Welcome Brendan Tighe Vroman

Our good friends Tighe and Gwen had their first baby, a boy, Brendan Tighe Vroman!!!

He is the only boy out of all our friends that are/were having babies.  He will definitely know how to treat a lady if all our girls have anything to do with it.  He was born June 17th (in the evening) and weighed 8 lb 2 oz and was 21 inches long (I hope I remembered all that correctly). 

We are more than excited that he's here and most of all, healthy!

Look at those cheeks!!  The perks of having a full term healthy baby.... cheeks!

This is one of the girls, Claire.  She just turned 1 in May.  Claire really wanted to hold Brendan, so we tricked her and let her sit with Kennedy.  The look on Kennedy's face is hilarious.  

Jen (Claire's mom) with Brendan.

Matt with Kennedy, Claire and Tighe (Brendan's dad).... the newest dad of them all!

"We are the three best friends anyone could have........"

AJ with Claire (her dad)

The happy family, Vroman's!  Congratulations you guys!!  We are so happy everyone is doing well and getting stronger everyday!!

(PS:  March of 2010, the Vroman's, Howard's and us went to Maui for spring break!  Back then, Jen was very pregnant with Claire and Kennedy and Brendan weren't in the works yet.... WOW!  What a difference a year can make).  Life-long friends though!!  Love you guys!

Congratulations PFB Class 10-02!

The second class of the Portland Fire Bureau 2010 (finally) finished their year long probation on May 27th, 2011!!  What a year it has been!  There were two new babies added to the mix too (Lila and Kennedy).  A lot of hard work, long hours, long nights, lots of studying and physical fitness ~ not to mention a lot of time away from loved ones... but it has paid off.  Seven out of the original twelve 'graduated' and are full time professional firefighters (Matt being the only Paramedic too).  I couldn't be more proud of all the them.  We have made life long friends.

To celebrate this wonderful occasion, we had a BBQ with all the guys and their families.  We made hamburgers, grilled hot dogs and cooked two chickens on our neighbors Traeger.  Everyone else brought their favorite side dish.  We had some delicious food that night.  

Not to mention it was the hottest day of 2011 ~ over 80 degrees!!

This is Carver and 'Juice' (Josh) playing a frisbee game.

Matt's best friend Timmy, (Matt), Tighe and Gwen (who is ready to deliver a sweet little boy any day now).  Don't make fun of our red neck couch on our back patio... it provided great, comfortable seating!

The happy host and hostess.

Oh yes, forgot to mention that at Portland Fire they have 'Mustache May' where everyone grows (or tries) a mustache.  Joe Ferroni had a the great idea to keep the mustaches until our BBQ which was June 4th to get a picture together.  So happy May is over.  Back row left to right: Joe Ferroni (Big Joe), Chris (Maz).  Front row left to right: Carver, Drew, Josh (Juice) and Matt (Night Hawk).  The nick names all came from academy.

Had to get a mustache picture with Sam in it.  We drew a mustache on him with an eye pencil.  So cute.  Little Sam loves all these firemen.... and they all LOVE him too!  Sammy stories can make your day.

Joe and Sam riding the Cub Cadet around our yard.  I guess when you live in the city, driving a tractor for fun is a treat.  

Daddy and Baby K.  Notice Baby K is wearing her new party dress.  She was the hit of the party!!  Again, so proud of all of you.  Job well done.  Now go out there and protect us, but be safe!!

Visiting Dad at Work

On the nicest day of the year (so far), Dad wanted us to come visit him at his new station, #25.

The lion is Station 25's logo.  My high school mascot was also the lion (West Linn lions).

This is where Matt sleeps.  We sat on the bed and could have fallen right to sleep ~ very comfy!!  I was just told that he moved rooms the next shift... but they all look the same.

So proud

On Monday, March 14th, 2011, Matt 'graduated' from training with Portland Fire Bureau.  This was a big day that we've waited for for a very long time, not to mention worked so hard for as well.  There was a short ceremony where he got his official badge and they also upgraded to yellow helmets from their black training helmets.  Matt got to apply the paramedic sticker to his helmet. 
               

Matt is really going to miss his 'crew' (B shift).  They have been together almost every day since May 2010, truly becoming a family.  From here they all split up and go to different stations around the Portland area.  Well done Joe, Josh, Carver and Matt!  Be careful saving lives.  We appreciate everything you do. CONGRATULATIONS ~ YOU DID IT!!!!!!!