The Regency Ball

On February 3, 2018, Brian and I went to the Regency Romance Ball in Salt Lake City. I first heard about this annual ball when I was recovering from surgery (or maybe when I was pregnant with Gabe), but it didn't work out for us that year for obvious reasons. We were pretty excited to be able to attend this year. I love the Regency Era, and I love that Brian is willing to play dress-up with me because I really love dressing up!

The night of the Ball, a person in one of my local photography groups wanted to practice posing couples and asked if anyone could meet up with her near Eagle Mountain. I told her that Brian and I could be models if she was okay with us being dressed up in Regency Era clothing. She said that it might be fun, so we got a free photo shoot by 2 photographers with a shooting style really similar to mine--we've taken the same shooting and editing course and the same posing course. 

Prior to the shoot, I had my make-up artist friend give me my first legit make-up session. It was quite a splurge, but I've used her for my senior sessions, and I wanted to have a chance to experience her services for myself. After my make-up session, I went home, did my hair up in my best regency impression, and then we loaded up and headed out to the barren wilderness northwest of Eagle Mountain for pictures. 

I also took pictures of my new friend Melissa and her husband Joseph. I tied up my dress with the only thing I could find in the car--Gabe's scarf!

 All too soon (because I love shooting people!), it was time to head out to the ball!

 When we got to the ball at the Little America, we checked, and they gave us this fancy envelope with our place cards and other things. It had a wax seal!

 We had a fancy regency style dinner... at least as close to it as they could get! It was fun meeting new people who also like dressing up!

 One of the fun couples that we met photobombed one of our pictures and then introduced themselves to apologize. They come all the way from Wyoming every year. They won one of the costume category contests. They were so much fun to be around! Maybe someday we will be as cool as they are.

 They took this picture of us after photobombing our picture.

 The ball was so much fun! They walked us through every dance step. We danced minuets for the first time in my life, reels, and an old-fashioned waltz. It was SO much fun! We will probably be heading back for more fun next year!

The next morning, Gabe decided to try out Brian's hat.

It's never too early to teach a young man how to be dapper.

When I was sewing up my dress, Rachel was interested in what it was for. I told her that Dad was going to take me to a ball. After a confused look, she replied, "But you're not a princess." And then I got to teach her about Regency Balls and show her a clip from one of my favorite movies. She was finally satisfied that I could go to a ball without being a princess, but it also made her want to tag along. I'm hoping someday that we can all go together like this one family we saw there where the mom and 3 or 4 t(eenage to early 20s) daughters had the same style dress in all different colors, and they attended the ball on the arms of the dad and a brother or two. They had such a blast together that I decided we all need to go when our kids are old enough to appreciate it all.

Thank you, Brian, for such a fun night!

January 2018 Part 5: Everything Else that We Haven't Covered

We got a jump start on teaching Gabe how to drive...or at least he wishes we would! 

 I tried to post more on Instagram for my business, which meant me trying to take more pictures of me when I put a little more effort into hair and make-up (aka Sundays).

 I vacuumed, at least once, and here's the proof!

 Brian and I went to see the Greatest Showman back in December, and I loved it so much that I bought the soundtrack and listened to it constantly. Well, mid-January, I decided it would be a good Michael/Mommy date, and we decided to bring Rachel too. We ran into some friends from the neighborhood at the theater, and they were kind enough to take our picture. After this, the whole family was a little obsessed with the movie! We all went and saw it again with Nana and Papa.

 We had lots of sweet moments in the middle of not-as-sweet moments.

 Rachel got a new dress from Grandma and Grandpa, and she loves it!

 Gabe got a job--at least he pretended he did.

 And we ate brownies. At least once. Maybe more.

We also had a Supermoon, which I tried to capture one night down at the city marina. 

Then just like that, we made it through the longest month of the year!

January 2018 Part 4: Ice Castles

We loved going to the Ice Castles in Midway so much last year that I bought tickets again when they went on a pre-sale in November. Then we had an unusually warm December and January. It may have been cold in there, but we didn't really get much snow. Then all of a sudden, it was the end of January and we had to figure out when we could go see the Ice Castles! We made it up there on January 30...right before it closed for the season! We took Kirt and Julie with us. This time, we got to go at night. 

 The moon was full and beautiful. I think this was right before a Supermoon, if I remember right.

 Gabe couldn't get enough of all the little slides. He had such a blast!

 And Rachel got to meet Anna and Elsa again. That was probably her favorite part.

We loved them just as much this year, maybe even more so because we were prepared with snow pants for all the slides. Thanks for going with us, Kirt and Julie!!!

January 2018 Part 3: Kindness Bears

In an effort to promote kindness at our house, we went to Build-a-bear workshop and made each kid a kindness bear. We went and picked out pictures of Jesus to be sewn into each bear, and then went to the mall to build our bears. The kids loved picking out and filling their new bears. 

 Here's Gabe's:

 Rachel picked a very colorful cat

 and this picture to go inside:

 Michael picked a monkey

 and this picture:

 After their bears received their hearts and pictures and then were stitched up, they all got a "bath"

 They loved their bears.

Since the premise behind these stuffed animals is that they don't like being around us if we're not kind, Brian and I got a stuffed bunny named (Winni)Fred. Whenever someone was being unkind, their kindness bear went away, and he/she would have to be extra nice to earn it back. There were times when Fred got to sleep with one of the kids. It was a good reminder for a while. We should probably have a reminder session about our kindness bears. We can always be kinder around here.