BHR Children's Christmas Party

On Saturday, December 14, 2013, Matt and I took the kids to the BHR's Children's Christmas Party.  It was sponsored by the First Class Association on Matt's ship and it was held at the Fleet Fitness Center.  (The Fleet Fitness Center is a two-story complex featuring four basketball courts plus other exercise rooms.  It also has an indoor pool upstairs.)  I really didn't know what to expect because last year's party was a debacle.  Last year, on the day of the party they changed the location so the kids and I didn't even end up going.  I heard from other families that the new location was small, they ran out of food and gifts for the kids and that overall it wasn't good.  This year they must have learned their lessons from last year because it was well-organized, had a spacious location, every child received a gift and they had tons of food.  We stayed about an hour and a half and the kids had a great time.

Our first stop on the party express was of course a visit with Santa.  Leah was very excited to ask Santa if he received her letter.  (He said he did.)  Some of the guys from the ship were dressed as elves and had presents for the kids after they had a visit with the Big Guy.
 

Is Aaron doing his Home Alone
impression or is he really worried
that Santa might drop coal in his
stocking?

Next stop was the ever-popular bouncy house (which is why Leah and Aaron are wearing jeans and t-shirts instead of their fancy Christmas clothes).

Next was a divide and conquer.  I took Leah to the face painting station.  Aaron does not like having his face painted so Matt took him to the cookie decorating station.

Leah LOVES to have her face painted.

Leah the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Aaron was really proud of the cookie
he decorated.

I liked how he used the orange sprinkle
as a "carrot" nose.

Next on the agenda was the ornament-making station.  Leah made a star ornament and Aaron made a Christmas tree ornament.

Our final stop on the party express was the balloon man.  The balloon man is a Master Chief on Matt's ship who is an experienced balloon-animal maker and party clown.  I've not witnessed him dressed up as a clown but we have been to a previous command function where he was making balloon animals.  And not just your typical dog.  In the past he made Aaron a huge rainbow complete with clouds.  On this day, however, to keep the line moving with the number of kids in attendance, he did have a list of simpler creations from which the kids could each choose one.  Leah chose a butterfly with a white body and purple wings.  Aaron chose a sword.

The balloon man in action.  (Note his turtle
"watch" on his wrist.)

The kids & Matt with their balloon treasures.

After the balloons we decided to call it a day and went home.  The promise of the kids getting to open their party gifts when we got home ensured that there were no debates about being able to stay longer at the party.  The gifts were a mixed bag.  Leah loved her Crayola Bead Studio.  She gets to make her own beads out of clay then string her own necklace.  Aaron seemed to like his gift, a Spider Man Web Cannon, but honestly he would have been happier with a Hot Wheels car.  Actually, the nice thing about Aaron is, he was just happy to get something--he really didn't care what it was.
 

Woo Hoo!  Presents!

 Overall we all gave the party a thumbs-up.  We are looking forward to next year's event.

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Merry Christmas!

I'm Dreaming of a White...Three Days After Christmas

OK, so I am never dreaming of a white Christmas or any other time of year.  I am not a fan of snow.  Actually, the snow is fine; it is the cold temperatures that accompany the snow.  I guess I shouldn't complain too much because so far this year it hasn't been too cold, at least compared to last winter.  There are two more months or so still left of winter, though, so perhaps I shouldn't jinx myself.

Anyway, this morning the kids and I were sitting down to breakfast (Matt was at work) when we looked out the the sliding glass doors and saw big flurries of snow.  The kids, especially Leah, were thrilled.  It only lasted about 5 minutes or so, or at least that is what we noticed.  About an hour later the three of us had to walk to the commissary to pick up something and the flurries were flying again.  Leah was so excited.  "Thank you, God," she said as she went running out trying to catch snowflakes.  The flurries lasted for our entire walk, but with zero accumulation.  It was so dry there wasn't any frost either so even if the snow stuck there wouldn't have been any snowballs or snowmen.  On the walk home it became sunny and there was no more flurries, but like I said, there are still a couple months of winter yet to come.  Leah can only hope...

To see the snow, you have to look (VERY closely) at Aaron's hat and mittens as well as the trees in the background.

"C'mon, Aaron, let's go catch some snowflakes."

Trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues.

Catching snowflakes gave way to climbing
trees.