Guess who is going...

to be a MOMMY??? Yep, I am! We have know for quite some time, but I have been dying to not scream it from the top of every mountain. We wanted to make that "safe zone" before sharing the exciting news, but when we continue to go places and see friends and not have a glass of wine or a drink, we are getting some questionable faces. I, of course, told Momma and we have been so so so good to keep this between us. Man has it been HARD! When Ryan and I went down to Garmisch, he announced our news to our friends at dinner time. Now, we are in Virginia and he shared the news his family. That is when I called home to let my sisters and Jessica know. Momma told Daddy, since I am such an emotional basket case when I talk to him. It is just easier on me that way.

I had an idea that I was pregnant and took a home test July 3 that was rather questionable. So, I waited 1 week and on July 8th, 3 years to the date that Ryan proposed, I took another home test. I don't think it even took 2 seconds and it was a for sure, very positive! I then told Ryan who was excited, scared, and worried all at the same time. He was so cute and so concerned. The first thing he did was hold me and then asked if we could wait to tell anyone. So, of course I have been overflowing with excitement, but trying to play the cool card too.

I when to the medical clinic on July 10th and had a positive test there too. So from there, I am now removed from the deployable status and enrolled in the pregnancy pt program. =)

On the 21st, I had my OB orientation. This is when the OB nurse on post gives you all kinds of helpful information for when you have to go out onto the economy for all your appointments. In the area in which we live, the Army hospital does not do the delivery's anymore. The Germans have been working with Americans for many years, so we all go out onto the economy for all appointments. I have had 2 very good friends that have delivered here and both have had wonderful experiences. I actually got to choose the doctor in which I want. We have our first doctor's appointment on August 3rd, so I will be sure to keep everyone updated. Please add us to your prayer list. I am still super nervous, but letting HIM handle EVERYTHING!

Thank you all! XOXO

How do you?

I want to put a cute little signature block on my blog after I make a post, but have no clue how to do it. Anyone want to share their secret with me? I am sooo not good at this blogging thing, but love keeping in touch and love how everyone is so real with every day to day life.

Also, I would like to have 3 columns and unsure of how to do that too. I have seen several that has things is alot of different locations on the blogs, but I can't seem, to figure it out without being scared of really messing things up.

Thank you for any help or words of wisdom!

One of many...

Sunday, June 28th, Ryan woke me up and told me to "Get up and get ready!" I was a little confused at first, but as I was getting ready we were talking. He said, "we never go anywhere," seeing how that is what I seem to say ALOT. We do go a lot of places, but seeing how we are in Europe and so close to so many places, I would love to go somewhere at least once a month. So, for this day we headed to one of the many castles we have passed many times. We are not sure what the name of it is, we just knew that every time we pass it we always think...when are we going to go see that castle? After we got in the car, keep in mind I still had no idea where we were going, we got on the autobahn headed toward Ramstein. As we got closer to the mountain we have to go up, Ryan started looking around like he was trying to figure something out. That is when I knew where we were headed. We took the next exit and drove out over the country side. Not really knowing what road to turn on to get us to the castle, we just drove and drove. It was so nice to just be together with not a care in the world. No set time on when we had to be home and a tank full of gas. We went through many little towns that had wine fests going on. We really wanted to stop, but as you know the wine around here, you just can't have 1 glass. After we finally found the castle, we were able to climb all the way to the top and look out over the country side and little towns all around. I love getting to see all of these places!


When Ryan and I go places, I always take a million pictures of him, but I am hardly in any of them. If there is ever, and there normally always is, someone else there taking pictures, I always ask if they mind taking our picture. We just trade camera's and I take a picture of them and they take pictures of us. It is just how you have to do it, if you want both of you to be in the pictures.

Headed up the stairs to one of the wings left standing.

A little more of the top of the tower!

Looking out to the rest of what is left of this castle.

A view of the whole inside, where the wine fest was held.

Looking out from the top, down to the entrance into the castle!

One of the many self timer shots. We are headed down to the courtyard

to look out of the edge to see just how far we could see.

One of the many little towns.

Rows and rows of grapes. We are in wine country!

Another view! Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Down inside the courtyard was a little playground. Being the big kids that we are, we had to play on the swings! Then there was a teeter-totter, some wooden wall that you could climb, and a dome-like jungle gym, but we just did the swings. Gotta love the self timer. I must say my hubby is becoming the best sport when it comes to taking pictures for me and with me! =)

So confused...

So I have been driving myself nuts wondering where all my posts have gone. When Ryan and I got home from our trip, I emptied the camera and started several posts at one time. So as the time passes I jump on here and blog when I can. I had no clue that that post in the order in which you save them. I started on the one from the fair, then TEXAS, then the trip to Virginia. But when I said to post, I could not see where it had posted. After trying everything, I viewed the blog and further down, there they all are. I have no patience for driving myself nuts. Thank goodness I figured it out.

Feeling Clueless,
Alicia

TEXAS is the BEST!!!

We went home to TEXAS in May and had the BEST time. May was our 1 year mark so you can only imagine how homesick I was before we got home. I had been on an emotional roller coaster for the last 3 months prior to our trip which brought me back to normal. I took so many pictures that I could share for days, so I chose my favorites for now. I am sure I will add more here and there. Although it seems like it has taken me forever to blog again.

Ryan and I being lazy!

My WONDERFUL Mother!

Like Mother Like Daughter!

The BEST Daddy EVER!

Angie, Ryan, and I...think we were having a BBQ this night!

My two best best friends EVER!

Scottie and Jessa-ki-ki

My Scottie Diane...he loves his name...=)

My WONDERFUL Mother...again!

Momma, Ryan, Angie and I taking our own pictures!

I understand that wherever the Army takes Ryan and I, that is where our home will be. But, there will never be a place like Meridian, Texas. I really do miss my hometown and will always love going home. Someday I hope to be back around that neck of the woods to raise a family and grow old. The Army is great and we have gotten to see so much of the world that I am sure I would have never gotten to see, but HOME is where my heart is and ALWAYS will be!

Big kids...

May 2nd we hit our 1 year mark for being in Mannheim, Germany. This had to have been the prettiest day yet of this year's summer. There was a festival going on downtown, so we headed out to see what all we could find. Germans are up early and close early for all the business's, but the festival's go ALL NIGHT. Americans aren't the most welcome people, so going early to the festival's and having a good time then getting out of there before the sun goes down is the best way to go. We are finding all the little festival's that are around here and not too far away to see just what all we can get ourselves into. Last year, our vehicle's had not made it here and we were having to ride the train everywhere. It is just much more convenient to be able to hop in the car and go when we are ready rather than waiting on the train.

Having a good time!

If you look real close that is Ryan on the far left...holding on for dear life. I chose to sit out on this ride.

We are both on this ride and it was a good thing it

stopped when it did. I am pretty good at rides, but when there

is not very many people on the ride, they seem to let you ride for longer.

Trip to Virginia!

Not only did Ryan and I make the trip to TEXAS, but we also went to Virginia for a short visit too. W e have both come to the conclusion that 2 weeks of leave and having to visit TEXAS and Virgina, is just not near enough time to do all we wanted to do. We will be making another trip soon, but I am hoping to stay much longer next time. While in Virginia, my sister-in-law, Caitlin, graduated from the University of Virginia. We were so excited to get to watch her walk the lawn and then again at her separate graduation for all graduate's with a History major.



Caitlin, we are so proud of you! Congratulations Graduate! Now hurry and get back to Germany.

Grandad, Ryan, Josh, Caitlin, Cullen, and I

Cullen is also playing baseball, so we were able to make practice and even to a game. He has gotten so good and loves that his dad was able to be there.

Strikin' a pose for me!

Cullen loves to play Laser Tag with his Uncle Josh, but having his dad home and take him, just made this little man's trip PERFECT! If he could of had it his way, we would have gone everyday. Right up the road from my mother-in-law's is this indoor laser tag, Swadder's, that was just pretty neat. I have not ever played, much less be inside of the actual course. So, when the time came and it was our turn, you guessed it right, I was the camera girl! It was so much fun just watching them play against another dad and his son, plus they KILLED them, which made it just that much more fun for Cullen.

Getting their gear on!

Inside the course!

Just like when we go to TEXAS, we get with all of our friends there. We must do the same in Virginia. I have lots of pictures with friends, but I have not uploaded them just yet. It was so good seeing everyone and it really makes me want to move back to the states soon. Thank goodness for our vonage phone, so we can call anytime for FREE!

Enjoying the BBQ!