Timothy and Family

My brother, Timothy, moved when I was gone and now he lives on the KS side of Kansas City. I got to go with him and Laura to dinner and to take Lynda's picture at Target -- they turned out super cute (but I forgot my copies in America - ugh!). :-) My niece's vocabulary has just totally blown up -- it was so great to understand her when I played with her. When I saw her at Chuck E Cheese's, she looked up at me and said "Come on, let's play" Cute! She also loves to dance -- when Chuck E Cheese started to dance, she went right up and danced with him. She also got to dance with my mom and Don when we were over visiting. She is one of the happiest kids I know! And my brother -- always trying to tell a joke -- wrote to the "Austrian family" from the "American family" on Khalid and I's Christmas present.

Melissa and Fam

Me and Missy

Zack with his new pug puppy, Ruby

Brianna and me (she hates photos)

Monopoly with Zack

(he is really good with money! impressed me!)

I got to stay with sister most of my visit and this allowed me lots of time to chat with Missy, have lunch with Bre, and play games with Zack. Sadly Ashley has already moved out of the house, so I didn't get to spend as much time with her. I also got to go and visit with pug puppies when they were trying to pick a puppy for Zack. :-) I really enjoyed spending time with my sister -- when she isn't working (she has to work alot between juggling kids, Zack's school, and actual work). We went to the zoo one morning and had Don Chilto's for lunch (my favorite Mexican resturants and Zack's favorite for french fries) Zack has been going to a speical school that he is thriving in and he is one of the funniest and most honest kids you'll very meet. One day Bre was attending a funeral for a local solider and I got to drive her back and forth and have lunch at Culvers with her. And I got to go to my niece Ashley's apartment -- it was odd to see her living out on her own, working and going to school. Bre, Zack, and I played Mario Bros. on Wii quite a bit and Zack even brought me penquin pj pants for Christmas 'so I could remember Mario' (his words) when I went back home. Zack and I played several board games as well -- but failed at Guess Who? because he kept trying to cheat...which always works on my dad, but didn't with me. :-) And one of my favorite parts of visiting that cute boy is how each night I would have to bribe him to get a hug -- another thing he learned from my dad. But I learned that a great 'deal' would be to tell him either a hug or a kiss....and being a true little boy the hug won hands down. HA!

Mother Dear

Dancing with Lynda

Mom and Don

Nana and Philip

My mom and her boyfriend, Don, flew in from NC (mom) and KY (Don) for the last week that I was in the States. It was a whirlwind time like it always is when my mom visits. :-) There is just always sooo much to do and pack into the short time there is. We got in ALOT of shopping, pedicures, Mexican food, Phil time, and a Christmas night at Chuck E Cheese's (everyone's dream Christmas, right?) We even took Zack along for one afternoon of shopping -- well for him it was a very long session of 'sneak up and scare Nana' over and over. Ha! I love my mom! My mom is a gift giver by nature (hence all the shopping) and she really loved me this year because you should see the awesome purses she got me and my sister. They are 'Miche bags' -- and you just have to change the outershell of the purse to get a different look and never have to change all of your stuff from one to another. Both of my shells are very 'chic'! Always wish there was more time though.....

Laura, Mom, and Don
Missy, Nana, Ashley (I'll spare Ash from putting her nickname)

'Mother Dear' and 'Daughter'

Merry Christmas Mom! :0)

Heidi of Mine

"Friends always show their love. What are friends for, if not to share troubles?" Proverbs 17:17

God brought Heidi into my life exactly at the time that I was going to need her first. She and her husband opened their home to me and held me(literally and figuratively) for the worst year of my life - when Nicoda died. Heidi bore more than her share of my sorrows and I will forget how she helped to survive with her kinds words, shared tears, bushels of prayers, and gentle suggestions. This year she was going through a stress that was from work, but affected her personally -- so basically the worst kind. I cannont say how glad I was to be there for her -- to let her cry on my shoulder and prayer with her. I owe her so much and know that I will never be able to repay it.

It was also odd to not stay there at her house when I was visiting. I did stay there for 4 nights, but in my head when I would be driving I would have to remind my auto-pilot to not get off on her exit each time. :-) Heidi and I fit in time for a nice lunch, quick meet-up for key exchange, a dinner and chat night, and a Christmas outing/party.

I love my Heidi!

Cutest Little Mia You've Ever Seen!

I love my fingers...they are so tasty!

Mia - "I love my auntie -- but is that the TV I hear...."

the 3 hotties! :-)

The Clifton Family

Goodnight Precious!

She's cute and she knows it!

One of my life-long friends, Tina Clifton, had a baby this summer....Mia Sophia Clifton. And let me tell you she is so cute! She had just turned 4 months and weighed close to the same Kaleah and Phil (2 mo.), so she is small and adorable! She loves to smile everything and is hypotized by the TV already. I got to be there for her first cereal feeding, give her bath, and even rock her sleep. I won't lie -- a few tears slipped out because I was so touched at how much Tina wanted to share her with me. Tina and I also got out and did some stuff as well. We had Jose Pepper's one night for a girl's night out! We went to our youth group reunion and caught up with lots of friends there. I went to church with Tina, Chris, and Mia -- and we even squeezed in Chiptole and some scrapbook shopping. I am so blessed to know Tina and LOVED getting to see her be a mom. She has such a different style of parenting than I would and it is so cool to see how it works so good for her. Mia has just fit into her life so naturally and I get choked up thinking how much I am going to miss being so far away. So blessed to have gotten to meet her and for all the photos Tina supplies me with. :-) Love you Tina V...now Tina C. (but that just doesn't roll off the tonuge as well. )

Philip Michael Barton -- a.k.a. adorable nephew!

Yea! for meeting my new nephew Phil! He is so cute and I think a great mix of his mom and dad. :-) He has a mobile over his playpen that plays a moving pictures along with animals and he can spend up to an hour just following "his people" around with his eyes. Personally I was impressed with his eye contact at his age -- probably going to be a genuis. My brother is clearly in love with him and that is fun to watch as well. Nicole (sis in law) cooked some really good food and we got to spend a lot of time chatting and looking at pictures. It was cool to see Phil turn his head around whenever his mom or dad would start talking. :-)

Mr. Phil's Crib with his surfing theme
Me and the little guy

Phil and Mommy!

Watching his 'people'

Nana and Phil
Daddy posing with Philip
Time for one of his many naps in the day. :-)
Philip with his Favorite Aunt Stac
ADORABLE!

My Wonderful Sikes!

I was soo sooo soooo blessed to be able to spend several afternoons with Jacqueline, Chloe, and Kaleah -- sometimes even Edna, Jordan, and Sharlene (via Skype). :-) Kaleah loves to be held which was just fine with me and I was BLOWN AWAY with how much Chloe talks. She would say my name and I would melt! She would also say 'nack' for snack and 'chriffin lites' and 'ya' for yes ALOT. Both of those girls own a piece of my heart! I love seeing Jac be a mom and how easy and natural it seems on her -- I was honored to be able to read with Chloe -- I was touched by how much Chloe loves her Bible and singing songs. Such an amazing, godly family! Blessed to have Jacqueline for a best friend!!!

who couldn't love this cheesy peanut buttery grin?

she was smiling back -even if you can't tell. :-)

Mommy with her well-fed little Kaleah. :-)
1-2-3-WEEEE!

Just chillin'

Kaleah : "Oooh! Keep bouncing me like that, Auntie Stac"
Stac: "No problem kid!'
 
Best Friends! :-)

The girls picture -- the little ones are TOTALLY into it. ha!

Just too adorable not to photograph!

Pictures of Visit #1 (more to come)

my niece Linda -- she loves wearing my necklaces
my newest nephew, Philip Michael! :-) He loves his ceiling fan!

my beautiful god-niece Kaleah -- she likes to eat and sleep ALOT!

the ever-so-cute Chloe! (she talks soo much you wouldn't believe she is only 18 mo...

and not that I like to brag, but she says my name so adorably.)

Zack with the chocolate I got him with his name on it. :-)

We play lots of games together and love to 'pretend' fight.

(I have seen so many more people and have so many more pictures, but this is it for today because the photos take so long to upload.)

I can't believe my trip is already half over! Although I sorta can in how much I miss Khalid...I got a Cricket phone though for these few weeks, so we do get to talk alot. And we are professionals at phone talking from our first year of marriage. Ha! But I have gotten to see everyone that I needed too (except for my parents which will happen this week) and some even more than once. :-)