Military Ball and Weekend Fun

The weekend of October 15th we spent in Elizabethtown, KY (Ft. Knox) in order to attend Steven's Military Ball and visit with my parents.  They came down from Ft. Wayne to spend the weekend with us and to help out with James while Steven and I enjoyed the ball! 
The ball was so much fun!  It was nice and small, amazing food, great dessert, inspiring guest speaker, and fun friends.  It's really nice to have an excuse to get all dolled up!  I love seeing Steven in his blues, so handsome! 

 His class of 60 guys is splint up into 4 different groups, and these next pictures are of the guys in his small group.  He's made some good friends while at the Career Course and learned a lot from his instructor. 

 The decorations were so beautiful.  It's hard to see really clearly here, but in the dim light of the room, these lighted votives with roses were really pretty.  It was very feminine for a military ball, but so nice! 

 This is what they call "Grog."  Every Military Ball has this same ceremony and it's fun to see (and taste) the differences.  They get some kind of alcohol that is a representative from each significant battle that unit has participated in, tell a little story about each one, and dump in into a big pot.  This time the Grog was dumped into this barrel which was then dispersed out to all of us for drinking.  "Was it good?" you ask...let's just say ere was plenty left over...not so tasty!  They also raffled off the barrel at the end of the night. 

 "Booted Out of Knox" was the theme of the ball because this is the last Maneuver Captain's Career Course that will ever be held at Ft. Knox.  This course as well as the whole Armor school is moving down to Ft. Benning, GA.

 Maj Garner is Steven's instructor.  He's been great and Steven has really enjoyed working with and learning from him.  Quite the cheesy smile too!  ;-)

 Steven and Mike Bell

We spent Saturday up near Bardstown, KY, visiting a few antique shops and two wineries.  The weather was beautiful and Bardstown was such a cute little town.  We snapped these pictures at Springhill Winery after a delicious tasting.  Thanks Mom and Dad for making the trip down, we had such a great time! 

 I love this one, James is giving Grandma big hugs.  So cute!