. . . And a Happy New Year

As per usual, at this time of year I like to look at my life with the eyes of an Elementary School teacher and any area that "needs improvement" gets a chance to end up on my resolutions.  

So far I have successfully made a dress every month (see sidebar) 2010

and cooked through a cook book (see other blog for a partial telling of this adventure) 2010-2011

Also this last year I started a book club, made friends with my neighbors, took every opportunity to sing, and have managed to finally (maybe) get a schedule for keeping my house in order.  

I feel like I'm much more social and outgoing than I used to be.  I'm also more assertive, though I still need some work on that one.  

So for this year, to help with my socializing and my decorating skills, I have decided to make a wreath every month.  I have a group of ladies willing to help me with this goal, so I'm confident it will be another success.  

I will try to remember my camera and do some how-to's if you want to play along at home.  

Then, if nothing else, I will be able to stick something passably cute on my door and fool everyone on the outside about my interior decorating skills.  

Oh, and we're hoping for lots of photo shoots this year.  So maybe in 2013 my goal will be to get a website up and start a business.  

Year in Review Part 2

Part 1 is on Facebook, but since some of you are not, I thought I'd add some more year-reviewing here.

January

The Captain got lots of practice being a good helper for when Mommy got huge and pregnant and for after with the new baby.

February

Mommy and Daddy took a break to the summer in Brazil, while The Captain chilled with Grandma and his cousins and aunt and uncle in Kentucky.

March

I braved travel alone, pregnant, with a toddler for a wedding.  It was cold.  And all The Captain wanted to do was walk around in the cold.  Side note: this is one of the last times he would consent to wearing a vest.

It was also The Captain's birthday.

April

In April The Captain's captain bed arrived (our present to him).

And he learned to die Easter eggs.

May

We planted our garden and got lots and lots of cucumbers this year.  Also, Mommy got a flower garden.  Happy Mommy.

June

Father's Day!

July

Lots of this:

which led to lots of this:

August

Look how handy all that training was now that I'm ready to pop.

This picture was taken a few days after my due date, but Joy was already 2 weeks old.

September

Not to be deterred by recovery time, we spent Labor Day in Williamsburg.  

Because I started teaching seminary again right after.  Any guesses on the book of scripture we're studying this year?

October

Halloween usually gets the spotlight, but we also have our anniversary in October, and Johnny's parents came to visit, so we got to go out.  And Joy was blessed, and we went to Monticello, where The Captain decided he'd had enough.

November

Something about Jefferson must have sunk in because I walked in the basement one day to find The Captain reading 3 books at once (Jefferson would read up to 6).  They are marked with the arrows.

December

Miss Joy is 4 months old.  Super cute.  Probably one of my favorite stages.  She rolls, she giggles, she smiles, and she likes being naked.  She really is our little Joy.  (She's much smaller than The Captain at that age.)

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.  Here's a review.  We waited until after church to open presents, hence the well-dressed kiddos. 

 The Captain wanted to say hi

Johnny with his new pj pants

Joy modeling her sweet new socks.  Thanks, Aunt Mel!

The Captain opening his puzzles (for the second time) Thanks, Aunt Toni!

The Captain showing off his new big trucks.  Thanks, Aunt Mel!

My little bundle of Christmas Joy!

Happy Christmas everyone!

Dear Santa

You may recall last year, when my paper published some children's letters to Santa.  Those of you who don't get the Virginia Leader, will never fully appreciate how out of the loop I am.  There is no world news section, so if I didn't listen to NPR, I'd have no idea what was happening in the world.  Also, since we don't have cable, or an antenna, I don't watch the news.  And I only see the same 5 commercials they repeat on the internet, so I don't know the hot kids' toys out there.  So I can't assume that any of these letters are spelled wrong.  Anyway, these are exact copies.  

So this year, here's the gems from the local 1st and 2nd graders.

Dear Santa:

I've been good

• "I've been good because my Mommy told me so." -Dusty Fox
• "I have tried to be good but sometimes I am a little bad." -Devon Edwards
• "I have fed our cats when my Mommy told me to.  I have got in trouble some, but not too much." -Madison McGuire
• "I have been very good this year.  I know I have been because I make good grades in school and Mommy and Daddy never put me in timeout like my brothers!" -Lakyn Simmons
• "I have been good because I picked up trash at my school during recess." -Lance Johnson
• "I use my manners and say my prayers" -Grace Perkins
• "I have been good this year and have helped my sister up and down the basement stairs." -Abbie White
• "I help Mom and Day put the dirty clothes on the right pile. . . . Please leave my Dad a pile of rocks and a huge helmet." -Michael T. Woods (???)

 Good Questions 

• "What is it like when it's not Christmas Eve?  What do you do?" -Alex Truman
• "How do you get your money?" - Aidan McGlothlin
• "Do you have a dog?" - Gracie Howard
• "How does Mrs. Claus help you?" -Hope Smith
• "Does Mrs. Claus cook food for you?" -Kain Petch
• "What is inside the igloos at the North Pole?" - Benjamin Poe
• "Do your elves wear a hat like yours?" -Dylan Robison
• "Do you help make the toys?" -Mallorie Dove
• "Who is your favorite reindeer?  I hope you can make it from one side of the world to the other!" -Jonathan Lloyd
• "Is there a big machine that makes the toys in your workshop?" - Austin Byrd
• "Can you come to dinner on Christmas?" - DJ Albert
• "Was I a good girl?" -Kandice Cooper
• "Do you make snowmen at the North Pole?" -Camron Moore
• "Does your back hurt from carrying all those toys?" -Brody Smith
• "Do the elves get paid good for their hard work?" -Rhett Keffer
• "I hope the reindeer are fine.  Have they been good or bad?" -Brenna Ramos
• "How is that Mrs. Claus?" -Devin Eads
• "How much weight have you lost?" -Dylan Heath

Strange Requests

• "I want a magic bell make it triple plus triple magic bells." -Caleb B.
• "a devil costume" -Ivy 
• "I want a laptop and doll learning games. White cat." -Dallas (???)
• "A Super Hero Caller.  I made this one up.  So wake me up and I'll tell you about it. Magical shoes and gloves that stick to walls so I can climb up them.  I made this one up too." -Brady Sizemore
• "For Christmas I want a sea monster that wiggles its tail and I want a hug.  Thank you." -Josiah Hodges
• "I want a xbox 360 and a Ipod and a Iphone and a real truck." - Braxton Charlton  (sorry kid, don't think that's happening)
• "So, I would like a chair with wheels for my desk, a real vacuum cleaner, a journals and some cars." -Will (I think this kid must be awesome around the house.  Johnny thinks he wants to take it apart. He's probably right.  But a mom can dream . . . )
• "I think my dad wants a Petty Blue GT Mustang, but I'm not sure if it will fit in your sleigh?" -Gavin Faw
• "a pointer (so I can play school)." -Jada Davis & Jaslyn Harris 
• "I would like a D.S. and a big brother." -Ethan Jude
• "a red ink pen." -R.J.Steenken (really?  that's easy.)
• "Can you bring my brother something that he can take apart." -Abby Mitchem
• "a ukulele." -Miles Ritenour

Local Flavor

• "I want a gun.  I love guns." -Dakota Gregory
• " . . . gun to go hunting with so I can get a deer, . . . " -Sean Page
• "I want a pogo stick, VT bed stet, VT hat, VT Bing Bag chair, VT jacket, VT shoes, cowboy boots, camouflage hat, VT pinky Bands, VT pillow, VT pillow pet, VT trash can, VT rug, a touchable deer lamp, tools, toolbox with lock, key, cuddle kitten, VT football, VT hair, VT outfit, VT paint for my room, VT socks, VT TC and a cat and dog." -Tyler Cody (VT stands for Virginia Tech)
• "Daddy wants Hokies to win a bowl game." -Genna Martin
• "And give thanks to Jesus because it's his Birthday." -Makayla Montgomery
• "Also, bring my daddy a new gun called the 'Judge' . . . I will leave you a BIG piece of turkey and some Coke to drink." -Frankie Myers
• " . . . some money and a pair of tie-dyed glasses to wear. Last year we left you little balloons, but this year we will leave you chocolate cookies and some peanut better cookies.  We will put them downstairs by the VT Hokie light." -Bailey Lester

Kids

• "I have been a good girl you can get me a presents if you want to." -Brianna Cook
• "I would like a tower that you built a train set on a table with lots and lots of trains and a tower to the train set. . . . a go cart with a helmet and suit.  Must be a size 7 race car shirt and 7 pants." -Blaine T.
• " . . . and all the children that didn't get presents to have a very good Christmas." -Caleb S.
• "And a ds and a movie cald Barbey a fashion fairy . . . And some hi hels in the size 2 and 3." -Madison Hale
• " . . . and a monster high dvd loud tuch and an monster high bookbag and an monster high book and monster high poptuch and a cace and a monster High cd and xoxoxo" -Jesse Atwell
• "I hope you bring me presents that I like and want so I hope the presents you bring me is a digital camera, . . . " -Randi McDonie
• "I have been good.  I love to play with all of these toys! This is all I really really want all of these toys! They are fun to play with." -Kasadee Ferguson (you just know her mom is refusing to get her stuff she won't play with)
• "I know Christmas to some people is all about the presents.  But to me its not its about the birth of Jesus Christ.  I do enjoy the gifts." -Brooklyn Ellison
• "Thank you for my cheerleader doll last year and for my new baby sister, even if she was born in January." -Destiny Sadler
• "I want a blow and arrow" - Hunter Long (I think this is supposed to be bow.  Super cute.)
• "I want new pink boots with Hello Kitty on them.  I think Walmart has those kinds of boots." -Casey Golembiewski
• "I like Christmas and Santa is the best Christmas deliverer!" -Hunter Thornton
• "Also, please bring Ms. Robertson some pretty new clothes because she is pretty!" -Rosan Khamis (she's in Ms. Robertson's 1st grade class)
• "I will leave you some water and gummies." -Michael Collins
• "P.S. Please bring a PSP (I put it on layaway)." -Gunner Hutson
• "the game Call of Duty 4 (where you can shoot the bad guys) and an American colored (red, white, blue) snowboard." -Henry Brown (mostly I love that this kid thought, yeah, Santa's not American, I better specify.) 
• "My mom would like a "chore-bot" that can do all of her chores.  My dad would like a 3D or 4D TV." -Ryan Hurley (this kid has been paying attention. The 4D thing kills me.)
• "I also need books to read and clothes to wear because I'm growing out of them, and maybe some toys!" -Thomas Meredith

Ahh

• "I wish people would be nicer to everybody and I wish me and Rain would get along . . . " -Whittney
• " . . . news Ippers and for my big sister to be nice for one day to my momma so she can spend Christmas with us." -Karlee Lovell (I wasn't sure where to put this one.  It's so sweet and sad, but I have no idea if this girl wants a new zipper or if Ippers are something)
• "I would like to wish my Papa Hollywood (Dolbow) a Merry Christmas in heaven tell Papa I love and miss him." -Chevy
• "I hope my daddy can have surgery to go back to work." -Jacob Sexton
• "I have tried to be good this year.  I have messed up a little. . . . Also I would like a job for my Daddy." - Jacob Edwards 
• "Please bring Andrew something special.  He has been real sick.  My dog Izzie is a good dog.  She needs a dog to play with." -Jaden Songer
• "My mom is pregnant so can you make sure the baby is nice, clean, and healthy?" -Alexis Lafon
• "Please make sure you bring something for my daddy to make him feel better." -Seth Palmer.
• "Can you bring my cat back?  George ran away and we can't find him." -Riley Roggess
• "Santa if you go to heaven, please give my Dad a present too." -Jaiden Ratcliff

Top 10 Favorites

1. Dear Santa, How are your reindeer?  Tell Rudloph to keep up the good work! Santa, what would you like for Christmas?  I would like a new game for my Xbox 360.  My cousin would like a new gun toy and a horse.  Santa, my mom wants a new statue and my dad wants a new movie, but I'm not sure which one.  I don't know what my sister wants other than a laptop.  If you could, I would also like a new phone, a german shepherd puppy, and a new Wii because ours is broken.  Thank you.  Love, Chase Journell 
2. Dear Santa, I know what I want this year.  Here is a list of it.  A toy dirt bike, a DSI, a toy rake, and a toy man.  Thank you, Ryan Broadwell
3. Dear Santa, I hope you are feeling good and not sick.  I've been a good girl you can bring me a gift if you want to don't forget my mommy, daddy, and sisters.  They have been good too.  I love you Santa! Merry Christmas!  Carolyn Cook
4. Dear Santa, I have been good this year.  I want a Tablet or a DS Charger, a trampoline, a private Freeze Cone Shop that only the people I like can come to the shop.  I would like a new TV. in my room.  Ask your elves if they can make zebra pain and peace sign stickers.  Merry Christmas! From, Emma Tawney
5. Dear Santa, I am a good girl and I want a medium drum set with a microphone.  I want a GoGo and a Real puppy with spots on it. I want a Paper Jamz Mic and effects amp too.  Plus some Monster High dolls with a bed that goes with it and a Drill and Fill playdough set.  I want a game called Operation. I need batteries and a charger for my camera.  Then I want an Ipod that cost 40.00 only.  Some new high heel boots and new puzzles.  I want some stuff for my sisters too, like and Ipod too.  We all want the Barbie hair stripes.  I want a Bratz van and movie with 3-d glasses.  Thank you very much if you get me this stuff then you are a good person.  We will leave you cookies and milk.  Love, Aleyah Payne
6. Dear Santa, I would like to have breakfast.  I will bring you a lot of cookies two different kinds.  You will be so so happy and do not forget to get my gifts and I will give you a big hug. MyKenzie
7. Dear Santa,  I love Santa. I wod have a truck.  I wod like a robot.  I love Santa.  Santa is the best.  Santa gives me toys.  I bin good.  I wod like a psp.  I wod like a Xbox.  I wod like a Play Station   Matthew
8. Dear Santa, Hi Santa my name is Skyler Edwards.  What I want for Christmas is all the thing's I have wishting for, DSI, pokemon.  Santa I really want a brother to play because I have two mean sister's and blay blad dog.  DSI games, mp3 player.  I wish for all the people who are sick to get better and the people who are hungry to get food and the homeless to get shelter.  Santa plase help other people but first before you stop at my house.  P.S. I love you Santa.  Skyler
9. Dear Santa, For Christmas, I want some new video games and a microscope to see tiny things.  I want a pet parrot.  I wish I had a toy Jetpack.  Please bring everything I asked for, please! Jacob Blankenship
10. Dear Santa, I just seriously want to know if I'm on the naughty list?  For Christmas I would like an Air Hog Jet.  Bring Ethan video games and brink Preston LOTS more homework! Also, please bring Mommy the Twilight movie.  Bring daddy Xman PG 13 movie.  And bring both my mommy and daddy love! I will leave you peanut butter cookies and milk.  I love Christmas because I get presents and because it is the Lord's day! Love, Brent McCall

December's Dress

In the interest of full disclosure, this dress was the reason these posts have been a year in coming.  Because this was a maternity dress.

 I had planned on making some when I got pregnant, but since I didn't even tell Johnny I was pregnant with Joy until Christmas last year, after this dress was already finished, and since that was still really early, I didn't feel like spilling the beans through a sewing project.

But now that my crazy birth story has far out-shadowed anything else, this post is long overdue.

I got this pattern from my mom, who got it for her friend's wedding in the 70s, clearly.  All I had to do was shorten the hem, and voila, modern classic.

Transforming it into a maternity dress was pretty easy, too.  I took out some of the gathering in the bust and the empire waistline, and added about 5" more to the skirt front, which I hid in a pleat.  Easy peasy.

Things I learned making this dress:

• I need to remember that in addition to a bigger chest and belly, pregnancy also means a wider rib cage.  Although this dress was big enough to make it all three trimesters, the empire seam was too tight by the time I hit my last one.  So I couldn't zip it up.  Luckily it was warm by then, so I didn't miss it as much.
• If you are going to sew a ribbon on a seam, remember that early, before you sew the zipper on.  As you can see, I was unsuccessful at matching them in the back. 

Pockets are absolutely necessary for every pregnant person.  They save so many trips up and down from the floor.  

November's Dress

I love brocade.  I love that it looks so rich.  I love that it's thick and only half slippery.  I love that it takes me half an hour of staring to decide which to buy at the store.

I don't love that every time you blink it starts fraying.  I especially don't love this when I'm lazy and don't serge every edge.  Just getting this thing on my dress form ripped two or three seams.

I knew from this pattern that I would just go all Asian and make the dress from brocade.  To be honest, I have very little room in my life for a brocade dress, but I have even less room for an Asian-inspired camo dress, or whatever.

This was the first, and only dress I made without pockets.  *Shock* and *gasp*, I know, but any kind of pockets I could imagine would simply ruin the line.  Especially if I ever used them.  And pockets I couldn't use are far worse than no pockets at all.  So I must conclude that a fancy-dressed Chinese woman must always carry a handbag.  Luckily, I have one made from brocade.

Things I learned making this dress:

1. My next sewing goal will be putting pockets in all of my skirts.  It is quite shameful that I make most of them and consistently forget to add pockets. 
2. I need to live in a world where I have excuses to wear brocade.  The type of world where people dress for dinner and frequently through fancy dress balls.  And where I would have no idea where the washing machine is.  
3. There is such a thing as being too dressed up.  I usually err in that direction, but when I wore this to church, I felt overdressed, which was strange.  And led me back to #2.

Close up on front

And the back

October's Dress

No, this project didn't die, and yes, I did actually sew all these dresses last year.  I'm just super lazy.  Anyway, with Halloween and Johnny being out of town for a week, October's dress was crazy.  

This was by far my most conservative dress.  Okay, maybe my only conservative dress.  I tried to think of something ironic to do with the fabric, but in the end, this pattern was what I bought it for, and it refused to become anything else.

 I bought this fabric to figure out how to make a flare-y/flippy skirt like that, and after learning it just basically a gored skirt with huge triangles on the bottom, I think the romance has gone out with the mystery.  Add to that the fact that it looks more exaggerated than the photo, and I won't be making a skirt from this pattern any time soon.  That's not to say that I won't make something similar, though ;)

Things I learned making this dress:

• I'm much more conservative than I think.  And despite the fact that conservative is much less fun, this was the dress that I wore out last winter.  I think it jives more closely with my idea of a seminary teacher than my other creations.  Also, it's much easier to create an outfit when you can just throw on a dress and boots.  And at 6 am, easiness wins out 9 times out of 10.  

The front 

 The back

 The flippy skirt

I added sleeves.  They are very comfortable. 

Halloween

Sorry everyone, I could have sworn I already posted about Halloween, but I guess these are the dangers of sleep-deprivation combined with a busy routine.  Some days I ask myself "did I shower?" and I honestly have no idea.  TMI, I'm sure.  Anyway, we had a really fun Halloween this year.  The Captain is finally old enough that he's interested in and capable of doing toddler crafts, so we did.

We painted pumpkins.  The Captain's was a ghost.

We decorated the front porch with our painted pumpkins and a ghost line The Captain made, and some "foy yeeps" (spider webs)

We did a family theme this Halloween.  

Johnny is a pipe.  He made his costume himself.  Mario and Luigi got to go down.

The Captain loved being Luigi.  He asked me the other day if he could dress up and go trick-or-treating.  It was so cute.  How do you explain just one time to a toddler?

The Captain surprised me this year.  He still doesn't really like wearing hats, but I didn't think he'd like wearing gloves, or having me put a mustache on him.  And he loved both.     

To be honest, we picked this year's theme based on putting a mustache on a pacifier.  But Joy made a really cute Mario.  It's never too early to start cross-dressing.

What's in the question block?  No one knows, but we hope it's not a star.  This boy has enough energy without being invincible and extra fast. 

Joy's Blessing

This little sweetie was almost two months old when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit bringing this beautiful dress and lots of love.

Don't know why I love this picture so much.  Something about the contrast of leather and lace appeals to my artistic side, I guess.

 Mommy and Daddy love

My kiddos.  This is usually what goes on in our house, and although this picture didn't end in tears, most would.  We tell The Captain to be kind so Joy won't be scared of him.