Last Hurrah

Guess what, in case you didn't already know, I FINISHED MY DEGREE ON MONDAY!!!!! Yep, that's right, I'm a college graduate, the first in my family line, actually, so I am proud and more than an little relieved that it's over!

We don't start homeschooling for another couple of weeks, so I signed the kids up for swimming lessons--four days this week and four days next.  And let me tell, ya, after only 3 days, my kids have been replaced by three little fish; they would swim all day!

I have also made no less than three dresses for myself recently and one for each of the girls. I guess I'm a bit behind on posting them! Here's one, though, the only one I've taken a pic of so far...

Sheesh, I coulda smiled, right?  This is a combination of two patterns. The bodice is Simplicity 2209, the Lisette passport dress which I've made once already...

And I used the skirt from Simplicity 2177, also a dress I've made once and love...

I originally started to make the Lisette dress, but because of that great nautical-looking border on my fabric, I needed a skirt that was cut straight and the Lisette dress has a curved hem.  These two patterns are very similar in cut and style, but I like the fit of the Lisette bodice a bit better, so I measured carefully and it turned out the straight skirt would fit the Lisette bodice perfectly! And, I went with it :)  I like the dress, but I'm actually picturing it styled for a Fall look--with a red or yellow cardi, maybe and a skinny belt, I think.

Anyway, it seems I finally figured out how to get in-focus pictures with my self-timer, so maybe I'll get the other dress photographed pretty soon!!! While we were at it, the kids and I took this one:

Do we do blue eyes, or WHAT!? :)

And, my leggy Layla girl. When did she lose her baby legs???? So sweet...