Mini Vacation: Day #3 Graduation

     This morning was a bit of an early start since we had to be out of our rooms and at the school house early for Hubby's graduation. In true Navy fashion we had to hurry up and wait this morning; once we got to the school house we were supposed to sit in the petty officer association's room where they were preparing for a Christmas party and had a TON of wrapped gifts all over the room. Let me tell you, there is a sense of panic when asked to sit in a room full of gifts with your toddler when none of them are for him! While we waited Big Brother asked to have some pictures taken and the kids played with some toys and had some snacks.
     I didn't take any pictures during graduation because I was holding Froggie who was being pretty squirmy. Not to mention I couldn't fish out my phone during graduation and knew that Froggie would grab at my actual camera and none of the pictures would turn out anyway. Following graduation Hubby and I purchased some sweatshirts from the "gear locker" and headed back towards our hotel. Before we got settled and changed we took a bunch of pictures. Lately Big Brother has been pretty uncooperative when it comes to taking pictures but we ended up with something to document the event.

Big Brother wanted a picture with Froggie

So proud of Hubby!

Our little family

Hubby and I

     After everyone got changed and a little packing was done we headed out to pick up the new uniform that Hubby had ordered along with some other goodies. This included a very large new duffle bag to get home everything that Hubby had acquired over the course of his time in Florida. After some lunch (and Starbucks) we headed back to our rooms for nap time so that we could go back out for some fun.

Mmmm Starbucks

     Nap time ended up being pretty short lived since we wanted to get across base to see Santa come in on a fire truck. The fire truck pulled in as we were coming across the parking lot. While Hubby and the kids made their way towards Santa and the festivities my mom and I both ended up with burrs in our feet. I had to use my camera strap to get the burrs off my feet and then had to figure out how to get them out of my strap. Man do those little things hurt!
     There were cookies, hot chocolate, coloring, seeing Santa, bounce houses and free trees for military personnel. Big Brother waited rather impatiently to see Santa. He had been pretty shy about Santa and still always has a funky face in pictures (lately with or without Santa) until today! The kids had put out their shoes for Saint Nick and due to his recent visit Big Brother seemed more accepting of the big guy in red. When it was time to get out of the sleigh he didn't want to go until he told Santa thank you for the gift he had left the night before. It was really cute and one of those proud mommy moments. Froggie seems to be hit or miss with Santa and she wasn't thrilled about Santa today.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

Christmas festivities on base.

FIRE ANTS EVERYWHERE!

     After our fun on base we headed out toward to beach to a local restuarant that was having some pre-parade festivities including crafts, a bonfire and Santa. Big Brother loved it and especially had fun with the hammock and the S'mores. Froggie had her first taste of a S'more and got upset that she couldn't be down on her own but otherwise seemed to enjoy it. After awhile to boats that had strung themselves up with lights made their way out from the dock and we drove back towards our rooms and ordered Pizza.

Making a stocking. 

Big Brother and the palm trees

Palm trees and Christmas lights

I could get used to this kind of Christmas

The hammock

Big Brother and Santa

Froggie and Santa

making S'mores

I'll have some of that grandma!

Mmmmm

Watching the boats

Watching the boats

Mini Vacation: Day #2

     We decided to take it easy this morning. This, however, did not mean sleeping in… Hubby was up and out the door at about 7 for a golf tournament with his classmates. Froggie missed the memo that she needed to sleep longer and due to the time change her sleep schedule was messed up. Big Brother was also up early after falling out of his pull out bed once in the middle of the night. He slept in Grandma's room though and did a good job. Once Big Brother and Froggie fell asleep Zippy migrated from my mom's room to ours and hung out on our curtains.
     We took our time getting ready while Hubby was golfing and then headed out to one of  the small beaches/picnic areas for a picnic. Froggie decided to take a nap so I started working on the blog and relaxing.

A snoozing Froggie and my work station.

     As soon as we got out of the car I went around to get the diaper bag and stood right on an ant hill full of fire ants! Luckily I was only bit a few times and I  didn't even hurt a few hours later. We had gotten their  before Hubby was done golfing though so we played in the water a little. Big Brother had fun playing in the sand, collecting shells, watching pelicans ans loons and we even found a crab (no longer living).
     Once Hubby finished golfing we all joined in the picnic. We had some typical picnic fare and Hubby won a gift card. After the picnic we all headed back to our rooms so Hubby could change. Big Brother decided he wanted to take a nap and the matinence guys were working on the AC unit in Hubby`s room so we all headed to my mom's room for "nap time".

Racing

Playing in the sand

The crab we found

The kids at the beach

The kids at the beach

The kids at the beach

The kids at the beach

Hubby and his golf team

Swinging with Grandma

     He never did nap so we packed back up and headed over to the National Naval Aviation Museum. I'm not sure who was more excited, Big Brother or Hubby! The planes and exhibits were amazing and they even had an indoor play area, which Big Brother loved! Big Brother especially loved that he got to see some of the planes from his new favorite movie "Planes"! This was especially fortunate since there are glimpses at Naval aviation throughout the movie and it all sort of just fell together. Froggie had a good time as well until we tried to take some pictures in the photo booth!

The Naval Aviation Museum

Playground at the museum

Froggie in the pilot's  seat

Going for a ride

Big Brother with "Skipper"

Big Brother in the pilot's  seat

Big Brother with the Blue Angels

Big Brother with the Blue Angels

Our family with the Blue Angels

Big Brother checking out the display

Outside the museum

Final checking the jet

Final checking the jet

Big Brother helping to final check the jet

Hubby with an S3

The kids and their Navy gear

The kids and their Navy gear

Attacking daddy with hugs

Getting Daddy. 

     We headed out off of base for dinner and ended up at Ihop. I hadn't been to an Ihop since Hubby and I moved away from Virginia a few years ago but it was delicious as always! Froggie devoured a pancake and Big Brother ate about 1/3 of his chocolatey chip pancake with a face!

The Kids' first time at IHop

A GIANT pancake

Mmm Pancakes!

Zippy hanging out in our curtains.