Our Family is Expanding

Yes, our family is going to grow here in 9 short months...but it is not me who is pregnant (thank goodness because I have all the blessings I can handle right now with my two precious boys). No, it is my brother, Greg, and my sister-in-law, Sarah, who are expecting their first little one in early June. I can not wait to be an auntie again and for the boys to have another cousin! Greg and Sarah are going to make such wonderful parents and little Poppyseed is so lucky to have them as his/her parents!

We have known for a while, but they announced it publicaly at a squadron party to which they wore t-shirts proclaiming the exciting news.

Greg's says "Baby Daddy" and Sarah's says "Baby makes the Belly go Round!!! Congratualtions to the Mommy and Daddy-to-be!!!!

If you would like to follow their lives and pregnancy, the link to their blog is www.thegossnerlife.blogspot.com

Apple Annie's Pumpkin Patch--A Family Tradition

We arrived back home in Arizona the day after Chris' graution, intending to spend a little over a month at home, organizing and packing in anticipation for our impending move. However, our plans were suddenly changed when our property management company called to inform us that they had found renters for our house and that they wanted to move in right away! So, we arranged for the packers to come that week and got busy getting everything ready. We also wanted to make the most of our dwindling time in Arizona saying good-bye to close friends and revisiting places that hold special places in our hearts!

One of our favorite family traditions, one that Gehrig talks about all year long, is to make the one and a half hour drive east to Apple Annie's Pumpkin Patch in Wilcox , Arizona. Each year we take a family picture in front of the pumpkin display, visit the sun flower fields, play in the corn kernals, ride the tractor-pulled hay-ride out to the patch, and select and pick our very own pumpkin.

I know that there are tons of pictures in this post, but I happen to think that these two little blue-eyed blessings are the cutest things on earth!!!

The sunflowers were gorgeous and went on as far as the eye could see!

One of the major highlights of the pumkin patch is playing in the troughs of corn kernals!

Our family in front of the vast sunflower field.

Heading out to the patch in the pumpkin wagon.

Searching for the perfect pumpkin. We couldn't get a ginormous one like last year, since we would be moving in a week, so we needed to find a small, small simple one that would look nice on the porch for a few day!

Gehrig and Chris always cut the together...it won't be long before Colin can participate, too!

Showing off his find

Heading home with our prize pumpkins!

It's been a while!

So, let's get caught up! It has been a fun and crazy three months since I have last posted! Sorry about the sudden hault in updates!

After Tyler and his family left, I kicked it into high gear planning Chris' 30th birthday. He told me under no circumstance was I to throw him a party, but I wasn't going to let the big day go by with out some major acknowledgement. I think that it was a birthday that Chris will remember for the rest of his life! To see all the pictures from the day, check out this Facebook album here.

We didn't want our time in Vegas to come to a close with out taking advantage of the fact that we were only a short drive from San Diego. We decided to spend a long weekend there in a beach vavcation rental, and it was wonderful little get-a-way. We spent some time at the beach, Sea World, the world famous San Diego Zoo, and even took a boat cruise!

We even met up with Tyler and his family during their 10 day California vacation! That same night we took a boat cruise around the sanDiego Bay with the Bunnows! The San Diego Zoo was amazing! All the hype is true! All the animals were out and active!

For Chris' birthday his sister and brother-in-law gave him a gift card to experience the zip-lines at Boot Leg Canyons! We met him at the last line to take pictures! He had a blast!

Afterwards, Chris and Rob rode the famous mountain biking trails there!

Most importantly, Chirs graduated from the BETA program after nine months of training, 3 different cities, and 5 different bases! My parents and Chris' dad came to support him at his grauation and watch him receive his brand new wings! We were ALL so proud!

The boys were extremely well-behaved during the ceremony!

Our family after the ceremony. Chris sporting his new wings!

The Predator

Our family with the Chief of Staff, General Norman Schwartz, after he spoke at Chris' graduation!

Rob and Jenn McGowan, one of the wonderful couples that we became friends with over the last 9 months.

The whole BETA gang with their wives/fiances/girlfriends at the party after the graduation!

We spent that night packing up and left the next day and headed back to Arizona! It was a TDY

that we will not soon forget!!!!!