Let's Go To the Hop, Oh Baby, Let's Go To the Hop!

A few days ago:

Me: "Rose, I think I'm going to make you a poodle skirt for the Sock Hop."
Rose: (looks at me for a few seconds, perplexed) "That means sewing."
Me: "Yes, it does."
Rose: Waits a few seconds, again, perplexed..... "Why don't you ask Ani's Mom? (a girl in class,) She knows how to sew..."

Tonight was the Sock Hop at Midland Elementary. Rose went last year with Owen & Madeline, Lexie & Tyler and had a great time. This year I had toyed with the idea of making Rose a poodle skirt for the occasion. I figured she would get good use out of it for a few years, and a few days ago I decided to give it a try. I used to sew when I was a teenager, and have done a few things every once in a while for someone who asks.... ok, that really means when my friend Bob needs something, I will do it for him.... costumes or window treatments mostly. Anyway, I decided to pull out the old sewing machine and give it a go. I went and bought some fabric, a poodle patch and a few other necessary items, Googled how to make a poodle skirt, and went at it. After a little trial and error, I think I came up with a pretty good skirt! So good in fact, I decided to make one for Madeline just a few hours before the dance started. Miraculously, I managed to pull it off and surprise her. It wasn't identical to Rose's, but close, and pretty darn cute. She and Rose both loved them!

After a few obligatory (whiny) (...HEY, I carried you in my WOMB and gave BIRTH TO YOU.... LET ME TAKE A FREAKING PICTURE OF YOU!) photos, off we went to the Sock Hop. David opted to stay home with Andy, Rose hitched a ride with Aunt Karen and Joey and I met them there. We walked in and found ourselves lost in a sea of pink poodle skirts. Why didn't I think to make her in a pair of shiny black lycra pants like Sandra Dee wore when she goes bad in Grease? It would have been a whole lot easier to find her, and a lot more original, but I want Rose to remain a little girl for as long as I can. The dance was a lot of fun.... but tell me, did they used to play 'Thriller' at sock shops of yesteryear? And hey, I learned a new dance tonight....the Cuban Slide. And you might be wondering, did I dress up? Why Yes... Yes I did. I added a little embellishment to a sweater, rolled up my jeans and put on my saddle shoes... yes, I own real saddle shoes. I think this might be the second time I have ever worn them in the 25 years I have owned them, but you can't get rid of them..... you never know when you are going to need them! I think Karen borrowed them last year..... or maybe it was my brown pair. Yes, I really do own 2 pair of saddle shoes. I am a closet geek.... but my closet geekiness pays off sometimes, like tonight. Ok, maybe just a geek, not even closet.

It's been fun to pull out the sewing machine. It's a side of me Andy and the kids have never seen. Before I became a wife and Mom (aka. back when I had real free time of my very own) I used to be pretty crafty and artsy. Now I have NO time for that, and these loved ones of mine have no idea I can do that sort of stuff. I am Wonder Woman, they just haven't realized it yet! Oh, but they will..... I think next I will whip up a Super Mom costume, complete with white Go-Go boots. Oh, and Joey was FASCINATED with the sewing machine. He was all over that thing..... wanted to know what every button and knob does, how it works.... and sat right next to me as I sewed. Very fun for me! Maybe you will see him someday on Project Runway.

Here are my beauties.......

Ani & Valora (Rose's class) Rose & Lexie

Lexie, next door neighbor Cameron, Rose