The blog looks different. In fact, I think it looks awesome. I’m pleased with the overhaul which is really the first in nearly two years. I had changed the header here and there but hadn’t changed how things worked for quite some time. As Cabin Fever has caused us to do things like remodel our kitchen and go somewhat insane, I thought I’d use some of that insanity and work on the blog.

Dee of Life in Our Shoes messaged me shortly after I pressed the activate button and said, “I love your header! The characters look so much like you guys!” Then she proceeded to ask where I found a family that looked so much like me, FireDad, BigBrother and LittleBrother. I then explained that I found an amazing artist, Adina of Adina Illustrations. She hand draws her images. Let me reiterate that, folks: that’s a hand-drawn caricature of my family up there, you guys. It’s us. But cooler. And maybe less noisy. Awesome.

Working with Adina was a wonderful experience. I followed her on twitter, sent her an email of my many (many) desires for a header and crossed my fingers that she would be able to do it all. And she did it all. And more. I mean, we look like us. I’m even wearing green! FireDad’s turnout gear is yellow. My eyes even look like my eyes. It took about two weeks. She sent me the file. I paid her. And then I went about remodeling the blog using the new (and popular) WordPress theme Suffusion. By the way, Adina only charges $55 for her header work. You might want to get in on that before she realizes she’s under-charging and hikes that price.

I’m glad to have a new look to the blog, especially one that so fits us as a family. If you see any kinks in the next few days, please either let me know (via the contact form or Twitter) or ignore them. As an example, my No-Ad pages (for compensated reviews or giveaways per the BlogHer Ad Network agreement) are currently without a sidebar at all. I’m using the Single Post Template plugin but it’s giving me fits with this WordPress theme. I also need to do a little work on my sidebars. If you also have any functionality ideas (move the RSS button, remove/add/change something), please feel free to let me know!

Let me know what you think of the new look. Unless you hate it. Then take it up with the designers of the header or theme. Okay? Swell!

Yesterday was a hard day. Monday was a hard day. Sunday was particularly rough. I woke up this morning almost dreading another day of Grumpypants in the FireHouse. And then I read about Maddie.

Heather (@mamaspohr) from The Spohrs are Multiplying (blog currently being re-hosted) had a string of normal tweets yesterday. Followed by some in the hospital as Maddie was being treated for RSV. And then a quick tweet that she was being intubated. And then the awful, unexpected news that Maddie had passed away.

I dripped tears into my coffee as I thought about how I started my morning today. Maddie was only thirteen days older than our LittleBrother. I couldn’t take back the Grumpypants from the past few days. I couldn’t magically make my headache disappear. But I could hug those two little boys (and send love across the miles to a Munchkin). I could change my Grumpypants today and give thanks for all that we have in our home, in our family and in our lives. And I could say a prayer for Heather and Mike at this horrible time.

The FireFamily will be donating to March of Dimes in honor of Maddie as the family has requested in lieu of flowers. They have also requested that people wear purple (which BigBrother happens to own) for the services. A PayPal account has also been set up for donations for the upcoming expenses. You can donate to formaddie@hotmomreviews.com via PayPal. More information can be found via Meghan’s blog while the Spohr’s site is being relocated.

In the meantime, please go follow @PrincessJenn on twitter as she is the loving, awesome person who took over when Bluehost refused to put the Spohr’s site back online due to bandwidth issues. I spoke to them on the phone and am appalled at their lack of compassion. Send @PrincessJenn a tweet of thanks for certain. Right now, watching the mom blogging community pull together for one of their own, I am reminded why I love this place, this blogosphere, so very much. Kudos to all those who pulled together and who will continue to support this family in their time of need.

The FireFamily sends our condolences, our prayers and our grief to the Spohr Family.

Edited to Add: Mirror site is now live. Please visit Remember Maddie.

[Comments here are closed. Please visit Meghan's blog to comment and/or learn how to donate until the Spohr's blog is live again.]

One year ago, I switched domains. We moved from our previous domain which included our last name (originally started as a wedding planning website) to this less obviously “us” domain. Some of my readers still remember our first and last names. New readers have found slip-ups here and there (and have kindly pointed them out). But, for the most part, we have enjoyed being the Fire Family for 2008. And we plan on continuing in 2009.

A lot happened blog-wise in 2008. We’ve hosted many a giveaway. We’ve reviewed a lot of things. We’ve passed on many safety tips. We’ve shared bits and pieces of our life; sometimes specific to fire life and sometimes just about living life as a family in general. We have met some amazing people over the past year: firefighters, paramedics, other fire families, other niche bloggers and other bloggers in general. It has been amazing. We have learned a lot from others this past year.

Personally, some of my 2008 resolutions panned out. I planned on reading 50 books. And I finished another one last night, coming in at 56 books for the year. I didn’t, however, keep my Goodreads list updated. So, I’ll add that into my reading goal this year. I did very well with Project365 until the day of my grandfather’s funeral. That day, I took no pictures. And I just never got back on the wagon from that point on. As for the weight loss? Well, I did lose the pre-pregnancy weight. But did not achieve the pre-pregnancy size. And so, after I hit that initial goal, I set a new 10 pound goal. I’ve lost two of that and, so, doing math, I apparently have eight pounds left to lose.

All that said, my 2009 goals?

1. Read 60 books and keep my 2009 Goodreads book list updated so that others can follow along with me. 60 books in one year means reading five books per month. I can totally do that, folks. I’m going to need book suggestions along the way. And, no, I’m not counting kids’ books because I’d be well over 60 by the end of the week. But, speaking of children’s books.

1a. Introduce 50 new books to the boys’ own library. (I say introduce because I first wrote “buy” but some of the books will be given to us for review but will still be added to the library. So, we’re going with “introduce” as the word.) As important as books are to me, I want my boys to continue to grow in their love of books. While we are huge library-goers, I also want to make sure they have their own books. (Not that they don’t. Remind me to photograph our books sometime soon.) This number should be no problem thanks to preschool and Scholastic book orders. I will keep track of what books are introduced via a Goodreads book shelf on my account. (Also, pass on suggestions, if you will!)

2. Participate in Project365 even if it turns in to Project312 or some other variation. I was pretty upset when I missed a photograph on the day of my grandfather’s funeral. And though I probably took a picture almost everyday since that September day, I just couldn’t somehow forgive myself for missing a day. A good friend has encouraged me this year to keep at it even if/when I miss a day. And, so, I’m going to. I feel very happy about it! (For those unfamiliar: Project365 is a challenge to take one picture, everyday, for a year. Or, you know, at least one picture per day.)

3. Lose those pesky eight pounds. They’ve been pretty stubborn. I don’t quite know how to go about it right now. I’ve gotten back to the YMCA since my foot injury and the general ick that BigBrother brought home from preschool twice over. I’ve joined another fitness class set to start in a week. I’ve decided that when I actually schedule my gym time at the beginning of the week, I am much better at sticking to it. But my guess is that I need to reevaluate what I am eating. I honestly have no clue how to go about that in a healthy manner. Time to do some research. I am, however, employing the site First 30 Days for some positive reinforcement in sticking with my goals. I encourage you to do the same!

I also have some goals for this blog as per a discussion over at Mom Bloggers Club. Basically? I want to bring you more fire related stuff this year. More safety tips. More fire videos. More fire related giveaways (books, toys, movies, safety gear). More inclusion from other fire wives/moms, husbands/dads, families and firefighters themselves. Just more general Stop, Drop & Bloggy type stuff in addition to the stuff that happens on the family side of fire life. I’m excited to see where that goes this year.

Goals aside, I hope that 2009 is a safe and happy year for you and yours. Sending our best from the Fire Family!

BlogHer this. BlogHer that. BlogHer. BlogHer. BlogHer.

No, I’m not going. Yes, I’m a bit grumpy about it. I’ve wanted to go for two years now but if the dates stay what they are, well, I’ll never be able to go. As you know from yesterday’s post, I’m in the process of packing for camp. It’s a yearly event. Same dates, every year. It’s also an integral part of my faith and, as such, “ditching it” isn’t something that I’m willing to do. And so, I unplug for eleven days while my peers all plan to get together and be super-plugged-in. I’m trying not to be salty. I’m trying to remind myself that my faith and my family are more important than any conference, no matter how awesome.

And it’s true. Camp was always a highlight of my summers while growing up. I made friends as a young child that are now all grown up and attending with their children. Our children are becoming friends. And the cycle is renewing itself. It is my dream that my sons will attend with their children in tow, watching them grow in faith and love with their friends’ children.

This year is set to be even more exciting and special. For the past twenty-seven years of my life, I have been staying in the cottage that my Great-Grandfather built. My Great-Grandmother, still alive and healthier than the lot of us, is the reason the family began attending. The cottage was built in the 60’s and is a huge part of my childhood summer memories. But this year, we bought our own cottage with my parents. Our family has outgrown the old cottage. And so, we’re expanding! It’s a lovely cottage that, albeit, needs some work when camp ends this year. But it’s just perfect. We already went to test it out (Mom and Dad have been getting it ready for this year as I’ve been very busy) and BigBrother approves of the big, screened in porch. It’s also right near the playground. An added bonus.

Faith-wise, many people don’t understand. And that’s okay. While I have a strong faith, it is such a blessing to be able to spend ten days each year concentrating on the relationship I have with my God. (And, you know, parenting and eating yummy food and doing a little relaxing as well.) But it’s the main reason that I won’t just “ditch” the last weekend and fly off to mingle with people that I consider some of my best friends. I’ll think of you all. I’ll miss your comments and e-mails and posts and general awesomeness. And I’ll probably feel a little bit jealous.

But I know I’m choosing the right path for myself and my family. And I’ll continue to do so. So, someone have a blast for me. I look forward to reading your posts when everyone gets home (which is the same time that I get home!).