Since our last post...

A lot has happened since our last post. After 5 years of service, Jim quit volunteering at the heliport as a flight medic. In addition, he also resigned from the Santa Barbara Co. S.W.A.T Team. Both extracurricular activities were taking him away from home more than we anticipated and although he misses the friends he's made, he enjoys spending his newfound free time with his family and friends. The Santa Barbara County Fire Dept's annual charity basketball tournament against the San Francisco 49'ers was a great success. This was Jim's 3rd year playing for the team and the first time in twelve years the fire dept won!
In November, the Ventura Co. Fire dept moved into it's new dispatch building. It is an enormous building complete with individual dorms, underground parking, a gym and sauna (the hot tub was denied after the field learned that we were getting one and pitched a fit). Not to mention we now have state of the art technology that will help aid us in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD). We have AVL (automatic vehicle locaters) in all of our equipment and an interactive map of the county that will help us to determine the closest resource to a call. It's pretty cool. We can see how fast a unit is driving around town if we wanted to. Something I'm sure the field isn't to happy about, but we think is kind of fun to see how fast they're driving to a medical call.
Stacie has also been very busy with an ebay business, Jack and Jill Designs, that she started wtih her sisters. What started out as making pacifier clips and burp cloths wtih her sister Stephanie has turned into making little girl outfits. Their sister Heidi has also joined the business making outfits and quilts. Stacie is really enjoying making clothes and looks forward to getting better at her new hobby. She has even enrolled in a basic sewing technique class at the community college this spring. Here is a picture of a Valentine outfit that she has sewn. In November, Stacie had cataract surgury in her right eye and is amazed at the difference after having just one eye corrected and she is looking forward to February, when she will have surgury on her left eye.
Riley is growing and changing everyday. He took his first steps just a few days before his first birthday and is now walking like a pro. He had a joint birthday party with his cousin Ashley and then spent his birthday at Disneyland with mom, dad, Grandma & Grandpa Simpson. Even though he was to young to understand what Disneyland is, he definately knew that it was someplace special. He had a blast and we enjoyed watching him enjoy his birthday at the magic kingdom.
Although both Jim and Stacie had to work on Christmas, it didn't stop them from celebrating the holiday with their familes on the 24th and 26th. As hard as we tried, we couldn't get Riley very interested in his presents until after they were opened. Were amazed we were able to get some pictures that look like he's actually opening a gift, when in reality he's just trying to get to a pacifier that Jim strategically placed.
In other news, Stacie's sister Heidi is expecting a baby boy this May. and their brother Justin and his wife, Brittny are expecting another baby girl, Emma, on Januray 10th.

Till next time,
Jim, Stacie & Riley

Ever growing list of things to make

Watermelon on tap

T-shirt to peasant top

T-shirt shrug

Market skirt

Buttercup bag (in the process of making)

Mens shirt dress

Baby shoes

Dishtowel apron

Retro kids shirts

Button clips

ABC book

Scratch off tickets

Ruffle sleeve top

Toddler backpack

Clutch

Flaming pants

Recycled t-shirt to toddler pants

Infant Layette

half eaten gingerbread man ornament

Advent calendar

coin purse

pillow
baby tights

postcards

Calendar blocks

Jean Corsage

Pot holder make up bag

shirt to girls jumper

and here

turtleneck to girls sweater dress

sweater to neck scarf

pillow with ties

Doodle chalkboard

fabric scrunch belt

mini bunting card

T-shirt to maternity shirt

pleated pillow

interchangable flip-flops

shirred pillow
Lace applique tank
button earings
baby tights

Cute pictures...

Not much has happened this last month, so we thought we would just share with you some of our favorite (recent) pictures of Riley. This first picture is Riley's first visit to the heliport.

And of Riley's first time in a swimming pool...

And here Riley is talking on the phone with his dad...

In other news, just yesterday, Riley cut his first tooth!

Take Care,

Jim, Stacie & Riley

Riley's trip to the hair salon

Hello all. Last month, Riley had his first first trip to the hair salon. He didn't seem to mind the hair cut one bit. It's a little hard to see from the picture, but his hair is styled like his dads. Mom finally got to see Riley roll over from front to back, and Riley is very close to rolling over from back to front.
Jim is the newest member of the Santa Barbara County SWAT Team. He had his first day of training last Wednesday.
Not much change for Stacie, who keeps herself busy between work and being a mom. However, she has found a babysitter who she knows will be wonderful and lives only minutes away! The babysitter is none other than Stacie's sister, Julie, who moved to Ventura a week ago with her husband, Aaron. Aaron just graduated from BYU and got a job here in Ventura.
In other news, Jim's brother Aaron and his girlfriend, Terry, are getting married in September.
That's all for now.

Take Care,
Jim, Stacie & Riley

Exciting times...

Hello to all. March has come and gone, but not without a few exciting things happening along the way. The California Public Safety Radio Association (CPRA) has announced the winners of it's 18th Annual Telecommunicator Awards. A little history for those unfamiliar with CPRA. CPRA is the Southern California Chapter of the Association of Public-Safety Communication Officials - International. APCO is an international, not-for-profit professional organization comprised of 15,000 members in 46 chapters and 5 regions around the world, all dedicated to the enhancement of public-safety communications. Each year CPRA presents these awards to public safety communications professionals in 5 categories. I am pleased to say that The Ventura County Fire Dispatch Center was awarded Outstanding Performance of a Dispatch Center for our performance during The La Conchita Incident (big mudslide) as well as The Topanga Fire (big fire).
Riley had his first trip to Disneyland this month. He also rolled over for the first time, however, hasn't done it since. Unfortunately for mom, he rolled over while she was as work, so dad was the only one to see this milestone.
Not much change for Jim. He is still working at Station 11 and still works an occational shift on the helicopter.
Take Care,
Jim, Stacie & Riley

We'll see how this works...

Hello everyone. After receiving Julie and Aaron's blogs for the last few months, I think they might be onto something, so...we'll see how this works for me and Jim. I know we don't live as far away as they do, but I think it's a neat way to document the things going on in our lives and share them with the family. That way, no one can say that they "weren't in the know". Jim is applying for The Santa Barbara County SWAT Team as a SWAT medic. If he is hired, he would do this in addition to working for the fire dept. He would also own a gun. Stacie, while she thinks it's a wonderful opportunity, isn't so sure about the gun, but Jim has assured her that it will be kept in a safe and secure place. He would go through the training that the other SWAT members go through. If he gets called to an incident, he would essentially be there in the event another SWAT member gets injured, so he would ALWAYS be the last person through the door (another reassuring thing to Stacie). Two weeks ago, Stacie went back to work part time after four months of maternity leave. While she was a little nervous to go back to her job, unsure if she would remember everything, her experience back has been a positive one. She works 1-2 days a week and Jim has taken a very active role in caring for Riley while she's away for those 24 hour shifts. Riley is growing very fast. We think he has found his voice and likes to use it. He loves to coo and laugh. Here are two of Stacie's favorite recent pictures of Riley. I know it looks like two different babies, but I assure you they are both of Riley.
Take care, Jim & Stacie