The Ball ~part one~

In a few weeks we are going to the army ball for our unit. I hate balls. I hate dressing up and getting all girlie. I'm not even close to a size that is comfortable wearing a ball gown or any type of formal dress. And although I've been running on the treadmill and watching what I eat for the past few weeks (not for the ball but just because) I am not seeing any progress and I'm pouting about it.
I didn't know I was going to the ball until a few days ago. We couldn't find a babysitter, not that I was looking too hard. The ball is in a city that's over an hour away, and silly me, but I seem to have anxiety issues about leaving my children with someone I hardly know and then going an hour away from them for about 5 hours. Chances are, I'd have a panic attack and not even enjoy my time.
In steps my dad. And mom. Last week as I was whining to my dad, he decided to help me out. He's sending my mom down here for a few days so she can watch the kids while we go to the ball. Even better, my mom is getting us a few suites at the hotel so that the kids can be right there near me.
After my mom told me she was coming down to watch the kids thus ending that crisis, my next issue came up. The Dress. As I mentioned, I'm in no shape to be picking out a dress that I feel and look good in. I don't like dressing up. I didn't even enjoying dressing up and being the center of attention at my own wedding (yep, that's weird, I've been told!).
Today the kids, the husband, and I went up to the big city to visit the mall. We went to store after store and after carefully considering a blue giraffe look that Drew picked out and a blinged out cheetah pattern that Louisa picked out, we entered our last store for the day. Dillards. I was looking at all the sophisticated "Misses" formal dresses and honestly, none of them were me. I'm 5'3", so that leaves all floor length dresses out. Unless I wear 6" heels. And I'm not Sarah Jessica Parker the last time I checked. We were on our way out to go back and check out the blue giraffe dress again when I saw a few ball gowns in the Juniors section that looked nice. I liked a whole bunch of them and, lucky day, they had my size! That doesn't happen often.
I tried on about 6 of them, really really liking two. The kids and husband helped me make my final decision. Well actually, Drew was begging me to try on the green bean colored polka dot dress, and Louisa wanted me to try on a size 4 floor length blue glittery Cinderella dress. But they were ok with my final choice as well. Hunter had his eye on a red one, and a blue one, and a yellow one, and pretty much anything that his little stroller passed by.

While in the dressing room, Louisa kept opening the door to hand me yet another dress that daddy had found. Yes, while I was partly naked. I did happen to be the only one trying on dresses, but scary for anyone who walked by to glimpse my granny underwear in the mirror. I did finally lock the door, only to find that Drew's Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest key necklace could open the lock. Now seriously, who would have thought that the stupid necklace pendant could open locks? Of course, Drew knew it could the whole time.
While paying for the dress, the cashier gave us many strange looks. Probably wondering why an entire family needs to help mom pick out a formal dress. I, actually, was wondering the same thing. But at least we all got out of the house and the heat for the day.
No luck on shoes yet. That will be part two. My issues with my dumb wide feet and how I can never ever find formal shoes in a wide size.