg looking out at the water

Hot Mamma

A & A

R & S Karg-Aren't they so cute!

swimmer swimmer

Our Captain

Best friends

Look at that toe touch!

A Climbing out of the water back on to the boat

Surfer Boy J Karg

"Bestest" Friends

She loved the wind in her hair

A Date Night

D and I got to go on a long overdue date last night. We met downtown at Jersey Lilly, the Bar he proposed to me at, can you believe it's been almost 5 years since he proposed, wow. Anyway, we met there to "Meet Tammy Linn" a lady running for City Council, although we already know her we went to show our support for her. Once we made our appearance there we went to one of our favorite Restaurants Bin 239 a wood fire pizza and wine bar with a really cool atmosphere. After dinner it was time to head home to get A. It may not have been a long or exciting night but it was great to have that time together. I really think it has been months since we have really seen each other or had ANY time together at all. (More to come about that in a later post.)

Busy with Fundraisers

I am sure this isn't news to most of you but I have been very busy helping with fundraisers for one of our other Fire Wives, Kristi. Kristi got very sick at the beginning of June, spent 6 weeks in a hospital in Phoenix, while there she under went a heart surgery to have "pumps" put in to help her heart pump, she is currently on the waiting list for a new heart. We have been doing lots of fundraisers to help raise money for her medical bills, and of course I have been helping out wherever I can. So far we have had great success with the fundraisers up to this point. Here are some pictures from some of the fundraisers. If you would like to read more about Kristi or hear about upcoming fundraisers visit our fire wives blog at http://pfdwives.blogspot.com

I also just want to mention the importance of being an organ donor all I can say is I have learned so much from watching Kristi go through what she is going through. Give life - donate. For more information about becoming an organ donor please visit: http://www.dnaz.org/Home.aspx

CHANGE OF HEART POKER RUN 8/1/09

RED ROBIN TIP A FIREFIGHTER 7/29/09

The Moffitt Family with Red

WELCOME HOME PARTY FOR KRISTI 7/19/09

Kristi

A & Ashlyn

PLANTING PARTY FOR KRISTI 7/17/09