Spousal Reunion

This past weekend, I flew to Montgomery, Alabama for Joe's officer training graduation. We had four days without kids. My parents were kind enough to watch them. It was a much needed break before we move. Thanks Ma and Pa!

I had so much fun with my husband. We toured around Montgomery on Saturday and Sunday (which suprisingly doesn't have a lot of touristy things to do. Hopefully I don't offend anyone, but the city's tourist department should work on that). I've never been to the South before, so it was still a great time. I was mostly excited to see my husband again.

Montgomery

This is a home of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby. Notice I say "a" home, not "the" home. They were expatriots, and only lived in this house for about a year. Oh, the other thing I forgot to mention: all tourist attractions were closed on Saturday and Sunday (I know), so we just took pictures of the places we visited.

This is the first White House of the Confederacy. Apparently, they moved headquarters frequently. Jefferson Davis lived here for about a year. Kinda small compared to the D.C. white house, don't you think?

A real life plantation! Even though I didn't go inside, I was still excited.

By the plantation was a field of cotton! I've never seen cotton before, so this was also pretty thrilling for me.

Cotton literally looks and feels just like a cotton ball that you use. The only difference is there are little seeds inside the cotton that need to be removed.

Which brings me to the last tour picture: a cotton gin factory. I also didn't get to go inside, but you can imagine what it was like in the small industrial town of Prattville.


Dining Out
Monday, we had a spouse's orientation to the Air Force, and that evening there was a fancy dinner called "Dining Out." I got to wear a spectacular dress (thanks to Gloria Buynak), we ate, others drank, and we mingled with the other graduates and their families. It was really a fun evening.

Together again!

Joe's commander, the other band conductor for the Band of the West in San Antonio, came to commission him. She is such a wonderful person; I was relieved to find that Joe will be working with someone who is kind. I really enjoyed getting to know her this weekend.

Graduation
Standing at the ready: the poor guys had to stand like this for over an hour while everyone graduated.

Getting sworn into the Air Force. The zoom on my new camera is really awful. That's what I get for buying cheaply and off of the internet. Sorry it's so blurry.

I got to pin Joe's rank on his shoulders. I was worried about stabbing him or dropping the pins, but I didn't.

Congratulations, second lieutenant Hansen! I'm so proud of you! I'll see you in a few days!