Monday, December 15, 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Well its the Holiday season again. As we stated when we started this blog, it is finally a chance for us to update our friends and family after 5 years of Marriage. Yep, its been 5 years. So let us give you the first 4 in bullet point review and then the last one in a bit more detail.


2003
December 20th- J & C are married! A beautiful winter day.

2004
April- J accepted to The Graduate School of Political Management at The George Washington University in Washington, DC.
May- J & C graduate from Dickinson State University.
June- J hired by Senator Kent Conrad in his Washington, DC office.
- J and C move to Alexandria, VA
August- C gets hired by Senator Byron Dorgan in his Capitol Hill office
2005
January -Crystal leaves Dorgan's office and goes to work as a legal secretary for the law firm of Bracewell and Guiliani.....before you ask...yes that Guiliani!
May- J and C move 15 miles from Alexandria to Arlington, VA (still by DC)
2006
May- J graduates with a Masters degree in Political Management
- J hired to run the ND Democratic NPL 2006 coordinated campaign operations in the Fargo area.
- J & C move to Fargo, ND- move 3 in 3 years of marriage! Yeah crazy.
June- C hired as a Residential Specialist at CENTRE Inc. (A job in her major YEAH!)
October- Cat #2 (later named Lola) found in Crystal's work site...adopted by Askvig's and joins cat sister McKenzie (their the only grand kids Mom and Dad Askvig or Wenko have!).
November- J hired by the North Dakota Education Association as UniServ Director in Bismarck.
- J, C, & cats move to Bismarck (Yep move 4 in 4 years!)
2007
January- C starts as Residential Specialist in Bismarck CENTRE Inc.
June- J takes on assignment as co-director of NDEA Government Relations Program
- J & C gain sister Jayla when Ethen (J's brother) gets married.
August- C starts Masters Degree in Counseling Program at the University of Mary
September- J asked to serve on DSU Alumni Board of Directors
NO MOVES!!!

2008
Well it has been quite the year. Promotions, trips, and family fun!
In January, C's offices moved from Bismarck to Mandan. C always said she didn't want to have to drive across the river for work....well now she does. Then in May, C was promoted to Case Manager at CENTRE Inc. She is really excited about moving up and now has her first own office! In June C was a judge for the Miss ND pageant. She found it very interesting to sit on the other side of the stage and helped pick the winner! C also continued graduate school and recently found out that starting in January 2009 she will be interning at the State Penitentiary. She is excited to start trying her new found profession. She will graduate in May and will be a Master!

J has spent the year traveling. He spends a lot of his time as a UniServ director working with local school teachers and other non-administrative public school employees in Northwest ND. Also, he got to travel to New Mexico, New Orleans, and Florida for training and political conferences. Between the driving and the flying he has been on the "road" a lot this year. However, that will slow down for a few months, starting in January he will be a part of the NDEA lobby team at the State Capitol in Bismarck. Also, J spent another week in Wahpeton volunteering as a counselor at ND Boys State- he finally got his blue coat for 5 years of service...a big honor at Boys State. J also got his motorcycle license this summer. He found out that he loves to ride and has even C loving to go for a cruise!

J & C found out that they enjoy a new hobby in the summers....camping! I know who would have thought that C would like it but she loves it! We spent a lot of weekends camping on Lake Oahe. C does have a camper on her wish list for Christmas this year. C also started fishing this summer. She is the only Askvig in this house to catch a fish this year. J & C also took another trip to Sturgis for the annual motorcycle rally with C's brother Shawn and his girlfriend Kim.

The fall brought partying and family fun. J, when he wasn't on the road, got a little bit of hunting in...not nearly as much as he would have liked. Also, mom and dad Askvig threw the second annual Askvig Barn Dance. Also, J played best man in his best friend Klint Sickler's wedding. Further, C's brother Shawn got engaged. I know we never thought it would happen either! Kim and Shawn will be married in April 2009. C and J are looking forward to the wedding in Las Vegas. C and J also held their fourth annual Turkey Day Extravaganza. C and J spend Thanksgiving with the Cats making dinner and then spend the weekend relaxing together and decorating for Christmas.

December has been great. J's Dad Brent turned the big 5-0! Yep, Nifty and Fifty!!! Also, we attended our second Yuletyme (a DSU fundraiser). It was a cold and snowy night but we still had fun with friends and fellow DSU supporters. We are looking forward to going to Minot and Williston for Christmas and then we will be spending the first couple of days in the New Year with friends skiing and celebrating in the Black Hills in SD.
One final story. Our cats now have a new nickname...the Catnip Kids. McKenzie and Lola decided to open Christmas presents early this year. C decided to try and buy cat toys with catnip in them for Christmas and stuffed them in the cats stockings. Not even 10 minutes later all 3 toys were on the floor with both cats batting them and rolling on them. A sight and good laugh. Unfortunately, we forgot to take pictures or video. We have since hid the toys in the garage until they get to open their stockings.
Well that is what has been happening in our lives. We wish you the best and hope that you and your family have a great 2009!
Love,
J & C

P.S. If you want to keep in touch throughout the new year follow us at jcaskvig.blogspot.com

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