Presidential visit and Marine Corps Birthday Ball

 

As most of you know we got to meet President Obama!  We knew that he was coming for awhile and Brian was very busy at work as the embassy prepared for his visit.  This was the 3rd time he has tried to come to Australia.  As a part of his trip he set aside time to come to the embassy and speak.  We sent in an RSVP about a week ahead of time to let the embassy know that we were planning on attending the meet and greet.  The day of the meet and greet, Caleb, Elias and I arrived very early.  We knew there would be an area where you could stand to maybe get to shake the President's hand.  So for the first hour, we stood in line to get in the embassy.  We had to go through the secret service security, there was a long lis of things you are not allowed to bring.  Because we go there so early we got a spot right at the ropes.  There we stood for 2 hours.  Brian was not pleased with me!  We had a small bag of snacks and toys to entertain the boys.  Elias took a small nap while Brian was holding him.  Caleb played with the book and cars we brought for him.  It is amazing how resourceful you can be in a small area when you need to be.  I even nursed Elias in this small area (yes there were people all around).  I just sat down and covered up.  By the 2 hour mark Caleb was getting tired and anxious.  It was not an overly hot day, but since it was midday the sun was very strong.  Brian was wearing a suit and always holding 1 of the boys, so he was very hot!  By the time Obama came out, Caleb was done and started crying.  Obama was about 1/2 hour late!  The ambassador spoke for a couple of minutes and then Obama spoke.  I can't remember a lot of his speech, I was holding Caleb and trying to calm him down.  But he did thank the families for moving to support the embassy workers and I appreciated that.  Then the moment of truth came!  Obama came to shake hands.  He first went to an area of kids who were chosen to meet him and then he came to our area.  When he got to us he was shaking Elias hand and I just kind of thrust Elias at him! haha!  I don't know if he wanted to hold Elias or not, but I had it in my mind that he was going to!  When I saw him coming I gave the camera to Brian and right when Obama went to turn Elias around, our memory card filled up!  I have not used the small camera for months and head not checked it ahead of time!  After he shook our hands and gave Elias back we went to get water and wait until we could leave.  Both boys took a good nap that afternoon.  Which was good because then we had to find someone who got a picture of Obama with Elias!  I emailed the CLO (the person who arranged the meet and greet) to ask if their photographer had gotten the shot and she said he was blocked.  So I asked Brian to put out a mass email asking if anyone got a picture of a baby in a red hat with the president.  Luckily 5 people wrote back and we got 4 pictures!  But now Elias is known as the baby in the red hat! :)

Last weekend was also the Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  Brian promised me that while we were here we would go once.  He did not want to go last year, so he had to fulfill his promise this year.  It was a great time!  I had to buy a formal dress which was no easy feat here.  But I found a store in the city that sold formalwear  and they had great customer service, so it was not too bad.  A lady from my church offered to do my hair.  She did it in a french twist with some curled bits on top.  Another lady from church offered to watch the boys.  It was really cool seeing the Marine Ball traditions, seeing the colors come in, watching them cut the cake with a sword, feeling ancient as the youngest Marine ate it.  The food was good and I got to do some dancing.  Not with Brian of course, he does not like to dance :)  It was a very late night and I still have not recovered in sleep.  But it was really nice to get all dressed up and go out with my hubby!

Although these were both uniquely American experiences, neither would have happened for us if we were not in Australia.  Obama does not do meet and greets in Gaithersburg, MD and Brian is not a part of the armed forces so we would not have a chance to go to the Marine Corps Ball.  So, thanks to our posting here we got to celebrate and appreciate our American culture more than if we were in America!