Time Keeps on Slippin'

T-3 days until we roll out from AZ.

Words can't describe how much our first assignment has meant to us. When we first got word that we were going to Arizona, I was not exactly enthusiastic. Luke was 5 out of 6 on our list of bases we wanted to go to. It was on the list, however, and I'm so glad we came.

Brad has done great things at Luke and I'm so proud of his hard work with the squadron and how his leadership has developed. I've spent two fantastic years at Mountain View teaching first grade. I am so blessed to have worked with an amazing group of ladies each year, as well as my two groups of kiddos. It is hard to think that I won't be there with them again this next school year, but those kiddos coming up are going to have a fantastic first grade year!

We have absolutely loved life out west. One of our favorite parts has been traveling to a lot of beautiful places, which many of you I know have seen from all of our pictures online! Aside from the travel, we are so thankful for the friendships we have and will cherish. We will miss all of you something terrible... and that is an understatement. [Hopefully I can hold it together the rest of our time here, unlike I did at TK's. ha]

The memories we've made here have been priceless, and we are so excited to continue that on in O-H-I-O!

We love you ALL.

Red Rock Country

As our time is dwindling down in Arizona, Bradford and I have vowed to make the most of it. Seeing friends, new places, loved places, etc.

This past weekend he informed me that we had some going away parties to attend for some of his guys who I have maybe met a couple times before. Of course I'll be there for support, babe.

Friday morning came and B placed our notebook that we write to each other in by my sink so I would see it when I got up and ready for the day. Inside he wrote to tell me to pack for 3 days including swimsuit, camelback and hiking shoes. And so my husband, who has not always been the best at keeping secrets or surprises from me, crafted a perfect weekend getaway.

I kept insisting that we were going to Sedona, while he assured me it would be Missouri. We ended up swinging by the airport (which was his lead into the Missouri idea) to pick up some of our best friends from back home in NC who joined us on our trip to...... Sedona. :)

We had such a great time with Josh and Carly seeing the Red Rocks in Sedona and visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross, tasting everything at VomFass, hiking "0.5 miles" to Devil's Bridge, and of course hot tubbing at the resort. Props to hubs, it was a great way to spend one of our last weekends here in Arizona.

Views from the Chapel of the Holy Cross

Devil's Bridge with a great view!

Lunch break smiles

Our view from the lunch spot we chose under a rock at the top of the hike. Devil's Bridge is below us.

The boys at the bottom of our rock spot. Serious, rock climbing faces.

Frisbee

One of Oscar's favorite things is to go outside with B and throw the frisbee. So much so that anytime B gets home from work he immediately goes for the frisbee and carries it around until B takes him out. 

Here's to Sunday afternoon frisbee action.

Year Two

Happy 2nd year in our AZ home!

It's now been two years to the day that B and I have been growing some roots in our little corner of Arizona. We've loved it so much here and are looking forward to living it up as much as we can until our move to Ohio in the summer!

What better way to spend our 2nd year AZ-iversary than to watch the 'Lightning In The Desert' airshow practice on base. B of course was working it, but the flying was great nonetheless. :) Much love to hubs.. SO proud to call him mine!

Let's Go Racin!

During the first weekend in March, we drove out to PIR again for another NASCAR race in the valley! As always, I was cheering on Jimmie and Brad hoping for a Jr. win.

We had a fantastic time with some new and old friends tailgating beforehand and watching the race together. If you have not made it out to a NASCAR race before, you should go. At least once. :)

Our little patch of paradise. And those clouds!

Our whole group!

Hubs and I

Got to see a former student and his family :)

Kevin Harvick for the win

Valentine

This past weekend Brad told me in advance to pack my bags for a surprise weekend away to 'Peoria' as he kept calling it (For those of you who are far away, Peoria is about 20 minutes down the road). I had my suspicions that we'd be heading a little further north of Peoria.. closer to where the Red Rocks are!

We had such a sweet little getaway tucked up in Sedona at  our cozy resort with champagne and strawberries, not to mention being able to swim outside at night! We enjoyed lots of hiking and views seeing Sedona's red rocks and had a great jeep tour that Brad found on Groupon.

We also took a trip up to a little 'ghost town' called Jerome which is not too far from Sedona. It used to be a thriving mining town and we loved exploring all the history here too.

One of our favorite things to do together is to travel and try new things. This was such a sweet treat for both of us, especially since Brad had not seen Sedona or Jerome before. What a perfect getaway for Valentine's President's Day Weekend! ;)

A little behind the times

I suppose not much has happened in the lives of Shields to report since I recently glanced back at our blog and realized I'd not posted since March!

Since that time we have become involved with a fabulous small group close to home where we have been able to form some special friendships as well as people to pray with and help keep us accountable. We're so thankful and excited for that time to be starting up again this fall!

I have begun another year of teaching the first grade at the same school and Brad still at Luke, getting ready to pin on 1Lt (!!!) in a little over a week which we are so excited for.

As many of you know we are winding down our time here in Arizona and starting to plan (as much as we can) what our lives will start to look like in Dayton starting this July when we move up there for Brad to begin his Masters work in CE with the Air Force Institute of Technology. That of course will leave me with a decision to make as far as teaching (or not) and from there where to go with a job for the next year and a half while he finishes out that program!

Ah, life. :)

Oscar, meanwhile, has settled back into the routine of pouting when we leave for work, spending his lounging at home, and then excitedly greeting us when we get home and smothering us with kisses until we all go to bed only to repeat the same pattern the next day.

We're enjoying our fall so far with football and friends! How about yours?!

A Year Out

March 14. A year ago this very DAY, Hubs and I arrived to our new home in Arizona. Wow.

It's hard to believe a year has gone by since we packed up our life in the big yellow Penske and ventured out to our new lives here.

We didn't really know what to expect with life at our first Air Force Base, a new state to teach in for me, and just a new state altogether for the both of us... dry, cacti, scorpions... (which we've yet to see any in our casa - fingers crossed!).

We are so thankful for our family and friends who continue to love and support us from back home. Especially Josh, who helped us to get out here in the first place. We really couldn't have gotten out here without you man. It meant the world to us.

I was excited about this new adventure with Brad, especially to be out on our own... to be doing our own thing. I wasn't sure what to expect though or if I would really enjoy it as much as I wanted to. But like I was telling Hubs the other night, I'm going to be so sad when the time comes for us to leave Arizona for our next assignment. I have so loved our time here along with the friends and Arizona family we have found in the Air Force and even in some of my co-workers.

Happy one year to us today and here's to another! I'll leave you all with the first picture we took of our lovely home :)

Our Home

We arrived March 15th, 1:00 am and have been settling down for a month, getting our place organized and ready to show everyone. We've had the chance to Skype with some of ya'll, but for those of you who haven't had the pleasure:

Brad's car is now nestled in the garage, but here is a shot he took before training.

Welcome!

Entryway... yes, I put a frame around our peephole :D

Living Room

Kitchen/Dining area.
I am in love with the grey place mats and yellow napkins I found!

Laundry off of the kitchen.

Half bath off of the dining area.

Door to our "backyard" :)
Hey Oscar! 

App garden flag. Had to.

Hubs' grill and the amazing table and chairs he surprised me with for Easter!

This is about as much yard as we've got in the back...
don't you love the 'Desert Landscaping' aka gravel?!

Now... back inside, going upstairs.

Guest bath at the top of the stairs

Guest bedroom... complete with clean laundry I've yet to put away.

Office!

My side of the office! Mom, thanks for the roll-top desk!!

Master Bedroom! My favorite space :D

The nook in our room! Love!

Master bath

Walk-in Closet!!
(Brad took it upon himself to just use the guest closet.
True story, I offered to share.)

Jewelry Station! Well.. earring station mostly. :)

So there's our slice of Arizona! We sure do love it, and I'm ready for hubs to get home from training so I'll have him to share it with again!