The Ramers just got back from mexico

just wanted to post some pics.

happy holidays love devonne

The New Californians

Hello family!
Haven't been on here in FOREVER! I just wanted to give you an update since um... the beginning of summer.
Well as most of you know, Daniel and I got orders to Travis AFB, CA in March. It is about an hour northeast of San Fran and about 40 minutes southwest of Sacramento. So in June I quit my job a week early than expected because we decided to go on a last minute trip to Germany to visit our good friends from McChord who are now stationed there. It was an amazing trip including many places in Germany and a road trip to PARIS! We were actually there until the Eiffel Tower for our third wedding anniversary. :o) It was bliss!
After we got back from Europe, we started our journey down to California about two or three weeks later. It was really hard to leave Washington for both of us since most of our families and friends are there but we needed to spread our wings and fly. :o) We made it down here in one piece (one very exhausted family) and within ten days I had a job (same thing I was doing at McChord.. HR Assistant) and Daniel found out he made the next rank. Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. So he had to go to a five week class for this rank. He now is back to his normal flying loadmastering job flying about 10 days out of the month. He was gone for Thanksgiving which was hard being all by myself but just kept myself busy making a pumpkin pie for him when he gets home in a few days! :o) I appreciate talking to all of you who were at Aunt Cheri's and Uncle Ric's on Thanksgiving. That was fun! Anyway, we are really enjoy ourselves here in California and hope all of you are doing well. :o) Happy Holidays!

Mi Casa es su Casa!

Hola from Mexico! Here are a few photos of mi casa en Chapala. I'm renting a 2 bedroom 2 bath casa in Vista Del Lago, about 5 miles east of the town of Chapala, which is located on the largest lake in Mexico, Lago de Chapala, and about 30 miles south of Guadalajara, Mexico's 2nd largest city.





and here are some of the interior shots...plenty of room for guests, if you know what I mean.

My Discovery in Hot Springs

Well, it's been awhile since I posted anything on this Blog so here goes. As you may know, I have been on a somewhat extended vacation, since... oh about a year and a half ago actually. Anyway, for the last 2 months, I've been staying with the Drews of Columbus, Ohio, where I enjoyed my time with one Frederick E Drew and his sister Matilda too. Now, as my stay is at an end, I'm heading south to Mexico for awhile.

On my way down, however, I took a slight detour to visit Hot Springs, Arkansas, where after some searching around I was quite excited to find evidence of the original Frederick E Drew. (I really was excited!) This was, of course Frederick Elias Drew, Dad's grandfather, but I shall not bore you with the details...anymore than I already have, that is. I hope to post more pictures in the near future, maybe some you'll even find exciting.

PieFace

Just wanted to share . Lori works at an Assisted Living facility in Lacey and they were having a fun-filled day, which included allowing the clients to throw pies (or something) at the manager. Larry donated the background.

Summer.

Maddy relaxing on a stump. July 09.

Maddy walking Rex. July 09.

Most everyone who attended.

Adorable cake that my boss and I made.

Maddy turns 2! Party. :) May 09.

More Gunner Pictures

Gunner's 2 month picture.

LIL' MAN ISN'T SO LITTLE ANYMORE

For those of you who didn't hear, I got a call from my boss two days before I came back from maternity leave to tell me that I was getting bumped out of my position by a more senior employee whose position had been eliminated. I prayed and searched hard and was offered a new position as Regional Business Manager for DSHS Home & Community Services. I began my job job on July 16th and so far I LOVE IT. I think my getting bumped was a blessing in disguise.

So now that I am employeed and able to afford it :-) we went and got Gunner's pictures and our first family pictures done this last Saturday.

So...since I'm behind in my picture posting here is a few to catch everyone up. He is 4 1/2 months.

Wow, is it almost August. So much fun we have had. been camping a lot. I had more surgery on my foot 2 weeks before school got out. I have to say it went WAY better than I though it could have ever thought. Walking very well with some stiffness, and soreness. Trying to still control the swelling. Today was my first day back to work in 2 months. Still at limited work, and only 20 hrs a week. Just a start to get me going. This weekend since it was going to be hot we decided to take a long drive and go to Whidby Island. On our tour we went to Fort Casey. The kids loved it. They ran and climed till they couldn't walk anymore. We also went through deception pass. Walked the bridge and then we went to the State Park and walked the beach. This picture is at the top of the bridge. Kids getting so big. Wendy is 8 and starting 3rd grade. Matthew will be 6 in August and starting 1s grade. They are so excited. Kinda torn loving Summer break but wanting to see who there new teachers will be. Garden is huge thanks to Mom. Got veggies, anyone want some. A baby fawn and her mom decided to visit us in our front driveway. Wow what a blessing it is to live in the country. Kids love to be out in the boat. So this is the Dietzman summer so far. Oh yea, and we also got a new dog. She has been the best dog ever. Spent many hours in bed with me helping me heal. She is a smooth fox terrier. With a really long nose.

No rest for the weary

Rick barely sat down after his 2,608 mile drive to Columbus and we put him to work....

Time for Updates

Hi Everyone! Larry has been working almost full time on the Airstream . The aqua flooring gets installed tomorrow - photos to follow. I've been Betsy Rossing -- hand-stitching a flag for our Airstream (complete with silver beads to simulate rivets.) We want to get as much done as we can by mid-September for the Tin Can Tourist rally at Lynden. All trailers and RV's there will be 25 years or older. It's a great place for owners and the "just curious" to spend some time looking at vintage cars and trailers.

Now, my request: Take a minute. Upload a photo. (Babies and children change quickly.) Write a few sentences. What is your most recent family news? Any new jobs, homes, hobbies, accomplishments, presentations, vacations????? We want to know.

family

billie 4 yrs old, maddy 2 yrs old gunner 2 months

Cleanup update.

As many of you have heard tragedy struck my family last week. In the middle of home renovation we discovered the ceiling was made of asbestos, as apparently many materials from the era this house was built in were, and the house was thoroughly contaminated. In the end we found an honest cleaner and had the house cleaned. In this case cleaning means we lost the vast majority of our possessions and cost around 7000.00.
The only real difference between this and a fire was we have a house afterward. If you want the details of what was thrown out just ask but knowing all of you I can think of one or two things each that would make you cringe.
A number of people has asked how they can help so we set up a Target gift list for those so inclined.
Additionally we are having a house re-warming BBQ this 4th of July for those of you close enough, bring meat we'll bring the coals.
We still have the important things, our family and a roof over our head but it is going to be a lean year though we will make it and once repairs are done I imagine the value of our house will only be higher.
In short it has been hard but we are coping and will survive.

Erick, Cymon, and Shiva.

Father's Day with Dad, Alesta, Maddie, Lydia and Patty

Maddie enjoying the fun spouts of water, trying to catch them......

We found a friendly person who took this picture.............

We had lots of fun before the lightening and thunder came in....

Bubble rock and heads...........notice the clouds rolling in?

Maddie did most of all the wading.....and enjoyed rock throwing in the pool.

Oh, here's Lydia enjoying the fountains........when she's not in school or working.

Disaster for the Kirkland Kilmers.

As some of you may have heard by now there has been nothing short of a disaster in my life. while trying to renovate my bedroom for Cymon's return from a business trip I instead contaminated my entire house with asbestos dust. On this Saturday and Sunday professionals are coming to my house and decontaminating everything they can and destroying the rest. On the short list of things you can't clean are anything made of cloth like rugs, clothing, and mattresses and more esoteric items like TV's and Computers also can not be cleaned. As you might imagine this is an especially tough time for us since Cymon is in Prague. To quell any immediate health fears the expert I have talked to referred to Shiva's and my exposure as 'minimal' and essentially nothing to worry about though not recommended. Financially we can take he hit right now so we will be OK so no worries there but keep us in your prayers.

Our visit and Matilda's first birthday party

Here are some pictures from our AWESOME visit in Seattle and Matilda's first birthday party. I wish I'd had my camera at Chris ad Rebecca's wedding it was (and they were) BEAUTIFUL!