Fun with Paint

We went paintballing a couple of weekends ago.

It was Christmas present from Jennifer to Luke.

He was super excited about it--we all were!

Josh didn't get to go--too young--but we brought Brad, Papa, Kole, and Luke's friend Grady with us.  

When we got there we were grouped with a bunch of 16 year old boys.  They were great!  It was a good mix!

I went in to it knowing I would be horrible.  I'm no good with any sort of reflex/target sport.  We play dodgeball at the YMCA a lot and I am the worst at it!  The boys--especially Ben--make fun of me all the time.  My terribleness doesn't stop me, though!

I actually held my own on the paintball field!  I even made it until the end in one round!  I got out right in the beginning in several others, but still!

I was really impressed with all the kids!

They were all fearless--and pretty good shots!

They mostly stayed in until close to the end of the rounds, and were actually getting people out--I never actually hit a single person!

I think we only had tears once, and that was only after Ben shot Henry 5 or 6 times at fairly close range.  He says he didn't think he was actually hitting him, but we all know how competitive Ben gets!  

I don't blame Henry for tearing up.  Those paintballs stung bad, especially when they come from up close.  (Ben also shot me when I was only 5 or 6 feet away.  He was ruthless!)

Jennifer always gives the most fun presents!  

All the boys agreed that we must do it again!

Sergeant Jonker

Ben is now a Sergeant on the police department!

Exciting!!

It means that he'll be back on the streets--this time as a BOSS!!!  (The supervisors part is both exciting and nerve wracking for him.  It's a big jump!)

I'm excited to get to go on "ride alongs" with him again.  They are so fun!  

When he was an officer, I had the worst luck, though.  Nothing very exciting ever happened.  

One time we had a call where a naked crazy guy was running down the street.  I most felt sad for him because he really was crazy.  

Another time we were on a call and Ben was getting the scoop from this girl/prostitute.  It wasn't until until about 5 minutes in and after hearing him call her Dwayne 3 or 4 times before I finally realized she was actually a boy.  He/she wasn't even remotely convincing as a girl.  I'm an idiot!     

My ride alongs have always been fun, but I want to go on one where something really exciting happens.

Like news worthy exciting!

I've got high hopes now that he's back on the streets!!

*     *     *     *     * 

Henry got to present Ben with his Sergeants badge.  (Luke got to give him is Detective one.)

He did great!

I was mostly just glad I got to actually be there this time!

With his new position he also has a completely different work schedule.

I'm excited that his days off will now be during the week--it will be just the two of us while the kids are at school!!--but it means that he's now going to be MIA during our weekend activities.  

I'm sad about that.

For now he has really inconvenient hours as far as  family time goes. but we're hoping in the next month or two, when everyone gets settled into their permanent positions, he will move to a different shift and be able to join us a bit more in our fun times!

It's just going to take us awhile to get use to that type of schedule again.  (We've been spoiled with him working as a detective with normal hours.)

Either way were really excited and proud of him.

He's going to do excellent!!