Dress Alterations for Hazel Spring 2023

Another project I was working on was this dress for Hazel.  Kayli had asked me the fall before if I would adjust it.  And of course I would.  

I used the extra on the bottom to create the top.  It pieced in the back because it still wasn't quite big enough to get the size of fabric I needed.  

I was stressing so much about this because I didn't want to wreck the dress, and I couldn't try it on her. Things for other people always are the scariest for me to sew.  

Randomly that spring, I also hemmed two other bridesmaid dresses for a woman in our ward and her friend in the YSA ward.  

Getting Ready for Ana's Wedding

Along with moving overseas and getting a new job, I also spent a lot of time preparing for Ana's wedding, which was AWESOME!  So much fun!  I love doing flowers so I was grateful she let me help with them.  And honestly, Ana's mother-in-law and her did SOOO much more for the wedding than I did.  It's hard to help long distance. 😔  Ana picked gorgeous colors and sent me some Pinterest ideas and antlers to include, and this is the result.   

Also, I hemmed and adjusted Elena's and Isabel's bridesmaid dresses.  They were sleeveless with these tie around scarf things, but I wanted them to hold in place without having to worry about them, so I just cut them off and then resewed them on how I wanted.  

Elena's was done first so she could wear it to the Sweetheart's Dance.

I also made my own dress.  It was from a 1978 pattern, McCalls 6210. And in this picture here, it was perfect!!  Only then I washed it because just after I took this picture I spilled something on it.  And it shrank in the wash, despite me pre-washing everything.  😫😫😫.  I finished it the day before we were leaving for her wedding too, otherwise I would have dry cleaned it.   It's not horrible now, but it's not perfect like it had been.  

I have a crazy boot story though, my parents bought cowboy boots for Leo and I when we moved to Texas. And I spent forever looking for the perfect pair.  They ordered them for me online, but when they came one boot fit too tight, and even though I took it multiple times to a boot place to get it stretched, it always just hurt my foot.  So eventually I gave them away.  So when I needed boots for Ana's wedding, I started looking for used boots on Facebook marketplace, and I found the EXACT same pair I had owned, but when I tried them on, they fit perfectly.  So yeah, the boots I'm wearing are my favorite pair back again.  (Tears of joy here!)

All the kids got new boots!!!!  I love Elena's and Isabel's choices.  

The boys' boots I picked out since their feet are still growing and I didn't want to buy Ariats for them.  

And the boys also got new blue jeans since that's what they would be wearing.  Poor Leo, I dragged him to the Boot Barn and made him try on pairs till I found ones that looked so good on him.  😍  

Needless to say, we made several trips to the Boot Barn for boots and blue jeans.  

Here's one of the  boutonnieres I made. No joke, I used my awesome spray painting skills again and spray painted the lilac-colored thistles to navy blue.   I LOVE the flowers Ana picked for her wedding!  It made making these so enjoyable.  

Sebas modeling the bouquet for me.  

And I bought these after Christmas for 90% off. Surprisingly still pricey when you buy like 15 and I think they were originally $70 each. 

Anyway, I cut off the cinnamon sticks and orange slices and added in sprays of white flowers instead.  

Perfect for a Wyoming wedding now!  

To be fair, Leo actually did more than half of the white flowers for me.  Isabel and Sebastian helped some too.   So yeah, now all my kids will have to use these for their weddings.  (evil laugh)

I love flowers!!! 💐 🌺 🌼 🌹 🌸 

The End of Feb. 2023

 Sunrises on the way to school.

Aww, Navy is the sweetest!!

I got a job interview.  And then got a job.  I actually really liked it too and I was sad to leave it.

I think one of the girls--Isabel actually--asked me to make or buy her a housecoat.  So then I decided to sew ones out of linen and used an expensive pattern from this website which basically sold me on the idea of linen and their pattern--so luxurious!  Anyway, I really love linen and the feel of it so it didn't take much to convince me and I made one for Elena, Isabel and me.  Super easy project.  It's Capucine — Linen Bathrobe from Fabric-Store.com.  

There's mine.  I also liked that I could make mine bright red.  I love red!

Leo heading out to training again.  

Soup--probably clam chowder.  Yum. Yum.

Another day, another drive to school. 

I think Elena took these photos at her school actually.  So gorgeous!

Band and Orchestra had a bingo night to raise money so we went.  The kids had fun anyway.  Someone won tickets to a Chiefs game, so it had a lot of attendees.  We never won anything. 😭

I love gnomes and these ones had a RED beard!

These photos were from Isabel's Circle of Love activity at school.

Christmas 2022!!!

Christmas Eve Pajamas!!!  I made them from my pattern I used for their Avatar costumes, a Japanese Jinbei pattern.  Isabel had worn hers all the time and loved them, so I made a set for everyone.  I used linen too because I thought they'd be comfortable for the Kansas summer heat. And now back to Christmas Eve....

Traditions are important, especially this tradition.  

As is this tradition, still the best Christmas Eve dinner ever. 

Poor Isabel was sick and didn't even eat a hoagie though.  She was not a happy camper this Christmas.

Elena makes a cute Mary.

Our donkey was a bit out of control though.

And I don't really know what was going on here.

Donkey went wild.

So these are all backwards, but it was Sunday, so we opened a few before church and then the rest after church. 

Jubal and Lando got bikes from Santa.

Aww, I love my boys.

All the books.  

Ana sent this shirt for Efraim.

I had these in my cart when I ran into Kyle, Kate, and Kami H. at Walmart, I had to make them swear not to spoil the surprise for my kids. 

Umm.... best recreation of tv moment.

Leo got a suitcase for his new job.

Elena and Isabel also got some Tupperware.  Because giant popcorn bowls are important.

I got this game which no one will play with me, because I win.  Ruff.  

And Elena, Isabel and Sebastian got backpacks.  

Efraim opening his present video link!!!  Efraim got a hotwheels track. 

Sebas picked this awesome shirt for Isabel.

And Sebas got a flint knapping kit.   He really wanted one.

My parents sent us this AH-MAZING Native American talking stick for Christmas. Definitely a step up and more official than the wooden spoon, christianed the conch, (I think we had a real conch for awhile a la Lord of the Flies) that in my teenage years was occasionally passed around our dinner table allowing the holder to speak (sometimes I would raise my hand to talk--I swear I was one of the quiet siblings--but that really didn't work, the only way to be heard was to talk louder and faster). Leo laughed so hard when I showed him. He said he thought our family was so weird (but clearly endearing and hilarious) when he first came to visit and saw us passing around a wooden spoon to speak, but he also said he understood almost nothing otherwise because we all talked too fast and too loud and on top of each other. He can only wish he didn't understand us now. I remember once or twice my dad bringing a broomstick to the table and whacking whatever child he thought needed to be quieter with it. It was hilarious and did nothing to diminish the dull roar of noise.