At the Governor's Mansion

Today, we spent a good part of the day attending a holiday reception held at the Governor's Mansion.  It was by invitation only, and because of our involvement with the FRG (Family Readiness Group), we received an invitation.

Upon arrival, we were escorted through a receiving line where we met top military personnel ranging from the TAG (Territorial Adjunctant General) Edwards and his wife, the Brigade Sergeant Major, and Brigade Chaplain Andy Meverden (Chaplain Andy was the one who renewed our vows for us before Marc deployed to Iraq AND also played Santa today).   We also saw COL Petty who was the Battalion Commander when they went to Iraq in 2007 and has become a wonderful family friend. 

The whole back room was set up for crafts for the kids as well as tables set up with cookies and mini PB and J sandwiches for the kids.  We did a few crafts before Marc and I were pulled aside and were asked to do an interview with some local news channels.  (I have to add that I have not done an interview since Marc was deployed!)

Afterwards, we chatted with a few more top military personnel and I spent some time chatting with COL Petty.  (Can't hurt the hubby's career now can it?)  Then the big announcement came that Santa was arriving with the Governor.  We went out onto a little patio to greet Santa who pulled up in a Humvee.  Once we got back inside, the Governor read "A Soldier's Night Before Christmas" and then the kids got to sit with Santa, have their picture taken and receive a little gift.  Danjela and Nadija were amazed that Santa knew that they were "The Belo Girls".

Here's some photos from the fun day!

Our interview with Fox News:

RIP Chippy

We're sorry to report that Chippy just couldn't take it any more. 

Between Zoja chewing on her legs, Nadija dragging him around by his hat and Danjela constantly wanting to dress him up in earrings and Barbie dresses, Chippy decided that life wasn't worth living. 

We found Chippy this morning - overdosed on Bacardi and Vicodin. (Not sure where he got either one, but we think it was from Peppy, the drug-dealing elf down the street.)

Chippy leaves behind Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a cat named Snowball.  In lieu of flowers, The Claus Family asks that donations be sent to the Keebler Foundation -- a worthwhile charity that takes in runaway elves and retrains them with employeable job skills such as cookie making and snack food marketing.

RIP Chippy.

Art-Themed Birthday - Part II

Here's a few more pictures from Danjela's birthday weekend.

Chippy hung a Happy Birthday banner for Danjela

He also hung crepe paper outside her door

Paint palette cake I made for the party on Sunday

Art-Themed Birthday

Today was Danjela's birthday party for her friends (and also her actual birthday!)  I'll send more pictures later of the party itself and her birthday breakfast celebration, but I wanted to share some pictures of the theme that we did. 

For her "family" party tomorrow (with our military family), I'll have a "canvas & paint palette" cake.  (At least I hope too!  I just hope the fondant will cooperate!)

The tablecloth is a bedsheet that I splattered paint all over and then covered it with a plastic drop cloth
Cupcakes were "paint splotches" on plastic paint palettes.
Additional decorations were miniature kids' art books and a Happy Birthday canvas personally painted by Chippy the Elf.

I had three art "stations" set up for crafts.  One station was "color your own" plastic cups.  One station was "personalize your own Christmas ornament" and the third station was "create a masterpiece" where I had canvases and paint and let the kids paint their own creations.

For a game, we played "drop the crayon" where they had to hold a crayon by their noses and drop it into a plastic party cup.

As a bonus, we took each of the kids' pictures by the Christmas tree.  Danjela will include them with her thank you cards.

Overall, it was a great and fun day.  Now on to party #2 tomorrow!

Random Pictures

Some random pictures from the past few days!
We got the girls an "Elf on the Shelf".  Danjela named him "Chippy" and they are having a blast trying to find him every morning and to see what kind of mischief he's gotten into during the night.

I think we should have named him "Tipsy" instead

Piggy back ride on the snowman

Looks like Chippy had a midnight snack

To help the girls learn about where their Christmas cards are coming from, I hung up this world map.
Then I printed out smaller continent maps.
As the cards come in, we'll put a sticker on the world map - the continent where the card came from.
Then they'll go to the smaller maps and color the country/region/province.

We took the girls to see The Muppet Movie for Danjela's birthday.  They LOVED it!
(And mommy did too!)

Peppermint cupcakes that I made for Danjela's class to celebrate her birthday

Aviation Christmas Party

Last night we went to our Battalion Christmas party at the base. It was an amazing evening that included good food (donated by Famous Dave's BBQ), great door prizes (a little bummed I didn't win the Kindle!), live music from a local country group, sponsorship from a well-known country radio station, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a visit from Santa Claus who rode in on a John Deere tractor.

Everything last night was donated to us through two local churches (who also volunteered their time and funds) - along with the USO and other organizations. It's events like this that make us so happy with the lifestyle that we've chosen.

Here's some pictures from last night:

The girls on the new Lakotas
(Mommy made the tshirts!  I actually used the sewing machine!)

To truly appreciate the photo, you need to see the words on the aircraft above Danjela's head:
"Heavy Metal"

Nudgie-1 ready for take off!

Chaplain Dave.  One of the most giving people I know!



They had an area set up where the kids could go and pick a gift for mommy and daddy and then wrap them.

Santa riding in on a John Deere tractor

The look on her face says it all!

Zoja's Thanksgiving Wish

Boy, if dog's could talk.......

Turkey??  Do I smell turkey??

Mmmmmm.......let me get that drool off my face.....

Maybe if I sneak up on it real slow, they won't notice me.......