Trent's Change of Command - Jan. 13, 2011

Our Family - Jan. 13, 2011

Ratzlaff Side of Family

TJ's parents

David & Michelle

Michelle & John

The Changeover

Pastor Jeff with Us

Lennard/Fivian/Villars/Briscoe Clan

Ready to board the bus

Villars & Lennard's are ready to go

Inside the Black Knight Bus

Army, Navy & Air Force

Girls getting flowers

Dawn & I

Boys getting cool hunting hats

Berrens & Us

At attention

Black Knight Jet

TJ's change of command from VFA-154 was on Thursday, 1/13/11. We had many family members present to help us celebrate this monumental achievement. My parents and my brother & his wife were able to make it. On TJ's side -- Aunt & Uncle, Cousins, best family friends and some close Coronado friends as well.

I've attached some of the kids getting ready to ride to the ceremony on the Black Knight Bus -- they had a lot of fun getting to ride in "high style". The CO (Commanding Officer) tour is 15 months long. Prior to that you serve as an XO for 15 months (or second in command). Pastor Jeff led the ceremony in prayer and we're so thankful he was able to do that as it meant the world to us being with this church for 10 years on and off whenever stationed in Lemoore. No one knows our family better, so it was only fitting.

We included some awesome shots of his squadron's "100" plane that they designed an awesome paint job for. TJ took his last flight in this jet.

The pictures are not in any certain order (to difficult with this blogger software).

Tamara

Winter Pictures & Rapunzel

Rapunzel

Our view going up the mountain before hitting the snow line.

Highway Drive on 41 up to Yosemite






More winter wonderland shots

View from our hotel the next morning

Here is Cassidy's Rapunzel photo. Also, some shots of the drive up to Yosemite that TJ & I never made it to due to road closures and being stuck on the highway for 4 hours waiting for accidents to clear up. So much for our one night getaway without kids!!! At least the scenery was pretty alongside the road we sat in :) I had fun trying out my new camera on the winter shots. After waiting for 4 hours, we literally drove 13 miles down the road and you see what the weather looked like below the snowline (1st picture). Absolutely beautiful. You never would've guessed what we were getting into -- what a difference a few miles makes!

Tamara

Change of Command Week - Family Fun Pictures

Scenic Coast

Villar's & Lennard kids

Cousins to TJ (John & Michelle)


Group shot





The girls with one of the twins (Joshua or Caleb -- I can't tell!!)

Carson & Andrew

Elephant Seals everywhere!

Carson enjoying the sights

Along the beach - Carson & Andrew

Cheyanne & Cassidy - Sweet smiles

The girls acting goofy

Hearst Castle pool view

Another pool view

We had tons of fun for TJ's Change Of Command. Many members of our extended family made it out to see the ceremony and then we trotted off to various places to enjoy the downtime.

Here are some pictures of the kids with the Villar's kids (Michelle & David's children). We also visited Hearst Castle and enjoyed the scenic drive over there as well as the castle itself. We found elephant seals giving birth a few miles up the road from the castle and could not believe the number of seals in this one area.

Also, one picture of Cassidy as Rapunzel. She bought the wig at Target with her very own money and LOVES it to pieces. Always wants it on and loves the movie as well.

Tamara

TJ's Last Flight as a Black Knight

Shooting TJ on his last flight

Jan. 11, 2011

TJ getting Carson

Family photo

Extended family

(Ratzlaff's, Louise & Dean, John Fivian, Rod, Sandra & kids)

TJ & Mike Feagan

Last Flight

Black Knight F-18 Superhornet

BKR = Black Knights Rule

Here are pictures of TJ's last flight in the F-18 Superhornet as a Black Knight. Luckily, his next set of orders is a flying billet, so he will still be in the cockpit -- but probably only a few times a month.

The normal protocol is to "get wet" following the last flight. His squadron and our family were happy to oblige even though it was a cold and foggy day. Several of TJ's extended family and my parents were here in time to witness the fun events. The rest of the crew were delayed a day by the winter storm that hit in early January.

Tamara