Christmas was good, little unborn Liam made out the best out of Kelli and I. Clothes, toys and anything else the grandparents could think of. We got a very nice digital camera from Kelli's parents (think they want pictures?) and my parents helped us out with buying our house (more on that later). I got Kelli a nice video camera and she got me some nice power tools and a shaving stand for my shaving accessories. Around Christmas my sister announced to us that she and my brother in-law are expecting their second baby. Very creatively I might add as well. She handmade a little t-shirt for my niece Jennie, on the front it read "Someday I'll be a rockstar." and on the back it read "But until then I'm just a big sister!" I think my moms head exploded into candy. We are very excited for them and for Liam and Jennie. They will have cousins close in age and proximity (they are buying a place right down the road from us). Something Kelli and I did not have, I think it will be good to have their cousins so close. 
Danny, my brother in-law is close to getting off probation with the fire department (same department as me) so that's neat. Both sides have a proud firefighter as an uncle and dad and a retired firefighter Grampy! (Yes Grampy... That's what my dad has gone with for the kids to call him. My mom has been dubbed Sadgram by the rest of us.)
We are very close to FINALLY being able to buy a home. 2 Years of us trying to fix our credit problems that we caused for ourselves in our youth is finally paying off. Lot's of hard work but we are almost there. We should be closing on our home at the end of February. We are very excited and finally can have our dogs back! Poor dudes, the guy we are buying from wouldn't allow our dogs to live with us while we were leasing, so they have been living with my parent's for the last year. I know I only live a mile away and see them every other day or so, but they don't, they think I'm leaving forever every time I leave. You can tell my German shepherd gets depressed sometimes, kills us. Oh well they will be coming home soon.
I waited too long this semester to get into the classes I wanted, I only got into one. I guess that's better than none. Taking Fire Officer 1 this semester in preparation for becoming eligible to test for Lieutenant in another year. Of course it may be 3 years if I make Engineer this time around, we are waiting on the list to come out for that. Typical Government, hurry up and wait. They told us the list should be out January 1st, so you can tell how true that was. That will be a nice little pay raise if it happens, but it's back to the bottom of seniority if I do get it, so that means floating again. No one house, I get to work everywhere. Which is fine I need to get back out and remind people I still work for the Dept. I jsut hate floating, having to carry all of your gear around, not to mention the fuel cost, especially with talk of $5/gal gas this summer, and me driving a giant V8 truck. Looks like I will be downsizing to a Prius if that happens...
