Kaylie's Our Gymnast

Bob's Christmas Message

Bob sent Christmas wishes with this photo. He refers to it as his Christmas card photo. Looks like snow but it is actually the dust of Afghanistan picked up by the flash of the camera.

He writes that there is no snow where he is but it did recently rain for 8 hours straight and flood their tents.

He also wrote that he is leaving right now and will be out in the field over Christmas. He hopes to be back in camp by New Years. He added "We have lots of activities planned and we even get to go camping. I'm sure between the shining stars at night and the camel herds it might even feel biblical".

He signed off with "On a serious note, we all know what Christmas is really about and I do wish you and your family's the best. God Bless".

We'll miss you here Bob! Stay safe.

Kimkay Thaws

I'm currently in Santa Ana, Orange County California working. It's in the 70's everyday. I'm love'n it! What the heck are we doing living in below zero temps? Makes no sense to me.

Palm trees, green grass and flowers? So far away from ice, snow and frost bite.

Bob's Back in Afghanistan

Bob wrote a couple days ago and sent this photo. He's back in Afghanistan. He's only been gone from here a week and it seems like he's been gone a month. I hope the time starts going by faster than this.

Crow Wing Historical Society

This past Sunday we went to the Crow Wing County Historical Society Museum. It's in the old old Jailhouse on Laurel street in Brainerd. I say old old because there's a jail between the museum jail and the current jail that sits vacant behind the museum jail. The old old jail (museum) was the actual jail when we moved here in 1976. I thought it looked scary.

They've done a nice job in making it into a museum. There's lots of stuff about the Railroad. The Sheriff's quarters were open and available to tour on Sunday. My grandmother Myrtle O'neil Peterson cooked for the prisoners there for awhile in the 60's.

Check it out at: http://www.crowwinghistory.org/

Kiehra's Basketball

This past Saturday Kiehra had double header basketball games. They won one and lost one.

She made one basket during the second game.

When she was on the bench she passed the time writing on the coach's clipboard....hmmm the other kids where watching the game.

Makita's Birthday

Friday was Makita's birthday. We really whooped it up. We went down to the VFW and had a nice big prime rib dinner. They sure do know how to feed you down there. Then over to Sheps for some celebrating. I believe this is one of the 5 shots Makita downed that night. Yikes.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Let me preface this by saying "Yippy" to staying out of my closet office and away from my computer for four whole days. I haven't taken a day off since Labor Day weekend and let me tell you...the walls start closing in.

Thanksgiving was great. Bob, Joy and the girls were able to join us for the big old 26 pound turkey. Makita was called to a house fire about a half hour before turkey cutting time. Mike got stuck carving the turkey again. The Thanksgiving house fire thing is becoming tradition. Kurt and Robin stopped by to see Bob and watch his slide show and videos. All in all there were 16 people in and out that day. On Saturday Shirley helped us decorate the Christmas tree.

On Saturday night we went over to the Brainerd Sertoma Winter Wonderland.