A Mea Culpa Posting

Hello Family!

Nate and I have failed to post this year.  It's been a series of string of unfortunate events but mostly we just didn't seem to find a time when we could sit down and post something.  But we're now on vacation in Branson and Nate had to do some work so I've got time to get this post in.  Sorry to steal the Rutherford's thunder.  But we wanted to make sure we got in a least one post this year.

Photo from our NYC trip in December 2017

It's been a very busy year.  Nate's been settling in to his new role at DCI.  He's been promoted to Card Services as a Card Services Specialist.  Essentially, he serves as the go between for customers of DCI and VISA and Mastercard.  It is tedious work and often leaves him feeling exhausted at the end of the day.  Since he works with numbers most of the day, he is happy to come home and work on various home projects, play with the dogs, work on the yard or as happens in November, work on Christmas Decorating.  Believe me when I say we've out Griswolded our parents.
 

We've taken a couple of trips this year.  Our first was to Branson, MO.  This will always be a special trip as Nate asked me to marry him in a dome car on the Branson Scenic Railway.  This is a picture of us shortly after the engagement.  We're getting ready to ride the railway again today as we are on our last vacation of the year.  We're seeing the lights at Silver Dollar City and riding the Branson Scenic Railway's Polar Express Christmas Train this weekend on a romantic getaway.

  

We also went on a trip to California, Washington State and Alaska in September.  It was the longest vacation I've taken in five years and probably the longest vacation Nate has ever taken.  We visited Disneyland, spent a couple of nights in Seattle and stayed with my friend Estelle in Ketickan, Alaska.  

Nate and I Zip-Lining in Alaska

 

Eeyore Looks Cuter with Nate and I.

Nate getting his License on a Toon-Town Firetruck

Nate Kissing Minnie outside the Disneyland Hotel

Nate Running away from the Headless Horseman at Disney's California Adventure Park

We also took the Johnston Family Vacation to Cape Cod this year.  We got a wonderful house and explore the Cape.  It was a delightful time.  Nate and I went whale watching in Provincetown and had the most amazing experiences with Humpback Whales you could possibly imagine.  

So...this isn't whalewatching.  It's a picture of Aurora, Nate and I on the stairs of the house shortly before we left to come back home from the Johnston Family Vacation

While its not exactly vacation, we also enjoyed time at the Kansas State Fair, including the traditional train ride with the Grandparents and mother...you know...the usual.

Here it is folks...in all its glory!

It's been a busy year for me at Stage 9.  I've helped produce or direct all of our productions this year.  Those include Dog Sees God, Fiddler on the Roof, Stage 9: On Broadway [Underground], Avenue Q (which I had to fill in as an actor), The Laramie Project, Talking Tombstones and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  Thank you to all of you for continuing to come to the productions at Stage 9. 

Me as Princeton in Avenue Q

Me giving the Curtain Speech at Fiddler on the Roof with the President of the Symphony

And, don't forget our kids....Aspen and Hampton.  They continue to enjoy the run of 1022.  The Christmas decorations are a curiosity.  But needless to say, we're living the dream.  Here's to a great 2019.

Aspen..trying to join us in the hot tub.

Hampton...reminding us he is still a puppy.