Tyler and Allison Oborn

Home Improvement - Crown Molding

2010-01-11T22:54:00.004-05:00

Since I have some extra time on my hand I wanted to do something productive. So, I tricked some friends into helping me put up some crown molding in the living room/dining room. Although I'm not in the pics helping, I can assure you I helped ... by staying out of the way. They did a great job and here are the pics from Day 1 to prove it. Thanks Jeff and Ryan.

Click the link to see larger pics.

Crown Molding - Day 1 - 1/11/10 10:38 PM

Award-winning Halloween Costumes

2009-10-31T23:14:00.002-05:00

We racked our brains, scoured the internet, asked all our friends and families, went to three different stores and we finally settled on making our own costumes (okay, we had to buy the lips and wig). Turned out to be a crowd favorite.
Click on picture to see more Halloween pics.

Halloween Party Oct 2009

Memorial Day at the Shore

2009-07-16T13:39:00.003-05:00

Once again we were able to spend the Memorial Day weekend kicking off the beach season by going to the NJ Shore. This time we decided to visit places we haven't been in a while, such as Seaside Heights boardwalk and Island Beach State Park. Inside the park we were able to enjoy pristine beaches and see the what the peninsula looks like in it's natural state. There are some points where the bay and ocean are very close. At one such spot we found a little gathering point on the bay side where there was a house boat selling hotdogs and drinks to those gathered. They even offered to bring some to us on the pier, but we had just eaten, but we liked the idea.

We rode cousin CJ's new scooter, fired up the grill and rode some bikes. It was a great weekend and look forward to many more in Point Pleasant Beach (the PPB).

Memorial Day - May 09

Mother's Day in Atlanta

2009-07-16T13:18:00.003-05:00

In May we decided to drive down to Atalanta and surprise my Mom and Dad for Mother's Day. They were there visiting my aunt and grandmother so we decided we'd make the most of it and join them. We went on a garden tour of some amazing homes where we admired the creativity of the home owners and took some notes for our future garden.

We also had very enjoyable visits with Grandmother Brown and aunt Carpie.

Visit from Cousin Andy

2009-07-16T13:08:00.003-05:00

In April my cousin Andy and his family came to DC for a visit. We were able to enjoy some great weather while we walked around old town Alexandria. We had a great visit and hope to see them again soon.

Welcome baby Katie

2009-03-31T20:18:00.005-05:00

Allison's brother, Matt, and his wife, Noelle, had their second child March 3. Thanks for not making it the 4th because that is already taken for our anniversary. 3 years and counting; I know it still amazes me that she said yes.

So, baby Katie arrived healthy and Noelle is doing fine. Little Sophia loves having a baby sister around (and little Sophia isn't so little anymore). Being surrounded with all these kids does get me thinking about having one of my own, but all in good time. I'll keep practicing with the nieces and nephews until I've got it down.

My Family - updated photos

2009-02-15T21:42:00.001-05:00

While Allison and I were in Utah in February we had the chance to get together with everyone except Cezar and Rose, who are far away in Guam. I know what you're thinking, "they have all aged so well, how do they do it?" and the short answer is, we play lots of board games.

Elaine and Lynn

Allison and Tyler

Darin, Jennifer and Gavin Ross.

Rachael and Alex (boyfriend)

The Last Days

2009-01-21T20:50:00.001-05:00

I mean the last days of my employment with the Bush administration at the Department of Agriculture, although to many it did seem like the end of the world. Since many of you never got to visit me at work, I thought I would share with you some pictures of my office and my fellow co-workers. It doesn't seem like 3 years but I guess when you enjoy what you do the time flies by.

Here I am at my desk.

Here I am with some colleagues.Tyler, Tammy, Lindsay and Beau.

Office mates: Beau, Mike and Tyler.

The brain trust: Beau, Curtis and Tyler.

I had a great time working there and for the president. I will really miss the many wonderful people I got to be with on a daily basis.

2008 Year End Recap

2009-01-09T22:57:00.004-05:00

Since we missed the last couple of months I wanted to catch you up on some things we did but never had the chance to write about.

First, the last few months were a whirlwind with a lot going on.

In September my dad and I took a golf trip to Ireland. We took a couple extra days to tour around London.

London Sep 08

We spent a week playing some great links courses in the north of Ireland and next door in Northern Ireland. Some days were perfect and some we had to endure blistering wind and rain. It was a great bonding experience and something we'll be talking about for a long time.

Ireland Golf Trip Sep 08

In November after only a few months on the job, Allison was a victim of the world-wide credit crunch when her firm downsized and gave her have an early retirement. So, she took advantage of her time off and went to Arizona to escape, I mean, spend time with her sister. Two weeks in the desert with her niece and nephews helped rejuvenate her soul.

Al's AZ trip Nov 08

Now she's back in the game and ready for the next big thing. We'll keep you posted on whatever that may be.

In addition to that great bit of news the November elections didn't go quite as well as hoped and come January I'll be looking for a new job too. Thanks "Change we can all believe in".

Next, Allison's brother Kevin took a big step in his life and received his mission call to Carlsbad California. It was fun to see him prepare and get excited about it. He left in December for the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, and will be in California by the second week of January. Things just won't be the same without you Kev, or should I say, Elder Toskovich. We'll miss you.

Kevin

Thanksgiving brought family into town and we were able to have a great time with the Toskovichs in VA. The food was great and there was plenty of it. It was nice not to have to travel during this crazy time of year.

Thanksgiving 2008

Another tradition around Halloween is going downtown DC to the Drag Races, or High Heel Race, or whatever it's called, but the idea is to watch guys in drag run a couple blocks and then strut for pictures afterward. This year I had some friends dress up, but although I will show the pics I can't release the names. Needless to say I was very impressed.

From Drag Races 10/28/08

Another tradition is to visit and orchard and pumpkin patch outside DC. This year we went our friends Eric and Kristy.

Pumpkin Patch

Allison and I love concerts and one that I really wanted to see was Coldplay. So when they came to DC in December we joined our friends Dayne and Myhoa for a night of good food and music. They put on a great show and didn't disappoint.

Coldplay Concert

Finally, my parents came into town to spend Christmas with us and Allison's parents. We met in Charlottesville and spent the night at a place we like just outside the city. We had a great dinner and enjoyed the time together. The next day we toured Jefferson's home of Monticello. Needless to say it was a little cold. The next night, Christmas eve, we went to the Washington DC temple to see the lights. It was amazing and really helped us get into the spirit of the season.

Christmas visit

Amanda's Birthday Tribute

2008-12-27T11:57:00.007-05:00

Allison has always looked up to her big sister and they have spent every birthday together the last 25 years (because it's on the same day). This year it wasn't possible to be together on the big day so we looked through some old pictures in memory of her and this helped Allison feel better. Here are some of the highlights. Happy Birthday Amanda, see you soon.

Real life Facebook - it's a good laugh

2008-11-11T11:54:00.002-05:00

Those funny Brits click here (props to Jon L. for the link)

or watch here

Weekend Update with Ty and Al

2008-10-11T09:26:00.011-05:00

So just because we haven't updated the blog for a while it is not because we don't have anything to write about. In fact, we have been busier than ever. Allison is into her second month of work and is enjoying every second of it (note the sarcasm in my voice). She's doing good work but hates the long hours and getting up early. I say, welcome to my world.

Regardless, we have still managed to jam a lot into our weekends. Here we are at the Kreeger Museum, home of the former GEICO chairman. The home houses their private art collection and is now a full time museum. It was part of Museum Week in DC so went and checked it out. We even talked Al's brother Kevin in to coming along; the culture was good for him.

CROM-E-O-Oh-O. Just last weekend we went to the 930 Club to see Cromeo in concert. Talk about two turn tables and a microphone, these guys know how to put on an entertaining show. DJ Treasure Fingers was the opening act and did a good job of warming up the crowd. Once again Kevin joined us for more culture, DC style. What up yo!

Just this week we went to the opera at the Kennedy Center. We were joined by our friend, Beau, in seeing Verdi's La Traviata. It wasn't our favorite opera but we really enjoyed some of the middle Acts. This is us front of the Kennedy Center. We are lucky enough to have tickets to two more operas this season so look for our reviews.

And just this week we found a new place in DC that looked interesting. It's called Coco Sala and it's billed as Chocolate Bar - how could you pass that up, right? So we tried it out and would probably give it a B- overall. They had small topas style dishes and then tons of chocolate platters. Here is the Allison looking at the prices on the menu.

Weekend with the Vanderbilts

2008-08-13T21:40:00.006-05:00

Oh, sorry, you didn't get the invite to weekend with the Vanderbilts at their little cottage in Newport, RI? (Hopefully you can join us next year)

Here is Al on the lawn of The Breakers.

We took in a polo match (my new thing).

Had fried clams at Evelyn's Drive-in in Tiverton.

Took a water taxi to Fort Adams across Newport harbor.

And so much more...

We had a wonderful weekend and next to perfect weather to see the town. We took a walking tour of the mansions along the cliff walk, visited two mansions (the Breakers and the Elms) and saw the town from the air. That's right, we went on a helicopter ride. Video to be posted later.

Happy birthday T.O.

2008-08-08T21:24:00.001-05:00

Since Al and I were going to be in Newport, RH, on my birthday, we decided to have cake a day earlier. That happened to be 8.8.08 which was also the opening ceremonies for the Olympics.

That meant we had to fit in the singing, cake and ice-cream, and presents during commercial breaks.

I'll admit it, the Olympics are probably the only thing on earth that is more exciting than my birthday - barely.

Who says I can't grow hair on my head?

2008-08-08T21:12:00.001-05:00

(It just happens to be on my face)

This is what happens when it gets into the dog days of summer.

Handle Bars

Mustache and flavor saver

Straight flavor saver

Mike and Nellie - Congrats on your big day!

2008-06-02T23:07:00.003-05:00

This last weekend we went to the wedding of our friends Mike and Nellie Sanders. It was a beautiful wedding held in southern Maryland near the town of Port Tobacco. It rained during dinner but was great weather later in the day. We're very happy for them.

Not just any birthday - It's Lynne's b-day

2008-05-29T21:18:00.003-05:00

Thank goodness it was Lynne's birthday - there's nothing better than the gift of a free meal. . . for us. John really went above and beyond by reserving a private booth at McCormick and Schmick's.

He even got a personalized menu with her name on it rolled up like a scroll - nice touch big guy!

We went back to the house to open presents where she got another great gift - books on designing the perfect beach house. . . another gift that keeps on giving.

Navy vs St. Johns - intense athletic competition

2008-05-29T21:17:00.006-05:00

Apparently Annapolis is known for being the home of the Naval Academy, a fine institution with a long and storied history. But little did I know that right across the street is one of the oldest colleges in Maryland, or the east coast for that matter. St. John's is a small liberal arts school that isn't exactly known for its athletic programs - except for the croquet team. And I'm not even joking. They hired a coach - in fact they both have hired coaches. They have uniforms, kind of.

One Sunday each year the two schools have a serious match one four croquet fields set up on the main lawn of St. Johns. The crowd is right of the polo catalog - and from what I gathered it's better to be over dressed than under. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

BYU Management Society Gala 2008

2008-05-29T21:02:00.009-05:00

The year we had another fun time at the BYU Management Society Gala dinner. At the John Toskovich sponsored table we had inlaws Matt and Noelle and our favorite adopted family, Mitch and Breena Grimes, and his parents Larry and Peggy.

Allison and I helped pick out the food at a tasting dinner earlier in the month so we knew we were going to like it (although some of Al's choices didn't get picked by the tasting committee and she let everyone know). The best part was the dessert that included an amazing chocolate pyramid.

About 700 people showed up to hear the guest of honor, Elder M. Russell Ballard, speak for about 45 mins on how the Church was handling recent press coverage and what we can do to help out. It was really interesting to hear an apostle speak outside of conference.

It was a fun night and a great reason to get dressed up. Plus, who doesn't love networking???

Dayne and Myhoa's Wedding

2008-03-05T20:13:00.001-05:00

Click here to see pictures of the Orlando Trip - Dayne/Myhoa Wedding

What's better than going to Florida in February? How about going to Florida in Feb for a nice wedding. This being a leap year and all, what could be better than getting married on the 29th - you just have to remember your anniversary ever 4 years! So, Allison and I went to Orlando and met up with Howard (sans Ramona who was suffering from morning sickness - way to go Howie) and other friends to see our good friends Dayne (everyone calls him Dwyane) and Myhoa get married.

Friday morning we got to see my sister Jen, her husband Darin, and their son Gavin, who were there on vacation also. It was a short but enjoyable visit.

Friday was their marriage in the Orlando Temple with dinner afterwards at the Samba Room. We hit downtown Disney afterwards to play arcade games till midnight. Howard and Patrick were like little kids in a candy store.

Saturday we drove to Vero Beach, helped set up for the reception, then got ready and took some pictures at the beach. Around sunset the ring ceremony started and Dayne and Myhoa exchanged vows (I've never seen a guy cry so fast). There was a nice dinner, some more crying, and then fireworks. It was pretty amazing.

Sunday through Wednesday we played in Orlando. The Monday was St. Petersburg, Eckerd College, and the beach. Tuesday was our anniversary, so we went to a Braves spring training game, a tour of the town of Celebration, massages at a Disney Spa, all topped off by a sushi dinner.

All in all we had a great time and can't wait to go back.

Court side at the Verizon Center

2008-02-17T16:19:00.003-05:00

What's better than sitting court side with your friends watching the Wizards play the Jazz? How about a win. Come On WIZ!!! Oh, and thanks for taking us Dayne and Mehoa.

Out with the old, in with the new...

2008-02-17T15:53:00.002-05:00

We have been talking about getting a new car for a while now but it was this last weekend, on a whim, that we stopped by the VW dealership to check out the new Jetta. When we left a couple hours later we drove home this great new car. We are very excited (someone is more nervous really) about driving the new car. We will miss the old one but probably not for long.

The Far East on the East Coast

2008-02-13T16:05:00.003-05:00

This week the Kennedy Center is hosting an exhibit featuring Japan. Along with performance from Japanese artists, they featured other types of art, such as the yellow room with objects covered in black polk-a-dots. I bet you're wondering if there was another room that was all black with yellow dots - yes there was but it kind of hurt your eyes and made you dizzy. We were there to see a modern dance performance that left us at a loss for words. It was a fun night and a good excuse to get out of the house.

Christmas in DC

2007-12-08T15:46:00.001-05:00

You know it's Christmas time in DC when the National Christmas tree is lit and the White House is decorated to the hilt. The other day was our time for the annual walk through of the WH to see the decorations.

Here is a link to the pictures we took.

Hope you enjoy them. Happy Holiday and Merry Christmas.

Click here for more pictures of White House Christmas Tour - Dec 2007

Thanksgiving in DC - 2007

2007-11-22T15:56:00.000-05:00

We ended up staying in town this Thanksgiving but our family but abandoned us (thanks, Amanda, for having a baby so close to Turkey day - we love you baby Hendrick) so we got together with some friends of ours who also found themselves alone.

The boys played some solid flag football in the morning (and were sore all weekend) while the ladies prepared an amazing feast. It was almost like being home with mom. We even squeezed in an after dinner nap, which i think is almost mandatory.

We ended the night watching some football, then a movie, and finally some more football. It was a great time.

Thanksgiving - Nov 2007

Am I Hot or Not!

2007-08-27T21:03:00.000-05:00

It's our own version of who looks best with Dad.

Vote early and often.

My, how our garden grows

2007-07-22T21:30:00.000-05:00

This spring and summer has been great for our flowers. The rose bush had more buds than I can remember and the soil was ready for a new batch of flowers.

Allison and her mom picked out the flowers and planted them all in a row. I had the privilege of weeding out all the old stuff. If I didn't know what it was I pull it out. That didn't leave much.

Here is the progression of the flower bed through May and June.
May 22
May 22
June 16

LHS Class of 2007!!

2007-06-20T11:28:00.002-05:00

Someone's heading off to college!

We're very proud of Kevin for making through his teenage years and graduating High School.

Not only does he look more smarter, but he looks good doing so.

Maybe it has something to do with the role models the surrounds himself with.
It was a fun day with the family as we celebrated with lunch at PS7s.

Good luck at ASU!

Flyin' High in Jersey

2007-06-20T11:27:00.000-05:00

Memorial Day brought beautiful sunny skies this year so we headed to the Jersey Shore to spend time at the beach.

It was the first day of the season so we did a lot of cleaning and organizing, but we also managed some time to spend on the beach and in the air.

Al's cousin, CJ, who works for a parasailing company
asked if we would like to be on their first run of the year.

It was a great time and we loved the amazing view of Point Pleasant and the surronding area.

From G'town to the Big Apple

2007-06-20T11:25:00.000-05:00

Our cousin Alex graduated from Georgetown University

and so we had the opportunity to watch her pick up her diploma.

It also called for a big party to celebrate the occasion before she headed up to the big city to start her job.

Congrats Alex. We'll miss you.

Long Live the Queen!

2007-06-20T11:24:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to attend the state arrival ceremony at the White House for the Queen of England. Who knew she was so popular here in the states.

Livin' the Life in Miami

2007-06-20T11:20:00.000-05:00

After a stressful semester Allison needed a break from school, and really so did I (but honestly, it was a great excuse to get out of the office), so we headed south to the secluded beaches of Miami.

Allison had never been to South Beach, so I thought that she had to be exposed to the many famous and infamous sites. However, Al thinks she is a conosuer of Art Deco due to her classes from school. She thought that she was teaching me something, but I guess she had forgotten that I already knew the same things from being her "study budy" (didn't we get an A on that test?). Needless to say I had a great time working on my base tan while Allison caught up on celebrity news,
we enjoyed the unique food and shopping the Art Deco distric has to offer. Although, next time I think Allison would prefer to go to a resort where tops are required.

We're now showing videos!

2007-04-27T10:52:00.000-05:00

I found a place we can upload videos and organize them in a very easy way. I'll put the link here and in the link to section on the right. Hopefully it will be a good addition.

http://www.veoh.com/series/TylerAndAllison

Spring is Final Here!

2007-04-25T23:11:00.000-05:00

I know spring is finally here once the dogwood, azalea, and peony have all bloomed.

BYU Managment Society Gala

2007-04-21T22:46:00.000-05:00

Once a year the BYU Management Society has it's big dinner and this year we were able to hear from Elder Thomas Monson of the First Presidency. Allison's family, including our cousin Alex, and friends were able to join us and we had a really nice night.

Easter 2007

2007-04-08T22:42:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter!

The Wizards vs the King

2007-04-06T22:13:00.000-05:00

So we went to see our local basketball team, the Wizards, take on Cleveland and the "King" LeBron James.

It was fun for a while and then LeBron took over and that was that. We made the playoffs but I'm not sure we'll go very far. Good times nonetheless.

I think we had more fun after the game with the free pom-poms we got at the game.

Opening Day - Play Ball!

2007-04-02T23:36:00.000-05:00

What else would I do on a Monday when it is 80 degress outside, sunny and it's opening day for the Washington Nationals? If you thought go to work then you might not know me well enough. I took the day off, Allison played hookie and we met up with Allison's brother Matt and his wife to watch the Nats play ball!

We had new seats for the season this year and were excited to check them out. I was not disappointed, this season we'll be in the shade and be able to see the players without the binoculars!

With great seats and the great weather, the only thing that disappointed was the home team as they lost 9-2. Thank goodness it's a long season, well maybe not, if they keep this up our 3 games a week for the rest of the season will be insufferable (well maybe not that bad).

Alexandria Ward Easter Party

2007-03-31T23:19:00.000-05:00

Since we are teachers in the Primary at church we got to help out with the annual Easter Party. There were games for the kids, some treats, and then the hunt for the 400 eggs that were hidden around the church grounds.

I got to help EMCEE the event (who knew I looked so good in pink?!)
and Al helped sort through the generous bounty that our class kids found.

Florida Gators at the WH

2007-03-19T22:59:00.000-05:00

Rarely do we get to see some winning teams in DC, but luckily for me 1) we had some visitors in from out of town, the 2006 NCAA Football champs, the Florida Gators and...
2) I got to leave work in the middle of the day to see them! Now as for UF's other newly crowned champs I'll be more than willing to work a full day when they come...GO HOYAS!

Al's St. Patrick's Day Party

2007-03-17T22:38:00.000-05:00

Al and her friends, Ashley, Lilian, and Lizzie, decided to get together to have a St. Patrick's Day potluck dinner where everyone would bring a green dish. Allison decided to make a green jello salad the night before using my Mum's recipe. The next day she took her jello salad with her (along with some green vegetables just in case it didn't turn out). She had a fun time, had some great food and came back with positive feedback on her jello salad. Now, either she is lying to me about her lack of abilities in the kitchen and she can cook, or I owe her friends something green (ie: money)!

The Shins in concert

2007-03-15T23:29:00.000-05:00

So Monday I'm sitting at work and I see that the Shins are playing that night at Constitution Hall in downtown DC. After a quick search of Craig's list I had two tickets in my hand and we were off to the concert. We grabbed a little dinner-to-go from Subway and ate in a great little park on E and 18th st. We then headed inside and enjoyed the warm up band, Viva Voce, after which The Shins put on a great show. "See, we are fun".

Visit from Mom

2007-03-11T23:18:00.000-05:00

We loved having Elaine in our home as she was passing through on her way back from a wild week in Philidelphia with her old soriety sisters from UGA.

Love you Mom.

1st Anniversay Celebration

2007-03-10T22:49:00.000-05:00

We made it through our first year of marriage. To celebrate we decided to visit Keswick Hall which is just outside Charlottsville, Va. I took some time off work and we drove down Thursday afternoon, grabbed some lunch in historic downtown, and then caught the last tour of Thomas Jefferson's home Monticello. We had great weather and loved seeing the home in the late afternoon.

We then went to the hotel and got ready for a romantic dinner at Fosters, the restaurant at the hotel named after one of Jefferson's chefs. We had some fabulous food and enjoyed the time together as we reminisced about our first year of marriage.

The next day we enjoyed sleeping in before heading off to the spa for a massage. It was great to finally get a pair of hands on my back for longer then a couple minutes. I forgot how much I love massages (hour long ones). All relaxed, we packed up and checked out. Just down the street we found a nice trail for a hike and decided to spend just a little more time in the warm sun before heading back to DC. All in all, we had a great time celebrating our anniversary and I can't wait to do it again next year.

Spring Break in AZ

2007-03-07T22:33:00.000-05:00

So, if you had a choice to celebrate your first anniversary with your husband or go to Arizona and spend spring break with family, what would you do. If you're my wife, Allison, the choice was easy. It's Arizona all the way. I give her a hard time about it but it just happened to work out that her Mom, brother Kevin and Bryan, all went to visit Amanda and Aaron the same weekend as our anniversary, which was March 4th. I learned early on that the key to being happy was making sure my wife was happy. Thus, I not only let her go, I encouraged it. And of course they all had a great time in the Arizona sun.

They all went for a hike in a nearby desert and enjoyed plenty of milkshakes.

I was glad she decided to come back to the unseasonable cold East Coast. We spent the rest of her Spring Break relaxing and doing a little traveling. We decided to celebrate at Keswick Hall, a little hotel resort just outside Charlottsville, VA.

Mardi Gras in Arlington

2007-03-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

You don't have to go to New Orleans to enjoy Mardi Gras, in Arlington Mardi Gras comes to you. Unfortunately it had snowed days before and it was raining the night of the parade so it was cold and wet, but it didn't stop us from catching our share of beads.

Where did January go? Bring Sexy Back

2007-02-06T23:49:00.000-05:00

So it's now February and it feels like yesterday that we were bringing in the New Year. Time flies when you're having fun, or mabye just busy. Anyway, we did do a lot around the house and I love how it's starting to look. Allison has me doing something every weekend and we're making progress. To start with we have curtains in the bedroom. A big thanks to Al's mom, Lynne, for helping make the curtains, and for her dad, John, in helping me hang them. It's been almost 6 months since we had curtains hanging in the bedroom and I haven't heard any of our neighbors say anything, but I think they miss the free entertainment every night.

After a month off of school Allison started back up mid January. It was a tough adjustment waking up with me, but she's finally accommated to the early hours. Again she's taking a full load but it doesn't seem to be quite as challenging as previous semesters. We have even had time to enjoy some more concerts. As part of her Christmas gift from our brother-in-law, Aaron Coleman, we went to see Fall Out Boy at the 930 Club. Her brother, Kevin, joined us for the night out on the town. We had a great dinner at Old Ebbitts Grille and then headed to the club. It was a packed house and we spent most of our time squished down front with the die-hard fans, but we had a blast.

And just when you think we couldn't possibly have more fun - we did. We wanted to know who brought Sexy Back, so we went to see JT (Justin Timberlake for all of you that are not up on your pop culture) in concert at the Verizon Center. Once again, Kevin joined us for a night out on the town. This time he brought a date, well almost, he brough his good friend Cy. We had a nice dinner at the swank Oya and then headed to the arena. Allison and I started off in one suite but couldn't see all that well, so we joined Kev and Cy in another suite on a lower level. JT put on a good 2hr show. I was impressed with his stamina, but then again he doesn't work 10hr days like I do.

The beginning of January it was 70 degrees and I went golfing one day. The end of January and the first week of February have been bitter cold. But that didn't stop Kevin and me from standing in the cold for two hours to watch the arrival of POTUS (Pres. of the US), W, or 43 as we call him, land on the south lawn in his helicopter, Marine One. It was fun to watch but our toes were frozen by the end. It'll be spring and 70 degrees before I do that again.

New Year Resolutions - Check one off the list

2007-01-02T22:41:00.000-05:00

We got an early start to the New Year and finished one of the goals we had for the house by putting up some long awaited curtains. While Allison's sister, Amanda, was in town, they, along with their mom, sought out and found some of the best deals in town on curtains. In a matter of one day, we had everything picked out and purchased and ready to hang. All that was left was for me to pull out the laser level and drill and figure out how to hang them. Thanks to one extra day tacked on to the holidays for Pres. Ford's funeral, I was able to check this job off the long, and ever expanding, to-do list. Here are the before and after pics. I say, Job Well Done.

2006 End-of-the-Year wrap up.

2007-01-02T22:28:00.000-05:00

We finished off 2006 in the a cold drizzle in downtown Baltimore.
We drove up around 11pm, found a spot to park in the Fell's Point neighborhood, and brought in the new year at DuClaws Brewing Company.

We watched the fireworks, which were actually really impressive, and then grabbed a quick bite to eat before driving home. As low key as it was, it was actually really enjoyable.

We started off the day by speaking in church. Allison gave a great talk on trials and finding comfort through the Atonement, while I spoke on all the opportunities we have to start fresh spirtually, just like we do with temporal goals and new years resolutions.

It was quite the year for us as we celebrated a lot of firsts as a new family. We started last year in Florida at Disney World and ended it in the cold rain at Baltimore's inner-harbor. We made a lot of changes to our house as we cleaned out the bachelor pad and turned it into a place where any woman would feel at home. We have made many new friends, including 10 little three year olds we've had the opportunity to teach each Sunday in nursery, and look forward to making the most of 2007.

PS. An All-Points-Bulletin for everyone to be on the look out for Allison's camera and i-Pod that was stolen when someone broke into her car in late October. She's having a hard time letting go and refuses to give up hope for their safe return.

Sick of all these Birthdays

2007-01-02T22:11:00.000-05:00

December is a busy month around here as many different family members celebrate their birthday. Our niece, Noelle Coleman, starts us off on the 19th, Allison's brother, Kevin, is on the 20th, her Dad is on the 25th, and Allison, her sister Amanda Coleman, and my Grandmother Brown, all share the 27th. We don't have pictures of each one, but they were all very exciting. We had a breakfast dinner for our niece,Noelle, after which her mom, Amanda, became ill with the stomach virus. The next evening we all had dinner at Cheesecake Factory for Kevin, after which Allison, her Dad, her brother Bryan, and nephew Lincoln became ill with the same stomach virus.
Thursday night me and her Mom caught the virus, followed by her cousin Alex a day later. We thought we were finished with the virus until the following Tuesday, Amanda's husband, who had only been in town a couple of days, fell ill too. At least Christmas day we were virus free. Monday we made homemade pizza's for her Dad's birthday, but unfortunately it was overshadowed by Christmas, which barely beats out the birthday. Wednesday, Allison and Amanda were treated to a morning at the spa and a facial, then some shopping, and finally a dinner at McLean Pizza. As you can tell, pizza is a family favorite. Thankfully after this dinner, no one got sick.

Allison and Friends make their Dream House, then eat them.

2007-01-02T21:47:00.000-05:00

Allison had a fun time with her friends by getting into the Christmas spirit and decorating gingerbread houses over candy and cider. Lillian hosted the crew at her house and helped lay out a great spread. Everyone contributed candy and ideas, as can be seen in the final products shown here. Ashley, Lilian and Allison had a great time catching up and intend to make a habit of monthly activities.

Christmas in Alexandria

2006-12-10T23:18:00.000-05:00

This last week has begun to feel more and more like Christmas should. The weather dipped into the 30's (that was the high on most days) and we brought the decorations out of storage. We attended our first holiday party of the year on Thursday night at the firm of Quinn Gillespsie and Associates. One of the associates happens to be a good friend and I've had the opportunity to work with many of the people there over the years. We had a great time and enjoyed catching up with people over mini hotdogs and hamburgers. The National Christmas tree was also lit that night but it was too cold for us to walk down and see it. Friday night we went to a movie and afterwards decorated our tree. It didn't take long to find the right one since it's only 2 feet tall and was in our attic. Maybe next year we'll try the real thing (doubt it). So, 15 mins later we had it unpacked, decorated, and set on one of our end tables. We left the music on a little longer just to get through the rest of the playlist we had going. All in all, we had a good time and we are now ready for Santa to visit (look for our placemark on Google Earth).

Caribbean vacation

2006-12-05T20:16:00.000-05:00

November 27-29, 2006
Somehow I got lucky, or maybe I'm just living right (patience has it's virtues), because i was able to accompany Allison's uncle Chris and his son, CJ, to St. Thomas, USVI, for three days. CJ moved down there to work for 6 months as a crew member of a parasailling business, and asked for someone to go with him as he moved down there and got things set up. It just so happened that my good friends, Dave and Lynlee Boyd, had just moved down there this last summer as Dave was stationed there by the FBI. It also just worked out that CJ would be living in the same part of the island as the Boyds. Being the good cousin-in-law that I am, I went down there to make sure they could meet - and also to help CJ get settled. Everything seemed to work out perfectly. We got to spend some time with the Boyd's (they live 1.5 miles from eachother). We got CJ settled in and supplied. Uncle Chris and I even had time to take the ferry to St. John and spend the morning before heading back to the continent (local terminology for those of us in the states). I can't wait to take Allison back.

Thanksgiving in Dixie

2006-12-05T20:01:00.000-05:00

November 21-26, 2006
This year we spent our first Thanksgiving together with some of my family in Alabama. My dad surprised my Mom and sister, Jen, by flying her in early for the holiday. Jen's husband, Darin, and her almost two year old son, Gavin, came the same day we arrived. We flew into Atlanta, rented a car, and drove into town. The weather was beautiful during the day and cooled off at night. We had some great games of pictionary, a family favorite and holiday must-play-game, that saw match-ups of couples and then men v. women. Al and I got a little lucky and won the couples game and a couple days later I happened to champion the men to victory as well. I'm sure there will be a rematch sometime soon. As for now, the men hold a two match winning streak.

Thanksgiving was amazing. We ejoyed great food and shared a lot of stories. Lil Gavin was the center of everyone's attention as he was into everything. We also got to spend Friday with Grandma Brown and Carpie, my mom's sister, in Atlanta. Everyone had a nice visit and Grandma looked really well.

Saturday saw the long awaited golf match between Tyler and his arch foe, Dad. Darin participated in the action but was never really in contention for the coveted prize, the Golden Putter, but still enjoyed the round. Dad played well, even pulling one stroke ahead on the first nine, but he couldn't stop the train from coming down the tracks and gave up that stroke, plus a few extra, as he lost the match AND the putter. I had to get it specially wrapped at the airport to bring it home. Allison just rolled her eyes.

Mid-Term Elections . . . ouch.

2006-12-05T19:41:00.000-05:00

November 3-8, 2006
The mid-term elections are never really that big of a deal because not much ever happens. Except this time. As a faithful appointee I saved up annual leave, signed with the RNC to be deployed, and left my new wife for 5 days to go support the cause. It's kind of a fun time because it can be exciting to see where you get sent. I wanted to go somewhere I had not spent much time before but I also wanted to be with people I knew and enjoyed being around. A friend of mine who helped me find a role during the 2004 convention in NYC introduced me to a great group of people. Much of this group ended up going to Wisconsin a couple months later. After that we became part of what was to be called Team Lampkin. We ended up staying in touch the last couple of years and when the chance to go to Ohio with Team Lampkin came along, I couldn't say no. We were sent to Columbus to help the state wide and local candidates turn back the Democrat tide. It turned out to be a tsunami. I can't say the GOTV/72hr program was all that great this time but, regardless, we got spanked pretty bad. Not only in Ohio, but nation-wide. I feel bad for my brethren on the Hill who are now looking for work, but it's not like there won't be another big election in two years where everything could change again. I was just glad to come home to my lovely bride.

We've been busy!

2006-10-31T19:20:00.000-05:00

These last three weeks have just flown by. Allison has been busy with school and with helping her sister, Amanda Coleman et al, move to Arizona. Allison even flew out to Mesa for four day to help unpack and organize the new house. It was hard to say goodbye but we are able to video chat with them often.

I have been assisting Al in her studying and have been busy with work too. I spent 4 days in St. Louis, MO, helping my bosses at USDA organize and run the Advancing Renewable Fuels conference. I had a great time and learned a lot. There is a picture of me at the St. Louis Arch.

While we were in town, Al and I have been to museums and parks and have really enjoyed the beautiful fall weather. Here is a picture of us in front of the Smithsonian on our way to observe ancient Egyptian artifacts for one of her classes. Here is another picture of her at the Building Museum where we observed how to make your house "Green", or more energy efficeint. It was really interesting and we left insipired.

This last weekend we were able to pick up some pumpkins with Al's family, the Toskovich's, just down the road from where they live. We carved them Sunday night and as always, it turned into a competition of who could carve the most elaborate pumpkin. Showing good form, I let her dad win.

Yellowcard Concert

2006-10-02T15:38:00.000-05:00

This week Allison and I decided to go to a concert at the 930 Club in downtown DC. We grabbed dinner, drove to a metro stop and hopped on a train to the U St station. We got there in time to secure a great spot on the second floor on a side very close to the stage and watch one of the bands opening for Yellowcard called Anberlin. The music was great and we had a good time. I even wore my earplugs without Allison being too embarrassed to be seen with me. We had such a good time and are planning on going to more concerts in the future.

Labor Day at the Beach

2006-09-14T13:19:00.000-05:00

So, we decided to spend Labor Day weekend up in NJ at the beach with the Toskovich clan. The first couple of days was spent waiting out the remnants of tropical storm Ernesto to blow through. Beside a lot of wind and rain, nothing bad happened. Friday was spent lounging around the house. We caught up on some TV shows and enjoyed relaxing. Saturday we decided to head down the coast to Atlantic City with Matt and Noelle Toskovich, to walk the boardwalk and see the sights. It was the first time to that great and historic city for everyone (except me) so it was fun to see everyone's impression of the place. We met up for dinner with Allison's Aunt Randy and Uncle Chris who were there for a show. We ended up at Pickles, which I think is part of Harrah's, right on the boardwalk. After a good meal and a quick walk through the new mall on the pier, we headed back to quiet Point Pleasant.

The day after a storm is usually really nice and Sunday was no exception. After church Al and I took our niece and nephew down for a walk on the beach. We had a great time and even got to watch the bodyboarding competition that was going on that day. Later that evening we had a big BBQ with some other extended family members and friends. The night ended after multiple games of mafia and psychiatrist around the fire pit. Monday was also a beautiful day and we managed to soak up some rays at the beach. We also found our way to the pool in the backyard where we relaxed before the long drive back to VA. Oh, did I mention the two games of monopoly that went down? Well, despite tough competition, I finished first and second. I think we'll be playing many more times in the years to come - if Kevin can handle losing to me every time.

All in all, we had a great time with the family over the holiday weekend and look forward to many more memories from the shore.

Tyler Celebrates his Birthday all week long!

2006-08-21T20:34:00.000-05:00

Tyler celebrated 33 event filled years on this earth August 9th, well August 6th - 13th really. We started the week off with a wonderful dinner with the Toskovich household, including an amazing golf ball cake made by Bryan T. Next we had a small gathering at our place on Wednesday where Allison made some great cookies and another cake. Fun was had by all. Then, Thursday night we drove up to the beach house in Point Pleasant, NJ, where we spent the whole day Friday being beach bums. Saturday we took the train into the city, New York City that is for all the non-East Coasters out there. We had lunch at the ultra swank Soho House (thanks Christopher B.) and then attended a session at the Manhattan Temple. After that we walked to Times Square where Allison surprised me with tickets to the hillarious Broadway show, Spamalot. We had a lovely dinner across from the W hotel on 39th where we stayed (only the best here folks). Sunday we had brunch at the Noho Star Cafe and then walked around parts of the city we hadn't seen before. There's always something new to see there and it never ceases to amaze me at how much is always going on there. It was a great time and my birthday week was very memorable. My lovely wife really made me feel like a superstar.

Day at Lake Anna

2006-08-06T23:07:00.000-05:00

This last week Allison finished up her last summer class and begun her three week summer break so we began the vacation with day trip to Lake Anna. A friend of ours, Jason and Aleshia Bassett, daughter of the Walkers, invited us down for the day to their house there. Allison's brother and his wife, Matt and Noelle Toskovich, went with us and we met up with some other friends the Bassetts had invited. We waterskiied, wake boarded, rode the jet ski, and jumped off the boat house roof. We had a great time, and felt it all the next day with our sore back and arms.

Jersey Shore

2006-07-19T19:56:00.000-05:00

This last weekend we went to Point Pleasant on the Jersey Shore for a little Rest and Relaxation with the whole Toskovich clan. We had beautiful weather and got lots of sun. Most of the time was spent pool side. We had a perfect sunset for the family portrait, which is where this photo was taken. It was our last weekend together before Aaron and Amanda Coleman, Allison's sister's family, moves to Arizona. We'll miss all of them and can't wait to see them again soon. As always, Tyler Oborn.

We're online

2006-07-18T14:59:00.000-05:00

Tyler Oborn and Allison Toskovich were married March 4th, 2006, and well, as newlyweds life has been very hectic. We've been busy cleaning out Tyler's old stuff and making way for the new things Allison has bought to update the place. Tyler is working at the Department of Agriculture while Allison is busy taking summer classes at Marymount University. There have been some adjustments, but that was expected, and all in all we are very happy and content with life in Alexandria, VA.