Happy Holidays

Hello All,

Christen and I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and wish you the best for the new year. We were in Michigan for a few days to celebrate Christmas with the Hill's and returned to Alexandria to spend time with the Dietz half. Michigan was a blast. All you need for Christmas is a foot of snow and some irish whiskey, forget your two front teeth. Becky and Tom hosted Christmas Eve dinner at their house, which was a great time as well. Mom was good enough to freeze some gumbo and oyster dressin' and carry it on the plane. Hooooeee! Nice move, Mom. You're welcome for the shout out.

Now we are back home with nothing to do but chill. It looks like the New Years Eve will be in DC for us. We would love to hear about everybody's holiday and will check back in a few to see if there are any new posts.

Here are some pictures of our new house for those who have not seen it.

Love,
Mike and Christen

Happy Thanksgiving Updates

Hey everyone!! It has been a while for us, but so much is going on, it is hard to keep up. Owen is growing so fast, he is getting so big we can hardly stand it. He is starting to learn some sign language (more, please, banana, etc.) and is really picking up everything we try to teach him. He knows his eyes, ears, nose, toes and all the sounds that the cow, sheep, horse, chicken, and car make. Most importantly, Owen loves his BALL and he likes to say it and sign it!

We got Owen to learn touchdown during football season and now everytime he sees the Tigers (or any football players) on the television, he says GEAUX - and Jen and I automatically reply - TIGERS!!!! It is really fun watching him grow up and we can't wait to have Parker and Jack around to play with.

We wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and let everyone know how thankful we are to have such a great (growing) family. Here are some recent pictures of Owen, we hope everyone is doing well and can't wait to celebrate with everyone this weekend for Kevin and Amanda.

Love,
Brett, Jen, and Owen (Jack and Parker too!)

Update from Christen & Michael

Hey Guys,

Sorry we've been missing, we currently don't have internet at my place. But we are moving next week so more to come soon...

Here are a few pictures from our Honeymoon!

Hey Dietz kids!

Luke and I just wanted to say hello.. we've been busy, busy getting our life together here in Austin! From the beginning its felt like home since ole Teddy is here, and it's getting better every day.. Moving to another place is hard, but already having a sibling here is incredible and makes things wonderful! Now I know how Becky and Mike must feel to be near eachother.!!!Although I have to admit I find myself getting homesick the past few weeks..
Luke's job is going well he is a true "business" man now and I have to say he looks pretty professional to me! I've been busy looking for a job and feel confident that I will find something I like! We will be home for a few days for thanksgiving so hopefully we'll be able to see as many Dietz's as possible!!! For now we love EVERYONE!!! Congrats to everyone's good news ... I look forward to when we can all toast everyone's happiness and excitement about all the positive things that are happening/have happened in the Dietz clan.
love, love, love,
Gretch and Luke
p.s. Ted says hello!

Hello cousins :)

Hi Everyone,
Hope all is well...Thanks for the reminder Jen about the blog...I had truly forgotten until I heard the pictures of our newest family member had been posted on it! So, I am back and promise to stay true :)

We just put Mack down to sleep after a fun filled 1st Birthday. He had his 1 yr. appt. this morning and successfully made it through the shots...or I should say Mom made it through. And then Honey took us shopping (Mack shopping) and then we had the new baby appt. Mack smiled quite proud when we all heard the heartbeat..like he knew what was going on! It was wonderful. And I had my fair share of cries today thinking about his little life of 1 year..it is quite emotional! And of course thought about our Papa often...and thanked him for our special gift! We are headed out tomorrow to buy him a swingset...he loves outside especially because he is walking all over the place! Rest and sleep will not be a word in my vocab. for many years to come!

Michael and Kristen...congrats and so sorry we missed the wedding, you were in our thoughts during that week, we hated to not be there!!

ANd welcome cousin Emily...you are beautiful and big :) Can't wait to meet you!

And to Lea and Casey...congrats on this exciting new step in your life together! We are so happy for you!

And Kevin and Amanda...Yay!!!! We have been waiting :) Can't wait to celebrate with you soon!

And to everyone else...can't wait to see you all soon! Love to all!!! Mack, Katie and Rob

Geaux team connison!

Hi family-
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MACK A DOODLE DOO!!!!!!!!!!! Where did one year go??
(and Happy Bday Papa tooooo =)

We are also so so so happy for the Bogle bunch! LOVE THE PICTURES OF EMILY!!!!!!!! She is just so beautiful!!! We cannot wait to meet her! And I know Brian is the best big brother... he's going to have to teach Mack and Owen the ropes of adjusting!

On our end, we had our appointment today with the Maternal-Fetal medicine doctor.... only had to see him because all multiples are considered "high risk"-- but its just a precaution. And the bambinos look great-- definitely confirmed it is two more beautiful BOYS!
WOOP WOOP! Please do come visit the House O' Testosterone at any given time. We are so excited!

Hope to see lots of you at Uncle T's birthday bash in November!!!
Love to all-
J, B, O, and the twinkles

Emily Dietz Bogle

Becky and I are thrilled to announce the newest member of our family, Emily Dietz Bogle! Emily was born on October 6, 2008 at 2:36 pm at Inova Fairfax Hospital in Falls Church, Virginia.

Emily was 9 lbs. 6 oz., and 21.5 inches at birth, so Mommy is very happy that she opted for a C-Section!
Emily has been an absolutely terrific sleeper (which we hope continues after she comes home tomorrow!), and has brought so much joy to all of our lives. We feel so blessed to have her with us. We're also so happy to have Mia around (particularly Brian!) and are looking forward to Pops's visit this weekend! Much love to all -- Tom

Connison-Dietz Updates

We just wanted to give some updates on what is happening on our end.

We had a great time at the wedding last month and it was great to see (almost) everyone. Travel arangements were a bit hairy for Gustav but I think everyone made out ok. Jen and I ended up at my parents house in SC for two days and met up with GiGi and Pops in NC and spent the week at Mimi and Jack's. It ended up being a nice little vacation from reality thanks to another hurricane.

I have left my job at ICF International to take a similar position doing system work with the State of Louisiana - Office of Community Development/Disaster Recovery Unit. Basically, I am on the other side of the Road Home project. This is a more permanent position and was the best move for all of us right now.

The twins are healthy and growing!!! It was a bit early to tell without a doubt, but the ultrasound tech told us she was about 85% sure that both of them will be BOYS!! Jen is a bit overwhelmed about the testosterone that will be in our house. Hopefully they will have a few girl cousins in the family to even things out.

Good luck to Becky and Tom!!

Congrats to Luke and Gretch on the new job and moving to Austin!

We hope to hear some other updates on the Dietz clan soon.

-Brett, Jen, O, and the twins

Owen's 1st Birthday!!

Here are some pictures from Owen's first birthday party.

Jen, O, and I are all excited to see everyone up in DC for the wedding! We can't wait!!!

~Brett

Summer!

Hi everyone!  Hope you are all having a nice summer so far.  We are definitely jealous of all of you Perdido-goers since we will miss our annual beach trip this year.  Tom, Brian, and I did manage to squeeze in a little vacation recently at the Greenbrier in West Virginia - I'll post some pictures below.  Part of the resort sits on top of a secret bunker that was built for Congress to use in the event of a nuclear attack.  The plan was exposed by the Washington Post in the 90s, so now the bunker is open to the public for tours - definitely something to see. Overall, it was a great vacation and we definitely hope to go back again sometime.  It has been a fun summer, but we miss our New Orleans family and cant wait to see everyone in August!

Job Update

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to give you a quick heads up on my job situation. I am leaving Rainmaker in about 10 days to accept a position at a local consulting firm. I will be handling commercial contracts for Staples/Quills in Austin trying to expand their corporate presence in the city. It is a little nerve racking at this point, but the earning potential and advancement opportunity could make this a long term commitment.

The Baton Rouge Dietz's are heading to Perdido this week for our family vacation, so I am hoping all this good weather everyone is talking about can hold up for us! I hope all the wee babes are doing well, as are the new mothers and fathers. To all my cousins and Aunts/Uncles (or grandparents) which ever you prefer, I look forward to seeing you in August for Mike's wedding!

Love to all,

Sir Theodore of the Dietz Clan

baby O cracking up!

check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZH0RUmpAHQ

Happy Birthday Brian!!!!!!!!

I can't believe little man is already 4 years old!!!! Time sure does fly by.....
WE ARE SO EXCITED about the great news of a little girl soon to be in our family!!!! Oh my gosh I cannot wait to meet her! Congrats congrats congrats!

We just got home from a great great great week in Perdido! The weather was awesome and we had such a relaxing time. I was so excited to come home and see all these posts from everyone! YAY for blogging.
Aunt K- just tell us when and where and we will be there to see everyone while Becky and Brian are in town.

The scoop on our end is that Owen is now into evvvvvverything as he continues to scoot around the house crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything, and making his way around just about anything he can hold onto standing up and balancing himself into oblivion. The new fashion at our house is nothing on coffee tables, end tables, or the bottom bookshelves or frankly any shelves. His new favorite is to find the cat food and water and go to town.... any ideas on where to place the feline's nourishments?? Apparently, the more mobile the child becomes, the more ghetto our house looks.... but we're all adjusting.... and he's so dang cute it doesn't matter. His favorite word is still Dadadadadadada. And when asked to say Mamama... all I get is Dadadada. Peerfecto. Thanks O.

Anyhow-- we hope to see everyone before the 16th of June!!!
LOVE TO ALL,
j, b, and o

hello from luke and gretchen!

Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted anything until now but I was busy finishing up school. It is finally official... Tomorrow at 9am I take my last final for college. It's been a long journey, but hey, I had fun doing it :) Thanks for all the support and encouragment over the years!
Luke and I are doing great.. We're sitting tight in Baton Rouge for now. Luke accepted a job in Baton Rouge that we hope is only temporary, but he's been chomping at the bits for a "real job" so he took the oppurtunity when it arose. We're still planning on moving to the Carolina's but timing is everything in NASCAR country and right now it's the middle of the season. Regardless we're happy and doing great. I'm siked about a baby girl being in the family! YAY for Becky, Tom, and Brian!!! And of course I know Mia is excited!
I hope everyone is doing well.. I need to get back to studying for my last ever final... Just wanted to let everyone know that we love them! Take care!
love, gretchen and luke

The verdict is in...

We're having a girl!  Our ultrasound was today, and it looks like Brian will have a little sister in the early October timeframe.  Everything looks great with the baby...we could not be more excited!  Anyway, just wanted to share our news.   Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying 

summer so far!  Love, Becky

Happy Memorial Day!!

Dear Dietz Family,
Hope all is well with everyone! I just wanted to share our excitement...It is official, Rob has graduated from lawschool! I am quite the proud wife and excited to have my husband free from studies...at least for awhile :) We had a great weekend with his family, who were all in for graduation. We spent Saturday day and night in New Orleans...a first time visit for his dad who loved it, but who wouldn't!!!! We went to the aquarium, which Mack loved looking and listening to all there was to see and hear. Then we spent the afternoon roaming the streets and had a bite to eat at Maspero's on Decatur. We dropped them off at the airport this morning...goodbyes are hard!

As soon as we get the recent photos loaded on our computer, I will send a few recent ones of Mack out! Love to all...Katie, Rob and Mack

Brian's visit to Mia and Pops' House

Dear Family,

Just wanted everyone to know that I will be in Washington for Brian's 4th (I can remember the day he was born) birthday and also to finalize the groom's portion of Michael's wedding plans.....
hoping everyone will be able to join us for Michael and Christen's big day.

Anyway, on June 3rd Brian, Becky and myself will be flying home to New Orleans and they will be with us until June 16th....can't wait...I would love to host a gathering for everyone, if not that, than maybe the Dietz ladies and babies....I will check out dates and send out info soon....

We are enjoying the blog and love the pics...

Aunt Karen

Greetings from Aunt Marylyn

Hello One and All,
This is such a great idea, I am quite proud to be the first of the "Grands" to write in. Uncle Larry and I are looking forward to graduation weekend. John will celebrate his departure from Catholic High beginning with Honors Convocation tomorrow evening. (He will deliver the final prayer and was nominated for a Golden Bear for Key Club. We are so proud of him.) Graduation is Sat evening and all are invited to our home for "The Party" at 2pm on Sun. Ted arrives home on Fri. for the big event.
We roll out of high school after 15 years and 5 children, 11 consecutive years at CHS. When Katie began SJA in the fall of 1993 a very few select girls had the "luzury" of owning a pager. The pagers were all utilitarian black. Soon the trend to colored pagers took the teenage world by storm. The rest is technology history. John's friends have their own lap tops, all have cell phones and of course now they text message instead of even calling one another. I wonder what technology will be in 15 years when Brian, Owen and Mack are teenagers? ? ? Hope to see some of you on Sunday. Love to all!
Aunt Marylyn

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!

I wanted to wish all of the Dietz Moms (and those with new last names) a very Happy Mother's Day. You are all an inspiration as parents and we are all blessed to have you in our lives as family members and role models.

Thank you for all that you do. I hope that each one of you had a great day today!!

-Brett

The Jersey Shore

After arising at the crack of dawn to catch a flight out of Baton Rouge Airport, the Connison family packed up and boarded a plane headed for the Atlantic Ocean. My parents orchestrated getting my entire family together since we haven't all been together since two weeks before our wedding when one of my stepbrother's was married (almost 2 whole years ago)!! Since then, there have been 4 additions to our family, including our favorite...Big O.

We got to hang out with my entire family playing board games, watching every Philadelphia sports team, and making sure the little ones were enjoying themselves at "the shore". We walked to the beach with O and it was so chilly that he needed a jacket on our afternoon stroll!

Finally, for an actual adult night out, Jen and I were able to get away with my sister, her boyfriend, my stepbrother and his wife and we all headed to Atlantic City. We had never been there before so we decided to visit Trumpster at the Taj Mahal. It was just like him, gold and gaudy crap everywhere, but it was nice to check out the boardwalk. After dinner at House of Blues, we decided to get a little funnel cake for dessert. Little did we know that all of the seagulls also wanted dessert and decided to steal it right out of my sister's boyfriends hands!! We were swarmed by them the entire time we were outside and it was hilarious.

Anyway, we had a great time, excluding the last leg of our trip when Owen was not the happiest camper. He was such a trooper for all the other flights so we guess that he just didn't want to come home from vacation!

Enjoy a few pics that we took from my phone and hope everyone is well. Can't wait to see everyone again soon. -Brett

Owen is ready for VACATION!!

Brett and Jen in Atlantic City

Trumpster!!

The Kentucky Derby

Cousins,

I just got back from the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby, and it was incredible! I have watched the race on TV for years now, and it does not give Church Hill Downs any justice. I was able to sit in the grandstands for the Friday race, The Oaks Race, and it was awesome. SOOOOOOO many good looking ladies in big hats. I have decided that every city should have a hat festival because those fancy dresses and crazy hats do wonders for a young single man such as myself! Anyway, I would highly recommend everyone heading to the derby at least once to check out the festivities! Betting on ponies and drinking an ice cold mint julip is a lifestyle I could easily pick up. As I gazed upon millionaires row on saturday during the derby it gave me a new drive to succeed. I foresee a giant Dietz reunion in one of the suites....Papa and Granny would love it! I hope everyone is doing well and I will see you soon.

Ted

P.S. if your interested in next year's derby let me know because I am going back!

Hi from DC

Hey Dietz crew!  Jen - Thanks so much for setting this up - what a great idea!  We were so sorry to miss everyone at Mike and Christen's party, but we are counting down the days until the big wedding weekend.  Hopefully we will see some of you before then - we will be in N.O. June 3-11. Otherwise, things are going well here...We find out the gender of baby #2 in about a month and will be sure to keep you posted.  Until then, here's a recent picture of Brian at a Nationals baseball game.  If you ever happen to be watching, look for Brian and Tom right above 3rd base. Love to everyone!   

    

family wedding pic

arent we all so cute!

hello from Casey and Lea!

Yay for the Dietz Blog!! Here's whats happening on our end: Lea is on the river this week- his tug is presently down a few hours south of New Orleans. Living in the French Quarter has been very fun thus far! Please come visit and crash anytime! There's a little guest room and bathroom with your name on it! =)
It was such a disappointment to miss out on Michael and Christen's beautiful engagement party. Sounds like it was a blast! Great food, drinks, and the coolest people around!
The big Dietz family picture from our wedding is precious- I'm going to try to post it at some point. If interested in seeing rehearsal or wedding pics: go to www.terridphoto.com then click on "View Photos Online" - and you'll find "Casey Dietz Lea Rehearsal" and "Casey Dietz Lea Wedding". The password for both is: "lea"
Love to you all!

dietz blog test

good morning family!

This is Sir Theodore of the Dietz Clan reporting from Austin, Texas. I am hoping this makes it to the site! write me back to make sure this thing is working correctly. Also I have my personal email ted.dietz@gmail.com Please do not hesitate to create a google account and chat with me as I am in front of a computer all day for work so distractions are more than welcome! I hope everyone is doing well and I will see you all for the celebration of another fallen man!

Much Love,
Sir Theodore

some beach pics!

we had a great time.... when can we allllll go together??? =)

hello lovemuffins

We had a great time at Michael and Christen's party this weekend.... although those parties always go by too quickly and you feel like you never got a chance to talk to everyone you wanted to talk too!!! Or maybe that was just me. The big day in August will be here before we know it! I hope everyone is planning their trips up there...
Brett, Owen, and I are planning to be in DC on the wednesday before the wedding to do a little sightseeing with Mom and Dad and hopefully little Dave as well... and Casey and Lea will get there shortly after! We can't wait.

Owen will be ONE little year old by then.....
Speaking of my favorite person (yes Brett, there's a tie for #1 favorites)..... he's getting to be such a little man. He's pulling up and wanting to stand all the time... and just smiles from ear to ear because he is so proud of himself for making it to the standing position! He never has really felt like crawling so much.. and we think he'll be walking before he ever decides to crawl... but who knows. Anyway about a week or so ago.. he started saying Dadadadadadada... it's so precious! Although I do admit to a little jealousy...

Ok- well I hope to hear updates from everyone.... especially from the out-of-towners!!! This idea was originally formed from sadness in thinking that some people will never move back to this armpit of a state that we call home... oh how I do truly love the armpit I must add.
LOVE YOU ALL.
xo,
jen