The latest

I'm a little late in getting this post up. We talked to Clayton last Thursday. He is doing well and enjoying the shorter work days. I am glad he has more down time. I can only imagine how hard 12 hour days 7 days a week are in that environment with shift changes and trying to sleep with constant aircraft noise. And with no days off...Our body and mind need down time.

An update on his re-deployment home. Possible best case scenario is late April / early May. You know what I'm hoping for.

For Clayton -

I hope you get to call this week. We are having nicer weather this week. I'm enjoying it because you know it's going to get cold again before Springs arrives.

And, your Uncle Bill Duffy sends their best. I found him on facebook.

We miss you and love you!
Mom & Dad

You've Got Mail

It was 26 degrees but I made it to the post office today. Brrrr. Not much new here since we talked last Friday.

Hmmm. Can you see the box contents on the custom form? Awww guess I covered that up! :)

Here are two things I will show you that are in the box:

Seriously - it's in the box!

This was made by a friend of mine, Diane Wright, for you. It's made of a very soft wool.

Have a great week!
We love you,
Mom & Dad

Not much new

We've only had a few email exchanges with Clayton since we had a video chat with him on New Year's day. He is doing well and now working the 4 pm to midnight shift. They have enough people to work 8 hours for a while. I'm glad he's able to have a little more down time since there are no days off.

And for Clayton
We got our first real snow this past weekend. Some has blown or melted away but still enough out there to make me count the days until Spring. It's been really cold this week - like 1 degree. Supposed to get up to the low 30's which will make that feel warm.

We miss you and are waiting to hear when you're coming home.

Love,
Mom & Dad

Trip to the Palace

First day off since I returned from R&R leave around four months ago! I slept in till 10. It was so nice. My internet is a little more friendly during these hours (when I'm normally at work) so I'll upload a few pictures from the mission I went on a few days ago.

The jist of the mission was that a Platoon's worth of soldiers went from our base to the nearby governor's palace (yes, palace) for some sort of holiday/new year celebration the govenor was hosting for US forces in the area. It was a good excuse to get out off the base. Had a good time, got to eat some things that I hadn't tried before and still can't identify


My ride to and from the palace.
Our HLZ was a soccer field outside the palace
walls but not that far of a walk. Reasonably safe too.



Just in case you forget what I look like, here you go. :)



Yep, the Penquin came along as well!
Just waiting around for the time to go.



Inside view, fairly comfortable ride.



This is us flying to the area.
That's right, we fly with the doors open :D

At the palace. I brought the eagle along with me.
The pool needs water, and some new tiles. :(



Just in case you wanted to know exactly where I was.



Hanging around outside.



A walkway with shrubbery.



This is why you can't have nice things.
When you have nice things the American's invade. :)
Seriously though, nice chair.



And at last, the food. Lots and lots of it.

 


What did I tell you about having nice things?

Thats all for now. Hope you all had a happy new years.

One More...

One more from New Year's Eve.

Hello SSGT

Greetings to SSgt Spittler from Barry & Gale Wall in Hutchinson, KS

Bastogne Magazine

Clayton was featured in the December issue.



The Whole Page



The mail packet



Video Chat on New Year's Day

We had a video chat with Clayton on New Year's Day. It had been a long time since we'd seen his face and so you can imagine how happy I was. I am very grateful that we hear his voice almost weekly and also emails from time to time. But seeing his face reassures me of his well-being.

Barry and I decided not to be selfish and invited the family over to see Clayton. As always I had the camera in hand.

Clayton was able to tell us the re-deployment [home] papers had been issued but no date or time-frame is available yet. Patience. Not something I'm good at!!! We're still many months away.

We miss you son and can't wait to have you home.

This is what the chat looked like from our end.

To Grandma's House We Go

Even the dogs came to grandma's for Christmas.
[and we're positive she was overjoyed]

Top
Left: Mollie - she belongs to Jennifer & Justin
Right: Roudy - he belongs to Jennifer & Justin and lives up to his name

Bottom
Left: Manny - he belongs to Aunt Karen and sometimes Uncle Gary
Right: Keisha - she belongs to Mike

Christmas on New Year's Day

Pics from the Wall & Miller Christmas. Guess we should add the name Kendall too since that is Jennifer's married name. :)

Tashina and Kyle's baby is due in March.

Here is a pic of what Grandma got for Christmas from all of us. The TV is from us parents and the TV stand from the 5 grandkids [yes, I will be writing a check out of your account :)]

I guess you know why I'm not in any of the photos. But you know what I look like. Lol.

Wish you and Lauren had been with us.

New Year's Eve

Dad and I had planned to spend new year's eve with Trent and Diane before we knew that was the weekend the Wall's and Miller's would celebrate Christmas. So, the family joined us at our house and we had a good time playing Apples to Apples and trying to bowl and play golf on the Wii. Even grandma gave the Wii a try.  Here are a few pics. [My favorite is the one of Aunt Karen]. Wish you could of been here.