December 15th, 2018- Bachelor/Stag Party- Micheal
The boys and I headed out late last night to the cabins we would be using for the paintball war. We camped out last night and we would be camping out tonight before heading back to the main palace tomorrow afternoon. I was looking over the rules Lars had printed up for us before we left.
Paintball War Rules
Rule One: Safety gear must be worn by all players and referees.
Rule Two: There is no blind firing. You must be looking at your target.
Rule Three: No physical contact.
Rule Four: Only paintball guns are used.
Rule Five: No Drinking allowed while playing.
Rule Six: Only shoot at the other team. Not your own.
Rule Seven: If you are hit take yourself out of the game until the next one begins.
If you fail to follow any of these rules you will be pulled from the game.
I set the list aside and finished putting my safety gear on. Lars had given brought along shirts in two different colors so we knew what team we were one.
"Green team you will enter the playing field from the left and Blue team you will be entering the playing field from the right," Lars said.
Each team climbed onto golf carts and taken to their entrances.
"Which one of you has the best shot with one of these paintball guns."
"Why?" Boris asked.
"I figured they could be our sniper," I replied.
"That would be Josh," Boris replied.
"You know how to shoot?"
"I only took a gun safety course just Incase I found a gun during a fire," Josh replied. "But that was only after we went into a fire where the teenage son had ammo stored in his room and didn't tell us."*
"Did everyone get out okay?"
"One of the other guys got hit in the shoulder but he was about ready to retire anyway," Josh replied. "Where do you want to start off at?"
"I figured you go high while the rest of us stay low."
"There's that ditch over on the east side," Boris said. "I could hide there while the rest of you hide around the rest of the buildings and Josh takes the high point. That massive tree on the west is a good idea if you don't mind climbing."
"I would but I don't think those branches would hold me. I take the hill the tree sits on though."
"Good thing you boys know what you want to do. We are here." The golf cart driver said.
We each ran off to find a spot to hide until Lars announced that it was time for the game to begin. I hid behind the open door of the old barn from this spot I could see five... possibly six other spots to hide not counting the blown up barriers that were set up to add more for us to hide behind and keep the buildings from being hit too much.
Five minutes later I heard someone walking around the area. I kept to my spot hoping they didn't see me.
"Okay Gentlemen, the game begins in three... two... one."
With that, I slowly moved out of my spot enough just to look out at the field. I jumped back behind the door when I heard shuffling followed by someone cursing. Guess one team was down a man. I made my way around the barn and spotted a member of the other team and took aim and fired a shot.
"Nice try but you missed." They called out hiding behind one of the blows up barriers.
"I'll get you later. There are five other people on your team."
I was making my way over to the north side of the field since that is the side the blue team entered on. I spotted another player in a blue shirt and fired again. This time I knew I hit them in the arm because they grabbed said arm and were cussing up a storm.
"One player down for each team ten minutes in," Lars said through the bullhorn. "Make that two down for the blue team and one down for the green team."
I continued to move through the playing field carefully. I shot when I saw someone which was often but I didn't hit another player, not even my own team by accident. I was heading back to the barn I had first started at when I was hit on the side of my mask.
"I'm out," I called out before leaving the playing field.
"Four people left on each side," Lars called
I climb into the golf car and joined Boris.
"Who got you?" I asked.
"I think it was Patrick but I can't be sure since we are all wearing a mask."
"Would you gentlemen like to head black to the campsite?"
"We can wait," I replied. "We have a better view here than we do at the campsite."
"I agree. I think Josh is going to last the longest." Boris said. "He had the best spot in the place."
"Four, three with Green in the lead to win. Whichever team loses all their players first loses."
Just after Lars made that announcement we saw William in a blue team limping out of the playing field.
"William, you alright?" I asked.
"I got hit on my left butt cheek." He replied. "It hurts."
I dug around in the cooler and found an ice pack and handed it over to him.
"Thanks." He replied. "That feels so much better."
Thirty minutes later we headed back to the campsite with the golf cart full of players. The game was finally over with the blue team coming from behind to win the game. Josh was the green teams the last man standing. He was hit trying to get back behind the tree out of the view of other players but a tree root sent him crashing to the ground. Those of us that were old enough to do so drank and at some point, we started to have target practice with the empty cans and bottles we had.
We sat up talking for hours. Drank a bit more and played a couple of games of poker. William certainly knew the game better than a kid his age should. We all had to pay him what he was due once we made it back to the palace the next afternoon. Once the sky started to darken I climbed into my tent and wrote down ideas for my vows to Mia outside of the traditional ones we were already using before falling asleep.
December 15th, 2018 -Spa Day -Bachelorette/hen party
Today was the day I celebrated the end of my bachelorette-hood, not that I cared it was ending. I was actually quite happy that it was. Micheal was the one for me and I've known that since I was just fifteen years old well longer than that but the realization hit me at fifteen years old. Today we were having a spa day followed by a movie night once the sun went down.
"Okay, so what did you order for us all?" Lana asked.
"Massages, manicures, pedicures, face masks. You know the basics."
"No hair revival?"
"No, and that's because there are younger girls here not just us and even then I would request that you get it done on your own time."
"Okay Princess, what would you like done first."
"I'm going for a massage," I replied. "I wouldn't want to mess up my nails. Man, that sounds so pretentious."
"Hey it's your last manicure or pedicure before the wedding," Lily said. "Of course you want it to stay perfect."
I hopped up on the massage table and got myself ready and before I knew it the message was already over. I could have let it go on longer but there were others that wanted the masseuse to have a go at them and I was only able to find one that was willing to sign a non disclosed agreement. Thankfully I was able to find a whole shop to take care of the face mask or facials (whatever you want to call them), manicures and pedicures that would sign non-disclosure agreements.
"What would you like done first face, hands or feet?"
"Feet," I replied. "I think my face needs a bit of a break after being shoved in the massage table head hole."
"No polish on the toes?" The woman said.
"Only a clear coat. They will not be seen by anyone one on the big day." I replied. "Why waste the color when no one is going to see it."
"Good point." She replied. "Now is there a particular sent that you would like in the foot bath?"
"Lavender if you have it."
"I always make sure we have it in stock. It is a very popular scent."
She got right to work on my feet. My nails were quickly trimmed as they hadn't grown all that much since my last pedicure. Once my feet were soaking she went on to the next girl and getting her feet soaking before coming back to me.
"Your feet hardly need any work done."
"Our grandmother requires is to look as close to perfect as we can and that includes us getting manicures and pedicures," Lana said.
"Don't forget the hair trims or cuts," Lily replied. "Or the hair colorings."
"That is only because you insist on getting your hair dyed a color that would make Grandmere mad," I replied.
"How many coats of the clear would you like?" She asked.
"Two," I said.
"It will take no time at all. Now, what do you want to be done for your manicure?"
"Lily do you still have my phone?" I asked.
Without a word, Lily handed over my phone. I quickly found the Pinterest app and looked for the style of nails that I wanted and showed them to the woman doing my pedicure.
"That is very pretty. SueAnne will defiantly be able to do that. She's the spiky red hair."
"And I am free to start on your nails now if you are read."
"Sure," I replied.
I got up from the chair I was sitting in and went over to the manicure stations. Sue and went right to work making me feel at home. I showed heels the picture of the nail style I wanted just changing one of the colors used from white to silver.
"What about the embellishments on the ring fingers?" SueAnne asked.
"Just paint those on with nail polish. I don't like having little gems glued to my nails."
"Good I don't like using them," SueAnne replied. "Would you like silver or another color for them."
"Could you do silver with a bit of white mixed in so they stand out a little bit?"
"That it'll be no problem at all."
Thirty minutes later I was watching my nails dry as I waited to have a facial done. I was oddly enough the last to have it done everyone else either already had them done or choose not to have one.
"Okay, which mask do you want?"
"The fifth one."
"That is a good one. I recommend it to all brides because it is so relaxing and good for the skin." She explained. "Now is this a full treatment or a spot treatment?"
"Full treatment of course."
"Here are the headphones for you to listen to something while you wait for the mask to work its magic."
I slipped the headphones on and leaned back as she prepared the mask that would be put on my face. Once the mask was placed on my face she put slices of cucumber on my eyes. It didn't take me long to drift off to sleep as some book on tape my sisters chose for me played in the headphones.
I didn't open my eyes again until the mask had been completely cleaned from my face. When I opened my eyes again the room had completely changed. Gone were the massage tables and manicure and pedicure stations. Instead in their place were tables filled with food, presents, and games. The whole room was now decorated with navy blue and silver streamers and balloons. The tables had navy tablecloths on them.
"I thought that we were going to have a movie night?" I said as I took it all in.
"We are but we wanted to surprise you with this." Lana said. "and it was a right pain keeping it a secret from you."
"But we managed just fine."
"Well if we are staying here for the night then I need to go to my suite and get something."
"You have your phone. You need nothing else tonight."
"No, it is something I planned to hand out tonight after the movies," I replied. "Now I want to get it myself."
"Fine but you better be back here in five minutes or we will send someone after you."
As quick as I could I made my way to my suite and grabbed the small suitcase I kept all the gifts for my bridal party.
"Mia, you don't want of us to share a suite case do you?" Perrin asked.
"No, I put everything in here. I figure who's ever git I open will get to open their gift from me at the same time."
I spent the next hour opening gifts. There were a lot of small gifts. I ended up opening about twenty gifts in total. One of them was even from my mom who chose to sit the party out and let me spend time with my sisters and friends.
Gifts received at my bachelorette party
1.) Painted Portrait of Micheal and I painted by and from my mom.
2.) Personalized picture frame from Perin
3.) Diamond pearl bracelet from grandmere.
4.)A royal romance-book was written by Tina for me.
5.) A video of Michael and I love story. Edited by Lilly
6.) Custom stationery -Lana
7.) A gift certificate to Tiffany's Meeka.
8.) Tiffany Silverware set from not sure who as the tag was missing.
9.) Copper French press coffee machine- Olivia
10.)Towel set- from lily.
11.) etched champagne gasses- mom and Mr. G
12.) color in world map-Perin and Ling Su
13.) trees planted- Olivia
14.) Cake Knives- Lana
15.)Bathrobes- Tina
16.) Book of the month club (for both Michael and I – Trisha
17.) Passport Covers- no tag on it
18.) engraved coffee spoons- unknown
19.) custom star wars Pillow cases-Lily
20.) custom. Hogwarts napkin rings- someone named Julia.
"Is that everything?" Lana asked.
The maid checks all around the table and in the other room.
"Yes, ma'am that was everything." She replied. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Just bring in that movie snack cart we set up early," Lily replied.
"Its already on its way. I called down to have one of for lack of a better word busboys bring it up."
"Thank you. You can have the rest of the night off."
"Thank you, ma'am, do call me if you shall need anything else."
"I think we are okay," I replied. "Goodnight."
The maid left the room just as the last member of the kitchen staff on duty tonight raised his hand to knock on the door. He had arrived with what Lily was calling the movie snack cart.
"What movie are we starting off with?" I asked once we were alone again.
"Anyone of them from this stack here," Lily said pointing to a stack of movies on the cart. "They are all movies that neither of us has seen before."
"Let's see Deadpool 2, Love Simon, Ocean's 8, Adrift, I Tonya, Downsizing, and some bargain bin movies Lily found at Walmart before we came here," Lana said.
"I actually want to see all of those," I said.
"Good thing I brought this," Lily said pulling out a Tiffany blue box with a white ribbon on it.
I took the box from her and slipped the ribbon off so I could see what was inside the box. Inside was one of those old pull the leaver toys from when we were kids only this one had a picture of each of the movies she brought with her.
"Nice," I replied. "At least it wasn't one of those paper fortune things we made all the time."
"I thought about that but there wasn't enough space with all the movies that we have for us to watch," I said. "We won't be able to watch them all tonight."
"Of course not," Tina said. "All of us except Olivia will probably be passed out from drinking by the end of the fourth movie if not before then."
"We better get it out of our system now as we won't be able to drink all that much the next few days," I said. "Grandmere won't let us drink that much."
"Seriously, and she drinks what six sidecars a day?"
"We know but she at an age where the doctor is just making her comfortable until she goes."