In addition to being named cheer co-captain and elected student body president, my adorable little girl took her first steps on the road to volleyball glory this year when she joined the volleyball team for Roosevelt Middle School. The season was wrought with scheduling conflicts and miscommunication but all-in-all it was a good experience. I got to capture her very first game-time spike on video and they won the championship (even though I was out of town at the time and missed it).

I was very impressed with the RMS coach and wish I had pushed for Taylor to participate all three years. Oh well, c’est la vie. At least I know that it wet her appetite enough to want to do it in high school. *giggity*

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The first step in Taylor’s quest to take on everything possible for her final year in middle school is now complete. She, along with her 2 “besties,” has made the cheer leading squad for the third year in a row. Prior to the squad announcement, each interested participant was asked to give a short speech to rally votes for either treasurer, secretary, co-captain, or captain. After much deliberation between herself and Caylin, they decided Taylor would go for co-captain relinquishing the title of captain to her partner-in-crime. Both were appointed to their desired positions without hesitation. I know this because I was bombarded by squealing teenagers as I arrived to pick Taylor up from school yesterday. I wasn’t worried…

Next stop, volleyball, ASB President, and then the WORLD!! *evil laugh*

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Officially the queens of the school, these three are walking billboards for Dickies, VANS, and Jansport. They’ve decided they are coordinating outfits each day and went to pain-staking efforts to get the same skirts, pants, bows, and shoes in order to make this dream a reality. I think it’ll die off pretty quickly but will enjoy the ride while it lasts. I can’t believe my baby will be in high school next year… *gulp*

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I figure since I mention on my “About” page that I’m such a nut for Halloween that I should probably post my latest creation for 2009. Yes it’s a little late but better late than… oh, you know.

I really wanted to do something in the realm of current events but was having a really hard time coming up with anything that would work for me (my body type is, well, one-of-a-kind). I dabbled in some of Lady Gaga’s questionable ensembles and toyed with the notion of another pick-up line. In the middle of one such brainstorming session, I decided that I would do a flying pig. I set out to get some wings but found I was going to struggle with finding a pink leotard that is exactly what I wanted. Then, while searching on Google for inspiration for flying pigs, I realized that a lot of people were using them to visually represent Swine Flu. That was it… a path was found, both creative and an up-in-our-face current event! I still struggled with what to wear, even visited a fabric store because I was determined to sew my own hospital gown. In the end, I found the perfect pair of pajamas, slippers, and a robe (complete with a friggin’ flying pig on it). Bought a gnarly pig nose, glued it to my face and the rest is history…

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So, the day has finally arrived… after 3 long weeks of waiting, Taylor’s customized Converse shoes arrived in the mail. They are designed in CKT colors - green, purple, and orange. They ended up being a little big (go figure with Converse having its own sizing method - ugh). Anywho, I’m pleased… and I better be for what we paid for them :\

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NBC invited the Roosevelt Cheerleaders to their station to help promote the North Park Toyland Parade this Saturday. Taylor was pretty upset because the flyer in her stunt group jumped the gun and bit and it caused them not to execute their “elevator” on time. I think she’s over it now, though. It was so cute to watch. This truly is one of the best things about being a parent. *proud grin*

Update: Unfortunately, her stunt group has now been cut all to pieces because two of them couldn’t keep their grades up. The other day I picked Taylor up from school and she had a big ol’ fat lip because her new flyer kicked her in the face on a toe-touch. I still think it’s cute. Maybe I’m a little demonic. Hey, I’ve come to grips with the fact that she’s a cheerleader. I just hope that the competitive sports bug bites her really hard soon.

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So it happened, I finally finished my costume and headed out. I know that by the looks of it isn’t much of anything but the process of getting to this stage was painful and long. First, I couldn’t come up with any good ideas. Then, I finally came up with the idea of a bad pick-up line (Angel who fell from heaven). The sign was meant to prompt people to ask me, “What hurt?” and I could respond, “When I fell from heaven.” It didn’t really work out that way but I’m okay with it anyway.

Once I had the idea I bought a white halo and white wings and set out to find some kind of angel outfit. Yeah, that was difficult. I can’t really pull of slutty costumes and hate huge stuff that lays on me like a tent … seemed like when I was looking those were my only two options. I finally ordered what appeared to be a decent robe-like gown online, paid extra to get it to me on time and then sat back and felt happy that I was done looking. I didn’t mention that I spent an entire day shopping around the town for some kind of white outfit I could make myself that would look angelic. Guess what you’re not supposed to wear after Labor Day? That’s right, white. I was in a sea of fall colors with no white in sight.

Anyway, so after I got the costume and realized that it was of the tent variety I mentioned above, I was upset and ready to call Halloween off entirely. Then I was shopping in Burlington Coat Factory for my second idea (thanks to Krista) of going as the wrong holiday so I was looking for Christmas stuff to decorate myself with. I stumbled across the top I’m wearing in this picture and really liked it. So I thought, what the hell, why not go as a dark angel (since I am falling from heaven anyway) and paint the stupid white stuff I’d purchased black. This is the result. I’m happy considering all the horror I went through to pull it off. Next year will be better planned. I just waited too long to come up with anything. Now I’ve got about 50 different costume ideas that I’m keeping a list of to work on throughout the year so this never happens again.

Hope everyone else’s Halloween was everything they wanted it to be … now back to real life.

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My daughter started middle school today. It’s adorable but it really made me feel old. How the hell did my child get to be 11 years old? I felt bad for her as she was escorted onto campus with her hobbling cripple of a mother. Hopefully the kids won’t make fun.

It also had a sense of serious nostalgia. I actually smelled my old school days as I was walking back to my car. Don’t you think that’s weird? I didn’t even grow up here, so you’d think that the two cities would produce different morning smells but it was actually very similar. Anyway … now I’m rambling.

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As we all know, yesterday was Valentine’s Day… and in true Rachelle style, I have to celebrate every holiday to the fullest where my kid is concerned. So, Sunday we went to Michael’s and got stuff for her to hand out on the big day.

They turned out so cute that I had to share.

As she was handing them out, one kid in her class named them perfectly. He grabbed his box and said, “Well, I’m gonna just take my Taylor Take-Out and go home.”

Perfect.

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My beautiful girl, Taylor (left) dressed up as a vampiress…and Kendrick’s beautiful girl, Kendra (right) dressed up as a hoola girl… Taylor looks a little grown up, I agree. I can’t do anything about it… she’s too big for her own britches. Kendra won 2nd place in the costume contest at Gage’s Halloween Carnival.

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