Happy 235th Birthday Marine Corps

Happy 235th Birthday Marine Corps.  The greatest fighting force in the World!  I am so glad I have one of your own to call MINE!

TRYING to find a dress

So I HAVE to find a dress for the Marine Corps Ball in Nov.  My Marine has already had to buy the Ball tickets, at $80 + a ticket!  It is in Vegas….. again.  WHY?  I am not quite sure why we can’t just do it here in CA.  We not only have to pay a ridiculous amount for the tickets, but then the dress, shoes, my marines uniform, ribbons and whatever else comes up.  OH! And the hotel room, the gas to get there… and find someone to watch the 4 girls.  Oh the joys!  It’s not that easy to prepare for this event.  Not to mention that I am A LOT heavier (weight wise that is) than I want to be. 

 So I have looked for a dress while visiting my sisters in Utah.  I was shocked at the prices of the dresses. Although they were VERY modest and they would “fit” what I was looking for.  I just didn’t have the money to buy one up there.  So this past weekend, while in Palm Springs doing that  Last Minute Shopping for the girls school stuff, we stopped by David’s Bridal.  STOP RIGHT THERE… you ask, You didn’t take ALL 4 girls with you to look for a dress did you?  YES I DID!  I know call me CRAZY!

When I 1^st walked in I asked the girl at the desk if they had any dresses with sleeves.  NOPE! All their dresses are spaghetti strap or strapless. BUT they do have jackets to match any dress for another $50.  Nice….. YA RIGHT!

So I was wanting a candy apple red dress…. I also found a navy blue dress but not sure if my marine wants me to match him in his BLUES. I LOVED both the dresses that I tried on (Although the size was WAY bigger than I wanted to be )  After putting the second dress on, I remembered.. I had the camera with me in the diaper bag.  So here is the 2^nd dress I tried on.  

excuse the NO makeup and tan lines :)

 the sales girl was a little weird and wanted me to wear the wrap correctly... Off the shoulder

 

 I like (the price of) this one the best.  What do you all think?  HELP please…. It does have a wrap, but I think I will have a jacket made. OH! And let us not forget the alterations… another $65 on top of the jacket and dress price.  REALLY? The dress that I have worn to I think 3 balls now was a WHOPPING $29.99 at Ross!

Life is always changing!

Man, I should know by now after being married for all of my Marines military career, so far.... you can NEVER plan ANYTHING! I might have to explain this for some of you NOT military that MIGHT read this.

Let's say.....   You are given orders to move, to let's say Camp Pendleton, CA.  You are living in... let's say Parris Island, SC.  You plan the move, pay for plane tickets to fly your girls out to CA early so that you and your Marine can finish up last minute things with base housing.  You arrange for housing at Camp Pendleton, you arrange for TMO to come pack your house, you set up the transportation of vehicle #2 to CA.... and then 1 month before you are supposed to check out at Parris Island, you are notified that your orders have been changed!  WHAT?  you've got to be kidding.... to where?  oh ya, 29 Palms.... the CRAP HOLE of the earth!  (BTW this is what happened to us a little over 2 years ago)

so fast forward to now.... 2 years+ later.  My Marine has deployed 2 times in the 2 years we've been in 29 palms.  We have web orders to Hawaii (SWEET I KNOW! You are jealous huh?) He deployed in March of this year again and SHOULD return October "ish". He is to report to Hawaii no sooner than Nov 1 NO later than Nov 31.  Well there is a SLIGHT problem... he is also up for promotion to 1st Sgt this year and there is NO 1st Sgt billet available in Hawaii as of now... So we are thinking.... NO Hawaii for us :(

Honestly I will be fine wherever we get sent.... Just PLEASE DON'T keep us in the CRAP HOLE! For my Marine's sake most of all.... he REALLY needs to get outta this crap battalion! 

I've got A crap load of stuff to do before my Marine gets home.  I still have yet to clean out the garage.  Go through and get rid of crap we don't need. Sell my hubby's truck (we can't take 2 vehicles with us this time) and many other little things. Not to mention, loose about 15 lbs and find a dress for the Marine Corps Ball- that happens like right after he gets back :) OH the joys of military life.  Really I do like being a military wife, but man somedays it gets REALLY old!  Especially not being able to PLAN your life out!