What a Great Day!

Honey, our little family had a great day yesterday! Got up at about 8, started off everyone with malt-o meal. (And hubby, I am sending a box of it for you to share with your Seabee brothers. It is apparently pretty popular stuff!) Then got everyone ready for the FRG Christmas party. We actually made it on time! Can you believe it!?! The first FRG event we made it on time to. Everyone cooperated and nobody messed up their clothes and we didn't forget anything. It was amazing!
The even was hosted by Southwest Airlines. They truly went above and beyond. They had all kinds of food, chicken strips, burritos, nachos, meatballs, corn salad, cookies, cake, fruit, quesadillas, and stuffed jalapenos. That's what I remember. The kids and I were able to take some pictures with Santa. The kids made Christmas cards with decorations provided by the FRG. And Southwest is going to mail them. We got little Seabee poker chips as keepsakes. And as a door prize I got a spa set. C and L got a musical snow globe, a connect 4 game, and a sand art set. C got a 25.00 GC to Kohl's and an art set. Perfect for her, she loves to draw. L got a 50.00 GC to Game Stop and a digital camera. I also got a Mary Kay hand cream set and a measuring cup set. Princess got a Mother Goose book. I was just saying the other day that they need to have more Mother Goose in school now. But everyone is just diving in to actual factual now. Each family got a Southwest Airlines mini-popcorn popper. Just like at the movies but about 2 feet tall. And they gave us these little blankets that zip up into pillows. Each kid got a teddy bear. And the hubby and I got little duffel bags for the gym. I am going to let the 4 little ones open their FRG gifts on Christmas. Everyone was so nice. It was good to see everyone.
I bought a Seabee cookbook that one of the wives had put together. Looks like it has some good recipes in it. I may never get around to cooking any of them but surely hubby will try some of them out when he returns. I just wanted to support the FRG.
The kids and I also made buttons with pics of hubby on them. It was a fun event. Even though I was chasing after Sheridan and the twins most of the afternoon. They got to see some planes take off and land as well.
I must say, I was in a much more festive mood upon leaving than I was going in. I was kind of in the dumps about Christmas. I think it was just being around all the smiling faces and out of the house. The gifts were amazing but it was more than that. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have participated. So afterwards, we came home, chilled out for a bit. I went and got some McDonald's for dinner and then we packed up and went to look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood just about 5-10 minutes north of us. It took us an hour and a half to get through the neighborhood, it was so packed! However, there were some beautiful displays. Everyone actually stayed awake the whole time!
Got home, got everyone into bed for a good night's sleep. Honey, it was a wonderful day. I was wiped out, pooped, tired, the whole 9, but well worth it. C and L were surprised at how much fun they had. Think it took their mind off their bio-dad's decision to cancel... For the moment. The only thing missing was you, hubby. Love you! Missing you like crazy!