Nellis Air Force Ball 2015

September 26th was a big day for Josh, the day of the Nellis Air Force Ball, which he has been planning for a year.  Since he was large and in charge, we knew that he would be unavailable for a bulk of the night so I took my friend and neighbor, Christie Bloom.  Her husband is TDY completing SOS training at Maxwell Air Force Base so it was perfect for us both.  The ball was held at the South Point Casino and airmen were lined up through the casino to lead the way to the ballroom.  That was a nice touch.  We received a challenge coin as we checked in.  That was a nice little gift too.  There was a heritage room filled with displays from the wings and flights on base.  Josh found us (he looked great in his mess dress) and led us to the ballroom so that we could have good seats.  As we waited to begin, I had three people come seek me out because I was Captain Turner’s wife; TSgt Langley who did the decorations, SMSgt Lancaster who was in charge of ticketing, and Colonel York who oversaw the process.  I felt pretty special and little intimidated by the ranks.  They all had good things to say about Josh and the ball. I was really proud to see the year's worth of hard work by Josh and his committee. 

Josh and me

My "date" Christie

The night started with the posting of the colors, the national anthem, introductions of the leadership, and the ceremony of the POW/MIA table.  Colonel Boutwell, the 99th wing commander, thanked Josh by name for the preparation of the ball.  That was fun to hear!  I like the solemness of the military ceremony.  I was impressed looking around and seeing everyone dressed so well and all the uniforms of blue.  I felt privileged to be attending an event that belongs to an exclusive group.  The entertainment was Matt Goss, a world renowned headline singer at Cesar’s Palace.  He had all the flash of a Vegas show.  Then we ate and Josh checked in on us periodically.  The speaker for the evening was Major General Thomas Deal.  His speech went right over my head but I am sure those who deal in warfare were impressed.  Then they brought out the cake and had the oldest and youngest airmen cut it together.  The night concluded with dancing, either with a DJ in the main ballroom, or the Spasmatics, an 80's cover band, in another room.  Josh continued to come and go as he dealt with things.  The huge event cost $144,000 (all raised from sponsors and ticket sales, no tax payer dollars were used for this event) and served 915 people. I know that Christie and I had a great time at the ball! All of the people that spoke with Josh and I said they were having a great time and that it was full of great energy and a lot of fun. I think Josh will be happy with the event as well. This was an amazing event for Josh to lead.  He has learned a great deal and has met some very amazing people.  

Elegant ballroom

Vegas style entertainment

The Spasmatics

Party people!

  

Zombie 5K

I participated in the Zombie 5K put on by the Civil Engineering Squadron and Air Force Emergency Management. It is annual preparedness month at Nellis AFB and we must all be ready for the impending zombie apocalypse.  I arrived at 0530 to sit for my moulage, the blood and gore.  I had three other zombie partners in our "unprepared zone" and we chased down the humans to steal lives from their belts. Zombie Abby- 14 lives.

I drove home, getting blood all over my car, and was really disappointed that the gate guard did not make any comment. I guess he sees all types.  The kids had not left to school yet so I got to show off. Bear was way excited by the makeup.  I chased her into the house.  Bub pretended to be scared but was really ok. Pants would not come out of her room.  I am so strange.  I know my mom did not traumatize me this way!  Anyway, let the Halloween season begin!!!

What Kind of Mom and I?

We have been in our home on Nellis AFB for one year now and it has been a time of introspection.  Things in Las Vegas are very different for me than they were in Springville, Utah.  Mostly, I feel that my time is running through a sieve constantly and I am running to keep up.  A lot of this is due to my choices.  I choose to drive for 45 min to get to ballet across the valley because I value classical instruction for my children.  I choose to teach seven yoga classes and one ballet class a week because they feeds my physical body and my soul.  I choose to take my kids to Kumon Learning Center 25min from home because I saw a deficit and I value their education. This added an hour's work of homework every day, all summer long, and will continue in the school year.  All of these things take time and I find myself constantly analyzing what kind of mother I am and who I want to be for my family.

I recently read, Real Moms: Making it Up As We Go by Lisa Valentine Clark, an LDS author.  She made me laugh, cry, and cheer as I read.  I have been craving someone to speak real life to me, not just encouraging platitudes.   She understands that moms do "all the things" and sometimes we feel that we have to justify why we are busy.  I wish we didn't.  Her book did not really offer suggestions to this conundrum because it would be different for every woman, but it offered a perspective for me to ponder to determine what kind of mom I am and to be grateful for that.  Sometimes I look at blogs and Facebook and I see all the good things that moms are doing for their families.  I have to remember that these images are just one moment in time and usually the good moments.  Just because my moments do not look like these, that does not mean I am any less of a mother, I am just a different mother.

I will probably never be a Pinterest mom.  I love what Pinterest has to offer, I just do not tend to make time for it in my life.  I am not the "crafty" mom.  I am a mom who enjoys planning outings with my kids.  I am always excited to find the local museum, art gallery, or factory tour that we can explore.  I am the "field trip" mom.  I am a mom who values physical activity. I love putting my kids in lessons. Currently that is ballet, kids classes at the YMCA, and soccer season is starting soon.  I am the "active" mom.  I am also the mom who cares about teaching my kids core values of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I try to stick those moments in wherever I can.  I am the "Spiritual" mom.  I value work and we work hard on our home because I like a clean place to think in.  I want my kids to know that we all work together.  I am the "working" mom.  I am really good at keeping us on a schedule. I do have a hard time when we deviate from the schedule because I crave a sense of order.  I am the "schedule" mom.  Mostly, I am a real mom, making it up as I go.

Flamigo Habitat- Las Vegas, Flamingo Hotel

Hogle Zoo, SLC, Utah

Snowbird, Utah

Payson Temple Open House, Payson, Utah

Shark Reef, Las Vegas- Mandalay Bay

End of Year Summary

We have finished our first school year in Las Vegas.  It was full of ups and downs, lots of car travel to and from ballet, tutoring and church activities, and shuffling my classes with dinner, homework and carpools.

Bub as the Incredible Hawk for January

Bear as the Incredible Hawk for March

Pants and I took a cooking class together at the Library

Bear sang in her school choir- for kids 3-5th grades

Bub and Bear auditioned for and were chosen to perform in the school talent show.  I choreographed a dance for them to "I Won't Grow Up" from Peter Pan.  They are lost boys.  They performed twice for their peers and school and once for the community.

Bear was awarded most improved student of the 3rd grade.

I am teaching ballet at my house again to 3-5 year olds.  Here is Pants at the recital.

Ballet Recital for Bear and Bub

Travel

When Josh joined the Air Force, we felt that we wanted to take advantage of the areas that we were stationed.  Living in Las Vegas means that we are five hours closer to Southern California and I grew up using Las Vegas as the gateway to Disneyland.  The military makes it so easy to visit Disneyland due to the Military Salute discount tickets.  So, I could not resist taking my girls to the happiest place on earth for their birthdays.  It was a truly magical weekend.

During Spring Break, we took advantage of the military two for one discount to Legoland.  We had a wonderful time with our Berger cousins.

I like this version of Las Vegas almost better than our own!

Sea Life Aquarium at Legoland

Pier in Oceanside, CA

Look mom, we are the same size!

Beach time in Carlsbad, CA

So, when I look back at our time in Las Vegas, I will remember fondly Southern California!

Exploring

One of my favorite things about moving into a new area is exploring what it has to offer.  We really enjoy taking day trips to State museums, State parks, and National parks.  I am starting to enjoy some of the beauty that the desert of southern Nevada has to offer and January is the perfect time to explore.  Sometimes I get excited, thinking about where the Air Force might take us.  What natural wonders and cultural events might we be able to enjoy!

Seven Sisters Rocks at Valley Of Fire State Park

Mouse's Tank at Valley of Fire State Park

Natural slot canyon at Valley of Fire State Park

White Dome hike at Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park

Here are some of the other natural wonders we have discovered since we have moved to Nevada:

Hoover Dam, April 2014

Red Rock Canyon, November 2014

Different is not always bad

Since we have moved to Las Vegas, I am constantly trying to evaluate if I am doing the right things for my kids.  At first, I tried to live the way that we did in Springville, Utah which I quickly figured out was not going to work.  In some ways, moving here has put me out of my comfort zone.  I have entered a world of transition; people moving in and out monthly, a ward that completely changes every three months, neighbors and school teachers that I do not have a history with, etc.  This is not the experience that I was raised with so it often feels foreign and my sense of "normal" has changed.  That is why I think I am always questioning if I am making the right decisions.  For instance, we travel 45 min each way to Tessa and Jonas' ballet class.  It seems a hardship at times but there are positive things too.  I get 1hr and 30min in the car with all three of my kids and we talk about all sorts of things.  Yesterday the discussion was about Martin Luther King and the injustices that he brought to the forefront.  Thanks to the three year old, Pants, that discussion diverged into our Savior as she said, "Jesus would not like us to be mean."  It was a worthwhile discussion where we could share our values with each other and where I could get a glimpse into what the kids are learning in school.  So, this is different from what I have been used to but not bad.

I also teach yoga and Zumba at different hours than I did in Springville.  There I did a lot of teaching at home in the morning when my kids were still in bed.  Here I teach in the morning two days a week, in the evening two days a week, and after school one day a week.  I worried about this after school class that I took because I want the kids to have free time to play and be kids.  At the YMCA where I teach, the kids can attend kid's gym together and CATCH, an exercise class like school PE, for the two hours while I teach.  They are getting physical exercise, social interaction, structured active play, and time with each other.  Different from our past experience but not bad.  I worry about Pants attending the gym child care daily sometimes but she likes to go there.  She likes playing with the other children and it eases my mind about providing her with socialization. I do not have time any more for play groups like I used to so she gets it in a different form.  Different but not bad.  Sometimes I miss the outings that we used to take during the day but I still make sure I spend two hours with her at the library weekly.  Our outings have become the gym child care followed the library, the grocery store, a park on base, or biking on our circle.  Time together doing anything is worthwhile.  This life we have created here has become the new norm and it is different, not bad.

New Years Eve at Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah

Breakfast with the Berger cousins.  We love it when people visit us in Las Vegas!

Thankgiving with the Turner's in Las Vegas