CAP Dining-Out

Oh my goodness, I apologize for the color of the pics (what do you do about flourescent lighting in a big gym/hangar-type room?) but we had 

so much fun 

last night, I want to post these anyway!

 First off, don't they look sharp?!  

I wanted a photo with their caps on too, but apparently you don't wear your cap inside, you hook it under your belt.  If Tate looks just a little bit 'mussed' that's because we welcomed him home from Disneyland (pics of that later, when I get them) at 6pm, whisked him to the armory, and he RAN into the bathroom to change into his uniform, for a 6pm... 6:30-ish dinner.  And, a side note, Wyatt spent hours shining his shoes and they look... the same.  Well, they were shiny already.

We're still newbies, and learning the ways of CAP, so I may add more later.  The boys knew that this would be a formal evening, abiding by full military "customs and courtesies", which included proper procedure for the many toasts,

and they were expected to dress and behave as gentlemen... which they did :D  (Tate even managed not to completely clean his plate in thirty seconds.)  But they had no idea how far and how fun the formal silliness would go.

It began before Tate and I arrived, with the mixing of the Grog, a strongly yellow non-alcoholic punch.

Yes.  That is what you think it is.  The cadets were expected to abide by a list of many and varied rules throughout the evening, such as Thou shalt not wear an ill-fitted or discolored mess jacket, and Thou shalt consume thy meal in a manner becoming gentle-persons.  Failure to comply results in being called out by another cadet and sent to the Grog Bowl.

However rules such as Thou shalt make every effort to meet all guests, and Thou shalt be painfully regarded if thy clip-on bow tie rides at an obvious list, and Thou shalt keep toasts and comments within the limits of good taste and mutual respect, however good-natured needling is encouraged, ensured that virtually any of the cadets could be sent to the Grog Bowl.

Yes, they had to scoop out punch with a toilet plunger, toast the Mess, and drink the punch.  (Please tell me no one ever mistakes that plunger for another!)

But all in good fun :D

The cadets had also voted on several annual awards, which were given out last night to outstanding cadets.

Fun for everyone!  Except Gunnar, who was too young to attend.  Maybe next year.  He spent the night with Gramma Grasshopper, and undoubtedly had a good time himself :D

But, oh, it's so good to have all three of my boys back under one roof!  I was happy and thankful for Tate to go to Disneyland, and I wasn't a bit worried, but I sure missed him!

I know he was glad to get back to his own bed, and to find that a knife he'd ordered had arrived just that morning.  Well, it is the Testosterzone, you know!