"Every good gift, and every perfect gift, is from above"  

James 1:17

May 15th


Here is a picture from after Jason's Graduation Ceremony as promised.

Jason's Graduation

April 19th

Jason's graduation from the fire academy was last week, he has officially been on the department for over a year. He will no longer be referred to as a "probi" by his fellow firefighters, but will most likely be washing the dirty dishes until another class of probationary firefighters are hired.

Spring is quickly moving in on us.... and our back yard looks like a small lake. Ok, maybe I'm exaggerating a tad bit. It might be more similar to a marshy swamp. Either way, it is off limits for Reuben until we don't have to fear he will drown if left unattended.
Levi is getting bigger and bigger every day. He is a little over 3 weeks now, and quickly growing out of the newborn stage. Reuben still doesn't know what to do with him, but I guess that is better than Reuben wanting to do too much with him. (I'm envisioning Levi being used as a ramp for Reuben to drive his cars on)
Our house project has hit a few more delays. The city just enforced weight restrictions for the roads (Spring thaw), so that means we can't get the crane up our road for the pile driving company to put our foundation in. The city is expecting the restrictions to be lifted sometime in the first week of June, so now we just wait. We were a little nervous at first, because our insurance wants the house rebuilt by the end of May. However, we decided to lay our trust in the Lord.... and shortly after our insurance adjustor decided to extend our deadline until the end of October. Praises!! Sometimes I'm amazed at how quickly God will take care of us, all we have to do is trust.

I'm going to have to wrap this up for now, as Levi is wailing in the background. Gotta love a little chaos...
Reuben looking oh so adorable
Here is a picture of Reuben looking absolutely loveable.

Below is a picture of Kayta, our 3rd dog. The one that I told everyone about and never posted a picture of.
Kayta

April 3rd

Announcing Levi Michael Jeffers

Born 3/27/09 at 12:30pm 8lb 8oz.

Everything went great and we are back from the hospital. Here are a few pictures of the newest member of the Jeffers household.

Levi Jeffers

Levi Jeffers

 

March 12th

I'm Back!!

Due to the house fire we had 11/6/08 I was forced to take a short sabbatical from website updates. For those of you who didn't know, our house was completely destroyed (except for the new addition) in a fire. The fire took place at 10pm on our 3rd anniversary, and was cooking pretty good before the firefighters arrived. The cause of the fire was an overfilled propane tank, Thank You Tesoro, that was ignited by the pilot light on our hot water heater. We all made it out safe, but lost everything in the fire. What a mess!! In hind sight, I should have at least grabbed the marshmallows since we had such a magnificent blaze.

Since the fire, we were able to relocate to a rental house in Anchorage. No simple task when you have three big dogs. We are starting the rebuilding process, which is always slow and tedious, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new baby boy. I have included some pictures of the house after the fire, and the house demo.  I am planning on keeping the website updated with new pictures as the building project progresses, so keep checking back. I will also post some pictures of our baby when he arrives.

House Fire

House Demo

 

October 11th

Here is a picture of Reuben standing in his box, while watching Veggie Tales. He LOVES Veggie Tales, and likes watching while standing and holding onto my rocking chair. It is really cute.

Yes, he is wearing his coat and no pants... we were in a hurry to get him in the house and his diaper changed, so his coat didn't come off until after Veggie Tales was over.

Reuben took his first steps last week!!! We were very proud, excited, and happy. Being a parent is such a weird feeling, you can have so many emotions all at once and feel like you are completely "normal". It is kind of like PMS... in a strange, strange, way.

Now that Reuben is officially walking, it is time to buy him some official walking shoes. I might try and keep and eye out for a pair of Keens in his size (p.s. Grandma Jeffers- his size is 6-7, just in case you were curious)

 

October 5th

Winter is here!!!!

If you don't believe me, just take a trip to our house. I'm very excited to have snow on the ground, and NO... I'm not being sarcastic. I get so drained when winter arrives but there is no snow... oh wait... I think they call that Fall.

Now that Winter is here, shopping can officially commence! After all, I am in ever great need of a new coat (casual and backcountry), new boots (dress and backcountry), new gloves (dress and backcountry) new shirts, pants, hats, scarfs, etc... You get the point! I LOVE WINTER!!!

Oh yeah, and I get to go skiing. That's pretty great too!

 

September 15th

I just finished a long weekend of dog training. Our Schutzhund club had Anne Marie up for a dog trial, and then we followed up the event with a full day of training. The exciting news is that...... team Jeffers got a BH title!!!!!! After 2 long years of training it is starting to pay off. Next summer we will proceed to obtain a SCH1 and SCH2 title, that is if the new baby doesn't get in the way of my plans.

 

That's right! We are expecting the newest addition to the Jeffers family trio on April 6th, 2009. Congratulations to us! We are very excited to have so much going on around here, Jason has been hard at work building a small house addition to make room for the newest member.

 

Being pregnant is always frustrating for me...... after working so hard to keep oneself thin and attractive (oh yeah) the beer belly begins to grow. People don't know it is a baby, they simply think you have "put on a couple". Afterall, she has a kid, she's married, it's what happens with old age. Why do you think pregnant people wear t-shirts that have witty little comments printed on the front. It's so people don't assume "she has let herself go"!!!!! What's worse than the beer belly is the nausea. Your boss already thinks you've been knocking one too many back, and then you call in sick. Why? "I've been throwing up all morning"

Yeah, that will go over well.

I blame it all on the pregnant lady beer belly. Maybe I should make a t-shirt that says "It's not a beer belly! I'm pregnant"

 

Speaking of new members to the household. I purchased a new little puppy, she is 11 weeks old now. She is a bundle of energy, and such a sweetheart. I have high hopes for her, as she will be my competition dog. I am hoping that in another 3-5 years I will be ready to compete at a regional or national level. Call me crazy, but I love dogs.

I will post some pictures of her in another couple days. We have some pictures from the Schutzhund trial that I will also try and get loaded.

September 2nd

What can I say, time flies when your having fun. Reuben's big b-day party was on the 17th of August, we celebrated in royal style. Balloons, candles, cake, presents, friends, and family. Here are some of my favorite photographic moments from the party.

Below is Reuben opening presents, he was Soooo.... ready for a nap by the time presents rolled around that I'm surprised we made it through the entire process. He is wearing his new hat that his Aunt Diana got him.

And here are some pictures of Rueben having fun around the house. He has discovered how to open all the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, oh what fun.

 

August 14th

The Jeffers rafting trip down lower Eagle River

We had a blast, enjoying the river as a family.  I don't know if Roman had as much fun, but he doesn't get much of a choice in the matter.

A lynx killed off all but ONE of the ducks. Bummer for them. The last duck went to live with Roman in his dog run, I think the duck was a little stressed out the first day.... but then she discovered that Roman was about as harmless as a mosquito. Grant-it nobody wants to live with a mosquito, but when the situation arises.... it is a lot more appealing than facing the lynx again.
Oh, and don't tell Roman I was comparing him to a mosquito... it would hurt his feelings.

In case I haven't told you already, we just completed the new dog runs. I have a picture
here. They took a lot of work, and much more time than I anticipated. Since when have we ever started a project that was easy and quick????
Also, if you haven't noticed already.... I reworked the website. It took some considerable effort on my part, since I really have no clue what I am doing. It has been optimized for Internet Explorer 7, so please give me feedback if it looks weird in your browser. I know the Mac people sometimes see things a little bit different, hence why they own a Mac.


E-mail: marilyn_jeffers@hotmail.com

 

July 28th

I guess Reuben decided to start getting more active.  Sunday night he was laying down and sat himself upright.  All under his own power!!

This afternoon he decided to start combat crawling.  He lies on his belly and pushes himself forward with his feet while grabbing onto the grooves in the floor with his fingers and pulling.  It is pretty funny to watch.  He looks like he is preparing for the next World War.  The way he uses his fingers to pull forward makes me wonder if we are going to have a rock climbing champion in the family.

 

July 24th
Haha! It didn't take me a whole month to update the page. 

A lot has been happening at out house.  I can't remember what just now, but I'm sure if I start writing it will all come to me.

Let's start with the ducks.  Why??  because they are a hot topic, especially with the brown bear that is living in our yard.  I don't think he is actually after the ducks, instead he eats all my EGGS.  Argghhhh!!!!  That bear makes me wish I still had my dad's old sawed off shotgun.  Actually, it was a shotgun specially made for us girls to take hiking with us on the really bad (aka bear infested) trails down in Cordova.  That bear had better stay away from Axel (my sister-in laws puppy that we are watching for the month) or I will have to feed him to my dogs.

Speaking of the dogs.....   we just got done building 3 brand spankin' new runs for them.  And YES, when I saw "We" I mean Jason AND myself.  Just thought I would clear that up, in case anyone was confused. 

Why 3??  (I'm sure you are on the edge of your seat).  Because we are in the process of getting another dog.  I wanted to even out the dog to human ratio.  You can shake your head if you want....  but we are going to write it off on our taxes as a home improvement.  It will be similar to installing a really expensive security system.  Right?

Somehow I don't think the IRS will go for it.

Oh, let me back track a little bit.  I forgot to mention that I recently added 2 more ducks to my flock.  They are some sort of mix, that I got off craigslist.  *sigh* gotta love craigslist.

Ok, let me try and wrap things up a little faster.  I am almost done with my summer class, I guess that means that the summer is almost over.  Ugh!!  Work at the Blood Bank is going slow, but Jason's job with AFD makes up for the pace.  Did I already say that Jason LOVES his job?

And now.....  I tried to save the best for last!!!

REUBEN HONKOLA JEFFERS

Approximately 20lbs with a head that is in the 80th percentile.  He is getting in his two top teeth, so that makes a sum total of 4.  I hope the rest of his teeth decide to take their sweet time, I need a break.

Reuben has recently discovered two things.  One, the joy of holding my hands and walking (my back is killing me).  And two, the joy of his tongue.  I've included the pictures of his tongue, not because I thought you would think it was cute.  Simply because I don't have any pictures of him walking (mostly because it takes both hands to walk him around in circles).

Reuben's tongue #2

 

June 25th

Reuben was eating some duck eggs today.  Normally that isn't a super exciting photographic moment, but this time I turned my back for a moment and came back to this....

It is hard to see from the picture, but he had bathed himself in egg.  We both laughed out loud and then I proceeded to clean up the mess.

On a different note.  I just got done taking a weekend long seminar on Schutzhund dog training.  It was fantastic, our instructor was flown up from California to do a special weekend event just for our club.  I learned just enough to realize I had a lot of work ahead of me.  Good thing I love it.

June 9th

Whoops.  I'm down to 2 ducks.  Apparently, someone (or someone's dog) decided to break into my duck pen.  I don't know how, that thing was built like Alcatraz.  THIS IS WAR!!!  After all.... that animal ate my Thanksgiving feast.

Reuben's second tooth is busting through.  Our favorite teething toy is a bottle of infant Tylenol.  What can I say, I do what it takes.  Don't worry, I haven't resorted to Whiskey.... yet.  

My sister gave us Hana's old highchair, so now Reuben can officially start eating solid foods.  The highchair eats up  (*grin*) a lot of our precious floor space, but we all must make sacrifices for the greater good.

Well enough about me.  Does anyone actually read this thing?  Why don't you give me a short e-mail and tell me about what's going on with you.  I promise to be fascinated, try me.

May 28th

I get a big kick out of Jason's schemes.  Last weekend was spring yard cleaning and yes, he is tying electrical wire to the back of his truck.  The electrical wire was still frozen to the ground ( that's right, I said FROZEN).  We wanted the wire moved, so the logical conclusion is to tie it to your truck and put it in gear.

Here is where Jason puts the truck in gear.

IT WORKED, of course.  Who would have doubted my extremely handsome, intelligent, tall, firefighter husband for a second.

It was also the newly appointed Jeffers family Carhartt yard work day.  Even Reuben got into the spirit of the day.  It isn't such a great picture of me, but then again I'm married so.....  what does it matter what I look like?

May 10th

Sorry for the delay between postings.  I have been really busy with the puppies.  However, everyone will be off to their new homes 5/23 and then I will update Reuben's page with more pictures.  

Oh yah, in case anyone didn't notice.....   SUMMER IS HERE!!!  (boom.)

April 16th

If need to get off my butt and take some more pictures of my son.   We have been expecting a tooth any day, since he has been teething for the last 3 months.  

I didn't get Jason to stain the staircase on his last break, but we did get to go skiing.  Reuben got to "chill" (literally) in the backpack with Jason.  I also found out that if I tell someone what my husband does for a living, I should say he is a firefighter.  NOT, a fireman.   Apparently is isn't very PC to refer to his job as a gender specific position.  I don't know who sits around and gets offended by calling Jason a "fireman", but they need to find a new hobby.

Yeah, for puppies!!

April 4th

Ok, Maybe I will like Jason's new job after all.  

Now that he is FINALLY out of the academy, he had his first 4 days off (with the Kelly Schedule each 9 days you get 6 days off, 4 of those days are off in a row).  I put Jason straight to work on the house, you know what they say about idle hands.  Jason put some more countertop in ("temporary" of course) re-organized the shed, fixed the storm door, put some more shelves up in the kitchen, put another cabinet in the kitchen (again...  "temporary" until we can afford the cabinet that matches).  I am very, very pleased.  And you know what they say about happy wives.

Hhhmmmmm....  Maybe next break in his schedule he will finish staining our wood staircase.

I'll keep you posted.

March 30th

The puppies have arrived!  They were born 3/28/08, all 10 of them.  Everything went smoothly, and I was in bed by 2am in the morning.  If you are interested in seeing pictures of the puppies just click here.

Jason found out he will be at station 3 for the next year.  He graduated #1 in his class (big surprise), what can I say...  I married an over-achiever.  The competitive streak in him runs fairly strong, and he hasn't had a good challenge since graduating #2 in his Engineering class at LeTourneau University.  

His first 24hr shift is tomorrow (Monday 3/31) and then he gets 4 days off.  I am hoping we can all get in some spring skiing, my skis have not had nearly enough time out of the shed this year.  Ah, the changes/sacrifices people make for a baby.  I'm still deciding if it was all worth it, I'll keep everyone updated.

Ok, I guess when you see a picture like the one below it makes it all worth it.  His cousin thought it would be fun to decorate him with her stickers.

March 20th

Time for an update.  Below is a picture of us standing inside a huge bubble at the Imaginarium.  Reuben loved all the kids running around, we went during Spring Break so there were tons of people/kids.

This last few days everyone at the Jeffers house has been VERY sick.  We caught a stomach virus going around and have all been throwing up, so Reuben has been getting a lot a baths lately.  We have also been celebrating the long running Jeffers tradition of popsicles.  Popsicles will make everything better.

March 11th 

Reuben has been having a lot of fun in his newest, borrowed toy (Thank You Gracey Family!!).  He loves that he can now dictate what direction he goes.  I love toys that allow a child to be independent of their mother, and nobody can make me feel guilty about it, either.  Oh, and he has started eating cheerios.  More to follow....

March 2nd.

Hip Hip Hurray!!

Jason is in the last month of the Fire Academy.  We can OFFICIALLY refer to this time as the "Home Stretch."  He will be all done on March 27th, only a few days before we expect puppies from Chaco.  Below is a picture of the dogs out for a sled run behind the house.  I stumbled across a ski sled children's pulk on Craigslist (I love that place) for a price we could afford.  It is made by Wilderness Engineering and is GREAT for taking your kids out in Freakin' cold weather.  Poor Reuben, by the time I'm done bundling him up for an outing there are hot water bottles, heating pads, and down goose feathers galore.  I am usually sweating up a storm before I even set foot outside the house.  But in the end, it is all worth it!  And the ski sled has made the whole experience much more worthwhile.  Anyone that is living with a small child that loves to ski should get one!!!!!  Did I already say that I LOVE IT!!!

The dogs pulling Reuben in a ski sled

Below is a picture of Reuben devouring his first teething biscuit.  There was cracker everywhere, but he was loving it.

Reuben Jeffers eating a teething biscuit

February 19th

Reuben is sitting up on his own.

I've included a picture to prove it.  He is still tipping over on occasion, so needs a little bit of a safety net behind him.  But he was on the floor for about 15 minutes today, and only 2 tip-overs.  He has also decided that the case to my camera was a great teething toy.  I guess we will have to let that dry out before the camera goes back in.

Yesterday, he had his first experience in a pool.  We went t H2 Oasis, which is an inside kids water park, with a friend and her little boy.  It was crazy in there, so many little kids running around.  Reuben was a little overwhelmed by it all, including the water.  He had a hold of me with a DEATH GRIP the entire time.

On another note, we started the dogs on a Raw diet.  And we recommend it to anyone with pets (dogs, cats, ferrets, etc...).  I have a couple new pages up on the Kennel website with information about the Raw diet if you are interested in finding out more.  Eventually I will post a sample menu on the website.  My dogs love the new food, and it is about as quick to prep as feeding the dogs a kibble.  It is also cheaper to feed than the more expensive dry kibbles.

February 15th

Reuben in his EXTRA cute new shoes that his Grandma bought him.  Reuben's Grandparents were up visiting last week and as a result, we scored some great new clothes.  

If I had to put a caption under this picture, it would be "Get ready, Get set.....   GO!!!!"  Unfortunately, unless he is sleeping, such is my life!

February 14th

Happy Valentines Day!

A lot has been going on at our house, hence the LONG lapse since the last update.  I now have a small flock of 5 ducks, I got them for fresh eggs...  and eventually fresh meat (Yum).  I named them Easter, Thanksgiving, X-mas etc... (you get the point). 

Chaco has been bred to a stud dog, and is expecting puppies the end of March '08.  I am pretty excited, as she is one of the best female Schutzhund dogs I have seen around these parts. 

And now, let me take this moment to remind all of you to be responsible pet owners and LEASH you dog when you go on walks.  I don't care if your dog is friendly or not, there is no excuse for a dog running around off leash.  My favorite thing in the world (*my words are dripping in sarcasm*) is when I have my dogs on leash and here comes a dog running up to me, with the owner trailing shortly behind yelling "don't worry He's friendly".  That's when I yell back, "I don't care if HE is friendly, does it look like my dogs are?"  Of course, by this point, I am ready to just let my dogs off leash to prove my point...  but I try and refrain from the temptation.  Alaskans are infamous for letting their dogs run around on hiking trails loose, which is not allowed.  So PLEASE, leash your dog...  for the sake of other pet owners trying to be responsible. 

On the brighter side of life, Isn't Reuben cute!

 

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