Tragedy of Tragedies

Tragedy of all tragedies happened at our house a couple of weeks ago, and I am now just telling you about it. OK maybe "tragedy" may be a bit harsh, but to a mother of four girls this counts.

It happened back on the 15th of June. I was down stairs cutting out the circles for my quilt and Lala came running down stairs. she said the words that just cut to a mother's soul "Baby Sister cut her hair"

Now I know I may be being dramatic here but really to a mother of girls this is hard. I mean they were all born bald, hence the name of my blog (bolo means bald in Hawaiian) I wait for their hair to grow and get long as soon as I can I start putting ponies in their hair. I look forward to the day that their hair is long enough for curlers, and can I just tell you that baby Sister's hair was so cute curly. I always come up with funky ways of putting it up, and try to match hair thingies to outfits. 

Also I think I need to let you in on some of my own history here, so you can further understand the trauma of hair cuts for me. 

When I was in fourth grade my hair was down to my waist and I loved it, apparently my mother didn't, which I can understand now that I am the mom long hair can get irritating but still I love it. So here is what happened my mom came to me one day and said that her friend was going to cut my hair. I was OK with that and at first though I didn't think much of it. I also didn't think much of it when my loving mother put my hair in a pony, braided it and said OK let's go. Next thing I knew I was sitting in the chair and my braid was sitting in my lap. I was in complete shock, I could see the end of my hair out of the corner of my eye. It was not over she kept cutting I did not get a cute bob but a mom cut, I walked in looking like a girl and walked out looking like a boy, or at least like a little version of my mother. The next day at school boys were coming up to me saying are you the new boy in school? You kind of look like this girl who went to our school named Robyn, but we can tell you are a boy so you can't be her. My mother kept me hair short until I was a teenager and rebeled against her and started growing it out. Good looking would like for me to cut my hair short but I just can't do it.

I hope that gives you some idea of why I hate what she (baby sister) did on June 15th.

This is what I imagine happened, the neighbor was cutting flowers with a pair of scissors and baby sister saw this and thought that might be fun. She went on the house and found her own pair of scissors and started cutting the weeds (we still don't have flowers in the flower beds) It was a bit breezy that day and I hadn't got her hair done yet, so as the breeze blew her hair in her face she thought it would be a good idea to just cut that piece off, and the next, and the next, and kept going until she had given herself a mullet.

So here for your viewing pleasure Baby Sister the hair stylist.

   

For fun, here is a close up of that face

I think she is thinking... maybe this wasn't the best idea.

looking left

looking right

The back, oh my the back

the evidence

all in the grass.

Now thankfully my sister in law cuts hair. We have tried to get into the girls heads that only Auntie Staci cuts hair, that is what we told baby sister the last time she cut her bangs (when she was two) because she didn't want them anymore. 

We got in the car and headed to Staci's house and she worked her magic.

She still is not sure about it.

I kept asking her does it have to be that short? She kept saying to me I am not the one who started it, I am the one trying to fix it.

Here is the end result...

I promise I did not choke her, (although I might have thought about it) that mark on her neck is from the hair cutting cape.

I would have to agree with what my brother said when he saw this picture.

"Why is that boy wearing a dress"

Brothers are fun

The other issue that I have with this whole situation is this if I had a boy this is the hair cut he would have. I would not shave his head and keep it super short, I would have the long bangs and tussled hair. I realise that some time has passed but I still hate it. All I want is a pony tail in the back of her head. maybe some little buns, for sure some curlers. I guess I will just have to get over it.

  

Well hello there

I feel like I have been gone from here forever, I am not a very good blogger, 

I really need to remember to tell YOU what is going on.

School is out, and glad to say all the girls graduated from their classes and are moving up to the next level.

Baby sister by far had the cutest graduation, seriously what is cuter than graduating from preschool.

See told ya...

I told you about grandma Kath and papa Bill coming to visit, they are coming back in three weeks and the girls are all excited about it.

Then this crazy thing happened, I went to the Joann's, and wonder of wonders, I was alone, so I thought I would look at the quilting books, mostly because I could (it is impossible with small children with you) and I found this book, I fell in love with the quilt on the cover.

It is one of those things that I would look at, and think one day, when I am a better quilter, or one day when I have more time (like that is ever going to happen) I would love to make that quilt. I am sure we have all had those moments, where we try to talk our selves in and out of things that we know we could do, or want to do.



Then the day I found out about the wedding dress I found out about this competition. I was hoping to enter the apparel competition, I mean really I could have taken it, but I had to make a bride's dreams come true.

Then I was in bed one night about to go to sleep stewing over all these silly things (fancy quilt, contests, and a deadline) I thought to my self now is as good a time as any. So I have put on my big girl panties and have dived in.

The rules of the contest are make a quilt using Riley Blake fabrics, easy I mean really what is cuter than Riley Blake. I have decided to make this crazy quilt out of Lori Holt's new line of fabric,Sew Cherry. I think it is the perfect bit of vintage for this quilt, I am doing red for the rings, and white for the background. and I have a time frame to finish it. You see I always do better with a deadline, I will put things off until forever without one. That is why I stay up sewing until 3:00 am sewing Christmas dresses, but that is another story for a different day. This quilt needs to be finished before August 17. Please keep me in your prayers, I am going to need it. I will be coming back here to keep you up to date on the progress, and hopefully you can keep me motivated.

If you have made a quilt out of Riley Blake fabrics, and you think you want to take me on, go check it out here.

Aubrey's Pageant

Baubi got a letter in the mail a month ago saying that she had a chance to be in the National American Miss Pageant this year. So Baubi and I went to the open call, not even a week later, we got that call! I heard her scream so I ran into the kitchen. Now in July she will be competing in this Pageant. BUT she won't be able to if she doesn't raise enough money. She is also going to be doing optional contests, the photogenic contest, Casual wear modeling and the Top model photo shoot. Also in this Pageant she will learn valuable skills like: Interview skills, Public speaking skills and it will even raise her confidence!
Please, please help her out.
http://www.gofundme.com/Aubreys-Pageant

Thanks so much! :)

Grandma Kath and Papa Bill

Grawma left this morning so now we are sad.

I should have taken a lot more photos, and then I should have taken better care of said camera so I could down load the few I actually took. I will blame it on the girls that is always more fun.

This is the tale of Grandma Kath and Papa Bill.

If you have other things to do that is OK, I realise it could get lengthy and there are no photos as just mentioned, but for personal records here is the tale of our "Soul Grandma"



My husband served a mission in Michigan from '88-'90

He is the only son, and his mother was very worried for him. She is a worrier any way,  I always say that if she didn't have something to worry about, she worry about the fact there wasn't anything to worry about. The fact that her only son would be gone for two years with out her was a little too much for her to handle. My father in law gave him a blessing (a special prayer) that he would be looked after while away, and that he would find someone on his mission who would be like a second mother to him, watch over him, and care for him while he was gone.

He went to Michigan and was there for about a month. His first companion was a football player,and very big my sweetheart is neither, he had a 29" waist up until six years ago. One day he and his athlete companion were walking down the road his companion about ten yard ahead of him. Across the street in a cafe watching this from the window was Grandma Kath.

She had been baptised herself only two months prior, so she was familiar with the missionaries. She turned to her friend and said "Oh my look at that little missionary" He touched her heart that second. She invited them to dinner at her house and had a "greenie" meal for him. All the food was green and the funny thing is, is that the man hates green food. While she was making dinner she looked out the window to see that a dog had torn apart her garbage. It was all over the back yard and for a single mother and nursing student it was too much for her to take. They ate the green dinner and while she was doing the dishes she once again looked out the window and saw my sweet husband picking up all the garbage off her lawn. Once again her heat was touched. They all sat around talking and getting to know each other, later my sweety fell asleep on her couch, she has said that when she put a blanket on him she felt a wave of motherly love sweep over her for this little missionary asleep on her couch.

I don't know your faith or what you believe, but for me this is a testament that the Lord knows us, and our needs. The Lord knew that my Mother in law needed to know someone would be out there loving her son. The Lord knew that a missionary in Michigan, was going to need someone he could call and get support only a mom can give. Most importantly the Lord knew that a junior in high school was going to graduate, date and marry this missionary and need another mom in her life.

I could sit here for hours and tale you tales of our Grandma Kath. She told him what kind of girl to marry (once again glad I made the cut) Good looking and I got engaged in Alaska he called her at three o'clock in the morning Michigan time to tell her I said yes. They drove twenty hours in an old beat up van to be there on our wedding day. I tell her that our anniversary, is also her and my anniversary because it was the first day we met. I was so happy when they moved to Arizona that way they could be closer. They have been here for every baby blessing and baptism, we have been there for almost every Easter. She has helped in raising the children and dealing with all the drama in our lives. If something happens she is usually the first one I call.

We have told the girls they have blood Grandma's and Grandma Kath. I was thinking about it the other day and I think this is the best way to explain it.

I was adopted so I believe the Lord looked down and found the mother I needed. He then stepped in and gave me the mother I wanted.

We all grow up loving our Mother's everything about them, but then we wish they could be different. That is what Kath is, she is the mother I wished for when mine was driving me nuts as a teenager. Now that my own mother is living in the middle of the ocean serving her own mission, it is really nice to have Kath come and visit. She says she loves us like we were hers and our girls truly were her first grand daughters. We are all in the will along with their own kids. We are loved and bonded to each other. It is amazing what happens when the Lord steps in.

Just so you know Kath is married I promise he is our Papa Bill. After playing with the girls he sits in the chair and holds his heart and says "You have no idea how good this is for me".  He is one of the hardest working men I know. He would work in the hot Arizona sun all day and then come home and start a major project, like yard work or working on the car, nothing ever waited until the week end. If it needed to be done it was going to be done that second. I have often told the girls that I hope they marry men who know how to work. I don't care what degree they hold, I just hope that they know how to be men, and they know how to work, just like Papa. It may seem a little past tense, that is because a few years ago Papa was diagnosed with MS.He can't work anymore, he can barely walk, he has to ride around in a scooter, he has braces on his legs, and he is still the same, While he was here he sanded and stained our deck, because he said it needs to be done and Good Looking was busy working. 

She did all my laundry, cleaned the pantry, cleaned the storage room and we started making Christmas presents for the sister's. She did it all, and said the whole time said this is what parents do and I am glad to help you out. They are going to be back in July, she said to make a list of all the things that they can help with when they get back, It is going to be one long June waiting for them to come back, I hope we can make it.

Here is the proof

If you are here from a linky party you can go here for all the back story.

I did not edit these photos so just bare with me.

Here is the dress, I did finish it on time and a day early. I thought it was all done and I wouldn't have to see it again. They didn't try it on until 9:30 at night and it was still to big. So they were back at my house at 10:20. Pinned, fixed, buttons moved over and I was done at 12:30. I was back up to their house the next morning and it fit perfectly.

So here for your viewing pleasure the five day wedding dress.

Front

Back

Eleven satin buttons, with loops.

I missed the mom seeing the dress for the first time moment, stupid camera.

Here she is my Ashley baby, getting married.

She liked it, she really liked it.

If you couldn't tell by looking at her face she really hates having her picture taken.

In the end I was glad I could do it for her.

Grandma is here from Arizona, so I don't know how often I will be here, hope to be back soon.



Wedding Dress Done

The wedding dress is done.

It was picked up today for the wedding tomorrow.

I was so glad to be done with it I did not get a picture, so here is the pattern.

I tried to copy and paste it, I tried to add a photo, but it doesn't want to play the game.

For those of you who do not want to link over, it is a vintage Vogue pattern #V2962.

It is a halter top dress, and a tea length skirt.

I added four tulle skirts over the top to make it fluffy.

I also made (not in the picture) a long black sash to tie around her waist.

I hope that when she tries it on, it fits and everything is the way she imagined it would be.

When I made the muslin for it, it fit at the waist and was about four inches to big around her chest.

I took in two inches on each side so here is hoping.

If you think that this dress is beautiful (which it is) and you are on your way to Joann's to pick up the pattern a little FYI for you, this is the fullest skirt I have ever made. I even messed it up and lost some of the fullness and still the fullest skirt I have ever made. My industrial serger could not gather it in, and just so you know that is saying something, that thing is powerful. I was once again thankful for my grandmother and all the things she taught me, one of which was how to gather with a string. I am seriously going to have to teach you that one day.

When I get a picture from them, I will post it. Until then I am going to lay down in my bed and eat ice cream.

Then I have to clean my house because Grandma is coming tomorrow.



What Am I Thinking

When I graduated from High school I knew that college was not for me.

School was a struggle for me and I was glad to have it done and didn't want to torture myself with it anymore. Especially if I had to pay for it and be disappointed with myself all over again.

I started working, I was a nanny and a sweatshop worker. This is why now, I am a mom and why I sew so fast. Today I got a call that I thought might be coming. The little girl I used to nanny for is getting married on Tuesday, yep in SIX days.  I had talked to her mom a couple of weeks ago and she was telling me how tense she was that Lindsey still hadn't found a dress.

This is now where my super speed sewing is going to be tested. I am going fabric shopping in the morning to get the materials for her wedding dress. I think it is kind of funny that the little girl that I made Christmas dresses for is now going to get a wedding dress from me also.

I think it should be pretty easy. Big tulle skirt and a fitted bodice with 3/4 length sleeves and no train. My only hesitation is the fact that I sew little girl dresses and NOT wedding dresses.

I am not a tailor, I do NOT do alterations, (you can ask anyone who has wanted me to hem pants over the years) and I hate dealing with linings especially the ones that you have to hand sew down. I am sure in the end I will be grateful for the experience. I am sure I will love the fact that I was the one that made her dreams come true for her dress. I am sure I will be there fitting a dress to the same body that I use to kiss good night, and be blown away by this full circle moment.

But right now I am tired, I still have one more skirt to make before tomorrow night, when the big girls leave to go to Disneyland with Grandma and Papa.  It is the most important skirt, it is the Cinderella skirt after all. I was hoping to get my spring cleaning done before Grandma brings the girls back. Finish sewing baby sister's summer dresses. Sleep in, enjoy just the little girls, clean the big girls room while they are gone, I am sure they wouldn't notice that everything was gone right. Now my next five days are going to be consumed with dress sewing and trying my hardest NOT to mess it up.

Anyway if you don't hear from me, know that I really wanted to post the Disney skirts, they are really cute and you would have loved them I promise.  But that is going to have to wait until after Tuesday.

So if you have a spare minute could you take a second and say a little prayer for me. I really am going to need all the help I can get. If you are close I will take babysitting, house cleaning and meals.

Just saying.