Evening wear

Thank goodness for a family that sews.
My mother worked in a sewing plant for 10+ years before returning to school when I, myself was in Jr high school. Piece rate work was tough but she was fast and made pretty good money. Easily sewing hundreds of pieces a day.

She taught my sister and I to sew long before we were old enough to take home ec. in school ourselves. I sewed an entire micro beach house closet full of fashion for Barbie and Ken. I sewed many of my own clothes and later sewed clothes and blankets for my own children.

Of my mothers four sisters,  three of them also worked in sewing plants. They are all great with a sewing machine. My mother is the oldest of the five girls. Three of the four of them still sew often. Elaborate Halloween costumes, darling summer capris, and darling outfits for the grand babies and great grand babies.

Luckily, My aunt Diane is recently retired. She was the one who created my wedding dress oh so many years ago...  And she was so sweet to help us out.

We purchased a pattern, some fabric and she created this fabulous dress for my daughters pageant.

Of course, I think my baby is gorgeous. And being a size 3 helps her a little. But Check her out!

The pageant is this Saturday and she has been working her tail off!

Up hours before school starts to practice for and rehearsals for an upcoming school play. A full day of senior year classes. Then two or three hours per evening of directing the rehearsals for her own profile project.

There have been obstacles for sure. Many who could not also handle the double performance/ rehearsal schedule have dropped from her cast. She has had conflicts with the schedule on the venue, and a friend standing in as her right hand man also dropped out.

But she is standing strong, she has not stressed about it. They will be holding a meeting today to see if they are able to still pull together a full cast and continue on. If not, she has plans in place to conduct a school talent show with the proceeds still submitted to her charity.

Wow! I could not be more proud. At eighteen I am not sure I would have the strength, initiative nor the willpower to pull of the play in the first place. But to rearrange and adapt so quickly and undeterred just amazes me.

The pageant will be held this Saturday. Just a mere four days from now.

Every weekend for her is filled with mock interviews, dance number practices, learning to walk like a pageant queen and practicing with her 'little miss'.

Each contestant was asked to find a small girl between the ages of four and ten who will be walking with her, and also performing in part of a dance number with her on stage. My daughter's little miss is a friend of her best friends, a petite four year old girl. Although she was born with down syndrome, she is one of the best performers in the show. She is so excited!

Every night this week my daughter has gone to bed early. She wakes up extra early to complete homework assignments then she is off for the day.

Through all of this (male readers who are squeamish may want to skip this bit) the stress has caused her period to get all out of whack. She has had a period on and off all through this crazy month.

Here is hoping that everything goes back to normal after this month.

I am hoping she wins the queen crown. She certainly deserves it for the effort if nothing else.

But no matter if she places or not, what a great experience and wow what an accomplishment!

Break a leg baby!--- well, you know what I mean.

Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you you are not alone!

I attended the production of Phantom of the opera. My youngest daughters high school put on a fabulous production.
She had an opportunity in her first directing gig. Assistant Director. I couldn't be more proud.

They went way over budget but the sets and props and costumes were of the quality of an off-Broadway show.

I will be attending again next Saturday with the little brother of a long time friend. Here are some shots.

Dancing with my star

This year, my baby girl was asked to join the school dance class in order to become someones partner. Dancing has always come a bit natural to her, she feels the music and has no problem keeping up with the timing.
I know I am her mother, but she rocked the house last night at the performance. (she is the woman in red)




I tried downloading a movie but it wont take. Someday I will learn this!

She was absolutely darling. She was not part of the team, she didn't try out for that. She was in a group with the kids who just wanted an easy, fun class credit. But she picked up the dances so quickly. Her instructor even noticed a difference with her.

I am so proud of her and cant wait to see her make the team. Try outs for next years team are next week.
_______________________________________________

Tomorrow is the first mother's Day that I can recall that I have spent without my mother. I will call her and I have something for her that is just too expensive to ship (that I will give her in a couple weeks). I received a card from her and my dad for my own mothers day. They are always to sweet and thoughtful. I love you mom! Happy Mothers Day!!!!!
(And dad love you too.)
My girls and I will get out tomorrow and enjoy the sunshine together, not sure what we will do yet but we always have a ton of fun together.

To all you mothers reading this post, Happy Mothers Day to you all! I hope that at the very least, the day makes you feel a little more appreciated for all you do. And that it reminds you what we are here for.

Dancing and Twirling

Last night was a busy night, we ate on the run as both girls had to be at the school by 5:00.

Chantel had a Color Guard performance with the band on the football field, because of the drama production at 7:00, they had to start this before the sun went down and we were looking right into the sun. Tough on the eyes, even with sunglasses on, but the pictures turned out better than I thought.

Blurry though- I just love the outfits/costumes they had this time. Very feminine and cute.

At one point they asked one member from each family to step onto the field with the band member, so that they might feel what it is like for their student to march....

Luckily- for safety reasons, parents of color guard were asked to stay in their seats?! I suppose maybe my reputation precedes me.

So we watched the 'other' family's getting lost on the field, quite a site- it is fun to laugh at others expense once in a while.

Then the band played another couple of numbers. And they sent the color guard to the back...

Hard to get pictures of them tossing their flags and catching them in sync with each other. What a beautiful fall evening it was- even with the sun in our eyes.

As it got a closer to the end of the program, the sun was just setting, absolutely beautiful backdrop

Then, it was inside and in approx. 10 minutes following the band production, the drama performance started.

Here is a short movie of Rachel's dance number, (she is in blue- in the back) it is a depiction of Shakespeare's 'Mid-summer's Night dream' enacted to a modern song.

The video is grainy and hard to see because of the white backdrop and dark theatre but the pictures I took are worse!

The only picture to turn out was this of her in her costume and there is a blur from someone running behind her.. drama students are sooo well dramatic!

Sweet thing though, Devon brought her a daisy and a hug... sweet! we tried to get a picture but so many drama students running through.. we were too slow.

Here she is with a Friend- Grace, seems they have worked out a little warm-up routine of their own..

Silly girls!

It was such a beautiful night, I didn't take the car. So we walked home.

Which was sweet except our street has no street lights and well, I stumbled over everything there was to stumble over, and I think i flipped Rachel in the face with a tree branch or two--- sorry Rachel.

and then, at 7:00 am this morning, Rachel headed off to Cedar City for the Shakespeare festival.

GOOD LUCK!!!! I love you!

See you on Saturday!

Homecoming 2008

Friday night Chantel worked, Rachel went to the homecoming game and stag dance, and I (although it was my birthday) stayed home and worked on the broken clothes washer.
There was a bit of excitement at the local eating establishment that my girls work at. It seems that one of the crew chiefs, (age 17) and a prior employee (age 17) decided that the $4000 in the safe was a little too tempting to leave be. After telling a few co-workers they were headed for Vegas then to Mexico, they (unbeknown to the co-workers) helped themselves to the money and headed out of Dodge.
They were later apprehended in Chicago... yeah me thinks the Vegas bit was a ploy to get the authorities off the trail. uh duh. Silly kids- now they will be paying for that foolishness for a long time.
So, now my daughter is even less happy with her job as all of the remaining employees are now being treated as criminals. They must now all be overly supervised. The one who took the money was known as the bosses favorite. I guess that has changed.


On a lighter note: Saturday was a busy day for us....
After relaxing with a cup of coffee and a crossword while the girls slept in, we started on the boutonnieres for the dates that night, so much more cost effective to make our own. $10 for a bunch of roses is a lot cheaper than $10 for one rose and a pin from the florist.
I regret I did not take any pictures of the flowers we made...
Here is one of the purple flower (we made) already pinned on. Thank god for photo editing.



Not bad for an amateur I suppose.
umm- I will say- it was a bit intimidating to find out, that her date Jake's mother and sister, own a florist shop. Yikes! Talk about pressure!

Here is a really bad shot of the beautiful creation that he gave her. He was so sweet, said he helped put the pearls on.

We began getting my older daughter ready around noon as he was coming to get her at around five. She had been perusing pictures of prom hairstyles for a week and could only find some that we had no idea how to accomplish. Here are some photos of this process....


First straightening, Then curling,
A little makeup, Finally she was beautiful. (o.k. she was already beautiful, but now she was gorgeous...)

So much was going on simultaneously- Running between the girls, Daughter number two had purchased a dress a while back, that was her style completely! Think Ginger Rogers... well she got it for under $10 but- In Utah you are not allowed to show any skin.. I think it is a mortal sin or something.. so in order to keep her from being ousted from her very first date dance, we had to do a little bit of

Cinderella-esque, bippity boppity boo... and this is what I was working with.

This glitter fabric, a dress that my daughter got for a steal, and a little elbow grease to create sleeves on the sleeveless. All while running between the bedroom salon wielding a curling iron, and the kitchen table sewing room, Covering those sinful spaghetti straps with gold and silver. Back to curl a few more curls. whew!

And then, a knock at the door!!! oh my! It cannot be either date! we are so far from ready- me in my dirty stained sweats and hair in a makeshift pony.. The girls running around in shorts and tanks they slept in the night before. - We were not ready for company!

Awwww it is a boy bearing gifts- flowers.. sweet little Channing (not Rachel's date) He was just here to see if Rachel and her date were eating out with he and his date. He was meeting his date at our house. Look at that bunch of roses he brought her. Looking so sharp in his tux. With Rachel and her friend Trisha who also came to help with the beauty regiment.

And then Channing's date Zanthy showed up and we were back to our tasks at hand...

You are darling- really, but we have work to do -

Now shoo!

But with all the interruptions, and all the set-backs, we managed to create sleeves on a dress,

Create two beautiful red-carpet
worthy hairstyles,

Mighty fine looking girls I say!
And then the dresses!

Please forgive their mothers horrible photography skills. (That white streak is sunlight coming from the window, not part of the dress)

But look at the sewing skills, this was sleeveless an hour ago.





Chantel's date arrived at about 5:30, handsome
bloke- more pictures.
















What a darling couple!


Later, after attempting my very first time cooking halibut steak (or any fish for that matter), and pine nut couscous (or any couscous). Which according to Rachel, I get a 1 out of 2.

I guess I need to work on cooking fish

properly- and look how boring it looks on a white plate. oh well, great for the waistline if the food tastes bad eh? (and I suppose I should admit- The couscous is from a box.)

We then dressed Rachel for her date with Devon:

Enter handsome number two!

Note: I did not get a picture of Rachel's flowers because, we took her picture before we pinned his on, and her date forgot hers in the refrigerator and had to go back home.





Their picture is also taken inside as they left after it was dark outside.

Another sweet looking couple. They were so nervous!



Sooo....

What you may be asking, did I do with my night alone? My night of freedom to throw caution to the wind? My night after my 39th birthday when I should be celebrating?

This:

But to get the whole effect, you have to realize that this was load number one. And as my washer has been on the mend for about 2 months, you need only close your eyes and imagine Mt. Kilimanjaro to know what I was up against. Then settled in for a movie and the smell of fabric softener.


Details on the dates later revealed that Rachel and Devon had a great time, dancing and talking, and the girls got a group photo at their first school date dance with each other. Chantel's last homecoming and Rachel's first.

Other than that, their night seemed uneventful.

Chantel's night began with an Italian dinner at one of those restaurants where you doodle on the fine table linens while you wait for your dinner to arrive. I guess the dinner must have been a while because from what I hear, they covered the entire thing.
Jake was quite the killer as he was doodling frisky flies under his plate... yes - you know what I mean. (flies making baby flies). I think he liked the shock value of whomever was lucky enough to clear their table. Then he doodled some arrows to the hottie.. and my daughter reciprocated..
sounds like they had a great time too. So it was worth the laundry- I'm so glad that they are enjoying their high school years. I tried to grow up so fast- I missed out on a lot of this.

Oh and sorry for the silly food plate and laundry in the middle of the story- but hey! such is my life.