Off to Germany...again!

We flew out of Denver, Colorado, headed back to Germany, not knowing exactly where we would be stationed or who Jeff would be assigned to. When we arrived at the Frankfurt airport, we located the USO and got connected with the Army liaison. We then boarded a bus to Baumholder, not knowing if that would be our final destination or not.

When we arrived in Baumholder, Germany, we did in fact have orders to remain there. So here we are at our new duty station with the 4-70th Armored Regiment. We also found out that Jeff will be deploying for 12 months sometime in the first part of 2011. It is going to be difficult, but we were sort of expecting that it was time for him to go.

Our last few days in Colorado

 We spent our last couple of days in Colorado with Great Grandma and Great Grandpa. They are always so generous and gracious to have us and we truly appreciate them! We love all of our family and what the do for and with us when we come to visit!

 We went to the park and played, we ate lots of yummy food and enjoyed great playtime and conversation!

Great Grandpa and Ian reading the paper!

Great Grandma and Grandma hosted a farewell dinner with all the family and we were able to say goodbye to everyone. It was a wonderful meal and a nice end to our trip!

 Ruth and Melissa

 All the boys! Jeff with Korban and Chase and Chas holding Ian

The whole crew

All our family was at the dinner, but unfortunately we were having so much fun and great conversation, that the camera didn't come out until after everyone had gone home! Chas, Ruth and Chase drove up special after dinner, to be with us for a short time.

Breckenridge!

 Papa and Teresa have a time-share in Breckenridge and invited us to join them for the weekend in Breckenridge! We were so excited to get a way for a little bit and relax in the Rocky Mountains!

 We managed to be there for the first snow of the season and it was so beautiful!

 Korban, Jeff and Papa had some adventures, including a trip down to the tee-pee! We also went swimming in the pool and checked out the new facility they are building. We had time for lounging and movies and games and thoroughly enjoyed our time!

 Papa also let Jeff and I take a ride on his motorcycle! It was a fun ride!

 Papa, Teresa and Rebecca

 More beautiful snow! Papa and Teresa took the boys down the mountain to stay with Grandma and Grandpa, while Jeff and I stayed in the mountains an extra night, to celebrate our 4th anniversary belated. It was such a nice treat, and we also got couples massages while we were there and ate a super yummy dinner!

Ian's First Birthday (October 9, 2010)

 We were lucky to be in Colorado to celebrate Ian's first birthday with all our friends and family! It was a duck theme and I tried my hand out at a molded cake and bright Wilton frosting!

 Ian's personal smash cake!

 Grandma surprised Ian with huge balloons, which were a hit with all the kids! We did kabobs like we did for Korban's first birthday and had some yummy fruit and veggie trays too!

 Papa, Teresa and Rebecca

 Great Grandpa, Great Grandma, Jeff, Aunt Holly and Grandma

 Ian didn't know which present to open first, but lucky for him, he had help from his big brother Korban and cousin Hayden! Thanks guys!

 Brad, Lisa, Cassidy and Christa were able to come and it was so great to see them!

 Uncle Paul, Aunt Amanda and Hayden

 This kiddo was ready for some cake!

Aunt Holly was the best, helping get Ian all cleaned up after his cake!

Welcoming a new addition!

We were so blessed to be able to be in Colorado for the birth of our friends, Chas and Ruth's new baby boy Chase! We drove down to Colorado Springs to meet him!

Pumpkins!

 Uncle Paul and Aunt Amanda found a farm up near Erie, Colorado, Anderson Farms, where you can go pick your own pumpkin, pet animals and do all sorts of harvesty things! We went with Amanda's mom, Nona, Papa, Uncle Paul, Aunt Amanda and Hayden!

This is a pumpkin launcher! They launched a pumpkin out into a huge field every couple hours. The boys were amazed!

For the smaller fellows, you could pay a couple dollars to sling-shot gourds and try to hit targets. While I don't know if any targets were hit, the big boys and the little boys had fun shooting together!

Uncle Paul helped each of the boys shuck a corn cob off the stock...

...and then showed them how to carry them around in their back pockets!

All of the boys!

Korban and Hayden crawling around in the pumpkin pile. These were not the ones we took home. I think these were for the pumpkin launcher, although I'm not sure.

Driving a tractor together! Not really driving, but sure having fun pretending!

There were all sorts of animals to see and pet and feed! There were a bunch of new babies too! There were baby goats that were only a couple days old, as well as a brand new calf!

Ian had a blast with the rabbits. I think because they were just the right size for him!

Korban wanted to hold the "biggest" pumpkin, so Uncle Paul helped him!

Feeding the goats.

Ian almost walking, on top of the kids maze!

This pretend cow could actually be milked and all 3 of the boys thought it was pretty cool!

We all took a ride out to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins for purchase, right off the vines! Aunt Amanda, Hayden, Korban and Jeff.

Decisions, decisions. Do you think I could carry them all?

Korban picked this one!

These are the 3 pumpkins we picked in the end. Korban chose the big one for the family, the unique white one for himself and Ian picked the "just my size" pumpkin! Unfortunately we ran out of time to carve them, so they decorated Grandma's porch for Halloween!

Jeff went on a hunt to find the biggest pumpkin he could, and I think he might have pulled a muscle trying to lift this one!

After we got our pumpkins, the boys pulled them in wagons until we went to the car. They thought that was almost just as much fun! We bought some funnel cakes and all enjoyed a yummy snack before we headed to dinner! It was a great day with the family!