237th Marine Corps Ball

This year our ball was actually held on base. Most people I talked to went to Greenville or Myrtle Beach, but due to some of the regiment being in 29 Palms and then a rifle range, ours was a little later than everyone else's and close to home. There are perks, like a shorter drive to and from, but it would have been nice to walk up to a hotel room and crash instead of just going home... or to a friend's house for a sweatpants party like we did!

My friend Lacey, from The Mousetrap, came over and did my hair and make up for me. I was so grateful as I am very cosmetically challenged! I think she did a wonderful job and it was nice to hang out with her while we got ready. She even drove us to the ball in Ryan's truck and dropped us off before returning to our house to get her car! It definitely saved us a lot of trouble getting cabs or returning for a car the next day.

The hair and make up

Once we got to the ball it was cocktail hour so we mingled and enjoyed seeing everyone dressed up (and naturally the few underdressed. Most I feel bad for but some in particular I knew were wives who had been before and still looked like they were going to the club)! Every year I take pictures of the cake and this one was huge!

 And a wife in the unit also made a cake that was displayed as well. Very cool!!! I was too full to try both cakes but this one did look awesome.

 After the cocktail hour we made our way into the ballroom on the right side for the ceremony. One ballroom was for the ceremony, the other for dinner. While we ate the ceremony room was cleaned out and set for dancing. Both bars were set up in between... interesting layout but it works!

Waiting for the ceremony to start. Luckily we had decent seats and I could actually see what was going on this year!

Ceremony

This year Ryan's Master Sgt was the oldest Marine in attendance, so I made sure to get a picture of him getting the piece of cake! The youngest Marine was born in 1993 (the same as last year's youngest) but it still makes me feel old.

 After the ceremony we made our way to the other ballroom for dinner. Unlike last year we knew everyone at our table, including some very good friends of ours, and it made a big difference! We were all talking and laughing and had a great time. We had a salad, then the entree of steak and chicken with green beans and mashed potatoes and then of course the cake. All the ladies received roses when we entered the ballroom and we all had unit coins and glass mugs at our place when we sat down. Bonus points for them not being stolen this year!

Ryan and I at dinner

My good friend Chelsea and I

Outside by the river... it was chilly!

The four of us

We also managed to get a few pictures of the entire shop where my husband works. A few serious ones, and then the guys got bored and started goofing off! We were just waiting for the next part of the ceremony to start after dinner so we had plenty of time for pictures.

One of my favorites



I realized I never saw the back of my hairstyle so Chelsea took this for me! I love how it came out!

After the pictures and a small break we went back into the ballroom for the guest speaker. Sgt Major Featherstone is now retired and working at the Pentagon. He was an extremely motivated speaker and definitely exemplified "Once a Marine, Always a Marine" quote... both in person and in his speech. I enjoyed listening to him and the room was ringing with OOHRAHs!

After the guest speaker we went and danced around a bit and talked to our friends. I got to meet some terrific people (and bloggers!) and really enjoyed myself. We only danced a few songs, one slow one and a few line dances and a ridiculous attempt at a tango that literally had me out of breath and made us the only people on the dance floor! But we are getting old now so we didn't cut a rug too much. My friend Jess took this picture of us on the way out and it is definitely one of my favorites from the entire evening.

After the ball Ben and Chelsea drove us home and we changed into sweats, jumped back in the car and went to their house to hang out and relax a bit. I was a little older than a lot of the other girls there but Chelsea and I are about the same age and get along great so I had a wonderful time. By the time we collapsed into bed at 4am I was out like a light!

Happy Birthday Marines! Thank you for giving my husband and I an amazing and meaningful night together.

Weekend in the Mountains

I am a tad behind here, sorry!

Last weekend, we went to visit my parents for Veteran's Day. We left early Friday and stayed through Tuesday morning and definitely enjoyed the western part of North Carolina. Friday was all driving and a nice turkey dinner and an early bedtime.

Saturday they made me climb a mountain.

 I am so not in shape. I take ballet once a week and that is about it. Climbing a mountain is not my cup of tea anymore! Ryan went into Marine mode and my brother Stefan quickly joined him. The two of them and Rylie left me in the dust as they raced up the steep trail. Luckily my dad was nice enough to stay with me, forgetting the fact the boys had the sandwiches and the water! But once we got to the top it was worth the view... and we only got lost once. To get to John's Rock you have to go off the main trail and my dad took the wrong turn but we found it in the end. The boys passed it completely and had to double back. But it was gorgeous.

Luckily Ryan had enough of pushing himself and walked down the mountain with me. Then we rushed quickly drove back to town, went to mass, flew home to shower and change and then spent the night at the Cherokee Casino. We all had the buffet together and then my dad and brother went home while my mom stayed with us. The last time I was here they only had slots and computer games, but in August they added dealers and table games! Naturally Ryan and I played roulette. I lost, Ryan made $5, but we had a blast!

Sunday we slept in, went shopping and then and went and saw the elk down in Catalootchie.

There was a beautiful church down in the valley that I couldn't resist taking pictures of and to my surprise it was actually open! It had tons of leaves inside and a very weathered bible, but it was gorgeous.

Further down the road was stunning foliage (sadly nowhere near its peak anymore but still more than where we live!) more elk and turkies! I had to zoom in as you really cannot bother the elk without a massive fine or rangers attacking you, but I still managed to get some good shots (I think) from a distance! I will happily stand back and watch nature unfold. No need for me to interrupt.

The one who I think enjoys our visits the most is the Dup. Rylie girl loves running around in the moutains, swimming in the stream, and hanging with her granny, grandpa and uncle Stefan. She is so nosy all the time and really gets to let some energy out when we visit!

 First she had to help Grandpa pull some mums and weeds. Daddy was just being chatty.

 Then Rylie would climb her way up the stream, hopping slowly and sniffing and drinking.

 Then she would fly down as fast as she could in her own version of a Dup waterslide! So so cute!

 Then there was fetch with Uncle Stefan.

 Leaping over rocks like a baby deer.

More fetch.

Pausing to try and jump up to Mommy on the deck.

 

And then running back to the creek! She definitely had a great time!!!

Monday was low key, getting nails done and shopping some more and a nice family dinner before we left Tuesday. My parents have an exchange student for the school year named Ramon and we finally got to meet him as well. He was away in DC with the program until Sunday night so our visit with him was short. He is a very quiet, sweet kid from Spain and his English proficiency wasn't very high but he is getting there.

It was a great weekend and a perfect get away.

We will be back for Christmas and I am looking forward to my first Smokey Mountain Christmas! I will miss being with my New Jersey family though :(