In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood

March

We ambitiously started the month by mowing our yard for the first time. Considering it was the first time I've touched a lawn mower since 2006 ~ I was excited! We have a great yard and our whole family has enjoyed something other than "desert landscape".

We also had a 'brew party' at Mark Graziano's house, a baby shower for fellow classmate Kip & his wife Tiffany, a coffee for the wives and Ashton & I flew back to Iowa for 'spring break'. The days flew by... For me, anyway! Brandon's schedule has gotten more hectic and has had a lot of tests, papers, and check rides. He's also been busy wrapping up his Master's degree from University of Tennessee.

{Many of the 09A members enjoying Mark's special brew - drinking out of fruit jars.}

Kip & Tiffany's baby shower was planned perfectly! Baby Vienna, who was scheduled to arrive in April, ended up joining their family a few weeks early!

{Each couple was given a chunk of play-doh and a prize was awarded to the team that created best baby. We - unfortunately - lost.}

{Katie, Amber, Tiffany, & Maribel}

The last Saturday in March, we had an Easter Egg Hunt at one of the parks on base. As you can see by the pictures, all of the guys in Brandon's class participated in Mustache March. *Sigh. I have never been one to celebrate April Fool's Day, but this year was an exception. I was sooo ready to see that facial hair go away.

{Good-bye, Mustache. Good-bye, March.}

"February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March."

February at Edwards started as a dreary and windy month. Although only three hours from Las Vegas, the climate is completely different. I thought all deserts were the same... How wrong I was! Brandon's work load didn't seem to hectic yet, so we managed to watch a lot of movies and take in some of the California scenery.

The kids activity this month was to bake and decorate Valentine's cookies for all of the single students in the class. Ashton was way more interested in the stickers than the cookies...

On Valentine's Day, our family drove to Malibu and dipped our toes into the Pacific. Ashton loved the ocean and the beach and all that went along with it. It wasn't warm enough to "swim", but she did manage to get herself completely soaked playing on the shore.

Brandon flew a 'new' jet this month, too. During the beginning stages of TPS, he flew only the T-38 to get reacquainted with the aircraft. Now he's flying the T-38 and the F-16. He's very excited to add more airplanes to his list and loves the experience each one gives him.

On the 27th of February, we did a little day trip to Tehachapi with our friend Lindsay. It's a quaint little town that boasts having four seasons {a rarity in these parts}. It's located in a valley between gorgeous mountain's topped with experimental windmills.

And, finally - Ashton continues her love for coloring and all things art related.

If you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done much today. ~Author Unknown

How in the world did nearly seven months manage to pass without any updating? This TPS experience has been amazing, but it has honestly been flying by. I thought it would drag on as Brandon studied and worked ~ and Ashton and I would be up to our own devices to find entertainment in the desert. I couldn't have been more wrong! Between play dates and social events, our calendars have been booked. Here's a glimpse back to bring everyone up to speed:

~ January ~
We spent much of our first month just trying to get acquainted with the local area.
We also got acquainted with our fellow TPS friends (whom now seem more like family). Aside from the 1st Friday and Road Rally mentioned below, we also had some dinners out with the classmates, hosted dinner for the single students, had a 'ladies roll call' for the wives while the men were at the Club, we (the wives) were honored at a Welcome Coffee at the Commandant's home, and Brandon spent a weekend in Vegas for a Dos Gringos concert.