April 5, 2013

Project Life 2013....Winter Ball

Edited to answer Tracy's question....

Tracy said...
Why in the world would you force her to stay somewhere she didn't want to be?! If one of my girls wrote and asked if they could come home, no way would we tell them "no." Poor girl.
My answer:  It's not often that I reply to negative comments on my blog but since this comment is directed to me as a parent and not my projects, I feel compelled to answer.  Tracy, the reason we "forced" Jordan to stay at the dance is all about taking responsibility for oneself.  First, it costs a lot of money to send a girl to a dance.  We forked out cash for a dress, shoes, jewelry, a hair do, a pedicure, flowers, the cost to get into the dance and photos.  Secondly, Jordan was escorted to the dance by a nice young man whose parents forked out money for a brand new suit, half of the cost of flowers and photos, and paid for Jordan's dinner like a gentleman.  We didn't feel it would be polite for her to leave her date stranded at the dance by himself, looking like his date dumped him.  In our family we teach our kids to finish what you start and do the right thing.  As you can see, Jordan is smiling in all of her photos and survived the dance just fine.

Today I'm sharing some pages from my Project Life 2013 album that are totally dedicated to the girls' Winter Ball photos.  I thought about how I would add these as inserts to a regular week and I just had too many photos.  So I just slipped these photos in between 2 regular weekly spreads.  It was so easy to do it this way because it's a format I was used to working with.  

Here you can see the 2 page spread with an 8.5 x 11 insert.  
Here's the 2 page spread without the insert.  I dedicated the left page to Jordan's photos and the right page to Josey's photos.  I tend to like the photos I take pre-dance to the cheesy formal photos they take at the dance.  I captured the girls getting ready with their girlfriends and then a few formal ones with their dates.  
I used a 4 x 6 slot on each of the girls' page to write a little journaling about the memory that stood out the most for this dance.  Below is Jordan's insert.  It contains a series of text messages she sent me, begging to come home early from the dance.  Dances are not her thing.  She would rather be in camo, sitting out in the timber with her bow.  We made her stay for the dance and indeed she suffered through it.  
For Josey, her biggest happening was that she got to have TWO hair do's for the dance.  The first up do she got was just terrible.  It was messy and frizzy and started falling out.  Josey's grandpa called up his stylist and she was nice enough to work us in.  She took one look and just said she wanted to start all over.  The photo below shows the magic she performed on Josey.  It was a stressful day for Josey but it ended up very well.  
I took the 5 x 7's that were taken at the dance and created traditional scrapbook layouts for them.  Don't critique too harshly as traditional layouts are hard for me.  The red backgrounds of the photos don't help at all.  
 For Jordan's page I added a vellum envelope with sequins from her dress.  We got a discount on her dress because many of the sequins were falling off.  I spent two hours one day stitching on new sequins.
This is Josey's page.  I used some of my  new papers that coordinated with the color of her dress.  
I loved adding the fun clip to this page along with some typed tags and embellishments.  
I think I'll definitely incorporate more of these types of pages in my Project Life album.  I've done something similar for sports pages too.  

My Project Life status:  I can feel it coming....Spring is in the air, the temperatures are warming up, my garden is calling me, the girls have 2-3 sporting events a week.....and I'm a few weeks behind.  It happens every year about this time. Two years ago,  I got 17 weeks behind. I can't let that happen again. I'm hoping to carve out some time this weekend to print photos, use simple journaling cards and make quick work of my pages. Photos + stories....that is the goal.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Jordan had her first softball games last night and Josey's first track meet is this afternoon.  I'm taking the long away around and heading to the city first to do a little junkin'.  I'll be back soon with a post featuring the Cottage Card Kit items.  Have a great weekend everyone!

31 comments:

Linda said...

The reds are growing up to be lovely young ladies. Loved the dresses they chose for the dance. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed looking at your pics.

crschaf said...

That phone text cracks me up!!! Loved these pages. I took my daughter to her university today to check out her freshman dorm and schedule her first fall classes. Oh my does the time fly-hold them tight!

Ann said...

Your little reds are turning into beautiful young women. Their dresses were lovely.TFS

Tina Campbell said...

Cool pages and thought it was cool idea to add the scrapbook pages in between and was glad to see someone do that. It's a cool addition of both mediums and will keep this in mind for my PL. TFS

Unknown said...

I really like the way you used the space and were able to utilize lots of pictures. I will have a college graduate in a few months and may do something similar to document the event. It needs to be part of our project life book but I don't want to be limited to just a few pictures. This looks to be the perfect solution...thanks for the inspiration!!

Tracy said...

Why in the world would you force her to stay somewhere she didn't want to be?! If one of my girls wrote and asked if they could come home, no way would we tell them "no." Poor girl.

Tracy said...

Why in the world would you force her to stay somewhere she didn't want to be?! If one of my girls wrote and asked if they could come home, no way would we tell them "no." Poor girl.

Kristin said...

I appreciate your edit. My kids are younger than yours, but already we are working on helping to "prepare them for the path" and not to "prepare the path for them." It seems so small and trivial, but as you pointed out she did fine. And now she knows something more about herself as a person.

(Here I am as an adult having learned a similar lesson- so even though some things sound fun... At the end of the day I need a certain amount of rest or I really don't enjoy myself!)

A Cup of Cold Water said...

OK Mish. Since Tracy started it I will put my 2 cents in. YOU know your daughter. YOU know what is going on. Being bored is not her being in danger or in a compromising situation! You could totally assess her situation!
WHY do people feel the need to tell others how to live their lives???
You are obviously an AMAZING parent and totally love those precious girls. You would never want any harm done to them! Learning to full fill your commitment ~ what a novel idea!!! Jordan, and Josie for that matter, will learn a life lesson! Finish what you started and take other peoples feelings into account! Tracy never learned that lesson! ~ especially taking other peoples feelings into account!!!
Thanks for sharing! PLEASE don't stop!
Susan

Kristin said...

I appreciate your edit. My kids are younger than yours, but already we are working on helping to "prepare them for the path" and not to "prepare the path for them." It seems so small and trivial, but as you pointed out she did fine. And now she knows something more about herself as a person.

(Here I am as an adult having learned a similar lesson- so even though some things sound fun... At the end of the day I need a certain amount of rest or I really don't enjoy myself!)

listgirl said...

I always LOVE your Project Life posts and enjoy your talent so much, Michelle. And why someone would feel compelled to tell other people how to raise their children is beyond me. Life lessons are important for kids to learn. Catering to their whims will just make them spoiled brats who will get a rude awakening later in life.

Valorie Brown said...

I visit your blog religiously Michelle. I adore your creativity and your posts!! I am sorry you had to deal with a comment on how you chose to deal with a family issue. I applaud you because THAT IS EXACTLY what we do. Regardless, it IS your business and obviously you are doing a good job. AND THAT my dear is all we can do for our children. Hugs girl!!

crschaf said...

Perfect answer Michelle!It would have been very rude of her to leave him at the dance. They have to learn these life lessons. I just thought the text was so funny because probably half the kids felt that way.I feel that way myself sometimes when my Hasband and I get fixed up for weddings or a night on the town with pedicure and all-I am usually way tired before the night has hardly begun LOL!

cjgusloff57 said...

Michelle, I don't know if you will read this post again, but I just had to respond to your answer to Tracy. I am with you a 100%! You and your husband had her stay for all the right reasons. I commend
you both! I am 76 years old and my husband and I raised our three children the same way that you are raising yours. We have three very responsible adult children who we are very proud of and also they have raised their children as we did and we have five very responsible adult grandchildren who we are very proud of. So you are on the right track and I think it is just great! I know your girls will appreciate their upbringing in the years to come.

Jeani said...

Michelle, I couldn't agree with you more . . . I don't have girls, but I have 2 boys (ages 8 and 11) and if I gave in to them every time they told me they didn't want to do something they would be miserable (and so would I!!) My oldest son always says he doesn't feel like going camping or hiking with his boy scout troop, but I insist that he goes . . . result . . he ALWAYS (without fail) comes home and says he had a great time and he's so glad he went. . . what kind of parent would I be if I gave in to their every whim?!?!? I also insist that my boys finish what they start . . kudos to you, Michelle. . . you are raising 2 beautiful, responsible girls and should be very proud!

Addie said...

Michelle, this whole post and exchange is interesting! I too enjoyed seeing these PL pages and thought your daughters were beautiful. I also liked reading your exchange with Tracy. Although I'm middle aged now, I remember well how hard it was to grow up. To stop taking things for granted is a major lesson, and the more practice we get at it, the better.

crazymom said...

I loved your response to the negative comment! You are amazing parents and it shows in your daily blogging! Good for you for teaching responsibility and character. You rock as a parent and as a artist. I am inspired by all you share! ♥♥

Kristy Hansen said...

I am sorry you have had to deal with this comment. I love your blog and I am sure you thought "why bother" I'm sure you never expected this. I hope you can let it roll off your shoulders and do what you have always done. You know what works with your daughters and that is all that counts. I have 2 daughters and would have made the same comment to them. (and have in other situations)...

Angus and Molly said...

Hi there....I read your blog daily but have never posted. Your edit compelled me to say that I think both your personal posts and your project posts are wonderful.

I applaud you and your husband for teaching your girls responsibility. I have a blended family and my husband and I are big believers in the same principals. We teach our kids that they are not "entitled" to things just because society dictates they should be. Things need to be appreciated, respected and earned.

Thank you for sharing the edit with us. You're response was extremely well written.

Love to you from Canada!
Amanda

KAT said...

Just wanted to give you a congrats on the your answer about teaching your kids responsibility and commitment! Way to go girl!

KAT said...

Just wanted to give you a congrats on the your answer about teaching your kids responsibility and commitment! Way to go girl!

Linda said...

Mish, perfect reply to the negative post.

candyk said...

I totally agree with you like the other gals above.
Kids today need more parents like you.

Lise said...

Hi,

I read your blog every day too, and have also never posted before today, but I want to say that I totally agree with you, like the other positive comments above. I've always thought that we can't all agree/get on all the time, so if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Best wishes to you from one of your big fans in Australia!

Lise H.

Mel said...

You Go Girl. I think it's awesome you made her stick it out. I could understand if her date was inappropriate or there were other extenuating circumstances, but we need to make our kids finish what they start! Don't let it stress you.

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Ginny Larsen said...

Mish, thanks for sharing your answer to the question. I am a 7th and 9th grade teacher, and I see kids all the time that haven't been taught responsibility for their actions. Parents bail their kids out for everything--even the meaningless things... it grieves me to no end.
I appreciate the stand you took (even though it's really not outside the norm for your parenting style from all I've read), because I so often see students go through life without any concept of what it means to become an adult.
Thanks for sharing again, and I hope negative comments don't keep you from sharing in the future--I L.O.V.E. your work!

Anne said...

I'm a frequent visitor as we share a love for thrifting, stamping/ project life, our family and both have teen daughters (the same age or very close) to name a few.

Though I'm not a regular commentor. I felt compelled to virtually embrace your commitment in teaching our young adults responsibility, commitment and thinking outside of themselves in this ME Society.

I'm hopeful the Tracy's of the world won't deter you from sharing the wonderful ideas of incorporating personal texts, stories or photos from your kindred spirits who value like minded free thinkers! I enjoy being able to enlarge and view the details of your layouts. It might not be my exact style, but it motivates me outside my own boxes!

Our family attempts to live by and implement in our relationships this... "We can agree to disagree and move forward in a positive with a new appreciation."

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