Our first tree cut by ourselves 2008. Reif had a great time doing that today the kid was nice and gave reif a sapling too. Don't know where we will plant it but hey it'll be fun. I took reif to a really good pet store the other day and we had a blast looking at all the different animals! Back to work tomorrow though oh well, you know how it is. I caught some good sized waves today, some shoulder or head high ones. I can't wait for the really good surf to come in here soon. Love you all and we are praying for everyone. LOVE the SOUDERS

Hey everybody!

Good evening family, 

A long day with daddy today just hanging out, staying out of the black friday craziness. Reif wanted to do a little dance for you guys. Liv said the malls were pretty wild so thats a good sign for the economy I guess. Good to hear the Souder family is doing so good, oh I talked to Jenifer yesterday and she is really excited to come see everyone here in Jan. Airlines should be cheaper hopefully by then so we will see. Love you guys. Liv and Reif are good and they send their love too. Tony

The job search continues

Hello everyone, 

Been a while since I wrote on this blog, hope I haven't lost anyones attention. Here is Reif and I keeping behind our ears clean. He love bath time! We had a great time with the Haskamps when gma and gpa were here. Still putting in resumes and applications to places here. Thought about being a lifeguard for a seasonal job out here. Reif is getting so smart, he brings us letters from his puzzle and tells us what letter it is. Sometimes he says it perfect, other times they are hard to say. He really likes to be chased and scared. Liv is doing great, she is really busy with work getting closer to holiday season. Take care. Tony

BOOO!!!!

Happy Halloween!!! The universe is safe once again because of the heroic acts of Buzz Lightyear. As you can see he had some help from his pirate friends and he always gets his thank you kiss...... He had a great time trick or treating , got lots of candy and played in his costume. He wore the wings today with out the outfit, he likes to fly around the house. Grandma Ili having fun with Reif this week, we went kite flying today at the beach. Back to work I guess. Love you guys Tony

A trip to the Hospital

Well the little guy is officially a BOY. Reif and I were hanging out a restaurant and a skateboard fell on his little pinky finger. At the time he seemed to be ok but the next morning it was all swollen and pink. He's fine now but you never can be too sure. So 3 hours at the Naval Hospital on a Sat day morning and he is just fine. Not much else going on around here. Love ya guys Tony

Cold weather is on it's way

Here we are people the part of the year where Liv and I make fun of southern californians about wearing winter clothes. However every year Liv and I tend to fall deeper into the local trend. Today was FREEZING when I went surfing, the water was by far warmer than the air and beach. I have completed another long work-up in the Navy, work-ups are an intense 6 months of training to get ready for deployment. I'm not planning on deploying, but it's just another way for the Navy to stick it to me one more time before I get out I guess. We took Reif a pumpkin patch this weekend and there were a lot more people than we had expected to be there. It was really fun Reif rode a pony, took a hay ride and picked out some pumpkins.  What a good boy. Today we went to Sea World again, we bought season tickets so we try to go as much as we can. It's only like 3 miles away. He took pictures with Elmo, Big Bird and Zoe and rode a bunch of rides. Mom and Dad wore him out good today. Well time to put him to bed soon so gotta go. Love you guys Tony

Happy Birthday Reif!!!!!

Hello everyone!! This is Reif after a long morning at the science museum and at Balboa park's  little train station. Happy second birthday Son. I wish daddy could have went with you but I'll be home soon. Miss you guys DAD. 

Hello people! Only four more days till Reif's  second bday. We are going to have the CARS movie theme party at the park down the street! We wish there could be more family there to kick off his 3rd year on this earth, well be home here soon enough. We miss everyone  very much and if you read this leave some comments to let us know how you are or if you want to hear about anything we didn't cover. Liv is doing great, she's got a new work out schedule going since last week that she is enjoying. I'm doing fine, and new NW swell is coming for me to surf here this weekend so I will be out early every day I can. Love you guys Tony 

PS dig the tattoo Reif and I got!!

No to the Navy!

Just recently Liv and I had to make a HUGE decision about the navy. I'm supposed to get out of the navy in april 09. Well my detachment deploys in april also, and some was injured. So the a really nice chief asked me if I would deploy to Bahrain, where I would have made 30,000 dollars in per diem. That would have been a great safety net and maybe a little money for a sibling for Reif. How ever we decided that I had missed out on my family enough from last deployment and we would tough out the crappy economy here. Wish us luck finding a good job. Tony

A big week at Trestles

The Souders make their first appearance a Professional surfing event. Won't be the last though, maybe one day Reif will be the star out there on the waves!! We stayed in a cabin about a half mile down the beach while the rest of the fans had to park miles away and be herded like cattle in shuttles with all their crap, we lucked out. Dad got to surf up to three times a day some days in a southwest swell that was shoulder to head high almost all week. Mom got to lay out while Reif and I mingled with our surf heros. I just happened to paddle out into the surf after Tuesdays heats were over and bump into three of my favorite surfers in the line up. Just imagine playing golf with Tiger woods or swimming with Michael Phelps, that's what it was like for me. Back home now and doing a ton of laundry that smells like campfire, surf wax, and sun screen. Tony

Hello from Marine Air Station Cherry Point

Hi everyone, this is Tony writing from a pizzaria in North Carolina. It's been a long week and it's only Wednesday!! Training is going good as it can I guess, I miss home already but I just have to keep my head in the game. Soon enough I'll be out of the military and collecting that next paycheck somewhere. I video chatted with Liv and Reif this morning, that was nice to see their smiling faces again. Liv had to work today so it was a short hi,Reif is getting sooo big. The olympics are still going and have been my source of entertainment every night when I get home. Hope everyone is safe and healthy where ever you are. Love the Souders

Beautiful day

Took Gma Souder for a walk down to the walkway on the cliff, she loved it. Going to Balboa park or Shelter Island after lunch, haven't decided yet. Reif is back to himself now (besides getting spoiled rotten my double grandma duty) and hopefully we'll get him back in the surf again here soon. In the meantime dad is getting him a skate board to ride for when the swell is dead. Signing out for now Tony

Good weekend with Gmas

Reif and I have been having a blast with the grandmas this weekend. Too bad this all has to come to an end here for dad. I have to leave here soon for NC. Reif is feeling a lot better now so we went to the beach for the morning in La Jolla. Mom is still in NYCity. She went on a Sex in the City tour today with the girls. That is one of her favorite TV shows so she was soo excited to see all the places that the show was filmed. She went to central park and might go to Twin Towers memorial tonight. See ya guys Tony

Reif's grandma's get here today!!

   Reif rode all by himself  on the skateboard yesterday. I know his cousin Mitch will show him more tricks one day. We'll have to get him a better board.

Another nice day here in SD.

It's actually kind of hot here today. There is no AC in most of the houses around here, just have to rely on the ocean breeze. Poor little Reif is still sick with stomach flu but he won't let that slow him down. Hopefully it passes before his grandma and great grandma get tomorrow. We are all really excited to see them here in our house. This will be Grandma Souder's first time to visit us here in SD!      Tony

Music Podcast

One of Liv's favorite songs.

Dad's first blog

Here we are August 6th Reif is getting over a flu so I am at home from work. Boss isn't too happy but oh well family first right. Good time to look for jobs to help me get out of the Navy. Federal firefighter, city fire fighter, lifeguard, customs boat driver, pro-surfer(yeah right I wish) so many to choose from. Liv is going to NY city this friday and I'm going to North Caralina this monday or tuesday. Not going to see each other for like a month!!! ......CRAPPY..... My mom and grandma Souder are coming this friday after Liv flies out. That will be really FUN! Well see ya. Tony