Joshy's Christmas List for Santa:

Blue's Clue's notebook.
a pumpkin.
colors.
a Piggy-puppy. (is this a cross breed like a labra-doodle?)
and another pumpkin.

Cookies and milk will be left out accordingly.

Saturday morning with Lincoln Logs

Joshy the architect!

I see you!!!!

Tyler here, just updating on the boxes for Bartolla.

Hey everyone- as you can see, we've gotten a couple hundred boxes for Bartolla and I can't thank you enough for all the support you show for everyone over here. We even got a box from California that was just for my unit. Thanks!!
I wish I had a timeline that you can expect photos and updates of the delivery of these boxes, but we do still need to take care of the main mission over here, and that makes taking a whole day to go deliver boxes a little difficult right now.
Please be patient with me, and know that I'm doing everything I can to get these boxes over to the people of Bartolla. For me, helping these people is probably the most important mission of my deployment and I appreciate your help in accomplishing it.
Thank you again,
Tyler Adams.

Interesting to read old blog posts I've written...

I wrote this blog post last September on my myspace blog (back when I actually used myspace...)
It makes me feel like all I've done is blink and all the sudden it's over a year later.
Just thought I'd share.

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Life just keeps going... Current mood: contemplative
Well- it's true. Life, that is- it just keeps going. No matter how badly I would like to push "pause", it just goes and goes and goes...
To give a little bit of an update on us: Joshua is now 18 months and running, jumping and playing all over the place. It's a rarity to find him sitting still- and Tyler and I love every minute of it.
Our little Joshy is also talking quite a bit too- he says the normal "hi, bye, love you, thank you.." etc. etc- but he also has picked up a phrase we're trying to get him to stop saying.... and that would be, "Oh, shit!" we're not too sure where exactly he got it from- but we're trying our hardest to not giggle every time we hear it- and correct him by saying, "No Joshy- we say, 'Oh, Shoot!'" We'll see if he ever switches. In the mean time, it's a good reason for a smile, as far as I'm concerned.
Thanksgiving is approaching... and it will be one year. One year since Tyler got home from his 6 month training- one year since I finally felt whole again. Last Thanksgiving was incredible for us- our first true family holiday. Just the three of us- with an endless list of what to be thankful for.
This Thanksgiving, the tone will be altered- there will be a blanket of uncertainty- and a lump in each throat at the dinner table. As much as I want to enjoy it, it will be difficult. A very bitter/sweet holiday at best.
As most know by now, Tyler will be deploying to Iraq for 15 months shortly afterwards. Of course, due to our friend OpSec, that's all I'm allowed to say.
All of this is why a "Pause" button would be put to good use right about now. Joshua is growing up so fast- and I dread the thought of being away from my husband for so long. I just dread it. What I would give to live this last year over and over...
Of course, knowing how fast the last year and a half has gone- before I know it I will be sitting here once again, writing another blog all about Tyler's block leave half way through his deployment... then, in a blink of an eye- Joshua will be 3 years old, and Tyler will be home. Hopefully, without another deployment in sight.
And I- will finally be able to breathe, and the lump in my throat will disappear.
It will be interesting to see what this next year and a half will bring to my little family. My prayer is, that it will at least contain: a little bit of fun, a splash of love, a pinch of adventure, and a lot of health and happiness.
My prayer also, is that you will have the same fortune. I'll keep in touch- you all do the same.
Love,Kelly.

Beck's belly, Grandpa's truck, and helping Uncle Danny

Thinking of you, Grandpa Dave. *Updated*

Today my Grandfather has surgery to remove a handful of tumors that have kind of spider-webbed themselves to his abdomen and organs. They will also remove his right kidney and two lymph nodes. The biggest concern is his Liver at this point. Hopefully they won't have to remove any portion of the Liver, but right now, we just don't know. After the 7 hour (if all goes well) surgery, we will wait to hear more of his condition and what to expect for his recovery. The cancer is advanced, but if you know my family at all, you know that we aren't going to take any crap from anyone, especially Grandpa Dave. He's a tough one and I'm sure he'll be just as ornery as ever real soon.

I've always had a real close relationship with Grandma and Grandpa Robertson. Growing up, Grandpa affectionately referred to me and Becky as his "Little Shit-Asses". As a life long truck driver, and the sweetest old man I've ever known, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I often give Grandpa a hard time- we can tease each other all day long like nobody's business.. but at the end of they day I love him more than anything and appreciate and treasure our relationship more than he probably realizes.

Anyway, if I could ask- say a prayer for him?

Thanks.

Mom just called me. The doctors were very aggressive with the removal of the tumors- they also were able to take out his right kidney and the two lymph nodes that were infected. They also had to take 2 little portions of his liver. In addition to all of that, they also realized that the cancer had spread into his diaphragm. They had to take a portion of that too and wrapped the rest with a wire mesh to try to hold it all together. The surgery was just under 7 hours, so that was good news- but when the dr came out to talk to my mom, grandma, aunt and uncle, he said that with the surgery Grandpa had today, he has about 12 months to live. I wasn't able to talk to mom about it for very long- obviously she has a lot of people to call and she's dealing with her own emotions as well. She did say that the type of cancer Grandpa has is Renal cell carcinoma. Thanks for the sweet comments- and even the private emails I've received. They mean so much.

Nana at the Airport.

Today I had the chance to run up to DIA and spend some time with my mom durring her layover to Medford. It was nice to see her and watch her play with Josh. We were able to snap some really great candid shots and a video too!

Mom, it was so nice to see you today. Hopefully you'll have another long layover on your way back home. Love you.

I voted!

And now I'm going to go watch the states turn colors while I eat rice krispie treats.

So close I can taste it!!!

Tomorrow is the "Pre-Reunion Training" for all the military spouses affected by this deployment!
I am so excited to go and learn all I can about what to expect when Tyler finally comes home in February!! I'll be sure to pass any vital information on to all of you who are coming to celebrate his homecoming with us!
I can't believe it's finally here!
2 more fast Sundays!!
One more oil change in my car!!