HI DAD

Hi Carl,
Just a few pics from Nate. Well we had such a fun weekend. Now its back to work for me and do I have a ton of it. I can't blog long but here are some pics. Nate got two new teeth today , molars in the back, maybe now he will eat. He has been fussy for a few days which explains the mood. He loves to bring me books to read him after I put on his jammies for bed time. Tonight I took a picture. His favorite book is 8 monkeys from my friend Shelly. If anyone reads this blog keep Shelly in your prayers. My good friend lost her twin boys at 20 weeks on Friday and today her father in law passed away. Why do bad things always happen to good people. Its just not fair. We miss you and We love you Carl,
Nate, Amy , Neshie and Bimini

hey carl

Carl,
Just want to send our regards and say hello.We appreciate you and all of our Military guys.We're doing great here.Stay safe and we'll see you when you get home.Nina

back from baghdad

Hey everybody! Amy, I LOVE the pictures - and boy do I wish I was there, Nate looks like he's having a BLAST!!! Does he like playing on the beach? What fun - we've got some sand castles to build when I get back, make sure to tell him so. The beach looks perfect, too bad by the time I'll be home it will be a million degrees (like it is here right now). I bet he was shrieking in the picture of him in the floatie raft - he always screams when he's excited. Not much new here, although I went to Baghdad a few days back for an overnight trip, it was fun getting to travel a little bit. I stayed in the Green / International Zone, it was safe don't worry... summer has definitely arrived, the heat has moved in with a vengeance, makes that pool and beach look even better! Anyway, I miss everyone at home, I hope everyone's having extra fun this long memorial day weekend - drink a beer (or something) for me!
Love,
Carlos

Hello,
Hello, It has been a great weekend. Aunt Ali and Uncle Paul arrived on Thursday Evening. On Friday morning we hit the beach. Fort De Soto State Park , rated the number #1 beach in America for 2005, oh the water was clear, the sun was perfect and the temp felt just right. After a day at the beach we hit the mall for a bit and grabbed a bite to eat. Saturday we woke up and Nate got to stay with a babysitter while we went fishing. The fish were biting. Paul caught the most, a few speckled trout, lady fish, lizard fish. I caught the least, 2 cats and a trout. Ali takes the award for biggest with a bonnethead shark! After our afternoon naps we headed over to the Janicki's for a great afternoon in the pool. Nate got a new pool toys from Susan (spoiled) and we were spoiled with an awesome dinner. Today Sunday we were off the beach in the morning. Not sure what our afternoon plans entail but we will eat a nice dinner somewhere. Tomorrow we will wake up early for a road trip to Venice Beach about an hour south, the shark tooth capital of the world so they say. Then a nice quiet picnic and with dogs and burgers in the afternoon. We miss you Carl we love you!

hola carlos

hola carlos!
talked to mom...she tried to post, unsuccessfully! & she asked me to let you know she tried! & lucy is trying to conquer also, & nina also...mom is in atlanta now until next week...they have a closing scheduled on their house for friday...so they are ready to celebrate if all goes well! per claire, george was out of surgery, doing well...not even on icu as anticipated & the surgery was completed quicker than expected...so it all sounds good so far. i will post again when i talk to dad myself & let you know more (& if any across the ponders are reading, post us w/an update!).

we are doing well. had some excitement over the last few days w/jackson (the dog!). there was a female roaming dog in heat...he even ended up at nina's one night! pretty far! then yesterday as i left for work he was missing...(had escaped from his kennel)...so i rode around the block once before going to work...there he was, w/10 other dogs or so! someone else pulled up to get his 2 dogs at the same time...his 2 jumped right in his truck...my sweet jackson made me chase him thru 8 yards yelling like an idiot & then drag him back to my car...all at 7am in my work clothes! so i get him home, & lock him in the kennel & reinforce where he broke out.

got home last night & he as on the front porch & could barely stand! so i missed work today to take him to the vet. $200 later...antibiotics for infection, pain pills, wound washes 2x/day, a cortisone shot for inflammation, & iv fluids for dehydration...he has multiple multiple wounds from dog fighting, including in his gums making it hard for him to eat, & on his front leg, & he won't walk on it except to pee. didn't know i would be nursing the dog! gotta love animals! needless to say, he will be getting fixed in the near future! & to top it off, the cat pooped on the bathroom rug this am also...why did we want pets??

so, that is my excitement! we did get our pool set up this week...still needs the pump assembled/attached before we fill it, but i will post a picture when it is done! okay, take care, email /post soon! we love & miss you, as always!
olive juice, carenosssss

hello everybody

Hey Mandy, thanks for the blog! I hope all's well with you, Caren has kept me up to date (okay, so up to the point I came over here to the sandbox anyway) with you, congratulations on your marriage as well! I hope everyone else is doing well also - I'm going to bed early today (only 4:30am!) so won't be on the blog long, but life here is going fine, the days pass pretty quickly which is a good thing, and I am lucky enough to get some time to go running in 3-4 times a week in the evenings usually when the sun is setting, which helps relieve the monotony of sitting behind a computer for the rest of the time. Anyway, time to sign off for now, will talk to everyone later!
Carl

hey carl!

Hey Carl!! It is so good to hear about all the things that you are doing. Hope you remember me--your neighborhood friend Mandy Ariail (Arnell now)!! Caren keeps me in the loop of what is going on with you. Congrats on your son and your marriage!!! I am soo happy for you!! It sounds like you are really doing well!! Keep up all the good work!!!Caren--thanks for sharing this with me!!!**Mandy

Playground w/our friends

fun w/our friends at the playground! samantha, jayden, carlie & charlie!

Carlie & Charlie

what a fun weekend! these pix were at shell point feeding the seagulls!

Carlie's new shoes:)

how about these new shoes! she loves them:)

charlie-fest

hey!
we just finished our few days w/charlie! we had a blast! he kept us busy though! yesterday we went to a park near here w/some other friends & their kids. then over to nina's to jump on her neighbor's trampoline! then home, where carlie loudly protested bedtime for over an hour...not like her at all, & quite frustrating for charlie, as i was busy w/her! today we went to shell point (the end of the island) & fed seagulls...& wet our toes...then took charlie home & grammy picked him up for the night. carlie & i picked up granny & went shopping for a bit followed by mexican dinner w/granny & granddad. home at last, home at last! & carlie went right to bed tonight...guess she was just missing charlie time last night, but i was worried it was an ear infection! teddy is back tomorrow from his fishing tournament...they were hoping to hold onto the 2nd place wahoo, ($4000), but no luck! he is fishing sat & sun this weekend also in the swansboro bluewater tournament, so we'll see! but they just fish from beaufort for that, so at least he is home for bedtime! & we'll do some boating memorial day monday i'm sure! talked to dad today...got him on his cell as he & annie mary were bumping down the mile road...i was talking to him as mary opened the sheppey gate & i could hear the little boy in dad come out! sheppey...wouldn't we all love to be there! george's surgery is monday...dad plans to see him again thursday...anyway, i will post pix soon from our excursions this weekend...just don't have the patience to download them to the computer right now the way i have to do it w/my camera...i've earned some couch time:) love the pix amy, the water looks awesome down there & nate looks fearless! he is soooooo cute! take care carlos, we love & miss you, think about you often:)
carenos & carlie-pie xoxoxo

wish i were there...

...because the "beach" here just isn't the same without water...or a breeze...or sand. Then again, not that I'm seeing it much, but I get to sleep in on Sun morning and you'd better believe I'm taking advantage of that!!!! Amy the beach pics are awesome! Did you go down to Ft. DeSoto? The beach looked narrower, didn't look like Passe a Grille beach (or however you spell it). Oops, got to post and change computers, back in a sec!

A trip to the beach

I love the water, I have no fear!


I can brush my six teeth

Hello Hello
Caren thanks for posting I think you are the only family member that even looks at the site. OH well. Uncle Jeff and Aunt Claire we know you are out there somewhere just waiting to come out of the closet!HAHAH. Well today the weather is just perfect so we headed to the beach first thing. We were invited by Blythe and Claire, was great to watch Nate and Claire play in the water. The extra hands when it was time to go was the key to my survival! We stayed for a few hours and Nate loved it. We really wish Dad could have been there. Nate loved to go out in the big waves. He has been sleeping since we left the parking lot 2 hours ago, has not even had luch yet and its 2 p.m. Other big news NATE finally lets me brush his teeth. No food in the mouth yet but baby steps right!

Too Hot...

...and it's only May!! Let's see, the past 4 days were all over 100, but now it's a little cooler, only mid'90s I think, so I took advantage of the "cooler" weather to go for a run! All's well here, still plugging away and counting down the days until I can be home with my family. I miss Amy and Nate like crazy (and Bimini too - I bet Amy hasn't played frisbee with her once!) and am really looking forward to being back at home, although this is a good experience and I'm getting to see a side of the military that most Marines don't get to, for what that's worth. So, no regrets - but Amy, Nate and Neezer better get ready, 'cause when I get back we've got some serious playing to catch up on. I hope this finds everyone well, send more blogs!
Love,
Carl

pix

hola carlos

hello carlos!
how are you? we really miss talking w/you! i know you are so busy, but we check in to the blog site almost daily to see if you have posted! we are doing well! teddy is off to hatteras today to fish a tournament on the 'sweet margalit' (the boat he mates on). i am working tomorrow then picking up charlie to stay thurs & fri nights. he called monday & asked could he please come on down that night b/c 'friday is toooooooooo far!'. i told him i had to work, & we had plans for friday, & he told me 'i've changed the plans'! too cute! anyway, i am picking him up thurs now, a day early, & looking forward to it! i still remain amazed that he wants to come so badly! claire is in new york w/chuckie until sunday (they left tues) for his 25th high school reunion. dad left for england yesterday, tentatively back may 31st, depending on uncle george. his surgery is scheduled for tues, so we'll see. dad has his cell phone w/him 678-523-8639 if you want to contact him. not much else new! teddy took me fishing last fri night...good compromise...i get my date night, & we both get to fish which we love! caught 25 spanish mackerel which he uses for bait for the blue marlin tournaments...could sell them $5/piece, so thinking we have a new friday night hobby! here are some pix... okay! i also included a picture of carlie in the sprinkler today (first time!)...check out those pigtails! we miss you & love you!
carenos & carlie-pie
xoxoxoxo

Okay here are a few more pics from our adventures. Nate is taking a nap so I have a few minutes of free time. It is an awesome day here, about 83 and sunny with a light breeze when Nate wakes up we will go to the playground for some fun. We miss you Carl. We love you

Hello,
Oh I have been gone to long. It has been a busy few weeks, and a fun one. Nate and I had a great time in Maryland. We spent lots of time outside and stayed with Aunt Ali for a few days. We even traveled to Chapel Hill to visit Bob and Alice for a day. Here are few pictures of Nate drinking beer and then after drinking he couldn't drive so he had to go for a wagon ride.

mini-p

Checking In!
Hey everybody! I finally found a time when the internet is running fast so I get to post a comment. All is well here, still working long days but I'm not complaining since it makes the days go by quickly. It's starting to get pretty hot here, although we're still getting cloudy weather and light rain every 4-5 days (more than Fl!) since we're at the tail end of the wet season still - bet you didn't know Iraq had a wet season! The work here is exciting and very fast-paced - it's definitely a learning experience, both in terms of work and on the personal side, as this is my first deployment as a parent and I'm finding out it is completely different than before. I miss Amy and the little guy like crazy - every time I hear him babbling in the background when I'm talking with Amy it makes me laugh! I hope everyone else is doing well and I look forward to seeing everyone when I get back.
Love,
Carlos
P.S. - Can someone email me mom's new phone #? To my hotmail account, cprieche@hotmail.com ... thanks ...

what a week

12 month

vs. 4 days


WOW they grow so fast

As you can see we didn't get very far in the table food category.


Nate chillin after a walk around the hood

HI Honey,
Well we made it. I never thought I would still be dreading final exam week at 30 but at least this time I am giving the final and not taking it. I graded all sixty and the grades are done. I didn't even give a D this semester. Okay Nate and I leave bright and early for D.C. in the a.m. The bags (2) are packed I think I got one shirt and one pair of pants in the bag, everything else is Nate! We are staying with Aunt Ali until Sunday and then down to Grandmas for a few days.
New this week I have designated Nate's first word as Kitty, no doubt about it he has been saying it for a while but he chases the cat around the house screaming Kiiiiittttty, Kitttttttyyyy

We love you and we miss you

xoxoxoxo,

me

My Experience

hola again carlos!
let me just tell you what happened to me yesterday...i was on my way to work, running a few minutes late, & come over the high rise bridge into morehead & traffic is stopped. at first, i was annoyed, thinking it was the dreaded snail paced roadworks again. then, i saw the military ship at the port. then i saw they had traffic stopped at the light as military vehicles & equipment & marines were being offloaded...probably 50 trucks went by as i sat there, loaded down w/smiling marines. i sat there & cried, in awe. i didn't know for sure where they had even come from , but figured they had been gone at least 6 mths & most likely to iraq (read it in the paper that night...700 marines from the 22nd expeditionary unit came home that day). it was an amazing site to see. & the response from the traffic. everyone was honking & thumbs up'ing out the windows, & waving. & the marines were waving & thumbs up'ing back. i just felt so patriotic & proud to be an american...& proud of all you stand for & do for us back here. i made it to work 20mins late, & went back to beaufort to see pts, & got stuck again for the same reason. & cried again! it was truly amazing, & i am not sure we all tell you enough how very proud of you we are...of you & what you do, & how you do it w/pride & sacrifice....i know you miss amy & nathan & america terribly, but know how very much we think about you & miss you & brag about you! okay, enough gush....just wanted to tell you about that experience & how it made me feel! we love you bunches...& thanks for calling the other day...it just makes me feel better to hear your voice every once in awhile! keep up the good work & stay safe! olive juice, carenooossss (ps - carlie wants a 'my uncle is here' t-shirt! if they have them & you get a chance! more bragging rights!)

mini-p

From Carl: Hey Caren-os, Carlie looks cute with her slide- the first time we took Nate to the big playground and let him go down the slide (chaperoned, of course), at the bottom he immediately turned around and tried to climb back up it for another go! Mom Poe, I can't wait for those cookies to arrive - the Iraq diet is kicking in and I've made room hahah! (that means I've run out of chocolate easter candy!) I hope everyone's doing well - Caren have you bought your ticket to come down and visit yet? The fishing good in the fall...