Senior Prom

Today was Tia's senior prom. 

I think I get just as excited about it as she does....because of my own fun dance memories.

So we learned our lesson from last year and we didn't even bother with dress shopping.  We just went straight to the fabric store and picked out a pattern and fabric. The pictures don't really do the fabric color justice.  This was the prettiest purple ever!   And then the work started (for me).  Tia picked a really great looking dress  In fact, I've never seen anything like it in a store or on the internet--so we know she'll be totally unique. 

( I did remind her that my Grandma Harris made my senior prom dress.  And there was actually another girl at the dance with the same dress done in the same fabric.  So it really does happen!)

 This dress was really, really hard to make.  I had several complete redoes on the bodice.  I had to do some pretty complicated pattern altering.  And I had to make up my own pattern for the sleeves because the pattern call for an off the shoulder look. However the results were perfect, so it was worth it.  I learned quite a bit of good sewing techniques on this dress (most of which I had to come up with on my own because the pattern had terrible instructions and not nearly enough pictures) I am particularly proud of my hidden zipper that comes out perfectly with the V back!.  And yes, there are 723 crystals--each individually glued on by me. 

Of course, we were saved by Bree for the hair.  I really, really can't do hair.  But Bree is amazing and we are lucky she is so willing to come over and help.  

I decided that more than just the high school kids should see this dress.  But Tia wasn't willing to put it on and take a walk around the neighborhood, so I'll just have to be satisfied with putting a lot of pictures up on the blog.

And I'll enjoy a 5 year break from fancy dress sewing while Brooklyn does a little growing up.

Happy Easter

We just had a great weekend of celebrating Easter. I really love this holiday, but I was having a hard time getting in the mood. I even went so far as to just ask my kids what they wanted in their Easter baskets--not even bothering to try to surprise anyone. BUT, then we got together with my parents, Bree's family, and Cory's family for a Saturday afternoon Easter party at Cory's house and everything came back into line. Here's a few highlights:

Brooklyn was very proud of this peace sign creation (it matched her shirt--and we all know that in Brooklyn's world fashionable matching stuff is very important)

There was lots of egg coloring. Grandma donated 10 dozen hard boiled eggs so everyone could decorate to their hearts content.

There was reading time. Tia is currently burning through the "39 clues" series. (admittedly, I did the same thing a few weeks ago--these are hard to put down!)

There was basketball.....

Since my boys were present..... there was soccer!

...and there was soccer mixed with trampoline jumping (?)

....and there was regular trampoline jumping

There was also lots of great food, but since I was eating it no pictures got taken.

I'll just add that on Sunday my primary class of 10 6-year-olds soared to new heights as they redefined the term "sugar rush". It was great........

I hope you all had a fun holiday as well!