the dress

For her graduation ceremony the dress was picked out and hanging in her closet, it wasn't new but it didn't need to be and she loved it. A few weeks ago I was going through the last of my "i just can't bare to give them up" skinny clothes and had one particular dress hanging all alone. Lily saw it and said how much she loved and asked if she could try it one, I told her, of course. I was shocked when I saw her in it, firstly it fit and secondly it looked fabulous, well sort of.

Something about it was a little "polly long frock" and "old lady". I told her if she liked it too not to not take it off and I ran down stairs and got some pins, I then took up the hem to above the knee to give it a more youthful appearance. We both agreed it was lovely, at least we thought it was but with that much fabric pinned up it was difficult to know for sure but I had nothing to lose, I wasn't about to wear it again.

things didn't start out well, my machine wasn't working properly. After trial and error I sorted out the issues.

Sewing is ot something I enjoy but sometimes it's something that is part of a bigger a picture and if I make up my mind then damn it, it will happen

Oh how I love this dress

in the words of Nike, just do it

another bobbin disaster.

I didn't show her the dress after I had done it I just took it to the dry cleaners and once I picked it up I gave it to her. She loved it and was so confident.

P.S. I wanted to take some photos before we left but I had had a dermatologists appointment, for my eczema so it was very routine. I was just going to dash in, she was going to look, hum and hah do what needed to be done and I was going to leave. The unhusband was heading to the house for dinner and we were all heading to graduation together. ( why yes I do need a halo don't I ) Well the dr decided that an area on my arm needed to be biopsied, no biggie, it would just be a minute and indeed it would, if neither one of us had overlooked one, not so minor detail, aspirin. I have been stuck, as have nearly all my migraine suffering friends on the migraine rollercoaster lately, and when it happens and the meds don't work another alternative is massive amounts of aspirin. Massive amounts. All went well, the biopsy was done the band aid applied and a couple of seconds of chit chat as she filled my information into her computer. I looked down and was disgusted to see blood on the floor. Really? In a Dr's office, that is disgusting. Then it clicked that this pool of blood was mine and then I knew I was going to be late. LOL. Things got sorted reasonably fast and things weren't too messy but she wanted me to wait to make sure it wasn't going to happen again in the car. I told her i was fine, that is what I always say and I explained that I HAD to leave. By then it was rush hour and I got stuck in traffic and there was no time for any photos or anything. But the girl looked glam and all was well. but the photos of her are in front of a chain link fence. blech.

onwards and upwards little one.

sweet little girl we still hadn't met when this photo was taken but I already loved you 

how fast time has flown

and wow, how you have grown

and grown

I'm incredibly biased but you take my breath away

double trouble ( best friends~ I need to ask if they keep planning this colour coordinated stuff)

Without as much as glancing over your shoulder you marched across a stage last night and waved good bye to middle school. Of course you did it with your usual flare and panache and you racked up another shelf of awards.  Some of which you felt you earnt and others you accepted with a smile that was not at all genuine. You hate this kind of stuff. You would rather be given an A on a report card for something you did than be given a big arse award for something society says you should get. And lets not get into the politics of it all shall we.

My girl is just like me and her Grandpa in as much as she has never found an arse worthy of a kiss! And so today the awards, were divided into two groups, the ones she earnt and the bullshit ones. The BS ones will not be on display, she has a drawer for those.
Thankfully, she has grown up and learnt about social decorum since that very first award ceremony where she did hand it back! And honestly I still laugh my arse off at that! At least she was polite and said, no THANK YOU, I don't want it, everyone got one of those.

The lighting was horrid so the photos suck

apparently she approved, the smile is genuine

nice touch

Both of the assistant principals, they look like they are saying their prayers: dear God, please let that loud mouth mother of Lily Cope keep her damn mouth shut  regarding  the "stupid categories" Amen

this is Lily's math teacher, she loves him  but NO ONE, and I mean NO ONE hugs Lily. This photo makes me laugh. She is a hands OFF child.  Know your boundaries people.  I can hear her cringe. poor baby

MR N, she adores him, He gave her detention and broke her, temporarily. Best thing to ever happen to her. She might be smart be she is still a regular kid and NEEDS to be treated as such. I wrote him a thank you card for doing it. 

Principals honor roll. The only time she didn't get it was when some arsey music teacher kept giving her a B. Then Lily wised up and started helping another teacher during music and she got A's cos she wasn't actually there. WTH? I know the kid has a voice that can murder new born kittens but lady get over yourself all you did was watch movies and you kept her bloody recorder, which might have been a blessing since you never taught her how to play!

pretties, some prettier than others apparently

Her proud moment.

Lily is quite proud of the award for Algebra 2. She had to take the course virtually and worked hard on it. She finished it 7 weeks early with an A. First child in her middle school to accomplish this.  Nuff said!

So to those that aided in this huge step, I thank you. For those that pushed and molded, ditto. For those who challenged, she thanks you and for those of you she didn't care for, well, I am sorry but frankly, we are on the same page. Being a grown up really isn't about fan clubs and popularity awards. I met, for the first time last night, her home room teacher, the one that keeps telliing the kids they are the WORST home room she has ever had. Well guess what SUSIE SUNSHINE, thank god you are only homeroom!

And I will end with this: One kid in her grade was invited to the WHITE HOUSE as a result of his science projects, the WHITE HOUSE, that presidential palace in Washington DC where the PRESIDENT lives. I think that is a huge Effing deal. HUGE. He however did not receive the most outstanding 8th grade student award, even though he appeared to be on stage racking up quite a few awards, and he made a speech,  no sirree BOB! That went to a popular girl who is in the popular teachers fan club. I hate politics. The Freaking WHITE HOUSE people.  and I detest science but credit where credit is due. I am sure I am missing something, like, like, like. he isn't an all around achiever, he doesn't play a kazoo with one eye shut.

Congrats my love, and as you move on don't forget what I say to YOU every single day when you leap out of the car, be kind and be brave, but please, be kind.