The First "Real" Military Ball

It's been time again!  The time to FREAK out about attending a military ball!

I'm not sure why I get myself so worked up about these things but I worry so much about each little detail--knowing that I will never look "red carpet" worthy, nor will any other spouse at the event  (I mean, those "red carpet" ladies and gents have TEAMS to put them together, haha.)
A FB status update which I posted:
*growing up

Probably the hardest part of this ball was not knowing what I was going to wear.  I had a gown that I liked but it was empire-waist and it sorta made me look pregnant.   (Not a fan of looking pregnant when I am not.  Understandable, right?)  
The day before the ball I found this ivory-white gown on a clearance rack in Target, and everything else slowly came together (though I had to do a WalMart run 2 hours before we left for the ball, since I needed a different kind of shoe).

Mean while Matt had been perfecting his uniform to the T.  The uniform actually has so much that needs be thought and precisely placed.  Matt's pretty on top of it all, so it only took him an hour or two to get it all right.

The hour before we left for the ball was crunch time.  My hair did NOT want to work with me.  Holy smokes, I was almost in tears.  I had washed my hair earlier in the day, so it had none of the lovely "second day hair" aspects which make doing fancy things so much easier.
I took some photos while trying to do different styles:

In the end I was like, "FORGET IT!  I'm just wearing it down."   

I quickly decided on the jacket I was going to wear:  between a black shawl and a vintage silver dinner jacket--vintage silver dinner jacket surprisingly won!  (I borrowed both of these from two friends.  Hooray for friends in an hour of need!)

The babysitter came, and the boys were so excited.  I think they know they can get away with a lot when a babysitter comes, haha.  

And Matt and I were out the door!  

Since Matt was the "introducer" at the receiving-line  (aka, the guy who gets the couples names, then tells colonel the names) and I was not supposed to stand with Matt, I pretty much hung out at some tables with some buddies of Matt's.  I think the receiving-line was supposed to be 30 minutes long but it ran a little bit longer than that, and not everyone was able to go through the line!  (Upwards of 600 people at the ball.)  

We were able to take our seat, and the ball official began.  

There's a lot of tradition with the ball, including toasts, raising of the colors, etc.  The one that really got me was the moment of silent for those that did not return from combat, the killed in action (KIA) and prisoners of war (POW).  There weren't any POWs from the deployment, but from Matt's battalion there were 5 KIAs… I mean, here we were, all dressed up and partying, and not even two months ago all these men and women came home--but 5 didn't.   Yup, I had tears.  Ah, raw emotions!  

Once food was served, a general spoke.  He was really entertaining, actually.  After these Matt and I were able to go around to see some more of his buddies, along with waiting for the raffle drawings to be announced.  Many things were given out, and I actually won!  A Garmin runner watch, pretty cool since I'll actually use it.  (Though I wish it had been a heart rate monitor!) 

When we got home Eli was still awake.  Babysitter said he'd been complaining of an ear ache for the last hour.  Eli was in tears at this point--one part pain, one part exhaustion.  I had some ear drops for him, and he went to sleep pretty easily after that.  

So that was our night for our first "real" military ball!  Not bad, not bad at all.  

Military Ball, ROTC Style!

We had another one!  And it's our last... as a cadet anyway.  It'd be sa-weet if someday Matt got to be a Professor of Military Science at some ROTC program.  (TEXAS A&M!! Just saying'...)

Okay, here's the scoop: Matt was in charge.  Like a lot of it.  He was stressed.  And I was stressed because I was putting myself together for a fancy event for the first time in my life.  Oh, and that day we were told that we'd be sitting up on the main table/stage.  Joy?  Yeah, I didn't feel that.  Also, before the seating Matt was the guy that introduced all the cadets and guests to the main peeps in the formal line.  Like the Major, and the guest speaker Colonel dude.  (I don't think I should blog when I'm tired. My no use fancy words and stuff.)

Highlights:
- Matt was the m.c. of the ball.
- I wore fancy shoes and didn't fall.
- The food was good.
- Entertainment from the non alcoholic "grog bowl," which we gratefully didn't have to drink.
- Sitting at the head table wasn't too bad.
- The Master Sgt. sat beside me and we talked of all sorts of stuff. But we think he saw Ewan McGregor during the filming of Long Way Round! (It's a fav show. Check it out from the library, it won't disappoint.)

Oh, and the key note speaker was totally crazy.  He hit Matt on the shoulder during the speech.  Twice.  It was an animated/politically driven/fear frenzied talk.  So if you're ever in charge of a Military Ball remember that you can't control the speaker, and if you ever speak at a Military Ball which has boyfriends/girlfriends/spouses/kids... just know your audience, k?

My awesome representation of the Ball's layout.
We didn't sit at the circle fruit cup tables.
We sat on the long dinosaur table, dressed as Rolos, beside the Jell-O podium.

Enjoy our bajillion photos: 

                             

A Ball! A Military Ball!

A few nights ago Matt and I had the opportunity to attend the Boise State University ROTC Military Ball. It was fun. Basically just a nice/fancy dinner, lots of people dressed fancy, taking part in a lot of toasts to the military, and some other military traditions. There was a key note speaker, then the floor opened to some dancing. The theme cracked me up! "A Night on the F.O.B." (forward opereating base, like those in Iraq). How romantic! The center pieces were glass bowls filled with sand and candles, with spent shell casings sprinkled around the bowl.

A pretty chill Ball, compared to others. It was non-alcoholic because most of the Cadets were underage... especially at our table! There were 4 couples per table, and at ours 2 of the Cadets were true freshmen and their dates were seniors in high school! Conversation was a little strained at times! Yeah we hope next year, since Matt will be partly in charge of the ball, to be sitting with people that are... um... maturer? (Okay, Matt is the second oldest Cadet in the program, with one of the most decked out uniforms. Maybe those guys were a little intimidated by Matt's awesomeness?)

It was fun to see Matt in the Army environment. I forgot that he takes things seriously... so while the Colonel, Lt. Colonel, and Major were entering the room I was trying to talk to Matt. I noticed he didn't really look at me, and that he was standing very straight-ish. "Oh, sorry!" I said, remembering he is supposed to be at attention when the officers enter the room.

It was also pretty cool to dress up as a couple, and go out as a couple. We kinda felt like we were out on our honeymoon again. (We need to get out more, no?)

To be sure, I've been freaking out about it for a few months. Special thanks to Helen, Marcie, and Cali for helping me out.

• Helen let me try on her past dresses, gave me advice about hair, and basically just let me complain and worry to her! Thanks, Helen!
• Marcie took my freaking out phone call from the dressing room, and gave me advice about accessories. Thanks Marcie!
• Cali let me look through her mother-in-law's jewelry (so pretty!), got make-up together, and brought her mother to do my hair. Thanks Cali!

We now know what to expect. So hopefully these annual Military Balls won't be so stressful as the years go on. (Yes, this was our first Military Ball. Even though Matt has been in the Army for almost 10 years, we've declined to go each year. It's a lot to get together if you don't have to go.)