Pup Update

A couple pictures of the pups:

Jack and Ava are the best.

Before Prom

I just thought I would quickly post a few pics from the Before Prom gathering.

 Lexee took her shoes off (can you spot one by the stair?) and enjoyed the fact that her friends Hailey and Katie were taller than she was.

A dad/daughter shot.

Putting on the boutonniere...

...and the corsage.

It was breezy and cold outside.  Unfortunate, since the weather had been lovely for most of the day.  But at least it didn't rain or snow.  Until the party bus rolled away.

A group shot:

A couple of couple shots:

We had fun with taking the shot in front of a picture of Christ... a gentle reminder to start the evening (wink)

And a few parting shots:

Our cute neighbor Chase, along with Mauri and his sister Lauren, had just been dropped off at home as the Prom party bus was leaving.  They had returned from spending two hours at a local gymnastics school celebrating and having fun at a birthday party.  He was sad... sad to the point of shedding tears... he wanted to go the "After Party" -- something about a BBQ following the birthday party.

Oh my.  Please don't tell me that might become the new standard.  A party, then an After Party.  

Prom is bad enough with

Before Prom

Prom

After Prom

and after After Prom.

Lex came home at 5:30 am.

The quick lowdown:

The party bus was fun.

Dinner (@ Hard Rock Cafe) was fun.

The Prom was smaller than anticipated (I'm not sure if she was talking venue size or numbers), but fun.

After Prom (@ the Family Fun Center) was not that fun.

After After Prom (breakfast at the Waffle House, then Mario Kart at a friend's house) was fun.

Sounds like fun was in the majority.  Nice.

Prom Dress Miracle

I couldn't wait to share a real life miracle that happened today.

Remember Lexee's pink and silver lace Prom dress (refresher here)?  We took it back (Lex decided that it WAS a tad short - for a long dress).  After several more stores and numerous additional try-ons, Lex selected another dress.  This time in a champagne/blush color, with snazzy sequins on top.  Strapless, of course.  (Nearly all formal dresses with sleeves/straps around these parts are granny dresses, and boy, has Lex let me know, since I encouraged her on not-a-few occasions to "just give it a try."  That cap-sleeved satin fuchsia dress was always in the back of my mind.  As a last resort, of course.)

Since Lex's indecision put us behind a bit, and since the Prom dress took nearly her entire budget (all but $5), and she would be footing the alteration bill herself, I offered to put the straps/sleeves on for her.  

No charge.

We shopped JoAnns for fabric.  I had been concerned all along that it might be tricky to find something that would "go" with the champagne/blush color, let alone semi-match it.  We didn't have great success, but found a crushed tulle in a taupe-ish color that could possibly work (I was still worried).  I sat on it a couple of days.

Today, I determined, I simply MUST at least start the process of alterations.  I carefully scrutinized several of my neighbor's professionally altered dresses.  I decided to run to my two local stores that carry fabric, Hobby Lobby and Walmart, just to say I had covered every base.  I purchased $6 worth of half-yard fabric pieces at Hobby Lobby, thinking they might give me options.  Then I headed to Walmart.

The fabric section was a disaster.  Boxes everywhere, blocking aisles, and making it difficult to navigate.  On the cutting table there was a sign:  "For assistance, please go to the Photo Center or Electronics."  I scanned the bolts of fabric down every aisle.  I spotted some dusty rose colored tulle, and wondered if it would be worth adding to my Options collection.  Then I walked to an aisle in the back.  One that I have probably never looked at before.  That is when the miracle happened.

A bolt of champagne-ish/blush-ish sheer fabric.

I did not have the dress with me to compare, and I told myself it was most likely not the match I thought it was, but at $2.50/yd, I certainly had nothing to lose.  I walked to the Photo Center for assistance, and purchased 2 yards (way more than I needed, but I wanted to have some back-up IF it was the match I was hoping for).  When I arrived at my car, I quickly checked it against the Prom dress laying across the back seat.

I swear I could hear angels singing.

Since then, I have been tirelessly working on the dress.  I actually made two sets of "straps" (I'm not sure what to call them, since they really aren't "sleeves"), the second set much wider, since I'm all for more coverage.  They were a no-go for Lex, and when it came down to it, once the wider straps were gathered, they didn't cover much more than the thinner straps.  I conceded to Lex, and began work on sewing the straps on the dress.

It has been much more difficult and time-consuming than I had anticipated, but well worth the cost effectiveness.  What do you think?

Miracles happen.

Mediocre

My performance rating lately.

I'm not being dramatic, just truthful.

Yesterday I designed, printed, cut and laminated about 100 of the tackiest locker tags I have ever produced.  I was in a git 'er done state of mind, and aggressively pursued checking the task off my list.  (Besides, there are 100 athletes on the track team, all of whom have a parent of some kind or other, almost none of which are clamoring to assist with the locker-tag-making duties, requiring me to fill in the weeks with blanks on the schedule.)  After cutting them and laminating half, I brainstormed a much wittier phrase for them, but in the interest of saving time and ink, elected not to re-do.  Most kids just throw them in the garbage, anyway.  At least that's what I'm telling myself.  Surely there have been much uglier, dumber, and tackier locker tags hanging around the school (in super quantities like 100+), right?  I told Lex that nobody need know I made them.  She assured me that she wouldn't tell.

Our Easter celebration was another mediocre performance.

I purchased the ham Saturday evening (grateful that I could find a decent one that wasn't frozen solid, which I only mention because the first group of hams I came to at the grocery store were, causing a few brief moments of panic).  I forgot asparagus, but had some carrots at home, and figured they would work.  Add a little salad and some cheesy potatoes, and it's a holiday egg-stravaganza.  Menu: done.

Then I went home and we colored eggs.  Late in the evening.  Bill and I were exhausted, after spending the day at a track meet, and working concessions for half of it.  (Bill had been the grill man, and smelled of grilled hamburgers, dogs, and smoke...yum.  No, seriously.  Yum.)  I had not purchased an egg-dying kit, but figured I could find a way to use what we had at home and make it work.  It was a success.  Perhaps not a smashing success, but we are fine with mediocre.  Eggs: dyed.

Bill remembered that we had neglected to do our semi-annual measuring tradition over conference weekend, so we nabbed our trusty post (the framer that worked on our basement kindly cut it out for us), and did a quick, mediocre version of the measure.

Results: Lex has not grown for several years, Shilo grew a quarter inch in the past 6 months, and Mar was the winner with a spurt of 3/4".

Melancholy (Megamind pronunciation, please) Bill started talking about how we were going to measure our grandchildren on that very same post.  I knew it was time for bed.

On Sunday morning the girls hunted Easter baskets (the ones that were quickly hidden moments earlier by a mediocre tired bunny).  Bill had been up early, and of course, was all ready for church while the rest of us looked... let's just say, "not our best."  He had a great time capturing us all on video for posterity.

Per Mar's request, we had three hunts going on.  One for numerous plastic eggs all over the house, one for baskets from "the" bunny (who was on a budget this year, but took requests for specific needs/wants so as to not waste it on unnecessary fluff), and one for baskets from Grandma Syddall's Utah bunny, fluff included.  Perfect.

It was handy having the basement for new hiding places.  After 10 years of basket hunting in the same few rooms, it was nice to challenge the girls a bit.  Hints were requested and given, however, in the spirit of "We need to move this thing along, since Dad has to leave, church starts in a couple hours, and Mom needs to whip something together for Singing Time."

Yes, Singing Time was a bit mediocre, too.

(Note:  I don't want to negate the true meaning of Easter, as I realize that this post has been primarily about events, and not so much about the purpose of the holiday.  Luckily, I had not-a-few moments to ponder and reflect on the Savior, his Atonement, and the Resurrection.  Sacrament Meeting was lovely.  I shed a tear as a young man gave a talk in Primary.  Singing Time may not have as perfectly planned as I would have liked, but we were able to sing a beautiful song called Gethsemane.  Despite the fact that our new pianist did not get the music in time to practice, I know the children could feel the spirit as we sang.)

After church I flew home to pop the ham in the oven (I wanted to have it done before church, but couldn't quite manage it with all the mediocre Singing Time preparations going on), and throw dinner together before our guests, the Yoshikawas came over.  The girls all pitched in (one of the best parts of the day - I love having those girls in the kitchen with me), and made the rolls (which, btw, were excellent).

We sent the kids on an Easter Walk just before dinner, and they shared what they found after we were finished eating.  Mar had been given a cute bag with the following list of items to collect:

 Branch - The week before His crucifixion, as Christ entered the city, the people waved branches from palm trees.

Piece of Wood - For it was out of wood His cross was made.

Something Prickly - His crown was made of thorns.

Something No Longer Alive - For truly the Savior died.

Three Things in Dark Color - There were three days of darkness.  Light could not be found following His death.

Stone - The angel moved a large stone at the opening of His tomb.

Something Living - To remind us that Jesus Christ died, was resurrected, and He surely lives today!

(I forgot to snap a pic before we ate... so you get the after-dinner-mint-to-take-it-when-the-table-looked-pretty version.)

Despite the simpleness of dinner, it was delicious.  We have enjoyed the leftovers for the two days following.  I have felt like a more-than-mediocre mom as I place a lovely plate of nuked ham and potatoes, with a side of salad, AND A ROLL in front of my hungry family each evening.  I think that perhaps they have reached the limit, however, on how many nights in a row they will eat the same meal.  In my {mediocre} frame of mind, I might try to stretch it
one more day.

I must say, mediocre is better than flailing, and a hundred times better than failing.  Good enough.