My Navy Peeps

We went to the Navy Ball tonight. Some friends took our kids, we got all dressed up, and then spent the night with a bunch of Navy people. The food was fantastic (there were even strawberries and asparagus!), the live band they flew in from the States was good, and we danced, and stayed later than we thought we would. It was awesome.

I have really missed being around Navy people. The jokes, the sarcasm, the lingo that bonds us together. I really don't get around it much these days. I'm so glad we were able to go! Even though we live on a base, it's comprised of about 90% civilians. The Navy are really only here to guard the base and handle the top secret aspects of it's operation. There are also a few YNs (paperwork people), a corpsman, and the base command team. That's about it. Not too many are married or even brought their families here. There isn't a single Navy family that has kids our kids' ages.

Don't get me wrong; there are plenty of people around. We've found friends for our kids, and have met a few ourselves, but none of them are Navy. There's nothing wrong with that, and it's working out fine, but there is definitely something to the military lifestyle, and the Navy in particular, that is awesome. It's like belonging to a club that outsiders can't fathom no matter how hard you try to explain it. Some things you just have to live.

P.S. You know all that stuff they say about a man in uniform? Well, it's all true. Especially when you're lucky enough to be married to one. Wow, he looked hot tonight! It was like we were dating all over again. With the added bonus of being hitched. Hooah!

I know this is an awful picture, but I didn't want to wait until morning to take one in better light. They had a contest to design the commemorative wine glass they give everyone, and Oliver entered this design. He got a free ticket out of it, which saved us 40 bucks, and many slaps on the back. 
I love his drawings. They were always the best part of getting letters when he was out on patrol.