We went to another Army Ball last night. This time it was our Squadron Ball. It was a great evening, I learned a lot about CAV traditions and a few other things too.

The Yellow Garter Event was fun, but actually getting the garter slipped on by my handsome soldier was even better…

My team looked great in our husbands’ uniforms – but even better in ball gowns…

I already knew it, but I was reminded that I have some fabulous friends…

Who look great in Stetsons…

And know all the words to Baby Got Back…

I also found out that Dallas, who usually only slow dances with me, can really cut a rug…

Regardless of his dance skills, he’s still my favorite guy…

Hope you had a happy Saturday too!

Yesterday was a big day. So big in fact, I am now hopped up on ibuprofen trying to manage a miserable back and shoulder ache. Totally worth it.

Dallas is part of a Cavalry unit. The CAV has many traditions, one of them is the Order of the Yellow Garter. CAV wives are given or earn a Yellow garter to wear at all CAV events or while their spouse is deployed. Yesterday, we got the chance to earn ours.

Step one was to dress up in your husband’s uniform. Not a problem, I just had to pull the belt tight to fit into his pants. His helmet, on the other hand, was a problem.

LARGE CRANIUM ALERT!! Luckily, another guy had a normal size head, so he let me use his helmet.

We were split up into teams, by troop. This is our troop.

Pretty badass if you ask me.

Our husbands don’t wear red t-shirts to work. We made these, with this cool image on the back:

Jackie’s friend Elizabeth gets the credit for amping up Rosie The Riveter for us. In case you don’t know, “If you ain’t Cav…you ain’t shit!”

Our husbands are Airborne qualified. The goal of the day was to experience what they experience, so the first stop was a 34 foot jump tower! I knew we were doing this, but in my head I pictured a little hop onto an inflated pillow. Like a bounce house for grown-ups.

This is what I got.

Um…yikes…

My helmet fell down on my face and I lost track of the instructions we had been given. Something about feet and knees together, count, do something else…I just held on until I got the bottom and the soldiers helped me stop.

This is my friend Jamie. In addition to being an Army wife she is also an Airborne qualified soldier.

That’s how it is supposed to look. I was close, not really, but it was fun. Also, the reason for the first ibuprofen.

We went on a short run, in the helmets and body armor. I run regularly, running in body armor is not fun. It made me think I should be nicer to Dallas. I probably won’t be, but I’ll think about it.

After all the wives jumped we had lunch.

That, my friends is an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat). I ate peanut butter and crackers and skittles. The rest of it was complicated and I wasn’t hungry. That turned out to be a huge mistake. By the end of the day I was starving. Seriously, I almost ate my shirt.

The best part came next when we got to drive Humvees. Awe. Some.

That’s my friend Jackie, she is an excellent driver. I know because when it was her turn to drive I was here:

She went up and down hills and off-road. I lived, so that makes her an expert.

The soldiers taught us about weapon safety and how to clear a room.

I’m pretty sure the guys don’t smile like that before they kick in a door.

The last part of the day was a real weapons fire. I’ve only fired a gun once before in my life. I can’t say I enjoyed it. We got 15 rounds. I have no idea how I fared because the girl next to me accidentally fired on my target. I have to remember to send her a thank-you card for that. I figure it’s better not to know how crappy a shot I am.

I’d say we earned our Yellow Garters, wouldn’t you? HOOAH!