Military Ball

Well, last night was the big event. I must say that at the end of the day I felt it was much like Christmas. Weeks and weeks of preparation and running around in a state of chaos for a very short-lived event. But I would do it all again! I'll start with Friday morning.

My awesome baby sister BryAnne and her husband Tyson came up from Richfield to babysit for us! Isn't that the best? It made everything so much nicer not having to pack the kids up or worry about them being with somebody too young. Thanks again, sis. Here are some pics of the kids with them before we left!



First thing Saturday morning the four ladies met at 99 Nails for various pamperings. I got my nails done in sparkly pink and the others all got pedicures. Then it was off to hair appointments. My friend Sarah came here to do my hair and she did such a great job! The others went to an up-do place and they all looked fabulous!! After hair we all caravaned down to the hotel together (Sheraton) - we never would have stayed there on our own because it is a super nice place, but thanks Mike & Sarah for the vouchers!!! It really made the night. The girls all went into one room to get ready, and here are a couple I took of that process.



Once we were all dressed and ready we were whisked (wisked?) away to Bambara by the Sheraton shuttle. It was a fabulous restaraunt with fabulously expensive food. But the food tasted delicious. Here are some pictures we took during the dinner.

Daron & Carissa:


Annie & Cam:


Mike & Sara:


Sean & Misty:


We went straight to the ball from dinner, which was at the Capital Building. We stood in line for about 1 1/2 hours for pictures, then danced a couple dances and sat down with some cake and punch. By the time we actually got to the ball none of the girls were wearing our shoes - our feet were already aching by then. Mine were these awesome polished gold thingys, but they were cutting into my toes.


So we all went barefoot, and I must say that the floors of the capital building must be meticulously clean, because my feet were only slightly dirty at the end of the night. As we were trying to get out the door to meet the shuttle Carissa and Annie seemed to explode with crazy dance energy and all we could do was watch from the sidelines, kind of like watching a tornado and not being able to move.

Here are some random pictures from the night.








It was a blast and I can't wait for next year! I would do a few things differently though:

1. Walk around shoe store at least once in glass slipper candidates to make sure I won't be hurting 10 minutes into the night.
2. What am I talking about? I have already sworn to use the same shoes next year.
3. Next time book a room for two nights instead of one.
4. Keep pampering on the day of to a minimum, as this only makes the day more stressful instead of relaxing.
5. Don't bother renting a tux - about a third of the guys there were in suits.
6. Skip professional pictures and spend most the night dancing - take awesome snapshots instead!
7. Don't waste money/mental energy on matching accessories - they were more of a bother than anything. Spend more on a dress instead!
8. Don't bother with corsages/bootineers next year - or make my own out of silk flowers - by the time we got to the restaraunt both mine & Carissa's had fallen apart and we were holding the flowers in with ABC gum (eeeewwww.)

I have a strong feeling that this may become as much of an obsession as kid's bday parties and halloween for me.