A True Story

So, a few weeks ago, Kamdon and I were asked by a friend to help decorate for a VP cocktail party on base. Turns out, the VP was Jay Leno. The AF Reserves were opening a new recruiting center and Jay Leno was coming up to "open" it. After the opening, he was giving a free show on base for any military ID card holder. SO, there was going to be this cocktail party after the opening before the comedy show that our friend was tasked with throwing. There was going to be some serious AF and Army brass as well as high profile community leaders. The more we found out about it (after we agreed), the bigger deal it seemed to be. Karla and her husband pointed us in the general direction they wanted to go and we ran with it. I'm not going to lie: it was a lot of work. I cut out a lot of aircraft out of balsa wood.. a lot. Kamdon painted a picture of a P-something airplane one day.. we special ordered napkins and coasters.. we were harassed by a very insecure lady from air force protocol (this is the manners department.. they make sure the right behinds are kissed properly, etc... not to take away from their very important job, but really, we're 2 SAHM moms decorating a room for a party as a favor for a friend.. we don't want your job!!).. we created a lot of silly drama for our poor friend and her husband.. but I think the room looked fantastic at the end. IN FACT, my bible study leader was at the party (from the community side) and she told me that of all the parties she's been to in that room, ours looked the best by a long shot. OH, and we did meet Jay Leno. Poor guy looked like he had infant triplets at home that he'd been up with for the last 7 nights straight. He was, however, very funny and Clayton and I laughed HARD at his show. We had VIP passes and seats right in the front (obviously a bonus for helping out with the party... we would NEVER have made the invite list otherwise!). It was a fun end to a long week...

The room all finished... we brought in art from the 477FG... old Tuskeegee airmen images, lots of fighter pilot nic-knacks. It was really cool looking, if I say so myself :)

Centerpieces with balsa airplanes.. there were P-somethings, F16 and F22s, all airplanes flown by the 302FS.

P-40 (???) Super cool painting.. it's for sale.

Yes.. we are shameless.. actually, there was a line and they herded you through like passengers boarding a Southwest jet. As a side note, please notice my very cool shoes that my darling husband informed me were "hooker" shoes on the way (in the car) to the party. He sure knows how to make a girl feel good about herself :)

Proof positive that we returned the room to its original condition.

A Full Heart

(a random moose-in-the-neighborhood photo from a week or two ago)

2010 is sure to go down as the super-slacker blogging year for me. I won't beleaguer you with reasons for such slackerness but I like to think that we're busy people, people :) Lots going on this time of year as school is in full-swing and various kid activities are going (and going..and going). Clayton has been in town more lately so that has been nice as long as there aren't too many alert shifts or 16 hour days (sigh). He has some traveling coming down the pipe this winter so we're enjoying his local presence while we can.

Little Clay and Kara are doing great in school. I chaperoned one of Clay's field trips last week to the Botanical Gardens. Um, it is pretty cold here (20s in the AM) and most of the plant life outdoors have been dead for WEEKS... so I'm not sure why they're still doing field trips to the botanical gardens but they are. Well, actually, Clay's group was the last one of the season.. Anyway, I realized that I am a very strict parent. Like in the category of, perhaps, nazi or the KGB. Some of those kids were HORRID (despite the fact that it was well below freezing and we were outside for 3.5 hours). I mean to tell you, I can't get over how rude kids are to adults. I'm pretty sure they'll lose my license to go on these trips after last week. I'll post some pics of all the kiddies in their winter gear.

Getting a story read to them in the sunrise.. at 10:00AM. Good-bye sunlight.

Learning about lady bugs (a garden visitor as opposed to garden pest).

Clay-Clay in his new winter coat. He wouldn't fasten the hood. His exact words "It's killing me to have the hood buckled".

Some sad news for us is that our friends NATO and Camille are leaving Alaska for sunnier (literally) pastures. Clayton has worked with NATO for the last 10 years. I have known Camille for about 6 of those years. There is a hole in the collective Johnson heart with their departure. It has, however, caused me to reflect on the great blessing of friendship in my life. God has been so faithful to provide GOOD friends for me in every season of life thus far. I have always been aware of that blessing but never more than here in Alaska. This place is so amazing and beautiful but it's FAR from home. There's no jumping in the car in the middle of the night, driving 24 hours and getting to Arizona.. There's no guarantee of a flight out if there is bad weather or a volcano (please, no more volcanoes). Most of the time, we pay no attention to that nonsense.. but sometimes, the reality sets in. I'm telling you, we have the most special group of friends up here. I thank God for them everyday. So when someone leaves, it is PAINFUL! Our friends are our family in Alaska and I treasure each and every one of them. If you've traveled up here, you've probably seen how integral they are in my/our life. I'll post some pictures of our recent antics with said friends. My heart is full tonight thinking of the blessing of friendships even as it is heavy with the Hegtvedt's departure. We'll miss you guys.. but it's not good-bye. It's see you later.

The Hellion and his angel going to the Hegtvedt farewell.. Camille requested "Hellion" attire. Needless to say, we obliged. (If I may comment.. there is a rich military history behind the whole hellion thing.. but it's another story for another day)

Kamdon, Jen and I. Fast Jet babes, right?

The original Hellions Angels.. almost the whole group. A finer group of ladies, you'll never meet.

One last dinner at Simon & Seafort's just before Camille left.. She and I have logged a fair amount of time in the S & S saloon.... often times splitting the halibut like we did that night.

(Bad mom moment... realized I didn't have any photos of Kara.. here she is trying on Daddy's mullet wig after we got home from the going away party.. I hope the biker look always remains a costume for Kara :))