WARNING - Major cuteness in this post

I promised the cute factor of my blog would greatly increase.

This was Molly's (and Alex's) first lead-in class.

Was it cold?
Yes.

Was Taco (the horse) totally behaving?
No.

Did they win?
Well, no, but they got fourth. :)

Were they darn cute?
HEEEELLLOOOOOO!!!! Definitely!

Were the pinpricked fingers and lack of sleep and raging fits worth it?
I suppose when I look at these pictures, it was every bit worth it!

Here is them actually coming in the arena at Searcy, White County Fairgrounds. Molly was so BiG acting! I thought Mom and Dad (Brandi & Marcus) were going to fall out, but she handled it well! Check out the little boy behind her with his pacifier! It was blue to match his shirt!!! :D

Now, I have to get a start on the other outfits...blah!

Vegas Project: COMPLETE (well, almost!)

At 12:30AM today (I say last night, but technically....) I finished the Vegas shirts, as I've lovingly named them. YEA me!! Today, I'm nursing my red sore, pin-pricked fingers. {It seriously hurts to type this!} This fabric was a beyotch to put pins and needles through. I'm most proud of that Swarvoski crystal zipper in Alex's shirt (didn't get one for Molly's). If you know how cheap, oops, I mean frugal I am, you know it's not like me to pay $35 for a zipper! But I'm so glad I did for this one.



I'm just praying everythings fits and works right now -since I didn't get to do a "final fitting" on Molly last night. We still have to add the bling to the collars and cuffs, but didn't get the crystals ordered in time and they won't be here till next week.

That little shirt of Molly's is so friggin' cute I can't hardly stand it! I can't wait to see her in it with her little black hat and black boots. The cute factor of my blog will definitely go up when I post pictures of her actually wearing this!

NOW, I have to get busy on the harder jackets that have all the appliques on them...but I have to let my fingers rest a day or two.

On another note, I would be remiss if I didn't formally add a big Happy Birthday to my Dad! It was actually yesterday....but I didn't have time to post (see above). I did, however call my Dad and he was ----now this will shock some of you ----- getting ready to go to a rodeo! Can you believe it!? {insert sarcastic tone here} :D

Seriously, I'm so glad Dad is getting to do this with Hadley (my littlest, little bro). I think it is fantastic and I know it tickles my Dad to no end to finally have a child who is as eaten up with roping and rodeos as he is....and he's dang good at it too!

Here is Dad with his brood: left to right is me, Hadley, Sarah and Kyle

love ya Daddi-O!

Peek-A-Boo

have not completely forgotten my blog...This picture represents me peeking in blogworld from time-to-time. I have been completely busy*consumed*stressed with the sewing project in my spare time, but I did want to share some prom-part-deux-pictures! Actually this is Alex while getting her fake eyelashes "installed" by big sis Brooke. We were so happy that Brooke came up to help Alex get ready for prom last Friday. This was the day after her home had a close call with the round of tornadoes that tore through Little Rock and central Arkansas. Thankfully, it was just that....close call. Here are more pictures: Note Brooke's new hairdo!

Another cute Prom pic

Had to post these new pictures that were taken during the Calico Rock prom that Alex attended with her bf Russell. I work with Russell's mom and she emailed these to me. I love the captions she gave them:

"We're so bored!"


"We're so into each other!"

Cute kids I think.

I actually did some scrapbooking last night before the big results show on Idol and it felt good just to cut & glue some stuff. I really didn't think much about it. I will post pictures later. Speaking of Idol...darn glad Ramielle finally left but was a little disappointed that Brooke was in the bottom 3! :(

Speaking of Brooke. It is my Brooke's 23rd birthday today! I say "my Brooke" not meaning she is really mine, just figuratively- she is my stepdaughter. Just wanted to clear that up. So proud of Brooke these days. She will be coming up tomorrow to help Alex get ready for Highland Prom. Still need shoes and hem in a dress - we're so with it! Found this pic from Brooke & Rob's wedding shower. Happy Birthday B! Heart you bunches! :)
I'm sure I'll have new photos to post after tomorrow.

I really want to thank those three of my readers/friends...(I have such a huge blog following, you know?) who left comments of encouragement. I realize: This too shall pass! Sometimes, though it helps to hear others who have the same lack of energy/mojo/creativity/etc., so I really appreciate it. :D

NO MO JO

Yes, that is right...My scrapping/creative mojo is pretty non-existent this week. I'm just BLAH! I'm a little overwhelmed with sewing projects and some other scrappy projects that I've committed too, and therefore I don't really want to do ANY of it. Just a funk that I need to crawl out of. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...like suggest to me how I can add 2-3 more hours into my day!

This happens from time-to-time, but I really have to get out of it quickly. Alex's show outfits have to be done and I don't even have all the material purchased. :\

Progress

After getting Alex's show outfit patterns in the mail yesterday, I have made a teeny tiny progress...I have taken measurements and cut out the pants. Not much, but a start.

As much as I love to sew and create, I do not like being under the gun on a deadline, yet that is the place I am on this.

My checklist: pants and jacket for Alex, pants and jacket for Molly. All matching/coordinating. Also another shirt for Alex. Don't know how it will be possible to finish all of this, especially since I don't even have all the materials I need yet, but I'm going to try really hard.

Unfortunately, some of my other creating may suffer and that makes me sad. :(

Since I'm feeling a little stressed out about all these projects, I think I need a happy picture to offset my stress.

Ahhhh there, that's better! :)

I did finish my BLS for March's T2T swap over at SIStv. I had gotten some really great stuff from Tracy (Tallynt) to use in my layout. Everything shown was in the BLS, except for the white cardstock, orange background (although it was in my T2T) and the "Discover" rubon. I've got to get my box packed up and in the mail this week. Looking forward to April's trash!

Easter, cakes, birthdays, oh my!

I don't know if I can possibly fit in everything from this weekend with a single post. First, it was Molly Grace's 3rd birthday on Friday and she had a big time at her party on Saturday. Gotta love Spongebob cake!

We had a little cookout last night at Cody & Amy's with Tony & Jennifer & kids, along with Alex, her friend Tia and Russell. The kids (yes, even the big kids) dyed Easter eggs.

And Walker had to make a volcano for school, so Tony & Cody helped him out.

Easter Sunday (today) was just fantastic! So glad the day was sunny...cold, yes, but the blue sky and sunshine was just what the doctor ordered! Church was so good today with the wonderful Easter message of our risen Jesus. A full house today with 75 in Sunday School and over 125 for preaching hour. The music was uplifting!

After church of course, food! Check out Mom's cake:

Lot's of other pics from the day...will post more tomorrow.

Prom Night #1

Well, it is the big night for prom. We (Alex, Tracy & I) had a fun day of getting ready. This is Calico Rock's Prom and Alex is going with Russell Dust, her official "BF". They looked completely adorable! She has another prom (her own at Highland) to go to in a couple of weeks, but she's going with a friend to that one, so it won't be so "romantical!" ;)

So glad Tracy hung out and helped Alex and I with her make-up and making the afternoon fun. Those girls have been through a lot together and I know Alex was happy she was there.

Several of Alex's other friends came by to see them off. Poor Russell was probably overwhelmed by all the crazy girls! They thought he looked like Matt Damon!

Tracy, Leann, Alex, Bailey, and Ashley

Can't wait for the full prom report when Alex gets home.

I hope it was all dreamy and fun for them!

More wild weather...Flood of 08

It's been the strangest weather year that i ever remember. Straight line winds, F4 tornado, Snow, Ice, Spring, now floods!

One of my favorite places in the world is the Spring River - laying in the river listening to the falls in the middle of summer with the sun beating down...ahh nothing like it...

This is the Spring River today: RAGING way out of it's banks:

This is looking at Loberg Park - Please notice the flag pole and tops of the basketball goal and other playground equipment.

We were at the park last Fall for 4H day and here is a view from the park back toward the bridge where I took the flood pic today. In fact that is the same big tree you see in both pictures directly behind the flagpole in the flood pic and covering the flagpole in this one. Pretty Crazy stuff.

Here are some more pics from the other side. To the right is the railroad tracks...If you look carefully toward the top you can see tracks coming out of the water.

These are houses built on the river on stilts. Needless to say they had to evacuate yesterday.
I think the rain has finally stopped. Now we all have to dry out!

So happy to report...

BROOKE WON!!!!!

BROOKE WON!!!!!

BROOKE WON!!!!!

If you have no clue what I'm talking about, check here

So proud of you Brookie Baby!!!!

This picture was taken by the photographer for Sync Weekly, Shannon Sturgis for their contest. I absolutely love her winning smile in this one! :)