How Do You Explain?

Last night Joe and I were talking to Sai. We were trying to explain to him how Obama’s inauguration is historic. So how do you explain to a kid who doesn’t see skin color how this is something new and important? Since my husband and I are an interracial couple my kids are surrounded by people of different skin colors. To them it makes no difference. They just see Grandpa and Grandma, aunts, uncles, cousins, and school mates. 

So I’m afraid I did a poor job of explaining it. I said something like look at my skin, people call it white. Look at your skin, people call it brown. Look at Obama’s skin, people call it black. Obama is the first president that isn’t “white”. And then Sai pointed to the picture on the front of the news paper, pointed out Bush and said “He’s white.”

Great. Now I’ve put this notion of skin color into my kids head! ARGH!!

“Seeing” different skin colors isn’t bad. Unless you put the notion that a certain color is less than another color. Right? So help me! How do I explain this to a six-year-old and a three-year-old? I want them to grow up seeing people, not skin. And knowing that they can be whatever they want to be.

It’s Not Just Me

It’s funny that after writing my last post I read this post. I’m not the only one who was challenged with that dress pattern! (I’m turning into a fabric nerd–I can name the fabric line that she used in her dress. She designed it so obviously she’d use her own fabric but I knew the name! NERD ALERT!)

I do think I will try it again. I know now what to expect and don’t think I’ll sew, rip out, sew, rip out, sew just to get the darn neck done again! And don’t get me started on the sleeves…

But next up is the diaper bag.

Wish me luck.

Some Sewing

Sophie and I spent Saturday at my mom’s house sewing. My mom, four of my sisters and two of my nieces were there. I made this for Sophie.

And can I say, as much as I love Amy Butler’s fabric, her patterns are not that easy to follow! I kept having to ask my mom, an expert seamstress, questions and she said that the directions were not very clear. And it would be nice to have actual photos of the steps, not just drawings of some of the steps. But anyway… I finished it, except for the bow on the front. I was so frustrated at the end that I was just ready to call it quits. My mom offered to finish it for me but I was so determined to finish it and be done (plus, I wanted Sophie to wear it to church on Sunday).

Here we are early in the day. Not all of us were set up at this point. My parents just added this big room onto their house. My husband calls it the cultural hall (I think some of you will get it).

Here’s Sophie sitting with Aunt Nanna while I was trying to cut out her dress. She was playing with the scraps from my sister Carrie and me.

And here’s Sophie sewing with Aunt Tracy.

My sisters and mom and nieces were great. They tried to distract Sophie so I could sew. She was being a big Mama’s girl. I think she was afraid that I was going to leave her.

Next on my list of things to sew is a diaper bag. It’s from the same book (got it for Christmas). I’m kind of nervous now, after the attempt to sew the dress. Hopefully it will be a lot easier since it’s just a bag.

2008 Year in Review

(Warning… lots of photos, few words.) I couldn’t pick just one photo a month to describe our last year. Here are some of my favorites.

January

Sai wearing shirt from Irene.

Look how young Jay looks!

Crayon rolls

Blanket tying

February

Getting fabric stuck under my pressure foot. Still now sure how I did it.

Baby blanket for Serena’s baby. Serena’s husband stopped me a week or so ago at work and said that they love this blanket and use it a lot (yes, how funny that I move back to UT and now work for the same company as my friend’s husband).

Guitar Hero Jay

Guitar Hero Sai

Pencil roll

March

Seamstress apron (pattern from Craft Apple) and pregnant me

Sai and Jay picnicking

Me at baby shower given by the wonderful Rhonda

Doll blanket (I don’t remember where that got packed. Probably somewhere in the storage unit. *sigh*)

Sai coloring Easter eggs

Easter baskets – I just loved this printables from starwars.com

Hand quilting

Lucky win #1. Quilt from Dana at Old Red Barn Co.

April

36 weeks. I felt huge!

Baby stuff

Eating on the deck

Baby shoes embroidered and put together by me. She’s actually worn them to church a few times.

Joe and me comparing our bumps

Welcome Sophie!

A full truck!

May

Jay and Sophie. Seems this was to set the tone for their love/hate relationship. Oh those two!

Lucky win #2. Fat quarters from Valori Wells. I’ve made some blocks with them and that’s as far as I’ve gotten.

My three crazy kids!

Sophie on her Blessing day. And our last Sunday in Oregon.

Here’s a peaceful face from her.

June

Joe decked out for school. (And welcome to Utah)

Jay’s 3rd birthday

July

Sai’s 6th birthday

Sophie losing hair. She looks like she has an old-man comb-over.

Uncle Manny eating Sophie’s hand

Sai and Jay playing in the pool at Bridal Veil Falls.

Sophie and me at Bridal Veil Falls

August

Lucky win #3. I won an iPhone 3G at my IT summer BBQ. I subsequently sold it to a guy I found on Craig’s List. Still no regrets.

Sai’s first day of first grade

September

Sophie growing up

Purses. I still use the one on the left. But I’m ready for something new. And bigger!

Mmmm… Rice cereal. I love Sophie’s eyes in this one.

October

Sorry, I’m just so in love with all my kids and it’s fun having a daughter!

Just look at them!!!

Halloween

Early voting

November

I went with Joe to this rugby game. Quite fun, really.

She looks like a redhead!

December

Mmm… frosting kiss

Sophie wanted to play, too

Temple Square

Lucky win #4. Blu-ray player and formula.

Jay and Santa

Sai and Santa

Sophie and Santa

 

2008 was a crazy year for us. Sophie joined our family in April. That little girl has blessed our family so much. She’s sweet and cute and already fights with her brothers. We had decided that Joe would go back to school. Little did we know that layoff #3 would push us back to Utah for Joe’s schooling. We lived with my sister Tracy for a while. I got a job at my old company and Joe started school to become a surgical tech. We moved into our own place (yes, many backgrounds in the photos, if you noticed) and have settled into our groove.

And despite all the hardships we endured (not all of them made public here because I don’t want to sound like a complete whiner) I had a lucky year. Winning the quilt from Dana, the fat quarters from Valori, the iPhone and blue-ray from work.

I’m very thankful for a wonderful husband who puts up with me. And thankful for Sai who amazes me everyday by demonstrating just how smart he is. And thankful for Jay who is still a mama’s boy at heart. And thankful for Sophie who is a quintessential girl. And thankful to all of you for your love and support.