Please Add Moira and Sinead to Your Email Lists!!!!

Moira and Sinead Thornhill are thrilled to finally have gmail addesses!!! Please add them to your email lists and drop them a line if you get a chance. They will love to write you back.
In case you were wondering who Moira and Sinead were, we included a photo to refresh your memory....
Moira's gmail address is MoiraParisha@gmail.com
Sinead's is NatoPotato10@gmail.com

and while you're at it:
Ciara's is CTqueenie@gmail.com
Fiona's is mrsFionaCharming@gmail.com
and Ailis' is Aileecakes@gmail.com

They would all love to be added to the family lists and John, if youcould invite them all to the blog they would add to it and try to liven it up again! I've talked to several in the Family Blog membership who need to be re-educated and/or re-invited. If you could do that John, I think we'd see more activity and participation! Thanks.

Honeymoon Pics!!!

Here are a few pics:

Honeymoon!

Okay, I'm sorry I'm late to post this blog. The blog nazi has been texting me and sending oh so subtle of hints that it is time to post.



So .....as some of you know Brian and I went to the beautiful island of Maui after our super fun wedding!!!! (Thanks to all of you who could make it!) We stayed at the Westin in Ka'anapali which was a gorgeous part of the island. Everyday we went on a new adventure. We took a helicopter tour of the island and saw where parts of Jurassic Park were filmed. We flew over volcanoes and the rain forest as well as sugarcane farms and beaches. It was amazing! We also got to go on a sunset sail in this huge sail boat called the Gemini. We had a fabulous time hanging with people who were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. We aslso did our fair share of snorkeling around Black Rock in front of the Sheraton resort. The pictures are from that area. They turned out really well for an underwater camera. The turtles were my favorite to see. I was a little nervous at first because they would come within inches of your face. I actually panicked the first time and pushed Brian in front of me in case they were going to bite! He wasn't thrilled because it ended up happening more than once that I would hide behind him underwater. He was more adventurous than I and would go out further. He even saw a huge mantaray! The puffer fish and the flute fish were also my favorite.



So now after all of the festivities we are back in California loving our home in Playa del Rey. Just last saturday we looked out on our deck and saw a huge pod of dolphins swimming so close to shore right in front of our house. It was awesome. So even though we live far away from family at this time, we are loving the area and taking advantage of it's beauty!



I am now a working woman again at L.A. Children's Hospital in Hollywood. It is my second week and I am enjoying it thus far. The unit I'm working on is much higher acuity than my floor in San Diego. So basically that means, for you non-medical folks, the kids are a lot sicker. I will be constantly learning new procedures and diagnoses. Fun stuff!



Wish we could make it to Ptown for Turkey Day, but we will be cooking our own bird in our new home in SoCal. If any of you are in the neighborhood we would love to have you!



Colleen Cooke

Allright, Cakie, here is my update :

I just spent the weekend in minnesota for a district American Student Dental Association meeting. The weather was cold, mullets were flowing, and Hockey was on the tube in all the bars. Minneapolis gets two thumbs up. There is no more sun in Omaha -- I spend all day in a window-less room, and by the time I get out the sun is at its downfall. Setting me up for a rather dismal winter, I'm afraid.

Today I spent five hours trying to carve the twelve facets of a maxillary first molar into the occlusal table. That is my favorite class of the week. Last week we eviscerated our cadaver; the day before he was emasculated! There are only three weeks left in my first semester and the worst classes of my career will be over. Yahoo!

Caitlin McHugh just asked me out on a date over Christmas break. Sweet...

Hope all is well with the Clan back in Washington -- I cant wait to see you all in December.

Blog almost all time low

Hi everyone...
It's been waaaay too long since the last blog was posted so I have made a list of people that I expect to hear from in the next few weeks to be writing a post of their own, both newsy and interesting. :
Eamonn didn't you go to China?

Lizzie aren't you on the east cost?
Jack and Bridget, didn't you just start college?
Anna, didn't you just get a new place in Magnolia? and a new job?
Cwisto, Claire, Michie, Mads, Nick, where are you looking for college?
Pat how's Harborview?
Aunt Theresa, where are all the cute pictures of Carter and Mary Meggie on Halloween?
Kevin and Eamonn, are you applying to law schools?
Dad, didn't you and Uncle Dan, Aunt Jac, and Mom go to ND?
Ailie and Fia, how was Homecoming (and the other HS cousins)?
Colleen, how was your honeymoon?
Colin, wassup with the Irish this year???!!!!

And THAT's just a start! Even if you aren't on this list, I am SURE you have something to say too!
As for me, Miguel and I are taking a two week trip to Seoul, Korea over New Years to see his parents. We are sooooooooo excited! Unfortunately, though, we are going to miss the Chambers annual post christmas bash. We'll be sure to blog about it after the new year!
Can't wait to see almost everybody at T-giving!
~Cait

Recent Letter from Father Beaver

I dont know how many of you were lucky enough to recieve Father Beaver's recent email regarding the use and abuse of alcohol, but if you have not had an opportunity to-- as he says, "wash your ears out with this", please email me at work broach@roachlaw.com, and I will send it to you. You may all have thought to yourselves from time to time, without necessarily expressing it in a crowd or among confidants, just what Father has been up to on this life-journey of his that has been filled with some, or at least a couple, profound difficulties. I have to say that, despite the fact that it is significantly challenging for me to be so up front by writing and publishing this email, the words of his letter were about as to the point and meaningful-- word by word-- as anything I have read in the last several years I can remember. I encourage you all as my cousins to first read this letter, and then to digest this letter, by committing its essence to your basic daily perspective, and make sense out of it as if it were a mandate. There are several key components to Father's letter that are-- I submit from my perspective only-- directly inspired by the life of Christ, and may in fact, be His Words. I have had many opportunities to talk at length with Father Beaver. Yet, I have never heard such profoundly personal and meaningful things come from him (and of course, we all know how many honestly great things he has to say ...). All I am asking from my cousins is that you read and reread this letter knowing that the content is important, relevant, and one hundred percent on point, and use it to form your opinions. I dont know that I have ever been accused by any of you of 'force feeding' a belief or opinion, or a set of values for that matter, (yes, I know I attempt heavily at being persuasive in a variety of often unimportant areas-- a roast for a different day/) but if there were a time that I would take responsibility for, and hope it were true, that I am being dogmatic and directing, it would be only in the context of this issue and these statements by our cousin. I doubt many of you would react differently than I did when I read this letter with such awe and emotion, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to let you all know, as an oldest cousin, that I found it more meaningful than much else in recent memory written by anyone.

bpr

ITALY 2007!

Hello family!
I thought this would be an absolutely appropriate time to write a little blog about our Italy trip, being 5am and awake for the past hour with jet lag still! :)
We left on Friday the 12th. Had a direct flight from Seattle to Paris, and then a flight from Paris to Rome. We were all very excited and only packed carry-ons, which I am not used to doing, but am very happy we did so! We got into Rome at about 8pm. It took us some time to find our "apartment" we were to stay at, as the contact man put 18 as the house number on the email, instead of 81...we were so confused! When we did finally find Giuseppe, our host, we were surprised to find that we were staying on the second floor (first floor was described by Giuseppe as "you must excuse me...I am making a construction site here." ??!!!) of a building with many flats. We stayed in a room the size of a dorm with six beds of different heights lined up one next to the other with about an inch in between each bed and about 6 inches between the ends of the bed and the wall! It was a surprise to say the least! We luckily were given ONE clean sheet for a bottom sheet and all slept snuggled in our sweats and sweatshirts using our hand towels as blankets (which we brought in case the places we stayed didn't have towels provided, such as this place. So the towels were wet!). HAHA, we stayed at this place for three nights and it definitely grew on us, although I don't know if we would recommend it to other travellers! :)
Saturday, we spent the day walking around Rome...AFTER we all accidentally slept in until noon! We saw the ruins, including the pantheon and colosseum, and went to the secret "keyhole" in a random garden in Rome, which had a view of three countries: Italy, Vatican City, and Malta (???Right???). It was so cool! We walked through numerous piazzas and of course, ate amazing italian food for every meal!
Sunday we woke up early so that we could walk to the Vatican and make it in time for daily Mass at the side chapels...hoping we would find one in English. After walking around the almost empty St Peter's, we happened upon a very young Californian priest! It was great! Us kids split up the readings (soooo cool to say that I have read in St Peter's!) and had a great personal homily about the church and some of it's secrets. After Mass, we ran over to the Vatican Museum and waited in line for two hours until it opened (and no, we weren't even close to the start of the line!) We finally saw the amazing Sistine Chapel. After that, we went back to St Peter's, climbed to the top of the dome, and went in tons of their little stores. We headed back home in the evening.
On Monday we woke up early and packed up to head off to Assisi. Assisi was my favorite town this trip. (I have been to italy once before). It's the cutest town built into the side of a hill and it just soo homey and quaint. We went in about 20 churches, they are on each block, and each one was it's own little treasure. Of course, we went into St Francis- gorgeous, and St Claire's-where her uncorrupt body lays! It was crazy!
Tuesday, we took the train to Padoua (took about 6 hours). Unfortunately, I cought some virus and was vomiting most of the day. We arrived in Padoua in the afternoon. We went to St. Anthony's, which has much more of an Eastern European influenced church style. It was very beautiful. The rest of the fam will have to fill you in about this city, as I checked in early to get over my sickness.
Wednesday was Venice day! We took a water bus on the Grand Canal all the way to San Marco's at the edge of the city. The church was incredible, and to our surprise, we recieved a free tour in english about almost every detail about the church. It was awesome to know the symbolism and history of the paintings and church. The tour guide told us we are lucky we didn't come the week before as the tide was very high and we wouldn't have been able to tour the church! After the church, Bridget and I helped ourselfs to some shopping, and actually ended up getting split up from the rest of the fam. After wantering aimlessly around the streets of Venice, and trying to soak up as much as we could about the city, we all met up at 6 to take the train to Florence.
Thursday we woke up in Florence at a youth hostel. Unfortunately for the first night, we were split up, girls in a random girls room and boys in a random boys room. (had booked to be alltogether in a 6 bed room, but showed up too late for our reservation, so they cancelled it!) We found the coolest cafe with amazing cappucinos and pasteries that morning. We climbed the Duomo and went to the market. We walked over te Pont a Vecchio and ate gelatto. We met up with Sonja in the evening, toured her pennsione, and went to the well known restaurant La Spada (Lizzie's FAV!). The food there is incredible!
Friday we met up with Sonja again and just toured around again. We went into Santa Croce, where Michelangelo and Dante are buried. Lots of history with that church, and Sonja was a great tour guide! The rest of the day, we mostly shopped, ate gelatto on the triangle bridge, and packed up for the flight home the next day!
Saturday we woke up very early to catch our flight from Flo to Paris. It was a loooong, but smooth day. We were welcomed home by Dom, with dinner already made for us by Aunt Theresa. So wonderful!
We all loved our trip and can't wait to go back! Kevin and Bridget, if I missed anything, please feel free to add more stuff.
I'm going to try to get some more shut eye before the sun comes up.
~Cait

HOME AT LAST!

Hello everyone!
This is NOT an ITALY post yet, but just a late post letting everyone know that I am back living in the NW. Miguel accompanied me on the long drive home at the beginning of this month. We stayed in Tucson for a few nights for his friend's wedding, then a night in Vegas (at NY,NY hotel. Never been before to Vegas, it was pretty awesome!), then in Portland and finally home! I am happy to be back in the NW to start a new chapter in my life, though I was very sad to leave San D. I am going to be starting my job in about two weeks working through a travelling company as a per diem nurse at Swedish on the Critical Care floors (not to be confused with ICU.) Since I am working through a travelling company, I have the option at anytime to just pack up and take a travelling assignment wherever I please. The per diem option, which I am going to be doing at least until early spring, does not require me to work any holidays and I basically call in every week and give them a list of the shifts I want to work that week. It's an AWESOME option for this time of year (winter holidays) and I will reassess if I still want to be per diem or travel somewhere in the spring. And on top of it all, I won't miss out on FUN FAMILY FUNCTIONS anymore! SO HAPPY and EXCITED to be back around!
Feel free to visit me at my new home on West Lake Samammish. Some of you already know it as Uncle Ed and Aunt Liz's! :)
Gotta get to bed, this jet lag is killin.
PS: Italy blog will come soon!
PPS: Colleen, BLOG THE WEDDING! Still so sad we missed it. :(

Honeymoon Stories

Thought there should be a blog space available for colleen and Brian to jot down a few romantic tales from the great HI. So, the question is: Did Brian sit around and watch Boston in the playoffs all week, or did Colleen set good precedent by turning off the TV, and take him instead on 'long walks in the woods.'
??

bpr

TC Prep Performing Arts

I am in the Performing Arts class this semester at Prep, and we are working on a play that we will be performing on October 30th. The play is Jekyll & Hyde, and it will be really awesome. Monica Powers, James Powers, Will Virden, Mary Davis, and Alivia Bierschbach are all in it, singing, and it sounds really good. So mark it on your calendars, because it would be really nice if you all could come see it.
Thanks! Love you guys.

Everybody, I need some collective prayer - chi - energy sent my way in the next forty eight hours. Im freaking out. This is a call to arms.

Thanks.

love,

bart

BACHELORETTE WEEKEND!!!

I just wanted to share the fun with my family. This last weekend my four best friends flew into San Diego to suprise me for a fun filled weekend. Caitlin and Brian had planned it all with them, and I had absolutely no idea. It was such a blast! Here are a few pics to show you how much fun we actually had!!!!

(P.S. Three of them are single!!!!! Hey Hey cousins........Come to the wedding!!!!)

Lappe

To All of you who know my friend Justin Lappe,

he is taking off for his second tour in Iraq on Sunday. Give him a call, send him your prayers, tell him thanks for "weaving the blanket of freedom we sleep under."

Lappe's number is 360-305-8494. jwlappe@gmail.com

Colleen, you are right in his neighborhood, and you can make out with him again because you are not married yet and neither is he! Wahoo!

love,

bart

First day of school

Hey y'all just thought I would send you all a little note to let you know that school is going well. I am passing classes like it aint no thang, but spend 48 hours a week in the classroom! Gnarly, but "if you want to be treated like a professional, act like one." I guess that means study like one too...

Omaha is a lovely little city. I live right in the downtown with views of Iowa and the missouri river. It was great to see Colin as he drove through, and all are welcome to stay with me for interviews or cross-country road trips.

More later -- Have to get to anatomy class. This is a picture from the first day of school; Joe Sullivan and I looking all professional and stuff.

Catholics vs. Protestants

In other news, DeSales Catholic takes on cross county rival and three times the size Burbank Government under the lights tonight at 7 p.m. on Ty Baffney Field, led by the one-two combo of Ty's younger brother, Kevin, throwing bombs to sophomore standout Shane (Shangsta-T) Roach, younger brother of previous Fightin' Irish standouts Colin (currently setting a world record for having been a Fightin' Irishman for 11 straight years without having repeated a grade) and Kevin and Madsie Padsie. Be watching in the years to come for upcoming Irishmen Reilly (who'll spend eight years as starting kicker for those two Irish teams) and Renee (head cheerleader material at a minimum).

Go Catholics!! Go Irish!!

Tri-Cities Prep vs. Liberty Christian

In other news, TCP is playing against their cross-town rivals tomorrow. The game will start at 7 at Edgar Brown Stadium (pasco high's stadium). Everyone who lives within 120 miles (will) is expected to attend, in order to watch a competitive football game with a catholic school (everyone knows that DeSales doesn't count). Just for the record, I expect a blowout, since we've never actually lost to Liberty before in football, and have beaten them by 30+ each of the last 4 years. Hope everyone makes it
-Christian

Thanksgiving 2007

Dear All,

Although we'd love to be with you all, we won't be home for T-giving because we'll probalby be at our new boyfriends/girlfriends house (borrowing from a famous quote from the princess). All of the Bellingham Chambers will be going to New Orleans for Thanskgiving to celebrate that holiday and to have a birthday celebration for my Uncle Bobby's 85th. ...sorry for partying.

We'll be thinking of you , eating muffellatas and crayfish for you and having a hand granade and hurricane for you all in the Big Easy.

Great time this past weekend being with nearly everyone to celebrate Patricia's birthday and to witness the demise of ND football...and that's sad.

Glad to be back on the blog and we'll post pictures of NO when we get back...Liz, figure out your password (Brian helped with your name) so that you can post from Italy next month.

Love you all,
Bill C.

Bloggability factor is low, please post lots on this strand

Craigslist

Hello All,
Just wanted to inform everyone who reads the blog about just how awesome Craigslist.com is. As I think all of you know, I am relocating to Seattle in just one month (!!!!!!). I have been researching many different moving companies, but since I don't have even enough furniture for a studio, I would be paying a ton of money for a small load. As time went on, my new almost cousin Brian Cooke suggested that I should try to sell my 5 pieces of furniture on Craigslist and then just ship my boxes up and pack my car with the rest. On Monday afternoon, I took pictures of all my items and posted them on Craigslist, playing it safe by starting a month early on trying to sell these things. I actually wasn't going to be surprised if nothing sold and I would have to hire a moving company. However, today, not even two days later, I have already sold, my Bed, my bookshelf, and my lamp. WOW!
Anyways, the point of this blog is just letting people know how great craigslist.com is. The website is user friendly and makes it so easy to post stuff to sell. So if anyone is thinking of selling a piece of furniture, I say use craigslist!
Just ask me if you have more questions! Love y'all! Can't wait to be in the NW so I can party it up with the fam!

Finally college

Roaches one and all,
I just thought that I would let you know that Jack Chambers and I have successfully begun a new chapter in our lives. Earlier this week both of us began classes here at Gonzaga University. Everyone kind of half jokingly (or seriously) seemed to be wondering what I would be doing after my year off, so it is with great excitement and academic focus that I post this. I was really nervous about going back to school last week, but when I arrived last Friday and aunt Mimi and judge Jerryyyy hit the road I realized just how ready I am, I've been gone and almost on my own for a year. It was a great feeling to walk into the bookstore, the registrar's office, the meetings and be able to do what was required without the assistance of anyone (so many parents waited hand and foot on their clueless kids). It was a particularly neat (as grandma would say) experience to write my first tuition check purely with my own money (next year that may not happen). So you may wonder why I am even posting this. Well first because everyone is always complaining about the lack of blog use. But second because I thought that you should be aware that yes, Wim did go to college, and it's even a Catholic one. And finally third: you younger cousins, I'd actually encourage you to take a well-planned and mapped out year off before college if you don't feel ready (or just don't want to go straight away). Some of my experiences were better education than school can offer (plus it doesn't hurt to start school with 20 some G's in the bank). Love you ALL, I'm off to Religion 120.
Keep me in your prayers; you're in mine,
wim

October Wedding!!!

Hey family! I finally got a gmail account in case anyone is interested. It is cerner15@gmail.com . I wanted to share a little bit about this last weekend. My parents flew to Maine to meet my in laws. Brian and I met them in Boston and then we drove for two hours to Kennebunkport Maine. Brian's family has two beach houses on Goose Rocks Beach. We stayed with his parents, grandmother, aunt and uncles, as well as a few cousins. It was great! We even had time to see Uncle Brud, Aunt Glenna, Kelly, Kevin and their families. So now we are more excited for the wedding. I can't wait to see you all in October. Here are a few pics from the weekend. Enjoy....................

I'm back!

Thanks for getting me here, Boo. I've missed this thing.

They didn't make it easy to convert to the new version when they upgraded a few months ago.

Dan

Hanford History

All,

Not necessarily a family oriented blog, but since most of you folks are from the Tri-City area, this program may be of interest.

Enjoy,

In May, a crew from Atlantic Productions was on the Hanford Site producing a segment of the History Channel’s "Lost Worlds" program. The crew visited the old Hanford town site, B Reactor, T Plant and other locations on the Hanford Site.
The Hanford segment is being aired this Wednesday evening as part of the series called "Secret A-Bomb Factories." Check the time of the program in the History Channel listings for your particular cable/satellite carrier.
The program is expected to include coverage of Hanford’s role in producing plutonium for the World War II Manhattan Project and the subsequent Cold War nuclear arms race. The following description for Wednesday’s program is posted on the History Channel web site.
The end of the World War II heralded The Cold War--a war of paranoia and potential nuclear catastrophe. In the wreckages of missile sites, secret cities and crumbling nuclear facilities, we'll search for clues to understand how this "war" was played out and the secret structures that were constructed to arm the nation against attack. From fifteen-meter concrete walls to airtight steel doors and massive nuclear production plants, this episode reveals the awesome engineering that took place across America.

The Three Best Pics I've Got (subtitle: OTIS)

Lucia's Baptism

What a great celebration! We had Iowa representation from the Schneiders, Irish representation at The Kell's, and Triple-A cuteness representation from Lucia. See for yourself!

SOME CHOICE FAMILY REUNION PHOTOS

Thought we'd try to get the party started again by posting some Sullivan Family Reunion photos.
Feel free to post yours too so we can see how much fun everyone had!!!!!!

Wow

For all the talkers in the family, this place sure is a ghost town. Why dont we talk about the new 8gig iphones or something. Or else I am deleting myself from the list out of principle. Big threat there.

Julie and Joe's Wedding

All,

Just wanted to give you a head's up, in case you haven't heard, that after long diliberation, Julie and I are changing our wedding date. It is no longer going to be September 8th, it will instead be sometime in the spring, still in Olympia. We tried to do too much, too quickly, and think this will be best for the both of us. We want to make sure everything is in line before we make the ultimate committment.

This is a good thing, and we are both happy about the decision. I will keep everyone updated as to when the new date will be.

Now we have more time to plan for this once in a lifetime event!

Love yall,

Joseph Roach