Curby and Gina (+2) in Virginia

New Blog!

2009-07-29T08:36:00.001-07:00

The Alexander Family blog has changed. You can find our new blog at:

www.curbyalexander.net/family

Check on us often for updates and stories!

We put the spring in Springfield

2009-07-24T04:28:00.000-07:00

The boxes got packed. The truck got loaded. The house got cleaned. And just like that, we found ourselves heading west on I-64 leaving Virginia. I wasn't sure how our last few hours on 12th St. would affect me or Gina. Would we be emotional? Would it be sad? I think, more than anything, it was relieving to have such a tough string of days behind us. The last week had been filled with so much activity and many late nights, and to top it off we had nowhere to sit. We were all exhausted, so the moment we finally pulled away I knew there would be a chance for rest.

Well, kind of. The first day of traveling was really rough. The boys were already tired when we left, and they didn't really sleep that well in the car. I should clarify, Gina and the boys were in the car, and I was in a Penske truck with Sydney. The plan was for Gina to let me know when we needed to stop for the boys. I was in the lead with a GPS keeping us on track. A little after noon, Gina called and said the boys were having double meltdown, so I needed to exit ASAP. I don't think I could have chosen a worse place to exit. The off ramp led us to a isolated country road with no town in sight. We literally pulled off the road and into what looked like the remains of a gas station or something. This small "parking" area was also used as a local dump for old car parts, large appliances and other trash. Ah, rural livin'! We tried to make the best of the situation and fed the boys some lunch, then let them walk around a little while.

The rest of the day was not much better in terms of sleeping or the boys' moods. Many meltdowns, multiple stops, a late arrival to the hotel and a grand finale temper tantrum (by Nathaniel) right before bed that will likely go down in the books as his "best one yet." To top it off, the "suite" we reserved was not what we expected, so we were all crammed into one room. This makes it really hard to put the boys to bed because they won't relax if they can see us in the room. "Hey, Dad's here! It's time to party!" I eventually just left the room with Sydney and sat outside to check my e-mail. They finally fell asleep, so I went to Steak-n-Shake to get some dinner ... at 10:30 p.m. Not exactly the time to be downing a double steak burger and fries with a strawberry shake. By the time I got to bed, it was well past midnight and I knew there would not be much sleep that night. I fell asleep dreading the 300+ miles we had to cover the next day.

After a huge breakfast at the hotel, we got back on the road by about 9:30. The second day of travel turned out to be much better. The boys had no meltdowns, took decent naps and basically looked at books the whole way. We arrived at the hotel in Springfield, went swimming and made it to bed at the regular time. This suite also had two rooms so we could put the boys to bed and do our own thing (specifically, check e-mail and watch TV) in the other room.

On Wednesday, we finally got the keys to our house and started moving in. I moved most of the boxes and other stuff from the truck, and we left some of the heavier items for the movers coming the next day. Thursday, the movers put all of our belongings in the house or garage, and then came the huge task of unpacking everything, putting items in their appropriate place and trying to figure out where to hide things we don't think we'll use right away. Fortunately, this house has a huge unfinished basement where we can store just about everything we own. As of this writing (a little more than a week after we got the key to the house), our house actually looks like a home. We still have a few things to put up on the walls, but that's it. Gina has done a great job of organizing and decorating. The neighborhood is very peaceful, and the neighbors we've met seem very friendly and welcoming. They even brought us an angel food cake! Go neighbors!

One thing we have noticed about Springfield is that we (the boys, specifically) get a lot more attention wherever we go. And I'm not talking about the negative, "Waiter, could we please get a table as far from this family as possible," kind of attention. Whether it's the mall, the grocery store, church or anywhere else, people stop to make comments about the twins. Maybe Charlottesville was not that enamored with babies, or maybe doting on toddlers wasn't considered "academic," but people in Springfield don't seem to hold back. "Are they twins? Who's older? How old are they?" We had been told twins attract a lot of attention from people, but until now we really hadn't experienced it. I don't know if this will persist for much longer, but it was something both Gina and I noticed independently.

I guess that's it for our 4-year adventure in Virginia. Time always seems compressed when looking back on an event or experience. Was it really 4 years ago we moved to Charlottesville? So much happened in that short period of time. We bought a clunker house that we turned into a comfortable and welcoming home. We learned more about Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison and the Civil War than I thought we ever would. We got to see my sister and her family on a semi-regular basis, which was both fun and comforting. We welcomed twin boys into the world and experienced the wonder and joy of watching them grow, learn and add blessing to everything around them. Sydney learned how to be a vicious watchdog, even though the college students in the neighboring apartment complex walking by our fence were in no way a threat to our security. We got to meet Mrs. Brown and witness the outcome of years of faith, prayer and steadfast service to the Lord. We got to know our twin brother neighbors and watch them transform a beat up old house into a lovely and charming home (and a pretty good investment, to boot). We met and embraced friends from all over the world, and learned that amidst all the differences we may have we are inherently similar. We completed what we came there to do when we Walked the Lawn together on a drizzly, humid Sunday morning to be conferred as Doctor and Doctor Alexander. We left Charlottesville tired, a little confused about the next step in our lives and excited for what the future might hold. We left as parents, better friends and professors. More than that, we had the opportunity to jump into the deep end of the pool and fully experience faith, hope, grief, struggle and perseverance, while all the time being totally immersed in God's love and provision.

In the last line of Return of the King, Sam tells his wife, "Well, I'm back." I think that is an appropriate conclusion to this book as well. We are back at a new beginning. Shaped by the past, committed to the present and eager for the future. If you are interested in following our adventures in Springfield, you can do so at our new blog.

Much love, and God's blessings on you ... Curby, Gina, Sam, Nate and Sydney

P.S. I think it's fitting that Springfield's most famous residents lead us out in style.

Boxerbeat

2009-07-01T03:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday marked a major milestone in our move to Springfield. Movers from Lewis Moving Company in Richmond came to our house to load all of our heavy furniture onto the PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) we have rented. I know most of you have never been in our house, so trust me when I say that our stairs are VERY steep and narrow. There is no way Gina and I could have moved our furniture down those stairs without breaking something, including ourselves.

If you aren't familiar with PODS, they are large containers that get dropped off at your house, you load them yourself (or hire movers), then their truck will come pick it up and deliver it wherever you want. This is a nice option for people who want to take their time loading their stuff, or for folks like us who need some time between when the house is cleared out and when we actually move. Anyway, this is not a PODS commercial. We are just very impressed with how this service works. The only furniture left in our house is our bed and two cribs. We still have several boxes that I will transport in a large truck in a couple of weeks, but for the most part the house is empty.

Sam and Nate handled the moving day like champs. They stayed in their room playing most of the time, and they even managed to squeeze in a nap in the midst of all the chaos. Their favorite part of the day was when they finally got to come downstairs and play in the empty rooms. The house now has this beautiful echo that is perfect for yelling, squealing, clapping hands and stomping feet.

The rest of this week and the next will be spent cleaning, packing more boxes and getting the house ready for our renters. We are by no means done with our move, but yesterday saw a major piece get checked off the list.

In case you are wondering about this post's title ...

Let's Go Red Sox!

2009-06-25T16:24:00.000-07:00

Gina, the boys and I were in Northern Virginia earlier this week, which meant we got to see Katie, Joe and Ella. This past weekend was Ella's birthday, and we were able to give her some birthday presents. The boys gave her a Strawberry Shortcake t-shirt and scratch-n-sniff book. Gina and I gave her a book about the U.S. presidents. I know, you are probably thinking this is not an appropriate gift for two-year old. But Ella is not your average toddler because she is VERY smart! And at the rate she is going, she will probably be president one day. Personally, I think she will love the book, and I know Joe will love reading it to her.

Later that night, Katie and I got to see the Red Sox play the Nationals at Nationals Park. I became a Red Sox fan when they played the Mets in the World Series in 1986, mainly because of a young, tough-as-nails Texan on the team named Roger Clemens. I followed the Red Sox off and on for the next several years, but my good friend Mike Palaza got me hooked for good. I have never met someone so passionate about a team, and I soon discovered there are thousands ... maybe millions ... more just like him. This has never been so true as it was in Nationals Park on Tuesday. Not only did the Red Sox fans outnumber the Nationals fans about 5-1 (or more), but they helped set an attendance record for the new ballpark. The game was filled with chants of "Let's go Red Sox!" and the place would erupt anytime there was a hit, score or nice play in the field. This was one of the most fun games I have ever been to! And of couse I got to hang out with my sister for the evening, which made it even better. I've been to 2 Red Sox games in my life, and Katie has taken me to both of them.

It's one thing to attend a game at Fenway and see how fired up the fans get over baseball. You would expect that from a home game, though not all teams enjoy such loyal fans (the Nationals have a way to go in that category), but Tuesday night was all the proof I needed to confirm that Red Sox Nation is indeed alive and well.

Floridays

2009-05-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

Gina, Sam, Nate and I just returned from a week in Florida with my parents. This was a great way to relax and celebrate our graduation from UVA. The week started out very rainy, but soon enough the sun came out and we were able to get out and see some of the sights. Sam and Nate got to swim in their very first wading pool, and I'm pretty sure this will be something they want to do again.

While we were there, my mom and dad celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary! They went to a dinner show featuring Arabian horses. Gina and I stayed home and rested, which was nice considering how busy the last few months have been.

The best man from our wedding, David, and his family live in Orlando, so they came over to see us one evening. Sam and Nate were amazed by the big boys, and we had a nice time talking about old times and having dinner.

We also got to go to a water park, Hurricane Harbor, and the beach. Sam and Nate didn't know exactly what to do at the water park at first, but they got the hang of it and had fun playing in the wave pool (the edge of it, at least, where the waves are VERY shallow) and the sand. They caught on to the beach a little better, and this time they had some beach toys to play with in the sand. I did learn that next time we need to have TWO shovels!

Other activities included going to a Japanese Steak House, seeing Downtown Disney and learning how to sweep the floor. OK, that last one would be better categorized as "training." But Sam thought it was fun, which is the same tactic my dad used on me for mowing the lawn.

Overall, we had a great time and can't wait to go back. We are so grateful that GiGi and PaPa could be there with us (and made the whole trip possible!). Sam and Nate are now patiently waiting for their next fun vacation!

Pomp and Circumstance

2009-05-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

On May 16 and 17, Gina and I walked through the Final Exercises at the University of Virginia. In all, we attended 5 different graduation ceremonies (my hooding, my graduation, Gina's hooding, her graduation, and Walking the Lawn) and 3 parties! Gina's parents got in Thursday evening and my parents came in Friday afternoon. My sister and her family came in on Saturday, and we had a lot of friends share the special day(s) with us as well. The weekend was hectic, exciting, relieving and a little sad. Personally, I have loved living in Charlottesville and attending the university. I can't say it was always fun or immediately rewarding, but we stuck to our program and finished what we came to accomplish. I'm sure someday all of this will sink in and I will think to myself, "How did we do that?" For now, we are happy to be done and have loved looking through all the pictures and reflecting on the moment. I have included some images from graduation weekend, but there are many, many more you can see here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/curbyalexander/UVAGraduation

Nathaniel does NOT want the party to end!

Happy Mother's Day

2009-05-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

Gina was able to spend her second Mother's Day with the boys, and we all had a great day. For starters, we all went to church (which is what we do every Sunday), but this time we were almost on time. This may not sound like a big deal, but trust me, this is huge. Pastor Bill prepared a special Mother's Day service, and it was great. The boys got to hang out in the nursery for most of the service, but they did get to sing some of the praise songs with us in big church. I'm pretty sure they will both be great singers.

After church we came home, ate lunch, then took long naps. I slept about 40 minutes, but Gina and the boys slept for almost 3 hours. I was able to get all of the laundry folded in that time, as well as make a few phone calls and watch most of the Lakers/Rockets game. Once everyone was up, we went to the park to play for about an hour. The weather was really nice, and everyone had a great time.

The boys and I got Gina some new beach clothes to take to Orlando in a couple of weeks. She has been wanting some new things, and Sam and Nate sure know how to get their mom what she likes. I also made her one my famous fruit smoothies, which Gina is convinced caused the boys to be so big when they were born.

The day was very special and filled with lots of laughs and relaxation. More than anything, we wanted Gina to know how much she is loved and cherished by the three guys in the house. She fits into motherhood like it was tailor-made for her, which we know it was because it was God who made it all possible. Gina pours herself into Samuel and Nathaniel, not only providing for their physical needs, but nurturing their spiritual growth as well. Every night before we put the boys in their cribs for the night, we spend a few minutes praying together as a family. We can't always predict what will happen during the day, especially with twin 15-month old boys, but we can take time at the end of the day to thank the Lord for His blessings and protection over us. After the boys are in their cribs, I usually speed downstairs to get dinner and watch Jeopardy, but Gina will stay with them for a few more minutes and gently sing hymns and praises to the boys as they fall asleep. In the same way, my prayer for Gina is that, at the end of the day when she puts her head down and reflects on all the day's events, the Lord would gently sing over her and affirm His provision for the role he has given her. For while a mother's work is never done, the source that fuels that work is eternal and never runs dry.

Much news to share

2009-04-30T17:59:00.000-07:00

I know it has been quite awhile since the last post, and we have so much good news to share. Nate's about to burst with excitement!

First, Gina and I officially turned in the final versions of our dissertations this week. I know what you are thinking, "Didn't they already do that?" Well, getting from the dissertation defense to submitting the final version is a pretty lengthy and tedious process. At the defense, all the committee members make recommendations about the things they would like to be revised, and then the doc student has go back and make all those changes. It involves more meetings, more revisions and lots of reformatting the table of contents. Well, that process if finally over for both of us. I handed my final version in on Tuesday, and Gina turned hers in today. This is a huge relief, and I think we will finally be able to relax this weekend without this hanging over our heads.

The second item of news is that I recently won an award as the Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant for my department in the Curry School of Education. Now, it's not really in my nature to brag about winning an award, but it is part of my prideful nature to feel the need to explain that just because my job title is that of Teaching Assistant, I want everyone to know I don't actually assist anyone with their teaching. I am the instructor for the course, though there have been some times recently when I wish I had an assistant to help with the grading. Pride aside, I am honored to have received this award, and I stand in the great company of those who received the award before me. Let me end this segment by saying, humbly, that if I don't win the University-wide teaching award, it's a sham and definitely rigged. Just kidding. :)

The final, and most exciting, piece of news is that I recently accepted a faculty position at the University of Illinois at Springfield. The job search process has been, by far, the most stressful and time-consuming thing for us this semester. Dissertation, smishertation. First, we had to search through countless job postings. Then we had to narrow it down to jobs I thought I might be a) qualified to perform and b) in a place to which I would want to move my family. The next step was filling out the application materials. This is not as simple as filling out a "job application" and attaching a resume. Each position, and I am being honest, has a completely different set of materials they want turned in. We continued this process for months. I got phone interviews with 5 schools, three of which brought me on campus for a "campus interview." Two of the schools offered the position to someone else, but UIS liked me and asked me to come on board. We are very grateful to have gotten a job offer and are looking forward to starting our next adventure in Illinois. Springfield, as you may know, is the capital city and was where Abraham Lincoln studied law. We will be moving from one president's city to that of another. 3 for 16. TJ for AL. Tall with red hair for tall with a funny beard. I think you get the point.

Thank you all for your prayers and support during this busy time. We still have one item left on our list, which is to sell our house. Just like everything else, we know that God has someone out there who needs a place to live and wants to buy a house near UVA. If you are planning on moving to Charlottesville anytime soon, have we got a deal for you. Sam and Nate have asked me to conclude by letting them give a shout out to their beloved UVA.

... and then there were two.

2009-04-06T12:29:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday (as you can tell from the picture), Gina successfully defended her dissertation and is now Dr. Nurse. I have been telling her for 4 years that one simply cannot be both a doctor AND a nurse, but she has defied the odds and proven me wrong (once again). Sam, Nate and I are so very proud of her and know how much work she put into her manuscripts. Her advisor was quoted as saying, "Never in my years of doing this have I seen manuscripts this thorough and well put together." Yay, Mommy! Way to go!

Dr. Dad

2009-03-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Does he look like a PhD? Well, on Wednesday, March 18, 2009, at approximately 3:00 pm, Curby was greeted by his advisor and Dissertation Chair, Dr. Bull, with these words: "Congratulations, Dr. Alexander!"

The defense was excellent and virtually flawless--everyone in attendance was very impressed with his research and the quality of his presentation. Dr. Bull said it was "textbook--the way you want all defenses to go...better than good."

Way to go, Dr. Dad! We love you! We praise God and give Him the glory for all that He has done in our lives. He gave you the desire, the ability, and the perseverance to achieve this dream. We know He's guiding us to our next step, too.

Thank you, Mom Gale, a.k.a GiGi, for coming to Charlottesville for two weeks so that we could focus on our writing while you played with Sam and Nate. Also, thank you, GiGi and PawPaw, for the beautiful birthday gift to Curby--a brand new, freshly tailored suit. Doesn't he look handsome?

Super Bowl Birthday Bash

2009-02-05T15:30:00.001-08:00

I can hardly believe I am writing this note. It was a year ago that we first got to meet the boys for the first time and began our adventure of adjusting to life with babies in the picture (actually, over 50GB of pictures and video!). We've had our highs (all the Firsts) and our lows (sleepless nights), but through it all we have come to love Sam and Nate more each day and can't imagine life before they came.

Last Sunday we were able to celebrate their birthdays with family and friends by hosting a Super Bowl Birthday Bash.

The event was complete with snacks, sodas and two special birthday cakes made to represent the Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sam and Nate got to play with some of their best friends, and they ate cake with icing for the first time. Nate loved his cake, but Sam was a little skeptical and actually liked the Chex Mix better.

Overall, the party was a huge hit, but I can tell you with all honesty I am not looking ahead to the next birthday. We want to soak the next year in as much as we did this one.

Little Men

2009-01-12T09:09:00.001-08:00

As you can see, Sam and Nate are becoming quite the little gentlemen. After a busy holiday season, we finally got to go back to church, and the boys continued to do great in the nursery. I have often wondered when they are going to start getting anxious when Gina and I leave them down there, but they did great this time. The only drama came when Gina went down to get them (I was close behind her but got caught up visiting with someone) and they both wanted her to pick them up at the same time. I can usually pull that one off, but with 50 lbs. of baby, it's a little much for Gina! Other than that, they were glad to show off their dapper threads to the folks at Christ Community.

'Tis the Season

2009-01-04T07:22:00.001-08:00

Sam and Nate just experienced their first Christmas and New Year's celebrations. For the holidays, we traveled to Texas and Louisiana to visit family and friends. The first couple of days of the trip were spent in Alexandria, VA with GiGi, PaPa, Aunt Katie, Uncle Joe and Ella, then we got to fly on a plane to Dallas for two weeks of gifts, parties and lots of excitement.

At first, the boys didn't understand the whole gift thing. I think they were a bit confused that, in some cases, they were prevented from touching and tearing the gifts under the tree, then at different times were encouraged to touch and tear the gifts. Come on, Mom and Dad, make up your mind! One thing they did understand by the end of the trip was that every opened package revealed something new to play with and explore.

Another thing you may have noticed about this Christmas is that we definitely got some mileage out of the Santa suits Gina got for the boys. We were unsuccessful in getting them to wear the hats and boots for more than a few seconds, but that did little to lessen the cuteness factor derived from two chubby babies dressed like Santa Claus.

One of the best parts of the trip was traveling to Simpson, Louisiana to meet a whole bunch of new family members. Sam and Nate loved playing with their cousins, Briana and Shana, and they got passed around between many other cousins, uncles and aunts who they got to meet for the first time. After the day trip to Simpson, we headed back to Shreveport to spend a little more time with MaMa and GiGi and PaPa.

Overall, the Christmas trip was a lot of fun and very special for all of us. The only downer during the whole experience was the every one of us got sick with a cold. Until now, Sam and Nate had never been sick, and they didn't know how to make sense out of the stuffy noses and ears, as well as a cough. This did hinder the boys' sleep and appetite a little, but we are all healed and doing better now. The coming semester will be extremely busy (and quite unpredictable) for all of us, but we will carry the joy of our trip and the Christmas season with us for many months to come.

There are many more pictures from the trip in our photo album.

Roamin' Wyomin'

2008-12-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

Sam and Nate got to make their first trip to Wyoming in November. They were hoping to experience some good ol' cold weather, but it was actually warmer there than in Virginia. The wind did blow pretty hard one day while we were out walking by the river, giving both boys rosy cheeks for the rest of the trip. The boys especially enjoyed getting to spend so much time with GiGi and PaPa. There was a small set of stairs between the living room and kitchen, and both Sam and Nate spent a lot of their time figuring out how to climb up and down. Sam got pretty good at going both ways, but Nate was a little hesitant to go down. Overall, we really enjoyed getting to see GiGi and PaPa, as well as some old friends. We are looking forward to the next visit, which will hopefully be in the summer.

All dressed up for their first visit to Boyd Avenue Baptist Church.

Walking with Mom, Dad and GiGi while PaPa went jogging along the Platte River.

Sam and Nate posing with GiGi and PaPa before the Christmas party on Sunday.

Sam and Nate checking out the back patio, and leaving plenty of finger prints on the window.

You knew this day was coming

2008-11-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

And in my opinion, it was long overdue. Sam and Nate got their first haircuts today at Staples Barber Shop from Jason, the coolest barber in Charlottesville. Not only that, but he is a twin, too! Both boys were great sports and sat very still for Jason. They got certificates and a special envelope for their hair clippings. What they really wanted was a sucker, but that will have to wait. They both look more handsome than ever, and Nathaniel was surprised to actually see his parents and brother clearly for the first time in over a month!

Best Buddies

2008-11-13T13:24:00.000-08:00

One of the best things about watching Sam and Nate grow up is to see them enjoy each other more and more. This is their new game while in their high chairs ... no, the parents didn't stage this one! :)

If you want something bad enough ...

2008-11-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

"Nathaniel, did you go around your brother?"

"No ..."

"Did you scoot next to your brother?"

"No..."

"Did you wait your turn behind your brother?"

"No..."

"Then, how did you get to that toy you wanted?"

First Leaf Pile

2008-11-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

Sam and Nathaniel experienced their first leaf pile this afternoon. Sam was quite amused from the start, but Nathaniel was very cautious and even downright upset about the whole thing. We'll have many more opportunities for playing in the leaves before winter comes!

At their 9 month appointment, the boys were measured, and here are the latest stats:

Sam = 28.75 in (75%), 21 lb, 13.8 oz (75%)
Nathaniel = 29.75 in (90%), 24 lb, 12.4 oz (95%)

They're growing in leaps and bounds, but now that they're mobile, we'll probably see their growth begin to slow down or plateau. That would mean relief for our joints, as we tote them up and down the stairs!

A lot can happen in 276 days

2008-11-05T04:56:00.001-08:00

Sam and Nate have waited patiently, they've watched the calendar, and the big day has finally arrived. While everyone around them was buzzing with anticipation over the election of a new president, they quietly turned 9 months old. So what has happened in the last 276 days? Let's hear from Sam and Nate:

"Well, we now prefer feeding ourselves to being fed. If we see something we want, we just go over and get it. We sleep through the night. We are more entertained by each other than by anyone else (except Dad). We can hold our own bottles (when we feel like it). Collectively, we weigh almost 50 pounds. We barely fit in 12 month clothes. We wear big boy shoes. We have teeth. We talk to each other using a language only we can interpret."

Thanks guys, that's a pretty impressive list. Gina and I are continually thankful that God put Sam and Nate in our family. They are more of a joy to us each day, and we can't wait to see what they can do in the coming months and years.

Grease is the word

2008-10-31T18:35:00.000-07:00

Gina and I got to spend our first Halloween with the boys today. We went to the Lawn, where there were many, many kids, parents and Wahoos showing off their costumes and eating candy. Sam and Nate didn't get any candy this time, but they got lots of compliments for being the coolest kids on the Lawn. The stroller has been renamed Greased Lightnin' until further notice.

Dedicating Sam and Nathaniel to the Lord

2008-10-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, October 26th, we publicly dedicated Samuel and Nathaniel to the Lord, as part of our congregation's worship service. Joe, Katie, and Ella were able to join us, as was our good friend Flo.

At the end of the service, the church welcomed new members, and then Elder Don Brubaker called us to the front. He invited our home group and family members to stand with us. Curby shared a few words (and made everyone laugh, of course!), and I also spoke briefly. The boys desperately wanted the microphone, as you can see...

We were encouraged by Don's words, and our home group gathered around to pray over us as a family--thank you, Dawn, for leading us in prayer. Afterward, Don shared Scriptures that the Holy Spirit brought to mind for us: Psalm 112 and Psalm 113.

Orange and Blue, through and through

2008-10-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks Mom, for putting us in these AWESOME outfits! We can't read yet, but if Dad likes it then we like it!

Eight months and more dapper than ever

2008-10-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sam and Nate turned 8 months old yesterday, and as you can seen from the picture, they decided to change up the usual arrangement of the bears, blocks and balls. Our informal measurements (me holding them while on the bathroom scale) show that Sam is about 21.4 pounds, and Nate is a whopping 23.2. Gina and I have the sore back to prove it. Earlier this week, Same and Nate were practicing their best Rebel Without a Cause impersonations.

"You ever been in a chickie-run?"

"I don't want any trouble."

Lucky 7

2008-09-13T11:28:00.000-07:00

On September 3, the boys reached the seven month milestone. So, how have things changed now that they are 7 months old? Well, they are consistently sleeping through the night, which is a huge blessing for Gina and me. They aren't quite crawling, but they worm around on their bellies and manage to get to just about anything they have in their sights. They can almost drink from a sippy cup, though they usually just chew on the spout. They can also pick up little snacks and put them in their mouths. Unfortunately for Nate, he doesn't have teeth yet so he ends up sucking on them. Sam can kind of chew, but it takes him awhile. The boys are also very happy because 7 is the number of their dad's all-time favorite football player, John Elway.

We celebrated with a trip to Mom's office in our new stroller/trailer. The sun was pretty bright that day, so we had to wear shades.

Sam successfully wedged himself in between the couch and the lounge chair.

And Nate was rockin' the cool hairdo, as always. I think I had that hairstyle in junior high.

New Toys for Big Boys

2008-08-28T18:46:00.001-07:00

One thing I have always wanted to get is a baby bike trailer. Even before I was married, I used to imagine how cool it would be carting my children all over town in a little weather-proof trailer that hooks to my bike. When my friend Mike got one for his twin girls a few years back, that sealed the deal. On a couple of occasions, I actually thought about buying one to keep in reserve for when I finally did have kids. There was even a space in our garage in Wyoming that I thought was perfect for storing a baby bike trailer.

Well, fast forward to 2008. Gina and I finally got a baby bike trailer for Sam and Nate! I researched this for weeks, and I'm pretty sure I drove Gina crazy trying to choose the perfect trailer. We settled on one that I think is pretty rad, and I'm sure Sam and Nate like it too. I set it up in the living room and wheeled it around the downstairs. Then today I took them for their first stroll--in the rain--to see how it works. They were snug and dry as a bone when we got home. Me? Basically soaked. The next step is to hook that bad boy up to my bike and cruise around Charlottesville, but we have to wait until they are a little older and have bike helmets. There will definitely be pictures, and maybe even video, of that momentous event.

Gina also found a pair of baby backpacks on Craigslist. I wasn't sure about this at first, but after lugging these 20 pounders to The Corner (about a mile walk) in a Baby Bjorn on Sunday, I gave her the green light. We only walked around the yard, but it seems very easy to use and not nearly as brutal on my back as that other contraption.

On a side note, one of our Baby Bjorns (which is a knock-off) has a built in fanny pack, and Gina tells me I look ultra-cool in a fanny pack. That's right ... I'm bringing sexy back!

The 'Villes are Alive

2008-08-23T17:30:00.001-07:00

I think this is the hardest we've ever heard Nate laugh. And to think this all started with Gina singing a song from Grease 2. Well, we may not be the von Trapp family, but music sure does seem to get the boys all revved up.

Seriously, Dad ...

2008-08-15T20:06:00.001-07:00

... if you're going to dress us, at least find clothes that fit.

And what's up with this hairdo?

Just stick to the guitar, and everything will be just fine.

"I don't care if Thomas Jefferson loved peas ..."

2008-08-02T13:17:00.001-07:00

I guess one thing we can say about Sam is that he will not hold back from telling us what he thinks about food.

Lone Star State of Mind

2008-07-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

The boys are now in their sixth day of being in Texas, and I think they are having a pretty good time. They have already been to Roanoke, Garland, La Grange and Merit, and they still have a trip to Shreveport on the schedule. The flight over here was actually pretty brutal, so we are hoping the flight back will be much better. Here are a few pics of our adventures so far.

A Flock of Babies

2008-07-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

The video says it all. Sorry the audio and video are out of sync.

Teeth!

2008-07-15T13:08:00.001-07:00

You read this right. Sam has cut two teeth already. Gina shrieked, "Curby, oh my gosh, get in here!" I thought she had dropped one of them on his head, or something, but what I found was even more surprising. One little tooth poking its way through the gum. Now there are two teeth, and I'm suddenly afraid to put my finger in Sam's mouth ... not that I did that very often before he had teeth. Isn't it funny that babies' ability to pick things up and put them in their mouths develops right around the same time they get teeth? God does have a sense of humor.

5 months old

2008-07-15T13:02:00.001-07:00

This is a little late (12 days), but since the last post Sam and Nate have turned the big 5-M-O. As you can see, they are both getting pretty tired of this monthly "line us up on the couch with the same toys" routine, but Mom and Dad persist. Maybe next time I will post their six month pictures when they are actually 7 months old. ;-) Sorry for being so late.

Big Boys

2008-06-16T18:55:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday, the boys had their four month check up. We know they're getting big, but we didn't realize just how big they are! Both Samuel and Nathaniel are in the 85th percentile for weight, at 17 lb 4 oz and 17 lb 3 oz, respectively. (Yes, Sam has now surpassed his brother, after having been one pound less than him at birth!) Nathaniel is in the 90th percentile for height, at 26 1/4 inches. Sam is in the 85th percentile, at 26 1/8 inches. We thank the Lord for our strong, healthy boys.
They are still sleeping through the night and wake up refreshed and happy. We'll see how they do on their first real trip--we're going to Williamsburg on Wednesday, where we'll meet PaPa and GiGi and go to Busch Gardens. On Friday, we're going to Alexandria, where we'll all do a big family portrait with Joe, Katie, and Ella. Then on Saturday, we'll celebrate Ella's first birthday! We praise God for Ella's health and her adorable personality.

First Father's Day

2008-06-14T21:03:00.000-07:00

Today--Sunday, June 15th--marks a very special occasion. It is Curby's first Father's Day, and our precious Samuel and Nathaniel have a heartfelt message to share:

Not a creature was stirring, not even Nate

2008-06-11T11:17:00.003-07:00

Yes, you read this correctly. Sam and Nate both slept through the night with no crying last night. We are not expecting this to continue forever, but it sure was nice. I actually woke up before them and finished my first cup of coffee before there were any stirrings. Gina and I both commented on how we both feel like ourselves ... sort of. I think a part of us--a large part--will never be the same, but I now have a much deeper understanding of the power of good sleep.

Four months old

2008-06-06T17:29:00.001-07:00

Well, a lot has happened in the last month. First, Nate and Sam got a visit from Granny and Granddad over Memorial Day weekend, and it was their first time to meet Granddad. They got to visit Richmond for the first time, and they went strawberry picking. They almost got to go swimming for the first time, but the weather didn't exactly cooperate, and it was getting late.

Besides getting to do some new things, they are also learning some new tricks. They both can almost roll over from their backs to their stomachs, though Nate seems to be a little more determined than Sam. I guess he has the eye of the tiger. They also learned how to bounce in the Johnny Jump-up. They don't really bounce yet, but they do sway back and forth and giggle a lot. This was the first month they could try rice cereal, which was not a hit with either of the boys. I think they are holding out for ice cream. Then there is the stroller. They don't have to stay in their car seats in the stroller anymore. They get to ride facing forward like big boys. As you can tell, the excitement was more than Nate could stand.

.

The fourth month was a wonderful time of learning new things and exploring God's wonderful world. They can hardly wait to see what their fifth month will hold, though their dad has mentioned something about roller coasters. Shhh, don't tell Mom.

GiGi on the News

2008-05-23T18:29:00.000-07:00

Unless you live in Casper, WY, you probably were not able to see GiGi's feature story on the news. K2, the local news station, ran a human interest story on EB, the rare skin disorder our beautiful niece Ella has. I edited the video down to just GiGi's interview. You can see the entire hour-long newscast on the K2 website, if you are interested in what's going on in Casper.

Three months old

2008-05-05T16:29:00.001-07:00

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

What a difference 90 days makes! And to think we were worried about them losing weight for awhile. Gina and I can hardly believe we've made it to this point, and we are wondering where the time went. Wasn't it just last week that I sent out an e-mail saying they've been born? We are amazed at how they are growing, and we thank the Lord for his provision for us and for putting Sam and Nate in our family.

'Hoo Loves Virginia?

2008-05-03T05:57:00.001-07:00

Pick me! Pick me! Is there any question that Curby loves Virginia? Almost immediately upon arriving for the first time, I was quite taken with the place. So, it should come as no surprise that I stopped by Wal-Mart after taking GiGi to the airport to splurge on something that will pass that love on to Sam and Nate. I mean, they will look back one day and be able to say they were born at UVA Medical Center while their mom and dad were attending graduate school there. If that doesn't put a little orange and blue in the blood, I don't know what will. Now, whether or not Gina and I can afford to send them here in 18 years is another story! But for now we are having a ball dressing them up, showing them off and watching them grow and develop by the day.

Gussied up

2008-04-24T17:52:00.001-07:00

Same and Nate decided to wear their new overall outfits from GiGi to the Curry School of Education picnic. They even had shoes, like the big boys wear. Mom and Dad were pretty enamored by how cute they looked, but you wouldn't expect anything different. Pictures will be coming soon of them wearing their new Hawaiian shirt outfits.

Back to the Future

2008-04-08T08:50:00.001-07:00

Wouldn't it be nice if Gina and I were done with our dissertations and thinking ahead to the next stop on our journey? Apparently that is what I have been thinking sub-consciously because I mistakenly labeled one of the albums on our PicasaWeb "April 2009." So, you are not in a time warp. I just didn't pay attention. Sam and Nate, as you can see from this picture, seem to be generally disinterested in the whole concept of semantics.

They grow up so fast

2008-03-24T15:32:00.001-07:00

I didn't think this day would get here so fast, but it looks like Sam and Nate are already trying to impress the ladies. Big thanks go out to Uncle Clay and Aunt Gail for sending the boys their sunglasses.

He is risen indeed!

2008-03-23T12:20:00.001-07:00

Sam and Nate got to attend church at Christ Community today for the first time. Mom and Dad got up at 7:30 so they could bathe and dress us. We think they also planned on exchanging cards for Easter, but they didn't get to that. We got to wear our special Easter outfits GiGi and Paw Paw got for us, including some little blue shoes. This was the first time we ever wore shoes, and we didn't even cry when Dad put them on for us. The people at church were really nice and made quite a fuss over us. We slept through all of the music, then decided we needed some food when the preacher got up to talk. Nate let out a very loud burp, and then started to grunt and cry during the closing prayer. Mom and Dad are very happy to be able to celebrate Easter with us because it represents new life and eternal hope, things very important to them. We're just glad Jesus put us in this family, and we can't wait until next Easter when we get to help Dad eat all the candy.

What could be cuter than a smiling baby?

2008-03-17T07:47:00.001-07:00

... two smiling babies!

Kickin' it on the AV

2008-03-12T16:09:00.001-07:00

Today was an absolutely beautiful day to take a long walk, which is exactly what Gina, Sam, Nate and I did this afternoon. We walked to Arch's Frozen Yogurt to get a light snack, then headed to the Lawn. In case you are not familiar with UVA, this was referred to by Mr. Jefferson as the Academical Village. No one can say for sure whether or not "academical" is really a word, but it resonates with an erudite air nonetheless. I really don't know how this experience affected Sam and Nate, but I'm pretty sure they now stare a little longer at blue and orange than they used to. And yes, Sydney got to come on the walk for the second day in a row. She was one happy dog.

Who's who?

2008-03-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Sam and Nate are a little confused. You see, they have received conflicting opinions about which parent each of them looks like. Some say they both look like Dad, while others say they both look like Mom. Others have even said that one looks like Mom and the other looks like Dad. With all this information floating around, who is a 1-month old to believe? This is important stuff, folks, and they need your help. Look at the photos below and tell Sam and Nate which parent you think is in each photo, as well as which month it was taken. Also tell us which baby you think looks like which parent (when he or she was a baby). Our family is counting on you!

Photo A
Photo B

Photo C
Photo D

Photo E

Photo F

You know you're an Alexander if...

2008-03-02T16:54:00.000-08:00

You love to watch football, especially teams that wear Orange and Blue ...
You are always looking for a good bargain ...
When you sing, sing loud ...

You always end a good day "watching" the news ...

Sam and Nate would like to tell everyone that they are four weeks old today. They like their room and Sydney, and the parts of Virginia they have actually seen seem very nice. Of course, they are still working on staying awake when they go places. Mom and Dad take really good care of them, and they are glad the grandparents have been here to help them get off to a good start. All in all, it's been a good month, and they can't wait to see what March has in store.

3 (weeks) is the magic number

2008-02-28T04:44:00.001-08:00

Today marks the 3rd week
birthday for Samuel and Nathaniel! We have truly been doubly blessed.
The past few weeks have been an adjustment, to say the least, but we
are enjoying the process of bonding with our sons. They are precious
and we thank God every day for them and for their health.

The boys are gaining weight and getting stronger with each passing
day. They have had the privilege of meeting all of their grandparents
in person, except for Grandad Johnson--who they've met on webcam via
Skype.

This past week, we really noticed a difference in the wakefulness of
the boys. They were alert more frequently after feedings, and we began
doing tummy time more deliberately. They interacted with each other
more when they were on the blanket--see the photos and video on the
"Pictures of Us" link. So cute!

This coming week will be a special one--Curby turns 9. He's getting
closer to the double digits, finally! Before we know it, the boys will
officially be older than he is. :)

Two weeks and goin' strong

2008-02-17T08:21:00.001-08:00

Sam and Nathan would like to announce to everyone that they are two weeks old today. This has been a precious time, with some late nights, lots of new adventures and mostly sleeping and eating. Mom and Dad are doing well and continue to be amazed at the miracles God placed in their lives. Speaking of birthdays, the boys would like to send a shout out to Pa Pa in Wyoming, who celebrated his birthday on Valentine's Day. They can't count yet, but they are pretty sure he isn't two weeks old.

A Belly Tale

2008-02-11T14:50:00.000-08:00

Sleeping Angels

2008-02-04T19:18:00.000-08:00

Meet the twins

2008-02-03T18:28:00.001-08:00

February 3 will be a special day in our family from now on, as that was the day Nathaniel Calvin (left) and Samuel Curby (right) came into our lives. Samuel was born at 5:19, weighed 7 lbs, 4 oz and is 20.25 inches long. His brother, Nathaniel was born 19 minutes later, weighed 8 lbs, 5 oz and is 21 inches long. Mom is doing well and has been sleeping for the last hour as the boys are in the nursery getting their bath and measurements. We are grateful that their delivery went so well and that they are healthy. I look forward to sharing more with everyone about their lives in the coming days, months and years.

Day 2: More of the same

2008-02-03T10:10:00.001-08:00

"Uh, yeah, like things were moving along great, but the hospital got like a rush of high risk cases coming in. And they were all, like, 'I know this is frustrating, but we are going to stop inducing labor until these high risk cases are resolved.' And I'm all like, 'Whatever! Just don't make me go home,' and they're all like, 'No, you can stay,' and I'm all like, 'That is so incredible! Thank you SO much!' So, they let us stay the night and started inducing labor again this morning. That's all there is tell you right now. XOXO, Mommy Girl signing off!"

The big day has finally arrived

2008-02-02T14:30:00.000-08:00

Gina, Karen and I are at UVA hospital now. We are very excited to get this process underway and finally get to meet our little boys. Please pray for safety and peace during the whole process, especially during the delivery.

Still Waiting

2008-01-25T17:19:00.000-08:00

By all accounts, the boys have defied all predictions about when they would show up. We were almost certain they would get here last Tuesday; so much so that I actually found someone to cover my class for me in the event I couldn't be there. Well, I was there, and Gina hasn't even had what you could call a false alarm. The good news is that we are making good progress on our school projects. This is not really at the forefront of our minds right now, but it passes the time.

Until you (and we) get to see the boys in person, here is a video to give you a sneak peek.

Hurry up and wait

2008-01-12T15:55:00.000-08:00

Two cribs? Check. A bassinet for two? Check. Lots of blue clothes? Check. Toys and other thing to chew on? Check. Bouncy chairs, swings and other places to put babies when the doorbell rings? Check. Comprehensive plan about how to raise twin boys? Che ...

It wasn't that long ago that people were starting to predict when the boys would make their grand entrance. Some said they might be here before 2008. Others thought they might come around the New Year. I personally thought they would come this week. Well, it is almost the middle of January, and all signs point to them staying put for awhile. That is good news for them, but not so great for Gina, who, as you can tell, is getting bigger by the day. This is a good thing, except she is finding it increasingly more difficult to sleep, get up from chairs and couches and walk around. Other than that, she's perfectly mobile.

My uncle, who has relied on the Farmer's Almanac for years, predicts they will come on January 22, the next full moon. Whether this is scientifically grounded or not is hard to say, but at this point I am apt to believe about anything. The twins already defied my logic twice when we found out they were boys and then decided to stay in the womb this long. So, sure why not come around the next full moon. Coincidentally, this is also the date of my first class meeting of the Spring semester. I don't like to miss class, but I think under the circumstances my students will understand. I may even bring them all cigars for the second meeting.

That's all I wanted to share for the moment. The next time I write, I'm sure there will be more news to share. Gina and I hope you are well and enjoying a great start to 2008. God bless!

`Tis the Season

2007-12-16T20:21:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks have been a busy time for Gina and I. In addition to getting our house ready for two little ones, we have been wrapping up a busy semester. We both completed what will likely be the last of our courses at UVA. This is an exciting benchmark, though I am personally intimidated because this means the only thing I have left is my dissertation. I won't speak for Gina on this matter, though I do think she shares my sentiments a little bit.

Regarding the twins, all reports have been positive and encouraging. We estimate they are about 4.5 pounds right now, and our hope is that they will stay put for at least 4 more weeks. Of course, there is no way to predict when they decide to make their entrance, but we have been trying to persuade them to wait a little bit. Though ultrasounds are not the best indicator for what a baby will look like, you can see their latest photo opp here.

This time of year has also been a wonderful time to reconnect with family. Gina's parents spent the Thanksgiving holiday with us in Charlottesville. They helped us prepare the holiday meal and get the majority of our Christmas decorations set up. Don and I also got to see James Madison's residence, Montpelier. I had never been there before and was quite impressed with what they are doing there. The only President residence I have yet to see is Mt. Vernon, which I'm sure we'll see before we graduate and move on.

My mom has also been in Virginia helping Katie and Joe with Ella while Joe took his law school finals and Katie worked her last few days on Capitol Hill. She will begin working for the American Diabetes Association in January, which is much closer to their house and has more family-friendly working hours. We are all excited for the many ways God is blessing their family. My dad will round out the Alexander roster when he arrives on Tuesday. This will prove to be another wonderful holiday, just as Thanksgiving was.

That's all the news for now. Gina and I hope everyone is doing well and looking forward to the Christmas season. We want to extend our prayer for a blessed Christmas for you and your family.

Picasso I am not

2007-11-04T19:22:00.000-08:00

The past couple of weeks have been a busy time for us as we prepare our home for two new family members. A few weeks ago Gina and I made a trip to Richmond to buy some baby furniture we saw advertised on Craig's List, so now the room that used to be our study is officially a nursery with two cribs, a changing table/dresser, a wardrobe and a gliding rocker. Gone are the sports pennants, our college diplomas, pictures of Old Main and Raley Chapel, and my beloved picture of Fenway Park (go Sox, by the way). Despite my lofty intentions, Gina has convinced me those are not appropriate wall decorations for newborns.

My most ambitious nursery-related endeavor, however, has been to repaint the entire nursery. Looking back, I had the perfect window of opportunity to do this during the brief time between when I moved the "study" furniture out and moved the baby furniture in. In case you've never painted a room before, it's much easier to do when there is no furniture to compete with. But alas, I didn't think that far ahead. I was probably more interested in watching a football game or something at the time. So, this weekend I decided to avoid the school work waiting for me and take advantage of the extra hour on Saturday night by painting a room. We picked out the paint on Friday, which is a light green and a light tan for the trim. I can't recall the exact name of the color ... probably Amazon Mist or something like that. If I named hues of paint, I would opt for "I just smoked my first cigar" green and "there's no way you are coming in my kitchen with those socks on" brown. With a name like Amazon Mist, no one can really dispute it unless they have been there (which I have, and I still can't dispute it). But if I say, "It's green, like the color of my face after dipping Skoal for the first time," there's a chance people can relate. Never mind marketing strategies; it's all about keeping it real.

Anywho ... I got a late start on the project Saturday after doing some other work around the house that morning and Gina and I meeting some friends for a birthday lunch. My intent was to start the painting, go to bed at a reasonable hour and finish it at a later date. Well, as is the case with almost every project I start, I couldn't think of a place to stop once I started. I use this as my justification for procrastinating. Honestly, procrastination is my built in defense mechanism to avoid working myself to death. I'm like a sled dog, only with less endurance and tolerance for cold temperatures. Well, just a few minutes shy of 2 AM (which was really 1 AM), the whole room was painted and the furniture was put back in its rightful place. I am glad to have that job behind me, though I still have a stack of school work waiting for me. But it can wait. Otherwise, I wouldn't get to enjoy the weekly reading/writing/grading marathon I've grown so fond of.

Speaking of health, Gina is doing well and continues to expand more each week. We had another ultrasound last week, and they told us the boys are both just shy of 2 pounds each. We have also noticed the power of their kicks increasing each week, so we may either have a couple of soccer players or the next Bruce Lee/Chuck Norris combo. One of them was posing very nicely for the camera, but the other one refused to let us look at his face. And in case you think one of our sons is a jellyfish, that's just the back of his head.

I guess that's all the news for now. Keep checking in for updates and more photos!

Drum roll, please ...

2007-10-07T18:59:00.000-07:00

Gina and I had a very important prenatal visit on Wednesday, October 3rd. We have been anticipating this visit more than the others because we knew it would be when we found out the gender of our twins. During a previous visit, one of the residents tried to help us get a sneak peek but was unsuccessful as the babies kept squirming and crossing their legs. We couldn't get them to cooperate, so we knew we had to wait until October.

Well, October is here and the gender of our twins is no longer a secret. After seeing the sonographer carefully analyze everything from their heartbeats to their brains to the length of their femurs, we found out that we are going to welcome two boys into the Alexander home. Yes, apparently any modesty they displayed in the first attempt was shed during this episode. The sonographer told us she was repeatedly flashed throughout the scan. She didn't say anything about it at first because she wasn't sure we wanted to know. I know everyone will be curious about the names we are considering, but that will remain a secret until they are born.

In the midst of cherishing this joyful news and reflecting on what is to come, we experienced deep sorrow as we realized that Gina's first cousin, Kara Jean Kelly Herynk, was nearing the end of her struggle with cancer. On Saturday, October 6th, Kara passed away from this life, but she became alive in ways we can only imagine. You can view her blog by clicking here. The most recent posts share very precious thoughts from Kara's mother and sister, including a very touching poem/prose by Cynthia Heald. When you have a chance, please read this.

In my mind I've gone to Carolina

2007-09-30T17:14:00.000-07:00

Actually, we were there, and not just in our minds. Gina and I broke away from reading, writing and grading to spend a couple of days in Kill Devil Hills, NC. For those of you unfamiliar with the Carolina coast, this is known as the Outer Banks (OBX). Gina had been there before a few years ago, but this was my first time to the Outer Banks. Having been raised in the Rocky Mountains and not familiar with the beach, I was not really expecting much. During the handful of occasions I've actually been to the beach, I think I've only gone in the ocean 2 or 3 times. This is likely due to my media-induced fear of sharks, which Gina tells me is completely unfounded. Gina, on the other hand, has been wanting to go to the beach since we arrived in Virginia.

Well, I put fear and doubt aside and we headed to the beach for the weekend. We actually made a couple of stops on the way down to inquire about baby items Gina spotted on Craig's List. We are now the proud owners of a glider rocker, a baby tub and this Baby Einstein thing that is supposed to make our children into geniuses. Like they need help with that! We actually picked up the rocker on the way back today so we didn't have to lug it around the beach all weekend.

Gina found a great bed and breakfast online called Cypress House Inn. The rate was reasonable, the rooms were very nice and the breakfasts were unbelievable. We have stayed in a couple of B&B's before, and I really like sitting at breakfast with the other families and getting to know them. There was a couple from Yorktown next to us, a couple from Chicago (whose son went to UVA ... Wahoowa) and a couple who works for the State Department who is about to head over to Afghanistan for a year to work in the Embassy. Each of these couples was very nice and we had a great time talking with them. Of course, the inn owners' 2-year old grand-daughter Kayla stole the show as she ran in and out of the room and interacted with everyone. Overall, the accommodations were great, and I'm pretty sure we'll visit Cypress House again.

The first day was very mild and slightly breezy. My original plan was to sit in a comfy beach chair and read until the sun went down. Well, the sea was beckoning me and it wasn't long until I was wading in up to me knees and jumping waves. Gina joined me eventually and we had a really good time. Though I didn't get very wet and didn't really swim, I'm pretty sure there were no sharks waiting for me to jump in.

The second day was not so wonderful, as far as the weather is concerned. It wasn't cold, but it was extremely windy. I had a hard time even setting up the chairs. Now that I think about it, I was reminded of Wyoming, except the air was warm. Gina got nestled into her seat and wrapped up in the beach towels. I tried to get some reading done for a class, but the wind kept flipping my pages. We stayed for about one and a half hours, then went to lunch.

We decided to head back to the beach later that day after a long nap in our room. Our game plan was to get in the water no matter how windy it was. The air was still pretty warm, so I wasn't too worried about getting cold. Gina actually made the first plunge as I took pictures of her pregnant belly sticking out. She looked pretty cute, if you don't mind my saying. After a few snapshots, I got in with her and realized that this water was not ideal for swimming. Besides the fact that the wind was blowing pretty hard, the waves were coming in very fast and it was hard to stand up. We were going to swim out and test the buoyancy of Gina's belly, but we retracted that idea when we struggled so much to wade against the waves. I know Gina was disappointed, but we both thought it was the best thing to do. I swam for a little while longer then got out after I got tired.

This morning we had breakfast with our inn-mates (hee hee), took one last look at the beach and headed back to Richmond to pick up our new chair. Sydney is still with her friends Auntie Flo and Henry and will come back tomorrow. We are straightening up the house and catching up on all the work we didn't do while at the beach. We are both already talking about our next trip down there, which will have to wait awhile. Everything we talk about these days usually starts with the phrase, "You know, in 4 months we won't be able to do this ..."

That's all for now. I hope you all are doing well and enjoying life. Drop us a comment and let us know how you are doing. Take care!

Can you hear me now?

2007-09-02T19:24:00.000-07:00

Wow! Has it really been 6 months? Until a month ago I was under the impression that no one was reading this blog anymore. Actually, I was under the impression that I wasn't updating this blog anymore. You see, I assumed that I should only post when something extraordinary happened. I figured our life here in Virginia had stabilized and there wasn't anything interesting to report anymore. If we all waited until something extraordinary happened to speak, we would just walk around in silence most of the time (which doesn't sound all that bad to me, now that I think about it). But it was brought to my attention that some people like reading about the everyday, mundane things because it just lets them know that we are still alive and doing well. So, in addition to some extraordinary things to report, I will throw in some mundane nonsense just to spice things up.

For the most part, life is clicking along just as it was when we got back from the Smoky Mountains last March. I am still teaching classes at UVA, with the occasional online class for Casper College. Gina is working for a research center in the nursing department and we are a little further along on our quest to become Mr. and Mrs. Doctor Doctor. Sydney is still pretty darn cute and not quite as hyper as she used to be. That means she only jumps on you a couple of times when you walk in the door and only tinkles a little bit on the floor. We're still going to the same church, I still faithfully watch UVA soccer every chance I get (2 games this weekend!) and we still like to volunteer with ISI and help international students adjust to life in Charlottesville. So you see, life hasn't changed that much for us at all ...

... Yet ...

That's right, there are big changes coming down the pike on 12th street. And by big, I mean bigger by the week. Gina and I found out in June that we are expecting twins! We don't know the gender yet and we haven't settled on names (the most common questions), but we are very excited for February to arrive so we can meet them in person. In the short term, this means I have been moving furniture (either to other parts of the house or into somebody else's) in order to convert what used to be our study into a nursery. So, the laundry room is now the laundry/library, and the dining room is now the dining/computer room (surf and slurp). We may even need a storage unit before it's all over. But these are all welcome changes as we get ready for these precious treasures God is placing in our family.

Another extraordinary event is that our niece, Joella Gale Murray, was born this summer on June 21. If you want the back story, you can read her blog. I've been told by a reliable source (her mother) that she is now over 10 pounds and eats like a horse. She has the classic Alexander/Murray appetite, so now let's just hope she can sing and throw a baseball. Even if she decides to do neither of those things, that's fine because we think she is just perfect! I know she will be a wonderful role model for her baby cousins down in Charlottesville.

Other than that, there isn't anything very exciting to report. I am about to take Gina to her office to print out her comprehensive exams (affectionately known as "comps" by us doc students). If you don't know, comps are the first big hurdle we must pass in order to be considered a doctoral candidate. Until we pass our comps we are nothing more than tuition-paying desk warmers sucking the oxygen out of the building, but once we prove our mettle we are called "candidates" and get referred to as "scholar" by our professors. Slap some tape on my glasses and call me a nerd! I took my comps last summer but Gina's program won't let them take theirs until after their second year. So, she has reached an important milestone; one that was hard earned, I should add. She wrote over 40 pages, and that was in addition to eating 6 meals a day and going to the bathroom every 5 minutes! :-)

So, that's it for now. Have a great week, leave us a comment and stay tuned for more ...

Springtime in the Smokies

2007-03-09T18:16:00.000-08:00

Gina and I just returned from 5 wonderful days in the Smoky Mountains. My parents had some extra points from their timeshare club and let us use some of them for my birthday. The condo was at the Bent Creek Golf Village, just outside Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The room was very nice -- the nicest we've stayed in so far -- and had several luxuries, such as a jacuzzi tub, a fireplace and a private hot tub on the back porch. We took advantage of the hot tub every night we were there.

If you have never been to Gatlinburg, it's a nice town tucked away in the Smoky Mountains, just a few minutes away from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Gina and I spent the day there on Wednesday hiking and exploring an old homestead named Cade's Cove. This area of the park was first homesteaded in the 1820's, and had several hundred residents. There were also several churches, a mill and many acres of farmland.

We also got to take a hike to Laurel Falls, a beautiful waterfall about a 1.3 mile hike from the highway. The weather was great and we passed many other people taking advantage of the nice conditions.

On our way home from spending the day in the park, we stopped in at the Park Grill. It was a very nice restaurant, and the food was excellent. As is the case with many restaurants, the portions were huge, but that didn't stop us from gorging ourselves on a mammoth brownie desert.

On Thursday we went into Gatlinburg to see the Aquarium of the Smokies. We have been to aquariums before and really like them, and this was a great opportunity for me to overcome my fear of sharks, which is totally legitimate for someone who lived his whole life more than 1,000 miles from the nearest ocean. There was also an exhibit on Mars, which gave us a chance to try on a space suit and drive a Mars Rover.

Well, I guess that's it for now. As I was typing this, we watched the Cavaliers lose to NC State in the ACC tournament. We are hoping this doesn't keep them out of the NCAA tournament, but it doesn't look good at this point. Everyone take care, and keep tuning in for more updates.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

Yet again, a long period of time has passed since our last entry. Alas, the responsibilities of coursework and research stole away time, precious blogging time. Now we're turning a new leaf in 2007, and we have a chance to start over again and aim for consistency in blog postings.

During the fall semester, we spent a lot of time with our new friends in C'ville. We hosted many dinners and enjoyed the hospitality of friends. We've enjoyed fellowship at Christ Community Church, our church home, and we've been introduced to many new customs and delicious foods, thanks to our international friends from Mexico, China, Thailand, Taiwan, and Turkey. We've attended UVa soccer, football, and basketball games (go 'Hoos!), witnessing both disappointing and exciting games.

Curby's parents came to Virginia for Thanksgiving, and we had a very productive time. Over the span of three days, we painted our kitchen cabinets to brighten things up. We also celebrated our third anniversary by dining at Al Dente, a fancy restaurant on the downtown mall. On Thanksgiving Day, we drove to Alexandria and enjoyed a delicious meal with the Alexander family--Curby's sister Katie, her husband Joe, and Curby's cousins from Durham--Lindy, Cameron, and Kit.

The next day, we saw more of the Alexander clan--two of Ron's first cousins and their children and grandchildren. We drove to a historic church site in Aldie, Virginia, that served as a hospital during the Civil War, particularly of interest to us because Ron's great-grandfather R. J. Marshall, while fighting as a Confederate soldier, was wounded in battle and treated there.

After Thanksgiving, we had a very eventful last week of class and finals. We each had several papers to write, as well as some final exams. We survived the experience and were very satisfied (and somewhat relieved/surprised) by our excellent grades!

At the end of finals week, we loaded up our car with luggage, Christmas presents and one extremely excited Australian Shepherd and drove to Oklahoma so Gina could get some information for a research project she is presenting this spring. From there, we drove to Dallas to see friends and family. We spent a day touring downtown Dallas, and we got to learn all about the JFK assassination at the 6th Floor Museum. We also got to spend some time with Gina's brother and his family. We always have fun playing with the nieces and nephew. Before heading to Houston to see Gina's cousin Kara and her family, we spent a day with Curby's grandparents in Farmersville, where we had a fun time visiting and going to Catfish Cove for lunch. While in Dallas, Gina was able to see friends from OBU (Lua Brown with soon-to-be-son Owen and Lisa Black with son Jude). We also arranged to have dinner with some friends from First Baptist Church-Euless, Brent and Terri McCall (and their baby Maci Lynn), as well as Sheri and Desmond Fergusson.

We had a lot of fun in Houston, spending time with Matt, Kara, Emma, and Luke. Everyone is doing well, and we played lots of games together while catching up. Please continue to visit Kara's blog at prayforkara.blogspot.com when you have a chance. so that you can stay updated on her progress and know how to pray for her and the family. From Houston, we headed to Simpson, Louisiana to see some of Gina's relatives, as well as do some research on her family history. We met Gina's parents there and got to spend some quality time with one of her cousins and a great aunt and uncle. While there, we discovered the grave a long-lost great-great-great-great grandmother. It was quite the find!

After our stay in Simpson we drove to Baton Rouge to celebrate Christmas with the Johnson family. We stayed with Gina's grandfather, Pap, and got to see many cousins, aunts and uncles. Sydney, while being banished to her crate most of the time, did get to perform her frisbee tricks for everyone at the park on Christmas Eve. And we watched a lot of football. In fact, I think it's safe to say if there was a football game on during our four-day stay -- be it high school, college or pro -- we watched it.

On Christmas Day we drove to Shreveport, Louisiana to be with Curby's grandmother, Mawmaw. We had a nice time visiting with her, and we got to take her to lunch at one of her (and our) favorite restaurants, the Olive Garden. The next day we left after lunch and made the drive back to Charlottesville.

It's nice to be in C'ville during the breaks, when the college town pace has slowed a little. We celebrated New Year's Eve by attending the First Night celebration. The weather was a little wet and cold, so we didn't stay the entire time. We actually celebrated the New Year by picking up a friend from the airport, which was actually kind of fun. The next day Gina fixed a traditional Southern New Year's meal with ham, collard greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread. We had several friends over and enjoyed the day talking, eating, playing guitar and, of course, playing games.

Since then we have been working on school projects and manuscripts, finishing some things around the house, and planning more dinners with friends. All in all, we are grateful for having made it through another year, knowing we have grown in our love for each other and for the Lord. As one of our New Year's resolutions, we will try to update our blog more often. Of course, it's not looking so good since we are just now getting to it on January 11. But a start is a start ...

Ding dong, the bells are gonna chime

2006-09-14T19:52:00.000-07:00

Gina and I had the privilege of being in Naca ... er ... Naga ... OK, this is a wonderful "teachable moment" for me to discuss the wonderful world of words. I have been saying the word "NAK-a-doe-chess" for approximately 20 years, yet I do not know how to spell it. This comes after passing no less than 20 street signs or billboards over the weekend with that word displayed. Thanks to Wikipedia, I can spell Nacogdoches for the purposes of this blog. But, this brings to mind other difficult words that fall into the "I can pronounce 'em but can't spell 'em" category, which include: Natchitoches (NAK-a-tish), LA; Cincinnati, OH; Tucson (TOO-sahn), AZ; and Juneau (JOO-noh), AK. Then there is another category of words: "They look easy to say, but they're not." This list includes: Toelle (too-ILL-ah), UT; Mantua (MAN-oo-way), UT; Opal (oh-PAL), WY; and my personal favorite, Kemmerer (KIM-er), WY. You may have noticed that most of these towns are from states in which I lived (except AK and AZ), and I'm sure you know of other towns that fall into either of these categories. So, tell me about some funny names of towns you know about.

Well, back to my story ... Gina and I were in Nacogdoches, TX over the weekend for my cousin Thomas' wedding. He recently earned the right to put "college graduate" on his resume, and now he can also check the "married" box on his tax documents. He and Jessica were married on Saturday evening under a clear Texas sky with many family and friends in attendance. Not only did I get to attend the wedding, but I also got to wear a tuxedo. Of course, I couldn't find a seat, so I had to stand up front with Thomas. I was so inspired by the beautiful moment that I pulled out my guitar and sang a quick song for everyone. I did find it strange that the first song to come to mind was about marriage. No one seemed to mind. It was a great time, and I was honored to stand up there with Thomas. I have seen him grow and mature into a devoted man of God, and he has found a wonderful wife in Jessica. I look forward to seeing their marriage develop and deepen over the years.

The trip home was a bit challenging. After having our flight delayed for two hours, we got to Baltimore at midnight. This may not sound so bad until you consider the 3-hour drive we had back to Charlottesville. As you can imagine, we are still catching up on our sleep. The highlight of our trip back to Virginia was that we got to drive from Nacogdoches to Dallas with Katie, my sister, and her husband Joe. We then got to spend an extra two hours with them at the airport, which Joe and I spent telling each other our post-college stories. We could have easily been caught up in the fact that our flight was delayed, but we took advantage of the time to relax and get to know each other better.

So, now we are (almost) caught up on sleep and school work. The weekend will be full of soccer and football games, some Thai food and a little rest'n'relaxation. We hope you all are well, and send us a note when you get a chance.

Rock me like a hurricane

2006-09-03T18:23:00.000-07:00

No, this entry on the blog is not an ode to those '80's Heavy Metal legends, The Scorpions (though I was a bit of a fan during their 15 seconds of fame). Rather, the title of this post is in reference to the many inches of rain we received this week from Ernesto. He wasn't a hurricane by the time he reached C'ville, but he was a hurricane at one time. For this Wyoming boy who's used to seeing about 3 inches of rain per year, that counts as a hurricane. The rain couldn't have come at a better time, as the grass was just about to burn to a crisp.

One downside of the rain is that it changed our plans slightly for the weekend. The original plan was to go watch UVA play George Mason in soccer (poor Gina) Friday night, but that game had to be postponed to Saturday. The game against UCLA, which was scheduled for tonight will be played tomorrow evening. So, alas, no soccer this weekend for the Alexanders. I'm sure there will be more to come.

It wasn't a good weekend for football either. My alma mater, Utah State, got beat by Wyoming 38-7. Wyoming actually will be in Charlottesville next weekend, but Gina and I will be in Texas for my cousin's wedding. Gina's grad. school, North Carolina, got beat by Rutgers 21-16. It also just so happens that my brother-in-law, Joe, went to Rutgers. So it seems there were all kinds of rivalries this weekend, none of which we really paid attention to. The Cavaliers got pounded by the University of Pittsburgh 38-13. The good news is, the football season has nowhere to go but up!

I mentioned a few weeks back that Gina and I are involved with ISI. Last weekend we had a "Back to School" dinner at a family's house, and we invited just about every international student we know. There turned out to be 130 people there! Unfortunately, there was only food for 50, so we all got to have a light snack. Even so, the students had a nice time and got to hear talks on whether or not there is extraterrestrial life and what to do for fun in Charlottesville. Of course, everyone knows there is only one response the second question: UVA soccer. Anyway, a man from India gave his testimony as well. I think the students really paid attention to what he had to say. This week we had another dinner, and though the turn out was not as big there were still almost 80 people and LOTS of food. Gina and I gave a talk on how to make easy, low-budget meals. The menu included tuna salad, jello, dry cereal and my personal favorite, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We had small samples of each for the students to try. Can you believe many of them had never heard of peanut butter or Cheerios? That's pretty much all I ate growing up ... and in college, for that matter! There was also a talk on Creationism, and a man from China gave his testimony. Many of the students from the first week came back this week, and we are starting to develop some very good friendships with these students. Please continue to pray for ISI, Christy Lynn and Patrick Flynn and Steve and Evelyn Braintwain. They are really working hard to minister to these students who are so far from home.

That's all for now. Have a great week, and enjoy your Labor Day, if you get one. UVA, which was founded by Thomas Jefferson (one of our Founding Fathers) doesn't observe government holidays. Irony abounds. Take care.

Back to school

2006-08-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

I realize it's been a few weeks since my last post. In fact, it's been almost two months. The last time I added something to the blog, we had never been to New York City before. The last time I wrote something here, we only knew one person from China. The last time I added something, Gina was still 29. Well, as you can see from clever little preview, a lot has happened since the beginning of July.

For starters, Gina and I traveled to New York City the weekend of July 16th and celebrated her 30th birthday. It was the first trip to the Big Apple for both of us. We drove to New Jersey to stay with Joe's sister, Jenny, on Saturday. We had a great time visiting, eating hamburgers and getting a private driving tour of the city from Dan, Jenny's husband. I even got to play some whiffle ball with Robbie. We woke up early on Sunday morning and took the train to Penn Station. I have to admit, we were both a little nervous with anticipation as we got off the train and emerged among all the towering buildings. I think I made the following comment at least a hundred times: "Each street is just endless tall buildings!" You have to understand, I come from a town with 3 high buildings, the tallest of which is 11 floors. So, seeing mile after mile of 50+ story buildings was quite a sight. During the first day we got to see the Empire State Building (though we didn't fork out the $18 apiece to go to the top), the United Nations (which we DID fork out the $12 for the 90-minute tour ... well worth it), St. Patrick's Cathedral (free!) and Rockefeller Center. When I do take time to watch the news, I usually watch the Today show, so it was cool to see where Katie, Matt, Ann and Al hang out each morning. We actually had plans to wake up early and try to get on TV, but we didn't quite make it ... more on that later.

We finally got to check into our hotel room, which was right off Time Square. We splurged for a fairly schwanky (is that really a word?) hotel, which was stocked with, of all things, a treadmill! Here is Gina getting a quick workout ... as if we didn't do enough walking already. We estimate we walked about 15 miles in two days, though that might be an exaggeration. I tend to do that. After taking a long nap and getting cleaned up, we took the subway to Ground Zero, then walked to China Town for dinner. The food at the restaurant, which was recommended to us by our Chinese friends Weidong and Sabrina, was excellent, and it only took me 20 or 30 minutes to get used to eating with chopsticks. I love a meal where you burn more calories getting the food in your mouth than you actually consume. I should market that as a new fad diet. After dinner, we decided to take the Staten Island Ferry and see the Statue of Liberty at night. You must know that at this point it was almost midnight, which is pretty late for me. The ferry ride was fun, but not nearly as cool as we thought it would be. So, we rode the ferry for over an hour, walked to the subway, waited for the subway, rode the subway back to Time Square (we both found it strange how many people were still out at 2 a.m. in Time Square ... kind of like Casper, Wyoming ;-)) As you can imagine, we crashed and didn't quite make it up in time to get our 15 seconds of fame on the Today show. After eating breakfast at a bistro, we walked to Carnegie Hall, Trump Tower and Central Park. We then took the subway back to our hotel, packed up and walked back to Penn Station. By this point we were both exhausted, so we just sat on the floor of the terminal and ate Krispy Kreme donuts. We just read the paper on the train and relaxed before the long drive back home. Overall, it was a whirlwind trip but a great way to initiate Gina into her 3rd decade. As for all the walking we had to endure, I think this picture sums it up: You can see some more of our NYC photos at our Flickr site.

Another exciting thing we have been involved in is an organization called I.S.I., which stands for International Students, Incorporated. It's a ministry aimed at reaching international students for Christ, and our good friends Patrick and Christy Lynn, who also lead our small group, are on staff. We attended a couple of ISI functions this summer and got to meet some new friends from China. We also got to provide temporary housing for a student, Jiakang Lu, until he could move into his apartment. He is a graduate student starting his first year of Ph.D. work in Computer Science. I also had the chance to orient him to one of the finer things at UVA ... Cavalier Soccer! I think they had a good time, but I can't help but think that they were a little disappointed at how calm the UVA fans were. Maybe they will get more raucous as the season heats up. Gina has been a conversation partner with a nursing student from Thailand named Superat (she goes by Niko). We have enjoyed getting to know her and show her some things around C'ville. We are the host family for another Ph.D. student from China, Jiawei Huang. He is studying Computer Engineering. The most fun I've had with these students so far was taking them to Wal Mart to buy things for their apartments. I had never considered Wal Mart from a foreigner's perspective, but I have to say nothing challenges your cultural perceptions more than trying to explain why there are 20 different varieties of toilet paper. The same is true for laundry soap, microwaves and blenders. I guess we Americans find comfort in the fact that we have plenty of choices. Gina and I ask that you pray for us and the international students with whom we are building relationships, as well as Patrick and Christy Lynn and ISI. We want these students to have a positive experience studying in the United States, but more than that, we want them to return to their homelands as bold witnesses for the Gospel of Christ. These students are the absolute best and brightest from their respective countries, and it is by no accident that they ended up at UVA and hooked up with ISI. We believe God has big plans for this ministry.

I guess that is all for now. I promise to be more prompt with my next edition of the Alexander blog (didn't I say that last time?). Pray for us as we begin our second year of classes. It will be a busy year, but we are looking forward to all the things that lie ahead. Keep in touch!

4th with the Nationals

2006-07-07T04:51:00.000-07:00

Gina and I recently spent Independence Day weekend in Alexandria with Katie and Joe. OK, so we were actually in Charlottesville on July 4th, but we were in Northern Virginia the preceding weekend. Anyway, Joe had gotten tickets for us to watch the Nationals play the Tampa Ray Devil Rays. Our seats were about 12 rows up on the 3rd base line. Although it seemed the Rays were going to run away with the game early on, the Nats came back and tied the game. After several pretty good defensive innings, Nick Johnson hit a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 10th, sealing the win. It was definitely the most exciting game I have ever attended. For those of you who don't know this, the Nationals play in historic RFK Stadium. There is nothing spectacular about the stadium itself, but for someone like me who became a football fan in the '80's, RFK was the home to some great football teams (including one that blew out my beloved Broncos in Super Bowl XXII). To top it all off, we got to stuff our faces with chicken fingers, french fries, Dippin' Dots ice cream and fresh lemonade. It was a great time, and now I am hoping Joe can come through with tickets for D.C. United and the 'Skins (just kidding, Joe!).

The next day we attended church at First Baptist Church Alexandria, the same place where Katie and Joe were married almost a year ago. We had a nice time meeting all of their friends and worshipping with the believers there. Later that day we grilled chicken and asparagus, took a nap, and I got caught up on my World Cup highlights (though it was in Spanish and the only word I could understand was "Goal!").

In the afternoon we went to Catholic University of America to see where Joe will be attending law school at the Columbus School of Law. It is a beautiful campus, and the law building is especially nice. Brand new, well kept, beautiful architecture. I had never been to this campus before and was surprised at how pretty it was. The Basilica for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (say that 10 times fast!) is on the CUA campus. We walked through the church and heard the end of a service, capped off by music from the biggest pipe organ I've ever seen. Overall, I think Joe has a great opportunity and is really excited about starting law school. After seeing the campus, I know he has a lot to look forward to.

The most interesting part of our trip came when we returned to Alexandria. As we were leaving to see the law school, it began to rain. Thinking it was no big deal we continued with our plans. The weather in D.C. was overcast but no rain was falling. When we returned to Alexandria we were shocked to see tree branches all over the street, traffic lights were out, and in some cases entire trees were uprooted. What in the world!? Apparently a wicked storm came in just as we were leaving. One of Katie's friends told us it turned into a white squall and they couldn't even see out the window. Katie and Joe's apartment complex had trees everywhere, including one that split three ways down the middle (pictured above). Obviously, the power was knocked out and we spent the evening eating hamburgers by candlelight! They didn't get power back until around 3:00 p.m. the next day, but we were gone by then. We had to come back and get Sydney, then prepare to host some friends for dinner.

Well, that's all for now. Come back soon to read about the other adventures we plan to have this summer!

Sweet Summer Time

2006-06-26T18:39:00.000-07:00

I know, I know ... it's been almost two months since I updated our blog and we have lost about 90% of our audience. I talked to a friend tonight who mentioned that he still checks it out occasionally to see if I've written anything. Knowing that at least one person still believes in me was enough motivation to prompt another posting. Lest you think that absolutely nothing has been happening in Virginia since April 3, I will fill you in on all of our happenings.

We started our summer by going to Texas for 10 days. We got to spend time with Gina's parents, my parents (who happened to be there at the same time), Gina's brother and his family, all of our grandparents and some friends. It was a nice trip and a great way to end a very hectic school year. Which reminds me: we both successfully completed our first year of Ph.D. work. Yeah!

Gina has been very busy this summer working on a research proposal. She had to complete a literature review, as well as figure out her research questions and all that goes along with that. The proposal was actually turned in today, and now she just has to wait and see if there are any revisions to be made. This kind of work is never really "done," but the goal is to get it done enough to move on to the next step in the process. I think she met that goal and surpassed it, as she always puts a lot of thought and effort into her work.

I have been a busy bee this summer. I currently am wearing 3 different hats. The first hat is that of a public speaking instructor at the local community college, where I am teaching two sections. This has brought back a lot of memories from my days at CSU, where I spent a lot of time chastising young college folk for not giving enough eye contact and neglecting to cite their sources in the speech. I even get to use my old friend, the Lucas text! My second hat is that of an on-line instructor for Casper College. This is my first experience teaching an on-line class, and I can't say I'm sold on distance education. The students seem to be pretty good, and the subject matter is fairly interesting, but the course always kind of hangs over my head. Every hour could be spent checking out the discussion board or reading their blogs, and there is never a stopping point. As soon as one week is ending the next one is just getting revved up.

My third hat is the most exciting to tell you about. In order to do so, I need to step back a few years. As many of you know, I had big plans when I went to graduate school to become a hot-shot corporate trainer. Where I got this idea I can't even remember, but I remember leaving a perfectly good teaching job to attend graduate school just so I could help technical support personnel learn how to be more polite to irate customers. Or something like that. Well, I loved graduate school, got a Master's degree and found myself unable to even get an interview for the kind of job I was seeking. This led to frustration, which eventually turned to desperation, and one day I found myself signing a contract to teach public school again, the very profession I believed I was destined NOT to have. However, this cloud had a very bright lining in the form of high school coaching. I got to coach cross country with a stellar mentor coach, as well as boys' soccer, where we won two state championships in a row. Yet the call for more schooling wouldn't subside. With the encouragement of my wife, we decided to both return for our doctorates. And that is where I am today. I am training teachers how to improve their teaching through the use of technology. God knew what was happening all along, even when I had no clue and was perfectly content to pout. He knew that 4 years of teaching wasn't enough, so He gave me 4 more years of experience. He knew teaching elementary school wasn't enough, so He let me spend 4 years working with high school students. He knew that I would end up speaking to large groups of people, so He helped me get a Master's in communication. The most humbling part of this whole story is admitting how awfully pathetic my faith is. There were times I was convinced I was just settling for something I didn't really want, when all along God was setting the table for bigger and better things. So, it seems I am doing what I set out to do 7 years ago, but in a way I could never have predicted.

Another exciting development is that Gina and I have new neighbors. They are twins from Fairfax County, Virginia, and they will be attending UVA in the fall. They are really hard workers and have already made noticeable improvements to the outside of the house. Even more exciting is that they wanted to come to church with us on Sunday. They said they liked it and want to attend with us again. Their names are John and Joe, and if you have a prayer list we would definitely appreciate it if you put them on it. I really believe that they are both seeking and that God will use Gina and I to minister to them.

Well, that is all for now. After getting up at 4:30 this morning so I could make it to my teacher workshop, we are looking forward to getting to sleep a little later tomorrow. Take care, and drop us a line when you get the chance. More later ... the question is, how MUCH later? :)

Sad news in Wyoming

2006-04-03T05:08:00.000-07:00

This post will be neither about Virginia nor Curby and Gina. Last week I received tragic news that a long-time friend and brother in Christ, Shane Ewen, was killed in a car crash on South Pass between Lander and Big Piney, Wyoming. He was traveling with his wife, Casey, and infant daughter, Ellie. Another truck slid into their lane in icy, blizzard conditions and immediately took the life of their daughter. Shane and Casey were flown to separate hospitals in Billings, MT, where Shane passed away the next morning after being taken off life support. Casey survived with serious injuries to her arms, legs and back. She is still recovering and getting a little stronger everyday. While it seems a miracle that her life was spared, everyone knows of the pain and grieving she has ahead. Pray for the Lord's mercy and grace to be made known to Casey in the coming months.

I met Shane when we were in junior high. He was from Gillette, Wyoming, and we got to know each other at Youth Encounter, a Christian camp held annually at Mountain Top Baptist Assembly in Casper, Wyoming. What I remember most about him from that early meeting is that he had a great sense of humor and played the violin better than anyone I knew. Granted, I hadn't run across many violinists at that point, but I was astute enough to know he was good. The next time I ran into Shane was at a forensics tournament in Laramie, WY. We both participated in Humorous Interpretation, which was a wonderful place for people like us to be who God created us to be! Shane proved to be just as good at acting as he was at playing the violin. He performed a wonderful skit about a shepherd's perspective of the first Christmas, embellished with a great British accent and his famous facial expressions. Even as a young high school kid Shane leveraged his opportunities to share the story of Jesus with others, something that I haven't forgotten to this day. Needless to say, he won just about every competition he entered that year.

One thing you may not know about Shane and I (for those of you who knew him) is that we went repelling for the first time together. Repelling was one of Shane's passions. We were both working at RA camp (the Southern Baptist version of Boy Scouts) one summer and there was a lull in the day. Someone had set up a 30' repelling wall at the camp, and they left the ropes and harnesses just sitting around. What else would you expect two energetic high school kids to do? We quickly hooked ourselves in and repelled for about two hours. We must have climbed the ladder to the top of that tower at least 100 times each. Shane continued repelling and seeking adventure after that day. I had the pleasure of going repelling with him a couple of different times after that, and it was always fun. The picture you see is of Shane repelling Australian style, which means face down for those of you who don't know the lingo.

Shane and I continued to be friends throughout high school. We would run into each other at church events across the state, as well as high school events such as the All-State Choir, Orchestra and Band. We graduated from high school (being a loyal Natrona Mustang, I never held it against Shane for being a Campbell County Camel ;-)) and he moved to Texas to attend Howard Payne University. We would still see each other in the summer when we came back to Casper to help with Youth Encounter. A few summers flew by, and I moved to Grapevine, Texas to teach 4th grade. Believe it or not, Shane also lived in that area as he attended Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. I would call him from time to time to see how he was doing. He was a youth minister in the Forth Worth area, and he also was a cast member for The Promise, a beautiful play about the life of Jesus. I went to see him perform a couple of times, due in part to the fact that he was able to get tickets for me. I remember catching up with him after the show and talking about old times.

Soon after that time Shane came back to Wyoming to be a youth pastor in Rock Springs, where he also became increasingly more involved with Youth Encounter. I would still come back to Wyoming in the summer to help with the camp in any way, and our friendship continued to grow. We would sit around the main cabin at night playing guitar, telling jokes and singing silly songs. He was an unbelievably talented person. He could bring a room full of youth down in laughter, then silence them the next moment with his teaching. He loved people and modeled Christ in a way I have seen from very few people. He never withheld his talents, whether it was singing, playing the guitar or fiddle or teaching the bible. He continually urged the youth to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ, and he challenged me along the way.

I can think of only a few people in my life who have modeled Christ as Shane did. He was a friend and brother in the Lord, but he was also a role model who I looked up to and received encouragement from. I looked forward to introducing my wife to Shane, as he did to me soon after he was married to Casey. I wanted Gina to know him and be encouraged by his gentle spirit and wonderful sense of humor. Now that meeting will have to wait a while, but I am strengthened by the hope that we will get to see each other again. This world has lost a faithful servant but Heaven has gained a mighty warrior.

If you want to read more about Casey's progress, you can follow this link to the Wyoming Southern Baptist Convention website, where Shane worked. Please keep her in your prayers as she seeks both physical and emotional healing. I am encouraged to know that she is looking to Jesus for her strength in this time.

God bless you all!

Jamestown Pics

2006-03-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we're at the end of Spring Break now. It ended up being a time of rest for us after all. Of course, we wish that we'd been more productive with schoolwork, but you know how that goes... We did get a lot of reading and writing done--but not enough to be ahead of schedule.

We drove to Williamsburg on Wednesday night, relaxed and played tennis on Thursday, and (as we bemoaned our sore muscles and out-of-shape bodies) explored the Jamestown Settlement on Friday.

The Living History museum is an informative, entertaining attraction. We were able to see replicas of a Powhatan village, the fort that the colonists built, and the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia in 1607.

We love you and hope that you enjoy the start
of Spring!

Joined the PDA World

2006-03-06T18:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it's March already. We're at the start of Spring Break, trying to get caught up on projects, assignments, and papers. Yes, we are going to take a break from studies...we already did last weekend and will once more toward the end of this week.

As you know, Curby didn't get a birthday this year, but we celebrated nonetheless! Actually, the celebration lasted all week, basically. He was serenaded in person by my classmates and his classmates on the 28th, then we had cake and candles on the 1st with our Bible study, and then we had yet another cake on the 5th with friends who'd gathered for an Oscars party.

Curby's prized gift this year was a joint effort of Gina, her parents, and Curby's parents. Yes, he entered the world of the PDA-owners. And he's loving it. As you can see, he loves playing around with all of the functions and is very impressed with its capabilities. We figured it was about time for him to have a palm pilot.

On Wednesday, we'll be heading for Williamsburg again. This time, we plan to rest and relax in the condo and then go to Jamestown. In 2007, we'll be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement, and they're already starting to prepare for the festivities.

We love you and look forward to hearing from you!

Valentine Update

2006-02-17T16:58:00.000-08:00

Happy February, all! It's been a while since we last updated the blog. I've decided that I should start posting some, because Curby's starting to be "blogged-out" from grading 21 blogs and maintaining four blogs for his own classes.

We've been busy since classes started up. At the end of January, we went to the National Archives, so that I could find and copy historical files on the health care of Native Americans from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Specifically, I found many letters and files describing field nursing among the Five Civilized Tribes. It's all very interesting and will (hopefully) prove very helpful in shaping my historical paper.

Joe and Katie were gracious enough to host us in their apartment, and they provided us some more "firsts" in Virginia---first trip to "Mango Mike's" for some Caribbean food, first time to eat "pork roll," and first time to go into the Washington Monument, all the way to the top. We had a great time and really enjoyed the view of D.C.

The Sunday after our visit to D.C., we joined the church that we've been visiting, Christ Community Church. And the past few weeks, we've visited some small groups through the church and enjoyed one in particular that has an emphasis on prayer for international students.
We look forward to spending more time getting to know the members of our church and adjusting more to the community as a whole. This will be a challenge at times, though, while we continue to stay busy with classes and work.

We hope that you all are doing well and that you enjoyed Valentine's!

Thinking of each of you,
Curby and Gina

Loyalty Divided

2006-01-22T16:54:00.000-08:00

Gina had a very difficult decision to make this week. The North Carolina Tar Heels came to Charlottesville on Thursday to play the Cavaliers in Men's basketball. On one hand, Gina is currently attending UVA and is the recipient of one of their highly-coveted full tuition scholarships; on the other hand, she is an alumnus of UNC-Chapel Hill. What to do, what to do? As you can imagine, Gina takes these kinds of choices very seriously. I offered my UNC hat to her to support her alma mater, but her conscience wouldn't allow her to cheer against her current school. So, she came to the game an orange-blooded Cavs fan, and it paid off as Virginia overcame a slow first half to beat the Tar Heels ... well, you can see the picture. Seriously, it was a real treat for both of us to attend the game. This is one of the perks to attending UVA: free admission to ACC sporting events. I love college basketball and have always wanted to see North Carolina play. This game was a blast from the past for Gina, who got to attend some games in the "Dean Dome" in Chapel Hill. Well, UHall is no Dean Dome, but it was pretty crazy on Thursday.

Besides getting to watch college basketball, classes started for us on Wednesday. Both of us have similar schedules as last semester, even though our classes are different. Most of my classes are the second half of year-long courses, while Gina has a whole new set of courses and instructors. It looks to be an eventful semester, and we are both looking forward to it.

Saturday night we had several of our friends from school over to the house for a night of food and games. I grilled hamburgers and hotdogs outside in the unseasonably warm weather while Gina and Tommy prepared the other food. The guests provided snacks, desserts and the games. It was our first time to play Apples to Apples and Smarty Party, and I have to say both games were really fun. I have never been a huge fan of board games, but we had a great time laughing and getting to know each other better. We are already talking about doing it again soon.

I hope everyone reading this has a great week. Take care, and keep checking back for more updates.

Welcome to 2006

2006-01-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

It has been a very eventful Christmas season for us. The fun began back on December 16 when my parents arrived in Charlottesville. They were delayed by a day because of an ice storm, which closed down roads, knocked out power and caused trains to be canceled.

After touring the UVA campus and resting in Charlottesville, we drove to northern VA to attend the baptism of my cousin's baby. We spent a couple of extra days in D.C. hanging out with Katie and Joe, visiting sites on Capitol Hill and visiting Civil War battlegrounds. Thanks to the expert cooking skills of Katie and Joe, we got to have steamed lobster for the first time. It was pretty excellent. We also got to see the very spot where my great-great-grandfather, R.J. Marshall, was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Spotsylvania Courthouse.

After some more touring of Monticello, Michie Tavern and Ash Lawn-Highland, we got the house ready for Katie and Joe to arrive for Christmas. Our little house has never been so crowded, but we had a great time playing games, watching movies, eating and spending quality time together. It was a great Christmas, and we were all grateful to be together.

We spent the following week resting and wrapping up some home improvement projects. Also, Gina started to delve into genealogical research and gathered a lot of exciting information from her cousins Jean and Karla. We know that her ancestor Andrew Kelly/Kolle immigrated from Germany and served in the Revolutionary War, so the Kelly cousins are eligible for DAR membership.

We decided to celebrate New Year's Eve in Charlottesville. We volunteered for a couple of hours as ushers for the Brown v. Board of Education monologue that was superb! Afterward we listened to the Celtibillies and then enjoyed some Improv Comedy... then we wrapped up the evening by going to see the Vulgar Bulgars, a young band specializing in Klezmer, a style of music that blends Eastern European and Jewish sounds. We went home just before midnight to ring in the New Year with Tommy, who had decided to stay at home for the evening.

The first week of 2006, we started back with work...Gina had meetings and worked on some projects, and I started designing my course website. For the weekend, Gina and I headed to Williamsburg for a couple of days. I hadn't been there since I was in high school, and it was Gina's first trip to the colonial town. We stayed in a condominium at a place called Powhatan Plantation, part of my parent's time share membership. The room was very nice, and it enabled us to eat breakfast in the room rather than having to eat out. We spent a whole day in Colonial Williamsburg looking at the historic buildings, watching actors and musicians and talking to people in "Ye Olde English" vernacular. The next day we went to see the James River and the Jamestown Settlement. We will plan to spend more time there next time we visit.

This is all for now. We hope everyone had a great Christmas and that you are getting the New Year off to a good start. More coming later.

Are you sure I'm in Virginia?

2005-12-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

My license plate says Virginia, my driver's license says Virginia and I think I'm enrolled at the University of Virginia, but the weather we are having here sure feels like Wyoming. Last week the cold weather rolled in and brought us some snow, and it hasn't warmed up since then. We have had snow twice in one week, and it has made our backyard into a mud bog. Sydney is in bliss with all the mud to romp around in, and I think she gets extra joy from making me clean off her paws before she's allowed back in the house.

Other than the cold weather, things are going well for us. We have finished our classes and are just trying to get final projects done before the semester is over this Friday. My parents arrive on Thursday, and we are looking forward to seeing them and relaxing for a little while. We just have a lot of work to do before then.

I'm sorry there isn't more to share right now. I guess our lives have been pretty boring since we have been working so hard on our school work. There will be plenty to share next week. Check back in!

Last week of classes

2005-12-04T18:43:00.000-08:00

In exactly two days, Gina and I will have successfully completed our first semester of doctoral work. Even though there are only two days of class left, both of us have papers to write and work to do during finals week. But, there is an end in sight, at least for a little while.

Our Thanksgiving trip to Dallas was great, but you may already know a little about our detour on the way home. Well, the fun didn't stop with our overnight stay in Detroit. Tuesday morning we flew to Cincinnati, where we would catch a plane to Charlottesville in time to make it to our afternoon classes. Yes, that flight was cancelled as well, so were left to find another flight home. We actually were scheduled to fly back that night at 11:00, requiring us to spend the whole day in the airport. That's about the last thing either of us wanted to do, so we booked an earlier flight to Richmond. We actually had no idea how we would get to Charlottesville once in Richmond, but it's only an hour away and we knew we could figure it out. Gina called and reserved a rental car, but it turned out that we didn't need it. Tommy was able to come get us from the airport and bring us back to our house. Our luggage didn't actually make it to Charlottesville until Thursday morning, but at least we were home and didn't miss anymore class.

The funny thing about Tommy picking us up from the airport is that he left Texas three hours later than us on Monday evening. He drove straight through to Charlottesville from Dallas, arriving 4 hours before our flight landed in Richmond. He had enough time to pick Sydney up from the pet motel then drive to Richmond to get us. I never would have thought that his truck could beat our plane, but I was proved wrong. So, we have decided to drive from now on when going places over a school break. That way we can bring our dog and have more control over our traveling times. The other funny thing about this whole travel debacle is that we left Dallas on Northwest Airlines and flew into Richmond on Delta. Our luggage left with us on Northwest, got as far as Cincinnati on Delta, and was flown into Charlottesville on U.S. Airways. Regardless, we are just glad that both us and our bags made it home safely.

I guess that is all I have to share for now. I need to get to work on my grading so my students don't revolt on Tuesday. Take care, and keep checking back for updates.

Stuck in Detroit

2005-11-28T21:11:00.000-08:00

Yes, you read correctly. Gina and I get to wrap up our eventful Thanksgiving by getting stuck in Detroit until tomorrow. We were actually on the plane waiting to fly to Charlottesville when the flight attendant told us the flight was cancelled due to poor weather in C'ville. So, here I am updating my blog from the Ramada Inn. Not exactly ideal, but it could be worse. We could be sleeping on the floor in the airport.

Regarding Thanksgiving break, Gina and I had a great time in Dallas. We were able to see many family members and friends, and of course every event seemed to involve food. On Monday, we celebrated our second wedding anniversary, which we spent at the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant in north Dallas. I never thought we could get so stuffed just by eating bits of bread and meat. It was a lot of fun, and we are hoping to go back really soon. On Tuesday, Don, Tommy and I got to see the Mavericks play the Houston Rockets at the American Airlines Center. That is by far the best arena I've ever been to, and the Mavericks won making it a great night. Wednesday, Gina's cousin Shane and Beth, his wife, arrived in Dallas and we ate dinner at the Johnson house and watched basketball all night. On Thanksgiving Day, Don and I ran the Turkey Trot 5K race in downtown Dallas with 25,000 of our closest friends. That was the first race I had run in awhile, but I had a pretty good time. I actually saw another UVA student while I was running. Go Hoos! On Friday, we went to Tommy's house to have lunch with Matt and Kara's family, along with Gina's other cousins Jean, John and his girlfriend Carrie. It was so much fun watching the little cousins play together for the weekend! Saturday we attended a Gooch family gathering at the family farm. We got to see my uncle's ponies, watch the kids play together, eat wonderful BBQ, and shoot skeet in the pasture. My shoulder still hurts from that one. As you can imagine, I am not the gun type, but it was still pretty fun. On Sunday, we met our friends Sherri and Desmond for breakfast, then went to see my Uncle Clay and his family for dinner. That pretty much brings us to today.

Well, Gina and I are about to hit the hay so we can be up to catch our flight in the morning. If this is the last you hear of the Detroit debacle, then you can assume that no news is good news. Take care, and check in next week!

Howdy from the Lone Star

2005-11-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

Gina and I are spending the Thanksgiving break in Dallas this year, so for this week only the "Virginia" label doesn't actually apply. Gina flew in last Wednesday, and I got here yesterday. We have already had a great time so far, getting to see many people and there is more fun to be had before we head back to the grind.

Last night we got to attend a wedding reception for a friend of ours, Charmaine (Hill) Poteet. There were several other friends of ours whom we had not seen in a long time, and we were some of the last folks to leave. It's just like Gina and I to be the last people to leave a party. The reception was at the Fort Worth Stockyards, which is a really cool place. I used to go there now and again when I lived in Grapevine. She had a live band and lots of BBQ. I actually thought about grabbing a guitar and busting loose with a rendition of "Number Man," but I really hate to humiliate the professional musicians.

Today, we went with Tommy, Carol, Kierra, Zachary and Kendall to see a movie. Carol and Kendall went to see Chicken Little, while the rest of us watched the newest Harry Potter installment. I haven't read the books, which explains why the whole Harry Potter fascination is a mystery to me. It was a pretty entertaining movie, but many people have explained to me that I need to read the books in order to fully appreciate the movies. Sorry, Harry, but you will have to remain a mystery for now. After the movie we went to Chuck E. Cheese's pizza joint. You may not be able to tell, but I have had enough sugar and visual stimulation to increase my heart rate to that of a hummingbird. I used to love that place when I was a kid, but this time it seemed more like a loud, chaotic germ fest. But the kids loved it, and we had a great time watching them feed tokens into those silly games. It made a great memory.

I haven't decided if I am going to post again next Sunday or wait until we are back in Virginia. I am still driving myself crazy with a few papers, and there is still a stack of work to grade. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and I wish you God's protection if you dare go to the mall or Wal-Mart next Friday. If I have my way, I will stay indoors and avoid all retail establishments at any cost. So, take care and enjoy your time with friends and family.

Family, Friends and Football

2005-11-13T18:11:00.000-08:00

This weekend we had a great time of fellowship, food and football with many great friends and family. I think I met my alliteration quota for the month with that sentence. Gina and I have been busy with assignments and projects, but we took some time off to hang out with good people and eat some great food.

On Friday we had dinner with our friends, the Perez family, as well as some new friends, Alan and Emily Wang. We celebrated an early Thanksgiving together since everyone is going to be traveling to other places during the holiday. In case you didn't know, Gina and I are going to Texas for Thanksgiving. Anyway, we also got to dote on Alan and Emily's new baby, Vivian. What a cutie!

Saturday, Katie and Joe came down from Alexandria to see Joe's sister Jenny and her family as they visited Charlottesville to watch the Cavaliers play the Yellowjackets from Georgia Tech. Jenny is a UVA alumnus, and she was very eager to come back to C'ville and see her alma mater again. Her kids, Robbie and Megan, were all decked out in their Cav gear, which for Robbie was a bright orange wig! They even got filmed and projected onto the big Jumbotron screen in the student section of the stadium. After the game we went to The Hardware Store, a restaurant on the Downtown Mall. Some people in the group tried their hand at a half meter, which if you don't know what that is you can look on my Flickr site for pictures. The evening ended with the Moskowitz's going back to their hotel, while Katie and Gina easily handled Joe and I in a game of Spades. We're already planning our strategy for the rematch.

Overall, I can speak for both of us when I say we are ready for a short break from school. I still have a lot of work to do over the holiday, so it won't exactly be a vacation. But, it will be nice to take some time to spend with family and eat plenty of turkey and dressing. Also, Gina and I will celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary while we are in Texas. With all there is to be thankful for at this point in our lives, we are most thankful for each other and God, who brought us together.

Steppin' Out

2005-11-06T17:09:00.000-08:00

Gina and I got to do one of our favorite things this weekend ... listen to live music. We went to see a band called Clumsy Lovers, and they were pretty excellent. I would describe their music as modern bluegrass or folk. They have an unbelievable banjo player who pretty much stole the show. Of course, the best part is that they are from Vancouver, B.C., which is where Gina and I spent our honeymoon. It made us want to drop everything and go back there again. It's after going to a show like that I wish I was able to practice more on the guitar and get to be as good as those folks. But the reality is, if I was going to be that good I'd be that good already. We had a lot of fun hanging out with one of Gina's classmates, Erika, and her friend. This was one of the few nights out on the town we've had this semester and it was a welcome break.

I had another pleasant surprise this week as I got to see my students present their digital stories. For these projects they used Movie Maker to combine their voice with pictures and music to tell a story to the rest of the class. This is the sort of thing I love, and I was probably more excited to see their projects than there were to share them. Anyway, there were several students from the two sections of my class who took the opportunity to tell, through their stories, about the wonderful things God is doing in their lives. It is always refreshing to hear other people talk about their faith and the difference knowing God has made in their lives. I am not so sure that I would have been so bold as a first or second year college student. But these students, having the choice to tell any story they wanted, told the great story of God's love for us and the hope He offers.

The Virginia Cavaliers hosted the Temple Owls this weekend in football. Now, before I give any more details I think it is important to tell you that this is the first year Temple has played Division I-A football. Anytime a school makes the move from AA to A, they are usually met with pretty grim results. This being said, Temple did manage to score 3 points against the Cavs. This would be a good thing if they were playing soccer or hockey, but in football your best chance of winning when you only score 3 points is if the other team lets the Glee Club suit up for a game. So, the fact that the Cavs scored 51 points (48 of them before Temple scored their 3) made for a long day for the Owls. You might even say Temple is having a long season, as they have yet to win a game. They are looking to run the table during their first season of big boy football. Next week they are hosting the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. Katie and Joe, as well as Joe's sister (who went to UVA) and brother-in-law are coming down for the game. We are hoping for the same outcome as the Florida State game.

Well, I think that is all we have to share this week. Next week I will be able to share results from the men's soccer ACC tournament, which should be pretty good. Take care, and write us when you get a chance.

Fall Back

2005-10-30T19:22:00.000-08:00

Gina and I took advantage of the nice fall weather this weekend by going to Shenandoah National Park to hike around. This was our first time to go into the park and actually hike. The last time we were there we just drove through and looked at all the views from the car. This was definitely more fun, and we are already looking forward to going back for another hike with Sydney. Her only disappointment in the whole excursion is that she had to be on the leash. This was not nearly as much fun as being on Casper Mountain, where she can run around freely and jump over the stream as many times as she wants. But I think she would choose being on the leash to being stuck in the laundry room. In unrelated news, Sydney now associates shoes and hats with leaving. The other day she dragged my shoes over to the couch while I was taking a nap and sat right next to me until I woke up. She's too smart for her own good.

On Saturday the Virginia Cavaliers Men's soccer team played the Hokies from Virginia Tech. We decided not to attend the game because it was pretty cold (it doesn't take long for a Wyoming kid to turn soft), but I stayed up for the update on the news. Unfortunately, the Cavs lost a 2-1 decision in overtime, and lost a point in the Commonwealth Challenge, which is similar to the competitions between Kelly Walsh and Natrona high schools in Casper, just bigger. UVA is currently winning, but the match worth the most points is the football game coming up in a few weeks. Virginia Tech is the #3 team in the country, and I think they will be hard to beat. Of course, Florida State was #4 when UVA beat them. So, we'll see what happens.

This upcoming week looks to be pretty busy, as I have a lot of reading and writing to do and Gina has a test. My big test was last week, and I am thankful to have it behind me. Gina has been studying all weekend, and I know she will do great. I get to participate in a tele-conference on Tuesday with the doctoral students from Iowa State University. This should be a fun experience as I have never got to do this sort of thing before. Unless it is REALLY cool, I don't think it will be worthy of an update in next week's post. I guess you will just have to check back in and find out.

The leaves are really starting to fall now, and Gina and I have been busy cleaning them up for a couple of weeks now. I spent a couple of hours in the yard yesterday raking, mowing and spreading new grass seed. I don't know if it will sprout before winter, but several people have told me this is the best time to plant grass. I will keep you updated.

Well, this is turning into a long post. Write us when you get a chance. We would love to hear from you. Have a great week. I will leave you with another shot of Virginia's beautiful fall colors.

Down to the wire

2005-10-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

I think it's fair to say that the semester it getting to that familiar point when a lot of things are due. Gina and I have both been working fervently on papers, literature reviews and studying for tests. In addition to that, the assignments for the classes I teach are coming in. We are a couple of busy bees these days, but we are doing well and looking forward to a chance to relax, as well as see family and friends, in Dallas over Thanksgiving.

We discovered a very nice perk of being UVA students this week. One of the libraries has a video collection with many movies for students to check out for free at any time. Since we both like movies, we took advantage of this opportunity and watched "The Color Purple" on Friday. Neither of us had ever seen this film, and I'm not sure why it took us so long. What a great story! I know this probably doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but we were pretty excited. I guess we are just too easily amused.

On Saturday we had another couple over for dinner. Diallo is an Instructional Technology student with me at the Curry School, and his wife Chalarra is a school social worker for Charlottesville City Schools. We had a nice time of fellowship and food, and Sydney got to make her appearance as usual. It has been nice getting to know new people from a different part of the country.

That's about all there is to report this week. I survived my first big test (I think ... I haven't actually gotten it back), and Gina has one on Tuesday. Keep us in your prayers as we tackle some pretty difficult classes. Take care, and write us when you get a chance.

Great Football Weekend

2005-10-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

Gina at the UVA vs. FSU football game

Well, I have been to some pretty cool football games. There was that time Utah State beat Fresno State with a last second field goal... talk about a barn burner! Well, Gina and I got to see a great football game this weekend when UVA played Florida State in Charlottesville. Considering the Cavaliers lost their last two games to decent teams, I was pretty sure the #4 team in the country would run roughshod over the blue and orange. However, I think everyone was shocked when Virginia not only scored first, but continued to score and shut down FSU. It was a great game, and definitely the biggest upset I have ever been to. You can read more about the game here.

Also, the #4 Cavalier Men's Soccer team hosted the Duke Blue Devils, #10 in the country, on Sunday. I didn't get to attend the game because I had too many other things that actually had to get done. That's the thing with being a doctoral student. The professors actually expect you to do your work. So, I had to read about this game, but I fully intend on being at the next one. I may even sing the "Olè" song.

Other than the football game, Gina and I didn't do anything really out of the ordinary. Actually, we did go back to the orchard to pick some Granny Smith apples. We even took Sydney, and I am proud to say she behaved herself ... for the most part. She must not have gotten the memo that most people don't like to be jumped on and mauled. But if you know Sydney, you know it's all done with a sincere heart that just wants to show love.

Take care this week, and keep checking back for more updates on the Alexanders. Bye for now.

Water, water everywhere!

2005-10-09T17:09:00.000-07:00

Well, this weekend Gina and I got to experience real rain. The sprinkles started on Thursday afternoon, and by Friday morning it was a complete downpour. Now, I'm used to Wyoming where it only downpours when I am trying to cook outside on the grill. I mistakenly thought that it would only rain for a few hours, so I was surprised to see that it was still raining cats and dogs late into Saturday afternoon. We noticed on Saturday that we had a small pond accumulating on the back patio, which I got to clean up later that day. I thought about keeping it there and raising trout so that the neighborhood kids could come over and go fishing, but I wasn't sure Sydney would be able to stay out of the water. So, things have pretty much dried out and we will be better prepared for the next time the forecast reads "scattered showers."

In other news, we had a great weekend of fellowship with some new friends we've met here. On Friday, we had the Perez family (David, Lorena, Kristin and Daniel) over for dinner. We met them at one of the churches we visited, and we have gotten together with them a couple of times. They are a great family, and we seem to have a lot in common with them. David works for an outdoor gear company and loves biking and soccer. My kinda guy! The two children seemed to have a good time playing with Sydney, as well as playing my old Activision video games. Sydney, of course, was the star of the show, and she only tinkled with excitement twice. That's pretty good for her.

On Saturday we made plans with another couple, Fitz and Rachel Greene, who we met at a different church we visited. They are both new to Charlottesville, and Fitz is a graduate student at UVA in Religious Studies. They are grads of George Washington University in Washington, D.C. We were supposed to go to Carter Mountain Orchard with them to pick from the new crop of Granny Smith apples, but the rain made us postpone that activity until a later date. They came over for dinner, and yes, Sydney was the main attraction once again. She only lost control of herself one time. All I can say is, I'm glad we have hardwood floors!

Well, this week should be business as usual. I don't think it will be as exciting as last week, when the Rolling Stones were in town, but that is just fine with us. The traffic was backed up 15 miles on the interstate with people trying to get their glimpse of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Gina and I passed on that opportunity. The only change it made in our daily routine was that they cancelled all bus service and we had to walk home. It's pretty close from UVA to our house, and it was good to get a little extra exercise.

Well, I guess that is all for now. I hope everyone is doing well. Come back soon for more news from Virginia!

Reading Weekend

2005-10-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

The University of Virginia, being the fine academic institution that it is, would never stoop so low as to give its students a Fall Break. No academy worth its salt would openly endorse a "break" in the learning. However, the officials here recognize that a little rest can provide just the boost that students need to gear up for midterm exams and the many projects that are due before Thanksgiving. So, Gina and I got to experience our very first Reading Weekend. Yes, there is a whole weekend devoted to reading. You are probably wondering what we read this weekend. Well, Gina was very faithful to her studies and read several journal articles for her research. I read almost 40 essays written by my pre-service teachers on their experiences with using technology. Mr Jefferson (as he is called in C'ville) would be very proud indeed that we didn't squander his Reading Weekend on frivolous activities.

In other news, we had a chance to do some non-reading activities this weekend as well. On Friday we got to indulge ourselves on several episodes of Quantum Leap thanks to my sister who let us borrow the first and second seasons on DVD. Saturday was full of yard work, house work and school work. In addition to reading, I got to edit two podcasts for NTLC (National Technology Leadership Coalition) Radio. I don't know if they will actually get broadcast, but it's part of my grade. Saturday night I got to watch the Virginia Cavaliers mens' soccer team play the #2 North Carolina Tarheels. UVA cruised to a 2-0 win with two second half goals. Gina opted out of watching soccer and went grocery shopping instead.

Sunday was pretty relaxed as we did more reading, ran some errands and got to attend the Carter Mountain Orchard festival. Carter Mountain is quickly becoming our favorite place in C'ville as it provides good exercise, the chance to pick a variety of apples right from the tree, and a beautiful view of Charlottesville.

Well, I think that is all for now. We hope everyone is doing well. Feel free to look at our Virginia photos on Flickr. More photos to come ...

Hello there!

2005-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been meaning to do this for awhile, but I am just now getting to it. I thought it would be a good idea to post a blog in order to keep people posted on how things are going for us in Virginia. It is so hard to keep up with e-mails, but I can always take a little time to update the blog for those who are interested. And of course, we will still e-mail you. As you know, Gina is much better at that than I am! So, keep checking in from time to time and see what new adventures we are having on the east coast. Bye for now.