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Dear Families,
Marine Corps Family Team Building wishes you and your family a happy holiday season! To express our holiday cheer, we substituted door-to-door caroling with a new trend (started by us): e-caroling.
(Jingle Bells)
Dashing through Black Friday, on a sleepless night in line
O'er the slower shoppers, for the on-sale buys
Low temps in the 50's, feel so freezing
O what fun it is to shiver after a Fall of sweating
O Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way!
O what fun it is to drive on a 3E that's now paved!
(I'll be Home for Christmas)
I'll be in Yuma for Christmas
With all the Winter Visitors
We won't have snow, but a suntanned glow
And lights strung round' palm trees
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the sunlight (always) gleams
I'll be in Yuma for Christmas
If only for 3 years...
(The Christmas Song)
Lettuce growing on the open fields
Snowbirds taking over the road
Giant semis bringing loads from afar
And folks dressed up in sweaters and shorts
Everybody knows, some cactus and palm trees
Help to make the season bright
Santa Claus, with his eyes on the desert
Will find it hard to find a fireplace
...And although it's been said, many times, many ways...
We appreciate you, military families, and hope you BLOOM this holiday season.
Your MCFTB Team,
Kate, Bekah, Brooke, Sarah, & Jenny |
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Calendar of Events
All classes are free, include free childcare, and are located in Building 598 (next to Commissary) unless otherwise noted. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED! Please call us at 269-6550.
December
Creative Holiday Gifts on a Budget: Are you overwhelmed with your holiday gift giving list? This class will teach you creative and thoughtful, yet inexpensive gift ideas for any holiday and on every budget. December 10, 9:00-11:00am
January
Corps Values: This three part class will focus on teaching character traits through stories, games, and crafts. This is an interactive class for parents and children ages 3-6. January 4, 11, and 18, 1:00-2:00pm
Little Hearts Apart (ages 3-6): Children with a deployed parent with learn strategies to cope with separation. Every Wednesday beginning January 12th 10:00-10:45.
Little Hearts Apart for Kids (K-5th): Kids with a deployed parent with learn strategies to cope with separation. Every Wednesday beginning January 12th 4:00-5:00.
Hearts Apart: Coffee Hour: A bi-monthly social gathering designed for spouses & significant others of deployed Marines and Sailors. Every other Wednesday beginning January 12th, 10:00-10:45.
Safe at Home: Women's Self Defense: Learn tips on how to stay safe at home, in your car, and when you travel when your Marine is here or deployed. You'll also learn important self defense moves! January 20, 6-8pm
CPR/First Aid: Become fully certified in CPR and first aid by our own MCAS Yuma Fire Department. January 21, 9am-4:30pm
Family Care Plan: Create a plan for your children in case of an emergency. This legal document ensures your children will be taken care of in the manner you choose- Every Marine Family needs one! January 24, 1-2:30pm
PREP: A marriage enrichment class for recently married couples. January 26, 8am-4pm
Military Hair Cutting: Bring your Marine and learn to cut give him the perfect military haircut. January 31, 6-8pm
LINKS
L.I.N.K.S. for Marines: December 15 & January 12 9:00am-4:00pm
L.I.N.K.S. for Spouses: December 7, 9:00-5:00pm and January 26 & 27, 6-9pm
L.I.N.K.S. for Tweens & Teens: A monthly club! December 14, 5:30-7:00
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Holiday Giftgiving on a Budget
This holiday season, Marine Corps Family Team Building is offering a Creative Holiday Gifts on a Budget Workshop. This workshop is designed to give participants ideas on how to create thoughtful and inexpensive gifts for anyone on their gift-giving list without breaking the bank. Participants will craft 3 easy and economical gifts as well as receiving information on a number of other creative gift ideas. The workshop will be held on December 10th from 9-11am at Building 598. For more information or to register contact Sarah at 269-6547.
If you can't make it to the workshop but are still looking for some money-saving tips, follow these simple rules for sparing the wallet this season:
· Set expectations with friends and family by talking to them about the number of gifts you plan on buying this year and/or the amount of money you are willing to spend on gifts.
· Look for ways to cut back on the number of gifts you will buy. Suggest to your adult friends and family that you draw names or consider purchasing "family gifts" such as gift certificates, for the whole family, to restaurants or the local museum.
· Make a shopping list. Don't head to the mall without a list of specific gift ideas. This will cut down the amount of money you spend on emergency gifts or impulse buys.
· Look for bargains. Start shopping early and take time to look around to find the best prices on your gifts.
· Use the exchange. The Exchange is tax-free and has a price matching policy. |
Hearts Apart: New for Deployment Support
With so many units deploying from MCAS Yuma this year, MCFTB has created the "Hearts Apart" program to support adults, preschoolers, and school aged children.
Little Hearts Apart- Children (ages 3-6) with a deployed parent with learn strategies to cope with separation through games, stories, crafts, etc. Every Wednesday beginning January 12th 10:00-10:45. Registration required.
Little Hearts Apart for Kids- Kindergarten thru 5th Grade. This age group will also learn ways to cope with a deployment through fun activities. Every Wednesday, 4:00-5:00pm starting January 12th. Registration required.
Hearts Apart: Coffee Hour: A bi-monthly social gathering designed for spouses & significant others of deployed Marines and Sailors. This casual environment is perfect for meeting new friends, discussing deployment issues, and gaining insight and support from other military spouses. Childcare options available. Every other Wednesday beginning January 12th, 10:00-10:45. |
Holiday Celebrations On Base
MCAS Yuma will be celebrating the holiday season on December 3rd from 5:30-8:30pm at the Exchange. Join Marine Corps Community Service (MCCS) for free food, pictures with Santa, gift wrapping, a climbing wall, a kid's carnival, and more. There will also be great giveaways including an IPad, IPod, Blu Ray player, Dooney Bag, and gift cards. Also, families (E5 and below) can register for Trees for Troops. Bring this ticket back on December 6th to pick up your free Christmas tree.
A favorite holiday tradition of the Marine Corps is Toys for Tots. Over the program's 63 years, it has distributed more than 400 million toys to over 188 million needy children. MCFTB and several other locations on base have a Toys for Tots drop box. Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy. Is your family or a family you know in need of a children's gift this holiday season? Contact your Family Readiness Officer or call 269-2691.
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Stress Free Holiday at Home
Going home to visit for the holidays is not always a Norman Rockwell painting. A homecoming can be a time of both joy and anxiety. Before things get out of hand, take a few steps to strive for a stress free holiday at home. Here are a few things to consider:
Plan and Communicate
Clarify your plans with family-Make your plans clear if you want to spend time with friends and significant others. Let family know dates may change due to military duty.
Don't plan too much.-You may have jetlag or just need some time to rest and relax. Bouncing from house to house and party to party is not always the way to make merry.
Prepare your response to common arguments.-Common family arguments resurface as adults. Prepare an adult answer and use "I" statements.
Attitude Adjustment
Don't sweat the small stuff-Ignore little jabs. Focus on keeping the peace for the brief visit.
Before you respond in anger, think about what you will gain-Try to stay calm.
Bring some humor to the situation-Think about what a funny story this moment will make when you tell your friends later. Laughter cures most ills.
Stay in the moment-Make the best of the time you have and try not to dwell on the impending departure.
Accept your parents as they are- We often expect our parents to be perfect and we harbor resentments over childhood events. Try to understand that your parents probably did the best they could. Try to forgive them for their faults, accept their quirks and move on. |
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MCFTB classes and events are always free. CHILDCARE is also available FREE of charge with advance registration.
Registration for our classes is required by calling 269-6550 or by emailing us here! |
Hours & Location
8am to 4:30pm Monday-Friday Bldg. 598
(Next To Commissary) Visit MCFTB at www.mccsyuma.org |
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PREP
Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program (PREP) teaches newly married and soon to be married couples how to effectively communicate, work together, manage conflict, and preserve and enhance commitment and friendship. Offered monthly by the MCAS Yuma's Chaplains. Call 269-2371 for more information, upcoming dates and to register. |
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Coming in January: A tool for parents to navigate kids' programs on base! 
Parents- Are you ever unsure about what offerings there are on base for children? Coming in January, all programs will be listed for the first quarter of the year on a postcard. This postcard will be dropped at every home on base and be available at all major facilities on base. Check it out and get involved! |
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