Upcoming Church Story

Happy belated Thanksgiving to everyone.  Hope you all enjoyed your families and some good food.  I cooked more this year than I ever have.  I have been crazy busy and the dolls have taken a back seat, but I will be getting back to them soon.  There's so much going on over here at the moment, it's hard to focus.  Just to give you an idea of my real life drama....... Remember my house guest?  Well she fell and hit her head the first night she was here, and she's been down and out ever since.   There have been a couple visits to the hospital, but luckily there's no real damage.  So I've been playing nurse maid.  Tomorrow I start two straight weeks of radiation.  It's just to remove some lesions in my arm, my leg, and my back.  It will also help rebuild my bones.  Did I tell you that I now tutor math three times a week?  I love math and I love tutoring when I don't have to deal with a lot of drama.  Most of my tutoring jobs are riddled with parent drama.  This is no exception.  

On to the dolls.  I will be doing a church story in the next couple of days.  We have met the pastor and two of her children.  I want to introduce you to her father (principal Reed), and her teenage daughter Shelley.

Initially I thought about making the principal her husband, but I got more of a father vibe.  It's always nice to have another grandpa in town.

I've already started setting up the church story.  Now one is dressed yet,  When I do a big scene like this, I usually put everyone in their seats, then I dress them.  Makes things a lot easier.

We will see you guys real soon!

New Sofa

Here's the latest sofa that just hit my Etsy store.  It's a little different because it has three back cushions.  Halle is on another assignment, so Monica volunteered to fill in.

Jem and G.I. Joe

I saw this Honda tv commercial this morning and wanted to share.  It features Jem and G.I. Joe.

Touching Base

Hello guys.  It's been over a week since I've been on the blogs, so I thought I should do a quick check in.  I know you guys get worried when you don't hear from me.  I am fine.  There's a lot going on right now.  I'm hosting a house guest for a few weeks and that has really thrown off my schedule.  I'm experiencing car trouble.  As a matter of fact, I am waiting for the tow truck right now.  We are also having a cold spell in Atlanta and I'm not in a hurry to go work in the cold basement.

I think over the next month I am going to focus mainly on getting new items listed in the store.  It's the holidays and I need to make sure I have items in stock.  So for those of you looking for stories, bear with me.  I will throw in a few here and there, and return to doing them regularly in January.  I will catch up on reading your blogs sometime this week.

Stay warm!

Christmas Sweaters

On Flickr a few days ago, someone posted pictures of some Christmas ornaments from Michael's that would make the perfect doll sweaters.  I went out this weekend and bought a few.  It took me awhile to find them because they weren't with the rest of the ornaments.  They retail for $5.99, but they were on sale for 50% off.

I bought this set specifically for Rod and Danielle.

I think I will use this set for one of the teenage daughters and the mom.  Possibly Christina and Cassandra.

Rod threw on his Santa hat at the last minute and I snapped the shot,

By the way, I added initial pillows to my Etsy store.  You pick the initial and chose between the colors black or red.

It's Still Halloween

Halloween came a little late.  Remember the outfits I thought I misplaced?  Turns out I never took them off my desk.  I didn't figure this out until after I spent a couple of days cleaning the basement, thinking I had misplaced the outfits down there.  All's well that end's well.  

What a turnout!  Danielle wasn't expecting all these people.  She had to change party plans a little bit due to space constraints.  It's a good thing the older kids went trick or treating.  

"Thank you all for coming.  You all look fabulous.  We're going to start the party off with a little family fashion show to show off your cute little costumes.  When it's your turn, just come to the center, face the camera first, so we can get your picture, then do a 360 to show everyone else.   Are we all ready?"  (Danielle)

As Danielle speaks, the kids are not really paying much attention.  That's kids for you.

But Danielle gets a resounding 'yes' from the people who are paying attention.

(Did you notice the light is now pink?  It randomly changes colors.)

"I guess me and my boys will start things off."  (Danielle)

There's a new sheriff in town.  Julian was not about to give up his Batman costume this year.  

Stephanie is dressed as a princess.  Both her kids are in elephant costumes.  Awwww.

Lynn is dressed as a princess and she brought along her little pumpkin, baby Layla.

Looks like Racquel  and baby Shay are both witches.  I wish I had gotten a better picture of Shay's witch hat.

Angelica and Nina.

"Honey, we're next, so let's put your mane on."  (Michelle)

Michelle and Mikayla

Penelope Moretti and the twins.

Just in case you don't remember what the twins look like.

Leslie, Ciana, and Joseph

Lisa dressed her two little ones in chick-a-dee costumes.

Kimaya, Naisha's daughter, is a little mermaid.

Little Diana Ross, I mean Zahara.

I don't have a clue who Antoinette is supposed to be.  Kenaz is such a cutie in his dragon costume.

Vanessa was feeling a little 50ish.

Alicia is the cutest little bunny.

After all the picture taking, Danielle tries to get everyone's attention, as side conversations and kiddie conversations increase.  "Okay everyone, next on the agenda is 'bobbing for apples'.  Give me a minute to set it up."  (Danielle)

Batman helps Danielle with the apple tub.  Ciana gets excited as Danielle explains how to play the game.  "Can we have a couple more kids gather round the tub?"  (Danielle)

"Batman, you may want to take off your cape, first."  (Danielle)

"But mom, Batman never takes off his cape."  (Julian)

"Okay, Julian.  The first one to get an apple will win a prize.  On your mark, get set, go!"  (Danielle)

The kids are cheered on by the crowd.

There are a few more rounds of apple bobbing so that all the kids who wanted to try, got to do so.  A few kids went in multiple times.  Afterwards, there was ghost storytelling, but not too scary.   More along the lines of Casper, the friendly ghost.  Danielle didn't want the kids having nightmares.  Everyone left the party with a good bag of treats and prizes.

Pillow Time

Today I added some new specialty pillows to my Etsy shop.  Hope you like them.  

Introducing Dahlia! (Photostory)

Dahlia, the newest Prettie Girl arrived yesterday.  She is Lena's younger sister who has followed Lena to Morristown for an opportunity to work with animals.

It's Halloween and Lena and Adele are taking the kids to the party.  Big Allen is planning to watch a football game with Adele's husband, Mike.

"Honey, where are the snacks I asked you to get for tonight?"  (Alan)

"Excuse you?  I thought you said you were going to pick up some snacks on the way home."  (Lena)

"Shoot!  I totally forgot."  (Alan)

"Are you sure you don't want to join us at the party?"  (Lena)

"No, I'm still a little tired from the trip.  I'm going to call Mom, then curl up with a good book."  (Dahlia)

"I know Mom and Dad are missing you like crazy."  (Lena)

"Yes, I think Dad is still surprised that I moved out."  (Dahlia)

"Well lil' Alan and I will eat lots of goodies in your honor."  (Lena)

"Any ideas on what I can serve my guests?"  (Alan)

"There is half a cake still in there."  (Lena)

"I can't just serve cake."  (Alan)

Lena takes a deep breath.  This is typical Alan.  He says he's going to do something, and when he doesn't follow through he looks to Lena to fix it.

"Awww, my little reindeer.  You're so handsome!"  (Lena)

"Turn him around.  I want to see."  (Dahlia)

"Awww, my little nephew is killing it."  (Dahlia)

"Why did you pick a reindeer costume?  That's for Christmas time."  (Alan)

"Let's just say when you wait until the last minute to get a costume, you have to take what's available."  (Lena)

**DING DONG**

"Honey, get the door.  It's probably Adele."  (Lena)

"Trick or treat!"  (Adele)

"You came to the wrong house if you are looking for treats.  Where's Mike?"  (Alan)

"As far as I know, he's still at the office.  Give him a call."  (Adele)

"I'll do that."  (Alan)

"Hey Adele.  Come on in.  I want to see Sydney's costume."  (Lena) 

"She's my little lamb."  (Adele)

"Ohhhh, that's so cute!  You should have dressed up as Mary."  (Lena)

"I thought about it, but time got away from me."  (Adele)

"By the way, Adele, this is my sister Dahlia.  She just arrived here a couple days ago."  (Lena)

"Nice to meet you."  (Adele)

"Same here."  (Dahlia)

"Are you staying in town long?"  (Adele)

"That all depends on how quickly I get a job.  I have a job interview on Monday"  (Dahlia)

"Hey honey, do you have time to run to the store before you leave?"  (Alan)

Lena just stares are her husband.  Is he serious?

Adele and Dahlia continue their conversation.

"No, I don't.  I can give you the number to Dominos.  You can just get pizza and wings."  (Lena)

"I guess that will have to do."  (Alan)

Lena pulls out her cell phone and texts the number to Alan's cell phone.

Lena wraps lil' Alan in his blanket as she gets ready to leave.

"Okay, we are finally ready.  Are we taking your car or mine's?"  (Lena)

"Do you have room for Sydney's car seat?"  (Adele)

"We can make room.  Let's go."  (Lena)

"Have fun and bring me back some candy."  (Dahlia)

I'm so excited to have the two new Prettie Girls.  

Even though Dahlia is very similar to Lena, I still like her.  

Here is the back of Dahlia's box.  I'm going to stay pretty true to her character.  She has an interview with Monica, the local pet specialist.

Kimani is gorgeous!  I will be incorporating her into the stories soon.

The back of her book describes her as a jewelry maker.  Morristown doesn't have a jewelry maker, so she will fit right in.

And no I didn't find the lost Halloween costumes.  I think it's finally time for me to organize the basement.