A New Dress for Me {Finally}

Just around the corner in every woman's mind - is a lovely dress, a wonderful suit, or entire costume which will make an enchanting new creature of her. –Wilhela Cushman

This summer my youngest sister got married. The wedding was on July 31^st. On July 27^th I decided that I was making dresses for my sister {not the one getting married or the one who was the matron of honor}, my sister-in-law and me. It was a brilliant plan, really, but I was up to my elbows making vests for the little boys, which left me . . . not enough time to finish all three dresses. I knew it would be a stretch, but that I could finish two of them in the time I had, so I had to prioritize. Of course, I couldn't make my dress and leave one of my sisters without, so I decided that I'd make theirs and then worry about mine later. And later has come .

Sunday was the Primary Program and I was kind of in charge. It was the perfect opportunity for a new dress. A dress that was all cut out and waiting to be finished. As is my usual modus operandi, I procrastinated to the very last minute, finishing it at about 1:15 Saturday night/Sunday morning. [Editor's Note: part of my procrastination tactic this time was to spend three hours on Saturday with the Little Bugs sorting, de-junking, cleaning out and completely organizing their toy area, which turned out to be a brilliant bit of avoidance as it eliminated one of the major things on my list of boring, but necessary chores — wohoo ! The downside was that I stayed up way later that I really wanted to finishing up this dress.]

I have to pause here and note that although I got tons of compliments on my dress, I felt a little bit out of place when I looked around and saw everyone wearing their pretty fall-colored cardigans at church yesterday. You see, the temperatures have dropped and the leaves have changed and it is officially fall. It started raining late Saturday morning and pretty much hasn't let up. My shiny, springy, turquoise dress didn't really fit in with all the navy and burgundy and olive and pumpkin everyone else was wearing . I would have fit in much better here.

In garment construction, zippers are one of the most difficult things to conquer. I was one of those people who thought I'd be 30 and still calling my mom to come and put the zipper in for me. Lucky for me, my mom got tired of doing zippers for me so she showed me how way before I hit 20 . I have always wanted to do an invisible zipper. It seemed like such a magical and amazing thing to be able to pull off. The last few times I had to do zippers I picked up invisible zippers while I was getting my notions, but always chickened out right before going to the check-out and put them back and got the regular ones instead. But before I bought fabric and patterns for these dresses {clear back in July} I found a tutorial that made invisible zippers look do-able. I can't find the tutorial again, but as it turns out I didn't really need it because invisible zippers come with instructions {the very same instructions that the tutorial gave} and they are so easy! Way easier than regular zippers {ignore the gap at the top of the zipper — I made a change to the neckline after I'd put the zipper in and wasn't about to unpick}. I was able to line up my seams at the back on all three dress a lot better than with regular zippers {don't look too closely — it is still a little off}. And now I am in l♥ve with invisible zippers. Hooray for learning something new and an October finish!

One last thing: a close up of my 4" bronze, [faux] reptile skin, super pointy-toed stillettos. I think they'd do The Shoeologist proud.

Rhythm of the Rain

Sleeping is no mean art: for its sake one must stay awake all day.
–Friedrich Nietzsche

Sleep and I are old nemeses {had to Google the plural of nemesis. What would I do without Google ?}. Most nights I lay awake for hours, my body completely exhausted but my mind racing, unable to sleep. When my body finally finds rest {in the wee hours of the morning} it really just wants to stay at rest. Usually about the time I am really comfortable and sleeping well, I need to get up and help the Little Bugs get off to school. My body fights the transition though, and I spend the day craving sleep and fighting off the urge to lay down and have a nap. Ironically, it seems that on the days when I do give in and sneak a little shut-eye {which does not help the laying-awake-at-night-when-I'm-supposed-to-be-sleeping situation}, I am able to go to sleep quickly and get more restful sleep than I do at night. After fantasizing about different places I'd like to nap all day long, about 8:00 pm I perk right up and I'm ready to conquer the world. I have to force myself to quit for the day earlier than I want to in the hopes of getting more sleep at night. And then the laying awake in bed starts again.

Last night was one of my nights laying awake. I wasn't particularly distressed about it because this is my usual routine. It has been raining quite a bit lately, so it was soothing to listen to the rain beating on the roof while I tried to relax and not think about all the projects I would like to have been working on. About 2:15 {am } the rain subsided and I started to drift off. And then the rain became a torrential downpour and the wind picked up. I was a little bit startled by it {not to mention awake. Again.} and Mr. Bug was woken up by it too. We were just discussing why it seemed to suddenly get lighter outside {the motion sensor light on the back of the neighbor's house was tripped by all the commotion outside} and whether we had a back-up alarm clock if the power went out {we did}, when Grasshopper climbed into bed with us because he'd been woken up by all the noise outside. I was just telling him that he could stay for about three minutes before he had to go back to his own bed when LadyBug was climbing in the bed too and asking, how long can I stay?

There was nothing for it but to cuddle up all warm and snuggly under the covers {good thing we got the king size bed} and listen to the rain beating down around us. Then the storm changed pitch and we worried about what we were hearing, so Mr. Bug went to investigate. It turned out it was just the wind. We went to tuck the Little Bugs back in bed but we were waylaid. Mr. Bug mused that he was going to have some hot chocolate and asked the Little Bugs if they needed anything before going back to sleep. We were all pretty wide awake, so we convened in the kitchen for an impromptu 'tea' party, complete with fancy accents, giggles and toast. Drinking with the pinkie-finger extended was not optional.

I did not find sleep until after 3:00 am. And so this morning I am once again defying my old nemesis, sleep.

Sabbath Songs: I Know That My Savior Loves Me

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. –Job 19:25

I'm in the Primary {LDS-speak for children's Sunday school} Presidency {LDS-speak for assigned voluntary service position for keeping the Primary running}. And I just love it. This year in Primary we've been learning about Jesus Christ. Our theme for the year is I Know My Savior Lives, so since January we've been learning songs and teaching lessons about Jesus.

Today is the Primary Program; the culmination of all of our learning with a presentation during Sacrament Meeting {LDS-speak for a congregational meeting} of short speaking parts from all the Primary children about what we've learned in he past 9½ months interspersed with the all songs we've learned. This is the second year that I've been in charge of coordinating/writing/arranging/handling the Primary Program. I hope it goes well.

The hard work is done. The principles have been taught. The songs have been learned. The presentation has been written up and printed into pretty booklets. The parts have been distributed and practiced. The kids have been coached to sit still in their choir seats, not to bounce up and down, or pick their noses, or put their mouths directly on the microphone when it is their turn to speak, and to sing loudly. All we can do now is hope that things go smoothly. My job today is to look pretty {OK, I totally made that up so I could have a reason/deadline to make myself a new dress , which I'll show you tomorrow}, raise and lower the pulpit depending on the height of the kids who will be speaking, keep the really little kids from jumping off the little steps we move to the pulpit so they can even reach it in its lowest position and make sure that everybody takes their turn at the microphone. It should be easy peasy. Like herding cats. I'm not worried at all.

I wish you could all be there {if you're in the neighborhood, church starts at 1:00}. Even if you're not religious, the Primary Program is something to see. Since I can't fly you all in, I want to share the theme song for this year. I have loved being able to sing this with the kids nearly every single week of this year. The song is called I Know That My Savior Loves Me and was written by Tami Jeppson Creamer and Derena Bell and distributed church-wide specifically for use this year in Primary. Each time I hear it, it touches my heart.



A long time ago in a beautiful place,
Children were gathered ‘round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.
Each saw the tears on His face.
The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet Jesus is real to me.

I know He lives! I will follow faithfully.
My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me.

Now I am here in a beautiful place,
Learning the teaching of Jesus.
Parents and teachers will help guide the way,
Lighting my path ev’ry day.
Wrapped in the arms of my Savior’s love,
I feel His gentle touch.
Living each day, I will follow His way,
Home to my Father above.

I know He lives! I will follow faithfully.
My heart I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me.

Everything Grows Better

Everything grows better in sunshine and love. –Unknown

These are my paternal grandparents, Woodrow and Elaine. Cute, no?

When I posted about my other grandparents I had their birth and marriage dates, but I think I totally cheated and got most of that off my Grandma Betty's obituary. I'm not sure when these grandparents were married and I can only guess at the year my Grandma Elaine was born; December of 1930 — I think. She died in January of 1995, but the exact date escapes me. Grandpa Woody was born on November 15, 1927 and died on December 3, 2003 {I happen to have the program from his funeral right here}. I know I have all of this information down somewhere, I just can't find it.

This set of grandparents lived on the same {very large} block as our elementary school. From our house to theirs was a total of seven blocks — easily within walking distance. Coincidentally {or maybe it wasn't} Grandpa Woody's parents lived only two streets over and about ¾ of the way up the block from us. But that's not super important to my story. What is is that they were a big part of my life growing up. I inherited a few things from them. For instance, I got my love of pretty shoes from my Grandma Elaine. Sometimes I dream about her shoes. I also got my laugh and my hands from her. From my Grandpa Woody, I got my blue eyes and the ability to remember things in minute detail.

This cross stitch hung in their kitchen for the longest time; probably from 1984 or 1985 until my grandpa moved out of their house in about 2000.

It was a kit with pattern, floss and aida cloth that my mom bought who knows how many years before I found it in her things I asked if I could make it. It was my first experience with embroidery floss and counted cross stitch and it was so fun. I don't know how old I was when I did it, but I'm certain that I wasn't older than twelve. As I was working on it one day, my grandparents were over and saw it. My grandma liked what she saw and offered to pay me for it when I was finished. I think she gave me $10 for it.

I think it was a little bit inspired of my Grandma to buy it from me. It forged a connection between us. It increased the value of it and ensured that it would be something I would want to keep; I'll never get tired of it and want to get rid of it {things might have gone differently if she hadn't bought it from me}. I'd love to have it framed differently; matted and with a distressed white frame so that is more a piece of art. I had it priced out a few months ago {when I was having something else framed}, but even with my 50% off coupon, it was still well over $100, which just isn't in the budget at the moment. For now, it hangs in my kitchen, reminding me of times gone by.

Happy 11th Birthday Grasshopper: Where Did the Time Go?

It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't. –Barbara Kingsolver, Animal Dreams

I swear it was only yesterday.

Before he was Grasshopper, he was our Little Pumpkin. You see, his due date was October 31 and I was really excited to have a Halloween baby. But he had other plans. My water broke at 2:45 am on October 19, 1999 {after I had stayed up until 11:30 the night before cleaning the oven because I was sure it wouldn't get done if I didn't do it right then}. October 29, 1999, 10 days old.

Just look at those chubby cheeks! He wanted me to hold him all. the. time. He was a horrible sleeper. He loved to jump — that's why we call him Grasshopper. I was worried about his eyes, so we took him to a really good children's optometrist and had him completely checked out. Fortunately, there wasn't a problem at all. He just needed to grow a bit so that his eyes weren't quite so far apart. April 2000, 6 months old.

Already walking and into a million things. I love the dimple on his sweet, chubby cheek. Aren't those the cutest orange corduroy overalls ever? Baby Gap. I visited them five times before I could bear to pay the $20 for them. But they were a must have for my Little Grasshopper-Pumpkin. October 2000, 1 year old.

Clever and mischievous, always on-the-go and a smile to melt your heart. It wasn't too long after this that he quit wanting me to hold him every waking minute of the day. I kind of missed it. October 2001, 2 years old.

Smart, independent and such a handsome boy. And just a little bit naughty. He didn't want to be in the stroller, refused to hold my hand and spent a lot of time between two and three years old running away from me. I made him a leash that hooked onto his belt loop because I couldn't keep up with him {I was preggers with the LadyBug}. As long as he stayed by me, he didn't have to wear it, but if he started to wander {or run} away, I would get it out. He outgrew the need for it pretty quickly. October 2002, 3 years old.

Adjusting well to being the big brother, good natured, and his own person. He never liked shoes much, and goes barefoot {just like his mom} whenever he can. October 2003, 4 years old.

Getting bigger and smarter every day. October 2004, 5 years old. Already.

Where did my little boy go? He's so grown-up; he'd started Kindergarten, was learning to read, making friends and playing for hours with building toys that were for older kids {he knew exactly how to put them together, but his little hands weren't strong enough to snap them in place so he was always brining them to me to put together}. He could also do math in his head — math that they hadn't taught him yet in school. He's too smart for his own good. October 2005, 6 years old.

First grade and silly school pictures. Doesn't anybody check to see if the kids' hair is combed? And speaking of hair, look how dark it has turned. He's not my blonde little boy anymore. September 2006, {almost} 7 years old.

Second grade and the school pictures just keep getting better. I love that big gap where his front teeth should be. He lost his teeth later than most of the other kids did. September 2007, {almost} 8 years old.

Why did I quit taking the Little Bugs {who aren't so little any more} for professional pictures ? He's so thin; the chubby cheeks have long since disappeared and I worry about him eating enough. Look at those dark circles under his eyes. He's a lot like me in so many ways, only I didn't get my dark circles until I was in my early twenties. September 2008, {almost} 9 years old.

10 already? This really seems like 10 minutes ago. This was kind of a rough day at school; he fell down the stairs just before pictures. You can see the goose egg on his forehead. When he was little we called him Mr. Bonk, because he always had three bruises on his forehead in varying shades of purple, green and yellow. Go back up and click on his one-year old picture for a closer look. He has a bruise in the middle of his forehead. September 2009, {almost} 10 years old.

The birthday boy has his day all planned out. He wanted hash browns from McDonald's for breakfast and he's requested that I bring him pizza from Two Jack's for lunch — but only half of a personal-size pizza, because that is all he can eat. He wants me to save the rest for later. We'll take some Starburst mini-packs for treats for the kids in his class and for dinner he wants to go eat steak at Sizzler. We've tried to convince him that Mr. Bug can cook a waaayyy better steak than Sizzler, or that if he really wants to go out at the very least we should go to Golden Corral {or about five other places nicer than that}, but he's the birthday boy and he's insisting that it be Sizzler. After dinner, he's got his last scout meeting as a Webelos {short for 'We Be Loyal Scouts,' just in case you've never had a boy in Scouts}. His birthday gift of choice is {as always} a LEGO set. Today is all about the Grasshopper, but he's an easy kid to please.

Happy birthday, little Grasshopper. Try not to grow up so fast, will you?