WHIRLWIND WEDNESDAY

First thing in the morning I took a bunch of toilet paper, a plunger and Almond Joys candy bars to school. Rachel and her friend, Kelsey got out of choir (legally, of course) and decorated Ben Pugh's car. The sign says, "I'd be OVERFLOWING with JOY to go to Prom with you!"

There was a sense of peace about how to answer, once we realized that we could NEVER compete with the way she was asked, it was too incredible.

We were a little worried for a minute, until we realized Ben had taken his dad's car to work that day. He told Rachel later in the evening that when he saw his car he was so excited because it was all official. Rachel is super excited to go to Prom with Ben. He has been her true blue BFF for many years and she really, really wanted to go a dance with him. He graduates this year.

After school Rachel and I went dress shopping. I do enjoy sewing her dresses, but I will only be home 4 days between now and Prom (May 2nd), so buying was our only option.

First we went to Northtown Mall, or Ghosttown Mall, as I am calling it. There were only TWO stores with dresses and they were all yucky. We didn't even take any pictures.

So we drove out to the Valley Mall, but went to David's Bridal first. There were two that were fabulous (several more that were very nice). How I wish I had taken a picture of the back of this dress. It has a train and is super beautiful.

This was the dress Rachel picked:

She didn't want her face in the picture because her hair was in a braid. Haha. The dress is really classic and beautiful. It has a silver jeweled clasp on the side. Today (Thursday) after school she is taking a swatch of fabric to the tux shop with Ben to pick out his accent colors - they are thinking either paisley or silver. I really hope there is a paisley that matches. Rachel hearts paisley. It is genetic.

Clearly, the dress needs sleeves. We bought a shawl and I will make sleeves. While we were out we also picked up silver shoes, a sparkly clutch and a puffy slip (Rachel likes the dress more puffy out). She has silver sparkly stuff for her hair already.

Here is the bad news - I will be IN Hawaii the day of Prom!!! (They moved it forward a week!) AGH!!!!! I am SO SAD!!! I will actually be in transit on the way home. We get back at midnight. I told Rachel I wanted her and Ben to meet us at the airport so I can see how fabulous they look.

I have her a hair appointment, we are going to get a nails appointment, too. Grandma and Grandpa Sant will here to take pictures and send her on her merry way. They are SO LUCKY!

Because my house is a wreck, the laundry out of control, I am behind on hula sewing, and the kids played behind the couch and knocked down my fabric bins (I can't push my couch back to the wall right now), I have bookclub at my house tonight, and I have to leave at 5 a.m. tomorrow morning for Baton Rouge (let's pause a moment to give props to Mom and Dad Sant who came up last minute like to stay with the kids), I decided to sew a tote for the trip:

This is hands down my FAVORITE tote of all time. I love love LOVE it! It is huge, but not too huge and it has four outside pockets. I added a zipper pocket to the inside, I so LOVE sewing inside zipper pockets! I also love the fabric - can you see the little birds on the background fabric? So cute!

Larry is already in Baton Rouge. He sent us these pics last night:

The temple in Baton Rouge. It is about ten minutes from Geo Engineers.

This is the Bed and Breakfast we are staying at. It is called The Stockade. He said it was about 70*, sunny, and green. So, we know there is at least one tolerable day a year down there. He ate a crawfish place - there were a bunch of LSU football players there - and had his first ever PoBoy sandwich. This should all be very interesting ... I'll let you know on Tuesday.