Easy Riders

Hi Everyone,
I just realized it's been two months since I've put anything on here, where does the time go? The motorcycles aren't ours, our friends Steve and Nikki rode over a couple of weeks ago and were brave enough to let the kids sit on their bikes. You notice all of the adults standing real close, huh? Kids are fine, growing and just acting like kids. Connor turned six last month and we had a Ben 10 cake. You'll be happy to know I finally have a real job now, am working at Fort Belvoir for PEO Soldier. We're enjoying spring and the warmer weather and the return of the green vegetation, but the constant rain is messing up our painting plans. Take care, hope you're doing well!

Wade, Liz, Connor and Cassie

Eight Years

Can you believe it, we celebrated our eighth anniversary on Monday. We went to dinner at Chadwicks in Old Towne Alexandria Saturday night, without the kids! Here's a then and now picture...I think we look about the same, can't really see the few (very few) gray hairs I've somehow acquired.

Oswald

Hi Everyone,

Well gee, here I thought spring was right around the corner (being that it is March), and instead we get three inches of snow and school closed for the day. So the kids and I have been hanging out all day, but we made Liz go to work. Snow is ok, but it's windy to, to cold to go outside. Guess our only real news involves Oswald. For the past month (maybe longer, I've lost track), I have been taking him to the vet and then an opthlamologist for an eye infection that just wouldn't go away. We finally had to give in and have the eye removed. I hated to do it, but really had no choice, and if you could have seen his eye you would have agreed. It was pretty bad. So we had the surgery done last Thursday and he's doing ok. Not much else is going on. Nothing new on the work front for me, still doing special projects for a program manager at Ft. Belvoir, and luckily am able to work from home quite a bit. Makes it nice because I don't have to get up as early to get ready. Kids are doing good, although I'm ready for some warm weather so we can get them outside more. Hope all is well with you!

Wade, Liz, Connor and Cassie

Snow

As I mentioned below, here's the snow picture. Next is one of tommy and Oswald rough housing. In the next picture, Connor demonstrates the proper technique to carry a kitten, and for good measure one of Oswald just to make you go "Awwww...".

Winter

Hi Everyone, yes, we're still alive. Just all hunkered down for winter, that's all. Wanted to share a few pictures. The first is from early Jan I think, just to prove that it does get cold in Virginia. Oh, I know it gets colder where you are and I'm not complaining...I'm just saying it does get cold here! The second picture I liked just because I've never had eight squirrels in one picture. If it's hard to see, there's five on the ground, two on the feeder, and one just happened to come racing through when I pressed the button. I thought I was taking a picture of seven squirrels, which is impressive enough, but found the other one after I downloaded them. The next picture is from a couple of weeks ago when we got our first snow on Windy Hill. It was only 2-3 inches, but it was fun to watch and I took the kids out on the sled after they got home. The bottom picture is Oswald. We got Oswald so Tommy wouldn't be lonely, and even though Tommy weighed at least four times as much, Os never backed down. Os has had some issues though, a few days after he arrived here he came down with a upper respiratory infection that spread to his eye. So he's been battling a pretty severe eye infection that has required about six trips to the vet, including two to an opthalmologist. Yeah, they have eye doctors for animals! He's had a rough go of it, but he's feeling great and acts fine, but the eye is still infected and he may lose sight in it. And, if that happens, it may have to be removed. Hope not, but we'll see.

Ok, just lost the snow picture, will post it separately. Other than that, we're staying busy. Connor is doing great in kindergarten and Cassie is taking Spanish at Kindercare and is doing wonderful. Liz is working hard at the National Guard Bureau, and I'm.....well, I'm employed. Lots of drama with my job, the office I was supposed to work for decided they didn't want new people and preferred the old crew. Evidently the lawyers are involved, something about breach of contract....I'm staying out of it. So, am working special projects until they decide where my home will be. I'll let you know how it works out.

We're having some nice spring weather this week and broke out the sidewalk chalk and bubbles over the weekend. Looking forward to a three day weekend, hopefully the weather will stay nice. Liz and I went to a dining in on Sat night at Ft. Meyer and had a great time, the kids stayed with Jo Ann and got to play with her kids, which they always enjoy. Hope everything is well with you!

Wade, Liz, Connor and Cassie

2009

Hi Everyone,

The holidays are over and the new year is in full swing. We very much enjoyed Christmas, both Connor and Cassie for the first time understood the whole Santa Claus concept. And yes, I leveraged that to get some good behavior from both of them. And it worked, all I had to do was pick up the phone and threaten to call Santa and I got all kinds of cooperation from those two! I know, that's terrible...but it worked. Also left some cookies and milk out for Santa, and what do you know, by morning they were gone.

We're getting back in the swing of things, Connor is back in school and work schedules have returned to normal. Other than the occasional cold, we're all staying in good health as we head into winter. I've been watching some football...and for some reason my teams have been losing. Cowboys and Titans; done. Oklahoma State; lost their bowl game. And then there are the Sooners. Ah yes, the Sooners. Sooner or later they'll win a BCS bowl game, but once again, I spent four hours of my life watching them choke against a lesser team.

I guess the only other news is that, since Tommy seemed a little lonely, Liz got him a brother yesterday. He's a cute little thing, his name is Oswald, I'll have to get a picture up. He's really small and Tommy is playing a little to rough with him. But I'll give Oswald some credit, he doesn't back down, he gets those ears back and bares his teeth and starts hissing if Tommy goes overboard. Once Oswald puts on some weight he'll be able to hold his own. I'll get some pictures of Oswald up soon. That's it though....no more critters.

That's it from Nokesville. Take care, stay warm....and spring will be here in about 60 days!

Wade, Liz, Connor and Cassie

Crab Cakes

Hi Everyone,
Hope you are getting geared up for winter. We have had some cold days and some less cold days, but you can feel winter in the air. We're actually having a rough weekend. Last night Liz and I went to a National Guard awards banquet. Top picture is from there, we had a great time. The dinner was pretty good. I had steak and chicken, Liz had chicken and a crab cake. In the middle of the night, Liz started not feeling well and has been in bed all day. I think she got food poisoning from the crab cake. Speaking of winter, the lower picture is from the Ravens-Redskins game last Sunday night. I was really excited to go because I've never been to a NFL game before. You might ask why anyone would buy tickets to a night game in mid December. Well actually, when I bought the tickets last August, it was a 1:00pm game. Evidently the NFL can change the start times to their games whenever they want to. Let me tell you...it was COLD!!! Oh my gosh it was cold. The temperature was in the mid 20's at game time, and it felt much colder than that. I went with my friend Matt Schwartz, fortunately he didn't want to stay for the whole game any more than I did.

In between social events and football games, have been working on getting the Christmas decorations and the lights up. Just about there, going to put up a few more lights if I get a chance. Just need to get some stamps and the Christmas cards will be ready to go out. If you don't get one, it's only because I don't have your address! Please send it to us! Kids are doing great, Connor asks every evening if Santa Claus is coming. Don't know if he's going to make it another 10 days. That's about it from here, stay warm.

Wade, Liz, Connor and Cassie