2009 Recap!!

So you may have noticed that the Holidays have came and went and with out a Christmas card from the Riggs house. The last few month have been beyond crazy for us, and truth be told I just ran out of time. We finally got the outside lights down today and earlier this week I got the inside decor down and put into totes until next year. However, since I didn't get a letter out, I will "briefly" update ya here!!

January-
The year started out in high gear for us. As soon as the holidays were wrapped up, we headed to Colorado Springs where my brother, Patrick, was married to Megan. We were able to spend the weekend with them and had a great time. I am so glad that he has found someone who makes him so happy, and I am thrilled to have a sister. They are great and live in Philipsburg.

Photos before the ceremony...Me, Megan, Patrick, & Tim

As soon as the weekend was over we were back on the plane back to KS, where as soon as we got home I was doing laundry and packing for my first TDY (work trip.) After almost 2 years to the date of training I was finally getting to do my first "real world" flying with the AF. We would be heading to Germany for about 12 days. It was a great trip, I learned a lot about flying international (since this was the first time), we flew some good missions, and also got to see a lot of Germany and the surrounding countries. We were fortunate to have the weekend off, so we headed for Austria to ski the Alps for the weekend!!!! I am not a good skier by any means, but there was no way I was passing up this opportunity!

The view from the balcony of my room at the bed and breakfast we stayed at! AMAZING!!

After I got home from we Germany we headed back to Phillpsburg, where my parents hosted a great reception for Patrick and Megan. It was nice to celebrate with those that weren't able to make the trip to Colorado.

February-

Things slowed down for us a bit then. I spent a few days each week working in Topeka. (This is our normal, I am usually there 2-4 days a week) Tim decided to pick up a part time job working with EMS. He really enjoys working on the ambulance and he is able to keep his skills up this way. Plus, it gives him something else to do when I am gone on trips.

March-

Also a fairly calm month for us. We were happy to host family a couple of times. The Tremblays came to visit us on their way to Branson. We hadn't seen them in some times so it was great to have them here! Then at the end of the month my Mom, Dad, and Grandma Chester came to see us! The weather wasn't exactly perfect while they were here, as it snowed, but we still loved having them here. Tim also reached the 4 year mark at the Fire Station. He still loves it as much as he did day 1!! I am so thankful that we both have found careers that we love.

April-

Things picked up a bit again in April. Tim's birthday is on the 11th and I left for another TDY on the 12th (also Easter Sunday) We went to Topeka on the 11th where we celebrated his birthday and that way I was there for an early takeoff the next morning. My trip this time took me to Barbados! I was THRILLED to get this trip. We spent 2 weeks there as Presidential Support while President Obama was at the Summit of the Nations. We did have enough time to check out the beach/island as well! I think Tim and I will have to take a trip down there sometime, I LOVED it.

A day on the town, it happened to be the Annual Fish Festival!

May-

May began the wedding season for us as well as Alex's (Tim's little brother) High School Graduation. The first weekend we went home to celebrate the wedding of Kara Boyd & Cody Hilburn. We had a great time, and Tim got to catch up with a lot of friends from high school. The next few weeks I worked in Topeka and Tim at the Fire Station. May 17th was graduation day so we were back home in Phillpsburg. Many family members were able to make in to celebrate with Alex on his big day! With all of my training the past few years we had missed the annual Thanksgiving get together, so it was awesome to get to see lots of Aunt, Uncles, and cousins that we hadn't seen in some time.

Dennis, Alex, & Tim on Graduation Day!!

Tim & I at The Hilburn Wedding

June-

It seems as summer arrives things always get crazy. For me at work, June was full of large scale inspection. That being said I spent a lot of the beginning of the month in Topeka. On June 13th it was back home for another wedding. This time it was to celebrate with Ashleah Smith and Isaac Riffel. Tim was (and still is) great friends with both of them and was honored to be a groomsman in the wedding. Next came my birthday on the 17th and our 4 year anniversary on the 18th! I can't believe as I write this we are quickly approaching the 5 year mark!!! The following week I was headed to Albuquerque, New Mexico for 2 weeks to be part of an AF exercise. It was a great opportunity and I learned SO MUCH!

Tim & I at the Riffel Wedding

Betsy & I out for the evening in NM

July-

This month our wedding adventures took us to St. Paul, Minnesota. One of my very best friends, Kristi Ahlberg was getting married to her prince charming, Dan Sieben! Kristi and I were in the same class at pilot training and became wonderful friends. I am so thankful that they found each other and that we were able to be a part of their day. The added bonus was that many of our other friends from pilot training were also able to make it, so we all got to celebrate together. Tim and I decided to spend a few extra days in the city to take it all in, including our first segway tour! Dorks, yes, but it was tons of fun. After being home for a while and going with life as normal, I had a weekend work trip to California. I had never been so was excited to mark another state off my list. We got to spend the day in San Diego and enjoy the sunny weather before heading back home! And of course with it being July, that only means one thing KS BIGGEST RODEO!! We headed home on the 29th so we could be there for part of the county fair and take in the biggest event of the year.

We had to make it in time for the Bachelorette Party!!

Tim & I on the Riverboat for the wedding reception, it was awesome!

August-

Starting the month off back home is always a plus! We did have to head home on the 2nd though and get back to reality! Rodeo is always a great time and we love getting to see all our old friends, our family, and our Chanute friends that go with us are beginning to love it just as much as us. The next weekend we were headed back west to Hays this time for Kelsey Wood and Jordan Kings wedding. It was another reunion of many of our friends and of course we had a great time. The last weekend of the month my Parents as well as Patrick and Megan came to stay with us. I deployed in Sept and this was our last free weekend to see them before I left. We had a blast, between Patrick helping us with our "roping" skills and Tim "perfecting" Patricks golf swing!!

Hanging out with Patrick after rodeo!

September-

The beginning of the month was pretty quiet for me, and I was able to be in Chanute most of the time. Tim kept busy at the fire station, but we both couldn't wait for the 14th to arrive! It was VACATION time. We hadn't been on an actual vacation for about 2 years. Though we had done our fair of traveling, this was the first trip that was for no other reason than fun, and with NO schedule. We were of to California to experience wine country. We went with some of our best friends from here in Chanute. We spent a week there taking in Napa, Sonoma, and spent a day in San Fransisco. The weather was beautiful, the company, fantastic, and the wine plentiful!! After we got home and got unpacked, Tim and I took a week to hang out and then I would be deploying for about 45 days. I left on the 26th and would get back home in November. It was a really good experience and I got a TON of flight time. Tim stayed very busy while I was gone. He worked many extra hours at the fire dept as well as EMS. We were quite fortunate that we got to chat almost everyday. Being there for such a "short" time really puts into perspective what those that are there for 6-18 months must be going through. I am so blessed that I have Tim to keep things going at home while I am away. I could NEVER do it without him.

Tim, Me, Marcia & Ken Lickteig at our first wine tasting room in Napa

October-

Pretty much it spelled W-O-R-K ----W-O-R-K---W-O-R-K!!! Except for the Guys weekend to a Broncos game. Tim, Matt, one of his friends from Chanute, and his best friend Curt went out and stayed the weekend. Tim and Curt have been going to games together since they were young, and since we have moved here Matt has joined as well. For as long as Tim and Curt have been going to games, they have walked by the hotel that is RIGHT next to the stadium saying, 'sometime we are going to tailgate all weekend and just stay there!" Well, they finally got their way. They had a great time and I though it was a guys weekend, I won't lie I wish I would have gone. Someday!!

November-

The 4th of November I got to put my feet back on KS soil, and Tim and I both were SO excited. We had been apart for long periods of time before, and though you know what to expect, it is still never fun. Tim took off the week after I got home so that we could hang out, and I was off for pretty much the rest of the month. It was great to be home and just be able to chill. We were able to be in Goodland, KS this year for Thanksgiving. This is a tradition that we have missed the last few years, and to be back out there and see all of the family was fantastic. After being in Goodland for a few days we headed back to Phillipsburg to spend a few days with my side of the family.

Flying over Afghanistan

December-

Well, if you are still reading this really really long post, Good Job you have made it to December and we are almost done!! December for us brought another deployment, to Turkey this time. I would be there through the New Year. I again got some good flying time in, and Tim worked many hours while I was gone. It was of course no fun not to be home for the holidays, but we had a wonderful belated Christmas when I got back. He gave himself an early Christmas gift, and bought a "new to him" truck while I was gone. He now drives a maroon Dodge Mega-cab, and loves it. I feel like I am driving a semi when I actually get to drive it!

Well, there ya have it. Our 2009 in review. It was a great year filled with many blessings. Though we sometimes feel that we meeting coming and going we wouldn't change it for the world!!