UPDATE

**UPDATE: We are officially out of Edwards on December 20! (Just not sure when exactly we will be reporting to Shaw- Steve may be doing a training en route.)

Good bye Pacific...

...Hello Atlantic! It's official, Steve recently received his orders and we are moving across the country to Shaw AFB in South Carolina! Now we just have to wait on a few details to figure out when we will actually be saying "good bye" to Edwards. It could be as soon as December and as late as February, although it will most likely be sooner than later. We are excited for a change and neither of us have lived on the east coast, so it will be a new adventure! (Isn't it all an adventure with military life?) Steve enjoyed North Carolina during his recent training, so hopefully South Carolina will be nice as well. Mostly we are just looking forward to being in an actual city where we don't have to drive 40 minutes to go out to dinner or just for those every day conveniences that we take for granted. AND we are excited about GREEN. :) Please pray that all the details and loose ends will come together soon and that traveling across the U.S. will go smoothly with a new baby and crazy cat.

Colorado Dreaming

I was telling Christian all about Colorado, but he was not very happy with me when I told him that we have to wait until Christmas time before we can see the snow and our families. Fortunately Grandpa and Grandma R. are going to come visit us for Thanksgiving! In the meantime, we can dream....

HaPpY HallOweeN!

Christian is 6 weeks!

Christian and Phoenix

Phoenix checking out the new little person (Christian was about 1 week here)

We weren't sure just how Phoenix would react to a new member of the family (and no longer being the "baby") but he is doing pretty well overall. He likes to keep his distance, but is no longer afraid to be in the same room as that "noisy thing." I am excited to see what Christian will think of Phoenix when he begins to notice him. Phoenix is very gentle with children and I hope that they will be the best of friends. :)

My three boys :)

Hello Again!

This past weekend (Saturday - Tuesday) we enjoyed a spur of the moment visit from my mom and her childhood friend, Kathy. It worked out just right for the two to take a spontaneous road trip from Colorado to visit us and for Kathy to see her son who is going to a school in Ridgecrest. Other than the craziness on Saturday (Edwards had their air show, which brought in almost 300,000 people!) it was really nice to see my mom again. It had only been a couple of weeks since she was here last, but it kind of breaks up the monotony of everyday life.

Grandma E and Christian

Me, Grandma E, Christian, and Kathy shopping in Valencia, CA

My mom must miss us (or at least Christian)...she threatened to take him home with her in her pocket. :o)

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Fall, Winter, Spring at Edwards = WIND (okay, actually it's pretty windy almost all of the time, either a cold wind or a hot one. Most of the trees here can testify to that as they do not grow upright but instead at an angle.)

It has been much cooler these past few days here and extremely windy! This weekend while feeling in the autumn mood I made these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins. Delicious! Those of you who know me know that I LOVE chocolate, so of course these are no exception. :) After baking I left a few out and put the others in the freezer for later.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins from recipezaar.com

30 minutes/10 minutes prep

Makes 30ish muffins (I got 34)

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 (16 oz.) can pumpkin

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil (yes, really 1 1/4 cups- this is not low cal.)

3 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used mini)

1. In large mixing bowl beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, vanilla, and oil until smooth.

2. Mix dry ingredients together and mix into pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips.

3. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full.

4. Bake at 400 F for 16-20 minutes.

Enjoy!