The Fleitz Family - updated

It has been several months since we have updated this site. We will attempt to keep it updated from here on out. We have been very busy with the kids, vacationing, working, and travelling. We began this summer by travelling to Charleston for vacation. Preston and Jade were dropped off with Grammy and Grampy Fleitz. We met them in Knoxville for the precious cargo exchange. We headed to Charleston for a week with Royce and Cathleen, Vanessa and Paul, and Valicia and Carlos. We had a blast. We stayed on Folly Beach and had great weather.

The following week, Becky had to travel to Orlando for an Alpha Phi convention. She flew back into Richmond where Rhett was waiting to pick her up with the kids. We were off to Nags Head for the week with Nonny and Papa Price. Weather was great and Rhett was able to get his feet wet SCUBA diving for the first time in open water. Rhett, Bill (Becky's father), and Mill (Bill's brother) went diving on the ship Huron. Preston, Jade, and Melena (Tracy's daughter) had a lot of fun with Nathan and Quentin (Mill's sons). We love vacationing in Nags Head.

We were all vacationed out after that busy 3 weeks. Rhett has been travelling with the Roanoke Fire Fighters Association where he is Secretary/Treasurer. He just got back from Toronto where he attended the International Association of Fire Fighters Convention. This past week he was in Virginia Beach for the Virginia Professional Fire Fighters Association Educational Seminar. In November, he will be travelling to Atlanta for the IAFF Affiliate Leadership Training Seminar (ALTS).

Rhett is finishing the final proof for his book he has written. The book is on the history of the Roanoke City Fire Department titled "Firefighting in Roanoke". The book is set to be published by March 2007.

Preston and Jade are still enjoying their daycare. We have really lucked out with how much they teach at such young ages. Preston is growing and his speech and vocabulary are amazing. Jade's vocab and speech is getting better now that we determined her allergies/sinusitis issues. She loves talking and is catching up quickly. Preston will be having his 4th birthday in October.

Becky began a new job with Carilion Health Systems. She works for the Technology Services Group and is enjoying her new role as an Application System Analyst. Becky still works Downtown Roanoke although she is a little bit closer to home now. The building where she works was originally a Norfolk Southern building.

Rhett and Becky have been getting into web design more and more. We have begun a small start-up business and are focusing on a Fire related news site. VAFireNews.com is a Fire/EMS/Rescue site focusing on Virginia. The site has had great reception by firefighters and EMT's in Virginia so far. We hope to continue to expand the site.

We also built Rhett's father a site for his new business: FMAInc.net.

Rhett has assisted with building several other websites for neighboring IAFF locals.

Isabella

This is Isabella and Tate. Isabella is our new dog. She is the black Chihuahua/Min-Pin mix. We rescued Isabella from a shelter in West Virginia. She is fitting right in with Tate and the kids. We thought that Tate would wear her out, but she is the one actually wearing Tate out. Preston always calls Isabella his favorite dog.

We are still here

Here is Preston at the station the other day.

Preston and Jade in the front of one of the engines.

Preston and Captain Willie Wines Jr. in Engine 14.

Becky runs 5K

Becky just finished running her first 5k in almost 10 years. Her time was 42 minutes. The course was set on Patrick Henry High School's cross country course. Did I mention that it has been pouring rain all day, and it is around 49 degrees outside. She is getting geared up for her Marathon in October. Preston and Jade stayed at home with a babysitter, and unfortunately Rhett had to work. You can bet the whole family will be at the next run.

The event today was Run with Grace 5K named after Grace Lovegrove a college student at Christopher Newport and cross country runner who graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia. Grace died unexpectedly during a training run while at Christopher Newport in January 2005.

Team in Training

Check out Becky's website to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She will be running the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco on October 22nd, 2006. You can also send donations through the mail. Let us know if you need the address. Becky's email is BeckyFleitz@adelphia.net

Team in Training:

Becky Fleitz's Team In Training Page
Racing to Save Lives

Welcome to my Team In Training home page.

I am training to participate in the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco as a member of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training. All of us on Team In Training are raising funds to help stop leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma from taking more lives. I'm completing this marathon in honor of all individuals who are battling blood cancers. These people are the real heroes on our team, and we need your support to cross the ultimate finish line - a cure!

Please make a donation to support my participation in Team In Training and help advance the Society's mission.

I hope you'll visit my web site often. Be sure to check back frequently to see my progress. Thanks for your support!

Easter in Atlanta

The Fleitz Family ventured to Atlanta this past weekend to spend Easter with Vanessa and the Gonzalez Family (Valicia and Carlos). It was a short trip, we arrived Friday evening and left Sunday around 2 to return to Roanoke. The traffic was not fun on the way down, though it was a little lighter on the way back.

We began the weekend on Saturday at at the Georgia Renaissance Festival. Vanessa took us there, and the kids really enjoyed themselves. We were amazed at how many people actually dress up in period costumes to go to the festival.

Here is Jade as Mona Lisa

Preston the Beastmaster and Jade as Xena
Rhett as Beastmaster and Becky as Xena

Here Vanessa and Jade partake in the customary Turkey Leg at the Festival
Preston enjoyed the rug slide

Valicia, Carlos, and Vanessa put on an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. They really enjoyed themselves. There was plenty of eggs to go around.

Preston and Jade get peeps before the hunt with Valicia

Jade finds some more eggs
Preston and Jade in the middle of the hunt
Here is Jade after the hunt.

Preston and Jade hiding after the hunt. I think they were trying to eat as much as possible before they got caught.

Vanessa to be on Movie and a Makeover.

Message from Paul :


Be sure to tune into TBS this Saturday the 25th at 10:00am (eastern time zone)...Vanessa will be on the show Movie and a Makeover! The film is "Something to Talk About" starring Julia Roberts so if you own a TiVo I would suggest using it. Otherwise you might have to sit through this thrilling drama. I know she had a lot of fun doing this and is happy with the results, not that she needed a makeover yet it is a nice change. I've attached a couple of before pictures but you'll have to watch for the after shots. I hope this all finds you well and I hope to hear from you soon.
Take Care- Paul

Uncle Royce visits the Fleitz Family

Royce came down from his new home in Hagerstown Maryland. He visited for the weekend and had a lot of fun playing with the kids. He took us all out for dinner at Outback Steakhouse as an unexpected treat.
We enjoyed playing in the snow. We got about 5 or 6 inches, and it was perfect for making a big snowman.
Jade got out in her new snow gear and enjoyed the snow.
Royce, Rhett, Preston, Jeff, and Jonas enjoyed the Monster Truck Jam. Jeff is a firefighter in St. Petersburg, Florida, who hopes to get a job with Roanoke City. None of us had been to a Monster Jam before, and none of us will probably be going very frequently. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun, and the kids loved it. The exhaust was not good though. I thought it was interesting how as a firefighter I put a lot of work into making sure that my fellow firefighters got diesel exhaust systems put in the stations for the exhaust, yet I paid to sit in the stands at this event and inhale all the exhaust. But I digress, the whole reason we went was for Preston to have fun, and we accomplished that.
The best thing about taking Preston to events like this, is that I have an excuse to go to events like this.

Visiting the Fleitz Family in Nashville

Back in January we made it down to Nashville to visit Grammy and Grampy Fleitz. We were able to celebrate a belated Christmas as well. We certainly do not make it down to Nashville as often as we would like, but we do our best.

Here, Preston is shown at a Model Railroad set inside one of the Mall's in the Nashville area. The model train set was extraordinary. Preston and Jade loved it, as well as Me and Grammpy.

The Fleitz Family Genealogy Projects

We are still working on Genealogy for our families. Becky is working on names such as Waldron, King, Huff, and Williams. Rhett is working on surnames Fleitz, Gaugh, Bloom, Branco (Brancacio), Shock, DeMoss, and Joya. Of course there are hundreds of other surnames that we are both working on. We have kept our trees seperate as we work. Each of us recieves emails on the genealogy we have been working on. If indeed you have anything to add, or would like to see our progress, or want to make sure we have you then by all means contact us. We will publish our emails for you all to contact us. Do not hesitate to drop us a line.

Becky - BeckyFleitz@adelphia.net
Rhett - FireFleitz@adelphia.net

Preston's Trainset

We built Preston his first train set today. Rhett and Preston built him a 4' X 8' train set. It has started off with one simple oval and one switch. We hope to include another track so that Preston can operate two trains at the same time. Preston enjoyed watching daddy lay the track out and everything. We will incorporate pictures soon.

Christmas 2005 Pictures

Here are some of the pictures from Christmas 2005
Here is Preston and Jade singing some Christmas Carols at Daycare. We got to stop by early to watch the performance.

Here Jade is opening her stocking.


"Hey Mommy, I will fix that thing that Daddy keeps putting off." Uh-oh, we might have another handyman on our hands.

Here Daddy puts together a toy for Preston.

Preston and Jade taking it easy with the new dolls. Jade got two Cabbage Patch Kids for Christmas and Preston has been helping her take care of them.




Jade got a new tricycle.

Christmas with the Fleitz Family

Well Christmas is over for the immediate Fleitz Family. I will be working on Christmas day, so we celebrated it today. Preston and Jade enjoyed opening all of the gifts. They got plenty of toys. It looks like Toys R' Us exploded in our house. Becky is taking the children to Richmond tomorrow to spend the day with her Parents and Family. I might meet up with them in Richmond on the 26th for a couple of hours before they head back to Roanoke.

I will upload the images tomorrow. We got our letters out late this year. If you are on our mailing list, you can expect our Christmas letter Tuesday or Wednesday.

If you want to get ahold of the Fleitz Family you can email us at FireFleitz@adelphia.net.

Merry Christmas and God Bless

Merry Christmas

I know! I know! Where in the heck has Rhett been, and why hasn't he posted anything? You guys want to hear about Preston and Jade and maybe even see some pictures. Well I will have to add some pictures in the next couple of days. I have been fairly busy with work and everything, so I will try to update you as to what is going on.

Our Christmas letters will be going out soon. Becky is working on a little something for the Holidays as we speak.

Preston and Jade are growing up very quickly, and we are trying to keep up with them. They have a Christmas play on Wednesday. We are looking forward to seeing it and we will post some pictures afterwards.

Preston's vocabulary is amazing. He speaks so well and is using a wide assortment of words. He enjoys talking, much like his father, and will point various things out and talk about them.

Jade has a lot of attitude, which we are sure is going to be a small problem once she begins speaking. She is mumbling now and likes pointing her finger while she raises her voice and gives funny little faces. She is probably going to be a handful.

Rhett is working on Christmas Day, and Becky will be taking the children to Richmond that day to celebrate with Nonny and Papa.

We will actually celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve Day. We are planning on acting like it is the day, and hopefully Preston and Jade don't catch on.

We hope to find everyone in good health and surrounded by Friends and Family during the Holidays.

God Bless

A day at Layman Bros. Cornfield Maze

On Saturday we headed out to Layman Bros. Cornfield Maze in Daleville, Virginia. Preston was very excited to go. The maze was fun, although maybe a little too long for carrying around 2 young children.

Here Preston had fun impersonating a scarecrow.
Preston and Jade had fun feeding the goats.
Daddy had a blast carrying around Jade. Jade just kinda enjoyed all the corn everywhere.
Isn't she photogenic.
Here is Jade with her ear of corn. Jade held on tight to the corn all day. We had to keep her from eating it though.
Where's Preston. Preston had fun trying to hide from Mommy and Daddy.
Jade picked out her pumpkin and carried it all the way to pay for it. Preston could carry his pumpkin far, as he picked out a larger one.

Oktoberfest in Roanoke

The Fleitz Family ventured into Oktoberfest last weekend. We enjoyed bratwurst, sauerkraut, a funnel cake, and German Beer. We listened to some great music, and Preston got his face painted. Preston enjoyed running around with all the other kids, dancing and jumping around. The event was held in Elmwood Park downtown Roanoke.

Here Preston is getting his war paint on. He was Spiderman. There were a lot of spidermen running around. But Preston was the best. He even scaled the First Union Tower. We got a lot of looks from the other parents, but who cares. The don't know what it is like raising Spiderman.

Here are the Women of the Fleitz household. Jade is becoming increasingly higher maintenance. This is not a good thing.

Here is Spiderman having fun with all the girls, and this other boy. Preston told me he could take him though, if he had too.


Here the women are hanging out, while Daddy chased after Spiderman all day.


Here is Spiderman and Mommy. What a picture.

Preston's Birthday today

Today Preston turns three years old. Wow how time flies. Preston has been such a joy for our family. We have enjoyed watching him grow up. Since he is our first born, we learned through him which made raising Jade soooo much easier. I would imagine that is the way it works in most families. Preston loves seeing his relatives and remembers most all of them by name now. We will be in Richmond this weekend for Rhett's 10 year High School Reunion. Although it does not seem like 10 years since he graduated. We hope to bump into a lot of friends from High School, and hopefully we will not be the only ones with children. We are taking Preston and Jade to the football game on Friday night at Midlothian HS. That is the first event for the Reunion. I think that it will be fun, and I am sure that Preston will love watching the game. See you all next week with some pictures.

Valicia and Carlos Gonzalez

I present to you Carlos and Valicia Gonzalez. Their wedding was beautiful. I think that they both had the best night of their lives. We wish them the best.

Here you can see Royce and Cathleen cutting a rug out on the dance floor. You can notice the WHITE MAN in the back, yeah I mean Paul. What a dancer. No not really, I am kidding.
This was the proudest Father of the evening. Mom and Dad Fleitz truly are the best and luckiest Parents in the World.
Here is Preston cruising around after the wedding. He had a blast.
Jade, what can be said. She is just the cutest little girl. Jade is always so happy.

Valicia and Carlos' Rehearsal and Stone Mountain

Here is Rhett and Becky at the Rehearsal Dinner. The dinner was held at Loca Luna's in Atlanta. The restaurant serves Tapas which is basically Spanish appetizers which make a meal when ordered together. We had some great food that evening. As well as several Jager Bomb's.

Here is (R-L) Madhura, Valicia, and Vanessa at the Rehearsal Dinner. Both ladies were bridesmaids in Valicia's Wedding.
Here is Paul and Vanessa. What a cute couple. Paul is a pilot...nothing much else to say. Ha gotcha.

This is Stone Mountain just outside of Atlanta. This thing is amazing. A huge rock just sitting in the middle of the area. When I say rock, I mean rock. It looks like this thing fell out of the sky. I think they filmed the Apollo moon landings on the top of this thing.
Here is Preston and Royce. Preston was checking out a Babe, and of course Royce was looking for a Jet in the sky.
This is the top of Stone Mountain. Notice Preston heading right for the puddle. He thought that was fun.
Here is (R-L) Jade, Paul, Royce, Brad Bloom, Preston, and Bill Pickard. Brad and Bill are Rhett and Royce's Cousins. If you look close you can see the Atlanta skyline in the background. You can pretty much fall right off the side of this rock if you wanted to. Did I mention that it was Guys day out. You can imagine the looks we got from everyone. Five guys who look like they couldn't take care of themselves with two children.
Here is Jade and Paul with the Atlanta skyline in the background.