I'm done!!!

Hey all,

Hope everything is going well with everyone. Just wanted to pop a note in saying I graduated from George Mason University!! I just finished last week. I will be getting my diploma in the mail because Mason does not do winter ceremonies and then I will be walking in cap and gown in May.

Hello from Iraq!

Hello from Iraq!

First off, I want to say thank you to all of you who have sent me cards and packages. They are very much appreciated! Life over here is going well. It's hard to believe that I'm almost half way through my 13 month deployment. Time has been absolutely flying by since we arrived in Iraq. I'm stationed at Joint Base Balad (formerly LSA Anaconda), which is on the Tigris river about 45 miles north of Baghdad.
This is a picture of me at the firing range in Kuwait. It got HOT down there...


Yes, its 114 at 10:41 in the morning. The heat there was absolutely unreal. Highs in the 130s weren't uncommon at the time of year we were there (August). We spent about a month there getting acclimated to the climate and performing a last few tasks before we headed in country.

Getting to JBB was a blessing. We finally got a chance to get settled somewhere we would be living for more than 6 weeks. It was nice to unpack and get all my gear in one place. The temps only got to around 120 so it felt very nice and cool. The work days up here help the time to fly by. I had been putting in around 80 hours a week at the office. While that does get draining, I enjoy knowing that it feels like I just got here, but I'm almost half way done. The past week or two my workload has really dropped off and we starting to get to "steady state" operations. My section and I are responsible for running all the automations for the Task Force Headquarters and helping our subordinate Battalions when they need it. I am very blessed to have the team that I have. I have a little over a dozen people working for me. Most of them run the help desk, some manage our Communication Security and some help me with putting together projects to make the IT world here a little better. We have been upgrading computers and switches, replacing copper wiring with fiber optic cable and a whole host of other base improvement projects. One of our main goals is to make the base a better place for the follow-on unit.

My life here outside of work is a lot like Bosnia was. We have a PX to shop at, a large gym, and a nice dinning facility. Being a Major now, I'm entitled to my own room which is definitely nice. It's 1 of 3 11 x 13 rooms in a construction style trailer. The trailer is about the same size as the Sea Hut I had in Bosnia, but instead of 3 of us in one room, we each have our own rooms. I have a desk for my computer, a table for a TV and dorm fridge, 2 small dressers and a wall locker. I'm splitting the cost of a satellite internet system with 6 other people. Its slow and expensive, but well worth it. I'm still amazed at how quickly the internet got ingrained into day-to-day life. The times that I'm in my hooch and the satellite is down are almost painful.

For the most part I never leave the wire (go off post). I did take a trip down to Baghdad to meet my counter-part at our higher headquarters. The base they are on consists of one of Sadam's old palaces. Very ornate on the inside. Makes out work area look very austere. While I was done there, I did get to hit a few golf balls into the man made lake that surrounds it.


I guess that's all for now, I just wanted to give everyone a synopsis of what I have been up to.


Mark

It's a BOY!

Ronan Christopher Ames was born to Kerry & Nick at 12:19PM on November 8th. He weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and is 20.5 inches long.

All are doing well and are very very happy for the beautiful little miracle :)

It's a GIRL

It's a girl for Ann & Mairtin!! She's due in March and we started the pink shopping already! Congratulations!!

Valellis head to VA

The kids had so much fun hanging out!! Here are a couple of them at the Air & Space museum, downtown DC, and at the pool! The adults had fun visiting too!

Ann & Mairtin's big news

Ann & Mairtin are expecting! They are due March 21, 2009! Congratulations!!

Ben & Michelle Hausmann

Michelle is now officially a Hausmann. Here are pictures to prove it. We had a great time in Oregon and Washington spending time with family and friends.

Daddy-O (Mike O'Malley's) Heart Update

Dad went in for an angiogram (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angiography) yesterday to check the status of his current stent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_stent).

The site of the current stent looked great, however, there was an additional blockage that required a new stent to be inserted.

This procedure went well and opened up the blockage site. Dad is required to rest over the weekend, but he'll be back to work on Monday.

He was checked out at 7 but didn't get hold of Mom till 8! Mary rushed her over and he was released in her care.

Mom called and he's settled in at home. He is tired because you can't sleep in hospitals since they wake you up all the time :)

I guess he was sick a little bit because he ate too quickly after but they served him!!! Poor guy was starving !! He hadn't eaten since midnight and it was almost 5 p.m.

It's nice and quiet at the house so he's going to rest. Kerry & Nick will be bringing them dinner tonight (something light) and Kev is checking in on the weekend.

Thanks to all for chauffeuring them about town. Heard they got senior discounts all over!!

Mike & Cathy's 40th Wedding Anniversary!!

August 31st, 1968 - Michael & Cathy were married!!

Please help us celebrate with them by sharing any thoughts/ memories/ wishes/ photos, etc.

Love,
The O'Malley Kids

Pink or Blue

We are so very happy to announce that the bump is a bouncing baby boy! We met my family at the Auld Shebeen with a pink and blue balloon and Nick popped the pink one with a fork to tell them. Sean (3 years old) already just knew it would be a boy but he's a little hesitant to share his toys. Ann & Mary had 2 chairs set up with pink and blue balloons for us to choose which one to sit in :) Kat brought us 2 sets of bibs (she said she could return one) We tortured them until my parents arrived. We saw more internal organs on the sonogram than we ever thought possible and everything looks great. Thanks for your continued love and well wishes. There will be another Ames to pass on the name in the world come November :) xo Kerry & Nick

A Little Boy
If you have a little boyAll your very own,Then you have enough and moreTo make a happy home.

Costa Family Update

Katelyn's 4th Birthday Party and Costa Family Update

Where does the time go?! Last weekend Katelyn celebrated her 4th birthday with a party at a gym with her friends from school and cousins Hannah, Michael, Sofia and Caiden and a party at home with our family, granparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone had a great time! Here are some pictures from both parties.

We are all doing great! Danny has just 1 week left of Kindergarten and Katelyn has 1 day left of preschool for this year! Danny is off to 1st grade and Kate has one more year of preschool. They are both excited for summer vacation - especially our trip to Oregon! We can't wait to see everyone!

O'Malley Update (Kevin, Karen, Aidan, Sean)

Kevin, Karen, Aidan and Sean will move into their new house in Manassas, VA in next week. They now live just down the road from Kerry & Nick. Aidan is starting First Grade in the fall and Sean will be at Compass School.

Kerry & Nick Update

Kerry& Nick bought a king-sized bed to accommodate the two dogs and the baby they are growing. They are due for a miracle in November.

Michelle & Ben Update

Michelle & Ben will be married 08/08/08! They are busy in the planning process, as well as staying busy at work and with their investor efforts with a brew pub.

Ann & Mairtin Update

Ann & Mairtin have a new house in Fairfax, VA. They have settled in nicely with Jasper and are working on building up Ann's practice & Mairtin's business.

Mary Update

Mary has temporarily moved in with Ann & Mairtin to keep them company and stay close to school (graduates in December) and her work at the vet clinic. She is happily dating Jason and keeping busy with school and work!

Marcus Update

It has been an exciting year for me. I am heading to Queretaro, Mexico with the youth from my church for 8 days on July 1 to help build a church and community center. In August I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at Michelle's wedding. Then in September I'll be heading to South Africa for at least one month. This trip is through as part of the Rotary's Group Study Exchange. I'm very excited about all of the trips and changes that are going on!

Kathleen Update

The past year has brought quite a bit of change for me. I spent most of the year trying to get my divorce finalized, name changed, place to live, new job and house sold. I have completed all but the last. I am starting my new job at a company called Demosphere International (www.demosphere.com) which is located in Falls Church (much closer to Oakton - where I live now). The housing market has plummeted here, but for now the mortgage is covered so I'm not worried. I am so much happier now than I have been in years. I am loving life, excited for my new job, traveling all over (Bermuda, Mexico, Portland, Dominican Republic and Virgin Islands) and dating an awesome guy too. I am so thankful for all the love and support that I have received from everyone in my immediate and extended family and look forward to seeing you all in August! :)

United Way Poker Game

We had our second United Way charity poker game last Tuesday, February 19. We raised about $600 and had 30 participants, up from $300 and 20 participants last time. It was a lot of fun and it is continuing to gain momentum.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!