Embassy Ball

Every year, Annie has a ball to celebrate her birthday. She pays for it all and just wants everyone to come and have a good time.  Last year, it was a formal affair to celebrate her 21st and this year, an embassy ball. Everyone was encouraged to come in clothes appropriate for their country of choice or formal wear as they liked.  We didn't spend a lot of time shopping or worrying about it. There just didn't seem to be time. I thought if the girls wanted to go, they could wear last year's dress! They didn't seem to disagree although Farmer Girl did try to wear my Mardi Gras gown from long ago. Two years ago, it was a bit big for her and she didn't really like it and this year, it was way too small. I have a hard time imagining that it ever fit me either!!! (I wore it to a ball when we lived in Mississippi over 20 years ago).  THEN two days before the ball, last year's dress seemed too little too although it looked fine. Her dear friend, Em from the cookie decorating post, brought lots of things over for her to choose from and you will see what she chose in the pictures to come. The Scribbler wore last years and she loved it as much as last year, but she didn't feel very well and we only stayed about 3 hours versus 6. Enjoy the pictures! 

These are 2 siblings of the guest of honor who left for her first year at college the morning after the ball, leaving only 5 children at home. She will attend a college where her older three brothers have attended or are attending.

 Farmer Girl and Em in their formal attire. Farmer Girl is wearing an oriental style dress courtesy of Em who attended the dance "officially" for the first time (you must be 13 to attend)

The Mongolian group dressed very warmly. They arrived with an interpreter as well. Behind them is Alfi and no, she is pulling her dress up, NOT down!

The Scribbler with Lizzy, a good friend. They kind of match, huh?

The Scribbler is very fortunate to have more friends to pose with her in pictures. They were very tolerant of me taking their pictures all the time!  I thought this one looked like Christmas with the burgundy and green.

She is also very fortunate to have a sister too although neither of them always think so! Farmer Girl does not particularly like this picture, but someone said you can look at her here and imagine her grown up. She kind of reminds me of one of my sisters a bit. Sisters, can you guess which one?

Embassy attendees with their bodyguard or is he a Federal Agent? I think we have been watching too much 

NCIS!

These two had just danced when I took the picture. I had tried to get a shot while they were dancing but they were too quick as it was the POLKA. Annie's brother teaches them ballroom dancing including but not limited to the Cha-cha, the Waltz, the Polka, and the Tango.

The official dance instructor dancing with Ray, who made that lovely shimmery green dress. It was beautiful.

Once again, I snagged a group for photos. Don't they look happy to be accommodating me?

The Scribbler is encircled by two friends who look quite lovely their first time at the ball. The Mongolian interpreter is in the center.

More friends.........

.....and more friends all looking beautiful. It is such fun to see them all and watch them dance. Everyone has a dance card and there are prizes given to the girl who dances with the most different partners and the boy who does the same. There is also usually a mystery, normally murder, that is being solved. How do you solve it? For every dance, you get a clue. Oftentimes, many will pull their clues together and then share the gifts as Annie gives away HUGE gift baskets to the winners.  It's a great incentive to get everyone to dance as well as to ensure people aren't dancing with the same person all the time.

Farmer Girl and one of her partners. Oftentimes, the girls will swirl around the dance floor with one another, but this year, Farmer Girl and Em decided NOT to do that and only dance with boys.

The birthday girl dancing with her brother. She always wears a lovely gown and both of them dance beautifully. Ah, to dance half as well as them and what fun! The evening ended with the awarding of the prizes, the solving of the mystery and the singing of happy birthday. No half hearted attempts with this group. It was the most beautiful rendition with everyone's voices lifted high and harmony being sung.
It was a beautiful way to spend an evening for the young and old alike.

Happy Birthday, Annie.