Happy Holidays!  As another year comes to a close, we share with you moments—big and small—of life at the Guilfoiles. This year, like most, flew by so fast we barely remembered what happened—until we began the undertaking of this year's holiday message. It's a tradition which forces us to looked back, remember, and reflect on the year (in order to share it with you). 

Courtney is still with Empyrean Benefits Solutions. She is moving on up in her world. Her work has been heaping praise on her lately and she's joining a new team working for her boss’ boss. Next stop director Courtney! Russ is going to have to start saluting her (or maybe should have been all along).

Russ will wrap up his tenure this year as a Special Counsel for the Army and is preparing to deploy to the Middle East early next year. Everyone is doing their best to prepare: logistically, mentally, and emotionally. We've got a good plan in place, with Ginny (GiGi) coming to the rescue committing to help out 5 days a week. It’ll be a challenge for the family, but nothing we can’t handle.

David and Luke are great! They are great brothers to each other, a mix of best friends, mutual agitators, and partners in crime. They excel at creating chaos and contention then making you laugh and melting your heart. They both have recently been going to the skatepark together with their scooters and really enjoying it.  It's very cute, though maybe a little stressful for Courtney. We'll make broken bone X-rays our pictures for next year 😆 

David is still doing basketball, soccer, ninja class (e.g. obstacle courses) and started jiujitsu. Courtney and Russ think he might be a kid you have to keep busy to keep out of trouble :)  David has been enjoying 1st grade. We're in a good rhythm of him getting all his homework done at school before he comes home. We're very proud of him. We also love hearing the teachers tell us how much they enjoy him in their classes. Something about "he's got a lot of personality."

Luke has been doing swimming and ninja class and is now trying out basketball. He has fun doing activities with other kids. Although, Courtney and Russ suspect he’ll be more of a theater and/or musical kid. He is really looking forward to starting kindergarten at "David's school" next year. He's become a great helper too: doing dishes, feeding Sammy, and even preparing some of his own food. We're very proud of him. He's also hilarious, even when he is driving us crazy. He makes us laugh, smile, and shake our heads every day. 

We did some travel this year. Courtney and Russ even got to do an anniversary trip to Myrtle Beach. The whole family went to Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, VA, to visit Ginny in Cashiers, NC, to Greenville, SC with friends, and to Memphis to celebrate Christmas with the Foremans. We also all went to Cape Cod and Shelter Island for more somber reasons (mentioned below). Russ out traveled everyone, per usual, also going to Pennsylvania, Alabama, Georgia, all around Louisiana, back to Fort Leonard Wood, Austin, St. Augustine, Orlando, and to Madeira, Portugal with Carlie and Ginny for Ginny's 70th birthday!  Don't feel bad for Courtney, she got to go to Minneapolis!

This year we have welcomed Carlie and Nate's daughter Eve. The boys are very excited to have another cousin and we can't wait to meet her. We have also lost Russ’grandmother, Carole, and his uncle, Andy, this past year. We’ve been reminded how precious the people in our lives truly are. We are grateful for you in our lives and wish you a joyful holiday season.

Best Wishes, 

The Guilfoiles

Russell, Courtney, David (7), Luke (almost 5), and Sammy