SparkleShan

For lunch we went to the chow hall and they had some amazing butter and ice sculptures. Complete with christmas dinner, I was a bit sad they were all out of egg nog though! In the evening our unit organized a unit Christmas Party.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! I am here in Kuwait...still. This is my first Christmas away from my family and my little bean pie, Emma. I miss all my family back home, but I am thankful for a few good friends I have over here that were kind enough to spend Christmas Day with me. On Christmas Eve a few of us got together and watched Christmas movies to try and get into the Christmas spirit. Then this morning Amy and I exchanged gifts. Then at noon a few of us got together and exchanged secret Santa gifts. Our Secret Santa group (minus Amy, she's taking the picture). Perkins opening up her gifts. Amy looks happy with her gifts! Perkins got the perfect present for B, which he loves as you can tell. First Sergeant showing off his Lions presents from Rogers. He got pictures of what he got because the mail is a bit slow here around Christmas time! Natalie modeling the hats I knit her (below and above), she was my secret santa lady! Rogers showing o

Every year around Christmas time the Sergeant Major of the Army gets famous people/performers together and brings them to Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops. This year they had a bunch of country singers I've never heard of and LeAnne Tweeded and Louis CK. All of of us in the crowd laughing at Louis' jokes. Velez and I being silly (it was so cold out!) Miami Dolphin Cheerleaders LeAnne Tweeden (I really have no idea who she is, lol)

I participated in a swap on the Ravelry site with one of the groups I belong to, Think Pink. Its for people who like Pink. I had just about the best swap pattern ever! Everything I said I liked or might want she got me! Here it is all wrapped in pink and christmas prettiness. I got my favorite rold gold pretzels, my favorite Tazo Calm Tea, 2 skeins of pink Malabrigo silky merino yarn, The Stitch n' Bitch knitters handbook, Gnome stitch markers, a pattern for a shirt, hersey's kisses, super soft pink socks, candy canes and a mini pink Christmas Tree! I love it all thanks so much Suzy!

We had to spread some Christmas cheer through the AVCRAD in this hell forsaken country. So the First Sergeant wanted us to set up a Christmas Tree at our Airfield. Amy crocheted some snow flake ornaments for it and the rest came from the PX (yes I find it a bit ridiculous that they have decorations on deployment!). Today we got together and had a pizza lunch and then set up the Tree in the outside break area of the airfield. Everyone got involved, well mostly the girls decorated the tree while the guys sat around and watched. The Crew after we decorated the tree. We forgot to get a star or the top of the tree so someone improvised and put two blue balls as the topper.

When I arrived back at work today, I had a big box at my desk and it was from an organization called Treats for Troops. I opened it up and it had a mini Christmas Tree with lights and ornaments. This is awesome because I love Christmas and decorating for Christmas. So Amy and I set it up in our room and we now have our own Christmas Tree Complete with mini sotckings!

My cousin Craig is also in the Army and he is currently attending his second MOS school in Fort Lee, VA. He got to come home for Thanksgiving (he just got married in September and had to leave soon after to go to school) so we got together with my other halves along with his brother David and his wife. We went to Double Downs and did a little family drinking. Its a good thing we set ourselves a budget, because we wouldn't have been able to drive home! Me, Amanda (David's wife), Craig and Lea. Cousins David, me and Craig. I think we have a picture like this from like 15 years ago!