I just made it and/or Thanks Mom!

(Yes--she's wearing high heels.  She loves being almost as tall as Dad).

I ended up making Kelly's costume for her play.  I just couldn't bring myself to spend exorbitant amounts of money on a dress that was too grown up, hardly modest at all, with no guarantee that it would fit.  So, I bought the material on Friday after work.  I started cutting it out on Sat. afternoon and by Sunday evening here is the finished product.  (She had to turn it in on Monday). I'm relieved it's just a costume because it's not as exact as I would have liked.  

Evidence would suggest that I am a little tired and frazzled from a couple of late nights.  1). Unsecured hair blowing around. 2). Rumpled shirt and sweat pants. 3). What happened to my smile?  It's like only half of my mouth really felt like doing it. 4). Don't even tell me about the bags under my eyes.

Kelly does not wear heels at all.  These are the biggest pair that I have (size 10).  Notice her heel hanging off the back.  When did my little girl grow up so much?!!

(See what I mean about the hair and the half smile?  I seriously needed to go to bed. Kelly was livin' it up being taller than mom.)

All in all, it really wasn't a bad project.  It made me wish that I had more room and better tools.  I also wouldn't mind taking a class on altering patterns.  It took me over 3 hours just to trace and cut out this dress because I wanted to make sure it would fit.  I still don't think I altered the pattern a well as I could have--but I couldn't figure out how else to do it!  I should say that this is the pattern that I used.  However in the interest of time and money I did not do a tulle overlay or line the dress either.  I totally would have if it wasn't    "just a costume," but since it was I just skipped it.  I think the total cost on the dress was about $24, not including the pattern.  Not too bad!!  I got a smokin' deal on the fabric: 4 yards for $18.  Hurray!  That part made the whole thing a little easier.  Kelly's happy.  I'm totally relieved that it's done and it turned out well enough.  I'm excited to see her perform in it.  I am grateful to my mother for teaching me how to sew, as well as spending lots of hours and late nights making things for me so that I could be successful.  I love you mom!

Tried to make it short

(Sorry for the poor quality of this picture. I was hurrying to take it.)  We finally got some much needed rain!  It has been so hot and dry.  Everyday our high is somewhere in the low to mid 80's and we are tired of having to use our air conditioning!  One night Kevin opened the back door to find this little Rat Snake slithering across our patio.  The kids were fascinated!  Kenzie even stepped right up to it. Personally it gives me the creeps to know that something like that lives near my home.  Thank goodness they are not poisonous! And double thank goodness it was slithering away from our house, not towards it.  Do you remember when we found one in our attic? Serious heebie jeebies!


I think my parents are the only ones who check my blog regularly--thanks Mom and Dad!  Sorry that I haven't posted in a while.  Every day has been so jam packed lately.  I usually crawl into bed between 11pm and midnight only to wake up at 5:15 am to do it all over again.  I just haven't made time for blogging lately--once again, sorry.


So, for the few of you that actually read this blog, here is a quick update:


Kenzie:  Busy loving life!  Her vocabulary surprises me everyday.  Many people comment that she talks well for her age and I can't help but think that it is because she has to keep up with all of her siblings who have the gift of gab.  Lately the phrase that she's been saying a lot is, "I don't appreciate that!"


Kate:  Loving, loving, loving school.  To me it's such a magical moment when the light bulb comes on and your children really start reading.  Last year she new how to read and could do it, but it seemed like I was trying to pull her teeth out when I would ask her to read something.  This year, it's like she can't read enough.  Hallelujah!  She loves her school teacher and comes home everyday excited about something new that she learned that day.  I feel grateful to have happy children.


Kevin: Ran for school treasurer and sadly did not get elected.  We all knew it's just a big popularity contest and he kept saying that it would be a miracle if he won.  Thankfully, he's mature enough to understand and he was o.k. with not winning.  We were so proud of him for persevering and for giving a speech in front of the whole school!
  He's also getting ready for a big 3 day, 2 night science and nature camp trip with his whole grade.  Usually this trip happens in the spring, but for some reason this year they've decided to go in November.  I feel caught off guard and wish I had more time to prepare myself.  I know that he will be just fine away from home, but I still feel nervous about it. He's totally excited and I think overall it will be a great experience for him.


Kelly: A light bulb has gone off for her this year too.  She has transformed into such a responsible young woman.  We worried about her last year and wondered if she would ever figure it out.  Don't get me wrong, she is still a teenager and has her moments, but she is definitely more mature than last year.  Again--Hallelujah!
  She is as tall I as am, which throws me off a little.  I predict by the end of this school year she will be taller than me.  She is confident and just loving life.  She is busy preparing for the school musical and I am trying to decide if I should make her costume or just buy it.  She has to wear a very formal dress--think prom or bridesmaid.  Ugh.  I don't want to spend the money to buy one, but I'm not sure if I'm up for making one either.  I will post some pictures once we have her costume completed.


Justin:  Has not been traveling as much which has been wonderful!!  The company he works for has recently purchased a new building and will be moving in the near future.  The place where they are moving to used to be a corporate YMCA building and was left with all kinds of free weights and rubber flooring, etc.  So tapping into his J. Mark Randall  thriftiness, he came home the other day with several hundred pounds of weights and a couple dozen rubber floor tiles.  It inspired him to clean out the garage--Hurray!!  That's what I call a win-win.


Janet:  Busy trying to keep up with everyone else.  I'm doing my best to make it through this school year.  Actually, there has been a lot of changes where I work and it's made Justin and I re-evaluate a lot of things.  We're trying to make a plan so that I can give my notice and be done working full time at the end of this semester.  Hurray again! I'm looking into renewing some of my fitness certifications and seeing what I can do to get back into that field.  No matter how desirable a teacher's schedule is, i.e. summer's off.  I could not convince myself that that is what I really wanted to do.  Thankfully Justin is so supportive and together I feel like we will make a plan that is much better for our family.


So much for my quick update!  That's about all.  Thanks for reading this post.