Benefits

Sometimes being in the military stinks. 

Like when they take your husband away for months at a time.

And other times it's really great. 

Like when you get to live in a practically new, really huge house.

Or

When they throw you an outrageous Christmas party in the park near your house.

I'm not kidding, it was insane.

There were ponies.

And pizza.

And a bounce house.

And games.

And prizes.

And Santa.

And snow.

Yeah, they brought in snow.

And an entire petting zoo.

And of course I didn't take any pictures.

(Leave me alone. Ty wasn't there and I had to keep track of two boys in a giant crowd.)

The boys had such a great time. Jay especially loved the petting zoo. Those poor baby animals had no idea what they were in for, but they tolerated in pretty well. There was even a giant rabbit that was, no joke, nearly as big as Jay. And Jay wanted to pet it so bad, but that rabbit was not dumb and was actually quite good at evasive techniques.

We ended up waiting in line for about 30 minutes to get Leo a balloon animal. (I kept trying to get him interested in other things, but he really wanted that balloon.) And it ended up being totally worth it.

Leo was absolutely in love. He carefully carried it all the way home and he nearly cried when Jay Alvin's bear balloon blew into the bushes and popped. ("Mom, he's just going to be so sad!")

But the best part of the whole day?

Both boys slept for 4 hours after it was over.

(Wait, is he sleeping with the Thomas balloon? Of course he is.)