236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball

I know this is way over due but it has been a busy couple of weeks. Either way here ya go!

The ball was AMAZING!!! There were at least 2000 people there! No I didn't add an extra 0 by accident I meant TWO THOUSAND! Normally, it is not that large instead they usually have one Friday night and one Saturday but because of bad scheduling everyone came to the same ball. Let's do the math. Wyatt's company is just shy of 300 people and his is the smallest at TBS. There were 4 active TBS companies plus their staff, the holding company, Infantry Officer School and the spouses/dates/guests of each Marine. Of course that does not include the waiters, camera crew and others behind the scenes. Even with all of that it was very cool. They had to move the event from the normal venue in the hotel we were staying at to the convention center across the street. (before that night) They had colapsable chandeliers and a dance floor. For those of you who have not been to a ball it begins with a formal ceremony (the traditions are wonderful to watch) then dinner is served, and lastly the DJ starts and everyone is back in their glory daze burning up the dance floor. Yes just like those crazy high school dances, well actually a little more tastfull but just as funny to watch because this is the one night Marines can let loose a little. Very entertaining.

Let's take a step backward. The day began with dropping Zoey off with our wonderful friends parents who were also watching our friends 5 month old and 2 yr old. Due the math that is two little babies and 2yr old. She volunteered and we were asured it would be fine. It was, Zoey did amazing! Next we loaded up in the car and drove and hour and a half to Richmond. We can finally say we have been to Richmond. The next few hours were spent doing makeup and trying to figure how to do our hair by ourselves. (By we I mean our friend Allison and me, we were sharing a room with her and her husband Ryan) It's not easy to do your own hair when you have never done a formal hair style before, but we looked awesome!
Finally the time came and we headed across the street for a fabulous evening! All in all it was the best date night we have had since last year. Actually it is only the third date night we've had since May. I can't wait for next year!
The next week was not the kind of week I had hoped to have. It was definitely the toughest week so far. Wyatt the next Monday for a week and Zoey wasn't liking the time change but we made it through and I am looking to the future. Only one more week in the field before Christmas!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

P.S. my spell check isn't working so if I missed something sorry

The return to Oklahoma

This imprompt to trip to Oklahoma was just as bust as the first but not nearly as stressful. Well except for keeping it a secret from everyone. I must say I loved everyone's reactions though when we showed up at Hideaway. Thankfully, we made it in time to see John before he went back to Indiana and David before he left for Afghanistan. Zoey was lucky enough to meet her awesome uncle. While she may not remember this first meeting we will always have the pictures.


A big highlight of the trip was the trick or treating Stillwater puts on before Halloween. Thankfully I brought Zoey's costume with me. She was a homemade ladybug. Our baby girl is too little to fit into any of the costumes made for infants (ha! 0-6 months is quite a gap). Either way she and her fabulous cousins Malaury and Raegan looked so cute! Since she is too small for trick or treating this year this was probably my favorite part of the holiday. Zoey LOVED seeing Raegan she was a little overwhelmed by the baby that could move and was louder but she was so excited to see her.
Speaking of cousins we took the girls to the pumpkin patch. This was quite an entertaining venture. It was a beautiful but windy day. There weren't actually very many orange pumpkins but we were able to get some good pictures of the Zoey with some multicolored ones and Malaury and Raegan trying to dig and eat their way to China. Apparently pumpkin patch red clay tastes wonderful.
The biggest event of the week was meeting Aunt Karen, Sara and Matt and of course Oklahoma State Homecoming. We started the final weekend with the walk around where Zoey proudly sported her team colors. The next morning she attended her very first parade! Even though it was during her nap she was fairly content sitting and watching all the pretty colors go by. Next we hit up a staple of Stillwater, Shortcakes! Unless you have been to Stillwater you won't understand but this is a place that must be visited on these special occasions and any day at 2 AM. Finally, we made it to the family tailgate. This is where Zoey and I parted ways. She spent the rest of her wonderful day with grandma and grandpa Wilson and my mom and I went to the game.
It was a fabulous weekend but we had to get back home to spend Halloween with daddy. The day didn't go as well as we had hoped but we were able to see our old neighbors, hand out candy, an take Zoey to a few neighbors houses for pictures.
There was one final event in this very eventful 10 day span of time. Zoey's first experience withrice cereal. It may have been a messy one but she loved it and ate the whole bowl followed by a full 8 oz of milk 45 min later! We have got a growing girl on our hands! Soon she'll be preparing for Thanksgiving feast.
Stay tuned for the adventures of our very first USMC Birthday Ball