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!