More on the Cabbage Patch Kids . . .

Happy first day of October. I guess I can't really complain . . .it is October 1 and we are expected to be in the mid-high 80's today!!!! You can beat I have been enjoying the unusually warm weather for this time of year in Utah!

We had a fun weekend, of which I took no pictures . . .sorry!!! Saturday morning the girls and I went to Kohls to get baby shower and wedding gifts for the days events. Unfortunately for Haylee, she was not allowed to attend the events because of her grounding for lying. Autumn and I went to a baby shower for a friend of Maxine's (Autumn grandma). Her name is Liz and she has been a great friend to Autumn as well. We had to skip out of the baby shower a bit early so we could head up the canyons for a wedding. One of the guys Jody used to work with got married. The wedding was outside and with all the trees changing colors, the backdrop was beautiful! The wedding was fun and great food was provided (of course Autumn and I just wanted the cake!!!)

Sunday was a trying day for us. As I was doing Autumns hair before church, Haylee told me someone had put freckles on Andrea (remember the Cabbage Patch Kids). Knowing who the "someone" was, but wanting an admission and explanation, I said "who did" ? Immediately Autumn pipes in "It was an accident". I asked Haylee to go get the doll. When she brought it to me, I had a hard time believing it was an accident, as 7 or 8 perfect little orange dots were there on Andreas chin. And yes, we did pierce her ears :o)








And so the fight began trying to figure out when and why it was done. Autumn still stands that it was an accident . . .Haylee shed many tears over the "injury" . . . to which Autumn replied "It's just a doll" (Here is where we see the big differences in the girls ~ Haylee takes this stuff very personal and it is an emotional thing for her, Autumn on the other hand is very practical and has a definite sense of real and pretend). And so we came up with a solution which includes Autumn doing chores to earn money and buy a new doll for Haylee.

The rest of the day continued with bickering and a struggle to be on top. Throughout the day we heard comments like "well at least I am stronger/cuter/sweeter" etc. And if one wanted to sit on my lap, the other raced to get there first, if one was giving Jody a hug, the other raced to give him a bigger one. I know sibling rivalry is present in every home, but in this case it seems to be magnified!! Oh Lord, help me to have wisdom in dealing with this and love to handle it the way you would!!! By Sunday night, Jody and I were rethinking our scheduling with the girls . . .maybe we should have them on opposite weekends!!!

On a lighter side of the weekend events . . . the girls know I shop for holidays early, so they thought it was in their best interest to make up their Christmas lists early! They both went into their room and for 30 minutes they worked to create their lists of 10 items each!!!














One of the things the girls have been wanting is some more clothes for their Cabbage Patch Kids. Autumn has the traditional sized doll, and finding clothes for her is easy . . .but not cheap. Haylee, on the other hand has the newborn babies and I cannot find clothes to fit them, everything is too small, or too big. So, in an attempt to be creative, I found sewing patterns for Cabbage Patch Doll Clothes . . .yes, you can actually buy patterns specific to these dolls at Joann's. Having never bought sewing patterns before, I found confidence in knowing I had seen mom do it some 17 years ago, and surely I could remember what to do (because all 10 year olds pay attention and remember that kind of thing . . .right?) So acting cool and collective I walk over to the section where I believe the patterns to be and calmly look around trying to figure out where I actually find the patterns. I round a corner and BINGO I see the file drawers that say "Butterick". Like a card catalog at the library, I find the right drawer and look for the correct number. I find it, pull it from the slot and it is just what I wanted! I read the back, trying to figure out what I will need to make a skirt and shirt . . .then browse around the store in an attempt to gather the required pieces, then hit the check out!

At home, I close the door to my bedroom, affording myself the needed privacy from Autumn and pull the patterns out of the little bag (which, by the way, are impossible to get back in once you have taken them out!!). . . I laid them out on the bed and that overwhelming "what did I get myself into" feeling made it's way through my mind ~ I started to feel like the search for patterns at Joann's was going to prove to be the easiest part of this project.

Are you kidding me?? There are at least 10 sheets of super thin pattern paper and each piece of clothing has about 12 parts to it!!!! I gained my composure . . .after all, I had not only benefited from my moms sewing talents as a kid, I did take sewing lessons when I was like 9, and I did make my first (and last) quilt for Parker about 4 years ago . . .I can do this!!! I read the "general directions" which told me to cut out the patterns and so I did. Because Autumn is going to her brothers Cub Scout "Crossing Over" tonight, she will not be home, which will give me freedom to play with my material and patterns and see what I can create. I am hoping this works out and will be sure to take more pictures of my journey down this path!!

Serving Him,
Jess