Catching Up

With our unexpected trip I didn't get any posts up or scheduled, so I'm catching up.

Clayton we got our mail delivered today and your packet to us was in it. Great picture of you in the magazine. I'll post it on the blog later so others can see.

Also, as I was unpacking and cleaning today I moved a chair cushion and found that I forgot to send one of your Christmas presents. So, guess what you'll get it in the next care package. Nope - not going to tell you. :)

Uncle Gary & Aunt Karen, Aunt Vickie & Uncle Alan, Kyle & Tashina, Mike and Jennifer & Justin are coming to Grandma's this weekend to have Christmas.

To everyone else: You may have read in a previous post that Barry and I took 8 days to drive to Georgia to take care of some things for my Daddy. Hopefully things will improve from now forward. We talked to Clayton via phone twice while gone. One was on Christmas day and that was the present I wanted - to hear his voice. He's doing well.

Trip to Georgia

Dad and I took an unplanned 8 day trip to Georgia to check on Grandpa Stafford. He had a stroke earlier in the year and we wanted to make sure his health issues were being addressed. We got a lot taken care of while there and will continue to follow up from here.

Thought I'd share these pics with you.

They still have these grocery stores in Georgia.

Yum. Nuff said.

We got to see Linda, Tressie & Jessica and families while in Georgia. I didn't take pictures when were all together but here is a picture of Linda's 5th baby. He was born the day before Thanksgiving.


Cameron Robert Isaiah Guthrie



The above picture was taken at Granny and PawPaw's house. We stopped in for a quick visit on Christmas day. Granny cooked Christmas dinner so Dad and I ate there before heading out to Tressie's to see everyone. It was a nice visit with Granny, PawPaw and your Aunt Pam. Your Granny will be 80 on her birthday in January.

Christmas Trees

With you being gone I almost didn't put up the trees. Decided to go ahead.

Bath

Dad gave your truck a bath :)

Kitchen Changes

I forgot to send you the before and after pics of the kitchen. Looks much better. We still have to pick out tile for the backsplash and repaint.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas! We miss you and love you beyond words!

This & That

Dad tells me he is working down there in the basement. Wonder how much he actually gets done?

Its been cold here lately. Nothing says cozy like a nice fire.

And, here are pics of my birthday gifts. Thank you for the camera backpack.

What we look like

Dad and I don't want you to forget what we look like. Ha ha! We went to KC this weekend for his office party. We had breakfast at the Old 56 in Olathe. Still looks the same and the food was really good! I finally got to see a different tie on Dad this weekend at the Christmas party. He has been faithful in wearing the flag tie to church every week. I will be glad to retire it! We miss you!

Love,
Mom & Dad

12 Days of Penguins - Day 12

On the twelfth day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 11

On the eleventh day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 10

On the tenth day... we bring you:

Update on Clayton

Just a quick post to update everyone on Clayton. We talked to him last week and also this past Tuesday night and Wednesday. Those 2 calls brought me birthday wishes. It was the one thing I wanted most - to hear his voice on my birthday. My birthday also marked 7 months of his one-year deployment. I have never wanted to age so fast in my life but I can hardly wait until this year is behind us and a distant memory.

He is doing well. The weather is about what we are experiencing here in Kansas. I'm sure they are ready for cooler temps after the heat they experienced this summer. Hopefully where he is located will be somewhat protected from the extreme cold.

He is back to 12 hour days most likely until January. But we know that is always, always subject to change. He seems to bounce back and forth so often I can't keep up. Please keep him and our troops in your prayers. We are experiencing our first Christmas without him. Thanksgiving just wasn't the same and I know Christmas won't be either. There are so many families like us. I am hoping we will get a video call with him. I haven't seen his face in a while. Hearing his laughter over the phone is great but seeing his face and smile is so wonderful.

12 Days of Penguins - Day 9

On the ninth day... we bring you:

Santa and the chimney

Uh, tell me again how the big guy gets down the chimney with all this fire.

What! No Santa Claus. Waaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!

Is that how you felt? Ha ha!

12 Days of Penguins - Day 8

On the eighth day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 7

On the seventh day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 6

On the sixth day... we bring you:

We miss you!

12 Days of Penguins - Day 5

On the fifth day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 4

On the fourth day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 3

On the third day... we bring you:

Happy Holidays

It's getting that time of year again!

Over here the weather has turned agreeable to me. Which means low 40's and I find that I am enjoying the cold more so than others.

Thank you for the suprise package. I hadn't checked my email in a while so when I went to gather the mail for my section I was suprised to see one for me. Thank you!

I try very hard not to count down the days. All around me I hear others doing it, counting months, weeks or how many paychecks they have left in country. It works better for me just to let one day blend into the next.

Will I wait till Christmas to open the boxes from mom and dad? I think not!

Another earthquake last night. Just a boom with a short rumble. Lasted about 15 seconds total. Thought we were under attack again but we quickly realized what it was when our B-Hut started to shake just a little. I never knew earthquakes made a boom sound as they first start when the ground rips and grinds against itself.

So long for now!

PS - The oatmeal cream pies did not last long. Thank you for those :)

You've Got Mail

Hi Clayton,

These left today. Are you going to wait until Christmas day to open them? Talk to you soon.

12 Days of Penguins - Day 2

On the second day... we bring you:

12 Days of Penguins - Day 1

On the first day...we bring you:

We love you!