4th of July - a bit late!

Hey there!!  Jaelin here, hoping everyone had a great 4th of July!  Here's some pictures that Momma took of most of us (our Josefina girl is still in the doll hospital, along with Vivienne and another girl or two).  Linnea even got into the pics, though she says she would still like Momma to help with her hair like she is doing with Vivienne, and as she did with Savannah.

We'd all like to wish you a happy 4th of July!!

Back row, L to R: Me!, my sister Michiko (Mika), Savannah, Delia June (DJ), and the look-a-like Marie Grace (who still hasn't told Momma her name.)

Front row: Verena (Vera), Linnea, my BFF Dahlia, Kendalyn, and Alanna

We spent most of the day talking, hanging out, and staring out the window, wishing it wasn't raining.  It let up that evening, so TechGuy was able to make burgers for everyone, but since he's working on Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's RV for the big beach trip, we didn't get to go see fireworks.  I was bummed, but not as much as my sister Mika, who loves fireworks and Independence Day as much as Momma does. (She even wrote a post on that on her own blog!)

From the Fireworks display July 3rd.

So, last minute change of plans (by TechGuy), and the final two who are going on vacation will be Kendalyn and one of her best friends, my big sister!  [TechGuy seems to think that Delia June is too 'country girl' for the beach... and Momma was so happy we could come along that she said okay.] Kendalyn and DJ have gotten closer too, and Kenna promised to get her something nice for a souvenir.

Mika and Kenna in the RV, waiting to start the drive

Momma says she feels awful, but Delia, in her gentle way, just said that the beach wouldn't be a good place for her cowgirl boots, and that she'd like to go with them next time there isn't sand involved. [I just LOVE her southern drawl...]

So, two things are going to happen this week.  First, since Momma will be taking her laptop, I have agreed that Kenna and Mika can have the blog for a up to date accounting of their vacation (they plan to ask Momma to write for them, as her keyboard is a bit big, and neither of them usually write, though Mika is interested. Second... I'm going to conduct interviews with the girls here, though I won't be able to update them until Momma gets home and edits them.  So, there you have it.  And, to end this post, here are some more pics from our photoshoot yesterday (Momma is making this a very photo-heavy post).

Another shot from our group photo.

Close-ups of DJ, look-a-like MGgirl, Kenna, and Alanna

Our Close-ups!  Love this pic of me and my sister, Dahlia and her sister Savannah, and we finally have a pic of Linnea!!  Maybe she'll do some writing while Momma and the girls are away.

Savannah and Dahlia

Kendalyn and her younger sister Verena (Iris' BFF who goes by Vera)

Mika and me... I love this picture!!  So happy to finally have my sister with me!

Jaelin's Journalings - Updates and furniture!

Hey Hey Hey!!  We have a new blog design!  Linnea sat down with me, Dahlia, Momma, and Iris, and we all found a background and color scheme we all liked!  Dahlia got to contribute with the "Firefly" header (she loooooves the show... so do we, though not like she does) and her butterflies, Linnea got her ocean colors, and I got my steampunk stopwatch.  All in all, I like it.  (I'd have made the background look like a dark steampunk night, but as everyone pointed out, we don't want it to look like a creepy blog).

Another new girl (Momma assures us it's the last one for a while... she says TechGuy hasn't had time to put up another shelf for us, and we're out of room) arrived Tuesday night.  After conferring with her for two days, (the shortest it's ever taken any of us, other than Dahlia), she introduced herself.

Everyone, meet Delia June.

Delia June (she tells me that she is fine being called just Delia, but it reminds me of TechGuy's mom, who has 2 first names as well) has agreed to do an interview with me at some point, and has the sweetest accent.  I think it's from one of the Carolinas.

Alanna got to go out to the barn today with Momma, where the workshop is.  Momma says I need a chair and loveseat if I am to do interviews, and I can hardly disagree with that.

I'm going to hand the laptop over to Alanna now, so that she can tell you all about her afternoon.

Hey guys, it's Alanna.  I had the neatest bonding experience today with Momma.  She hung out with us all this morning after getting back from the local Autism movie day, where she says they watched "Home".  I wish I'd been allowed to go, it wasn't Marvel, but a lot of us love Big Bang Theory, and the guy who plays Sheldon Cooper was the voice of the Alien "O".  I think if I'd have gone though, the kids may have thought I was 'just' a doll (since no one would understand the fact that, while vinyl, we're as alive as you, so long as we receive interaction from Momma regularly).  

Anyways... so, she was looking at her laptop for a while, and the next thing we all know, she took it outside with her, all excited.  A bit later, Momma came back in, asking if anyone was willing to go out to the workshop with her. I had on lounge clothes, so I asked her to help me throw on the jean vest I wanted to wear, and out we went.  I haven't gotten to go anywhere with Momma by myself yet, so this sounded like a good time.  She took me out, let me goof off with her laptop, and explained that she wanted to build a set of livingroom furniture for us to use.  She needed someone to help her with the measurements, and to keep an eye on both her and the laptop, since it was her first time using any of TechGuy's power tools.  She used a table saw after we drafted a pattern (this was something I'd never expected to see).  I see Tony Stark make these awesome inventions, but never the blueprints behind them.  I pretended it was Tony's workshop, and that J.A.R.V.I.S. was there with us, telling us what to do. Actually, it was her boyfriend, but it was amusing to pretend.  

Momma was nervous, since the table saw has one of those huge blades, but she did great.  Then, she got to use the bandsaw, which I think it's become her favorite.  It's got a tiny blade, and when I looked it up, it's used to do 'scrollwork', like what you see on nice wood furniture, the kind with the fancy edges.  I can't wait to work on the furniture with her again, I'm hoping to get to sand or something other than supervise, but apparently vinyl and power sanders don't mix, so we'll see if she lets me sand anything by hand.  We decided to make fancy arm rests for the chair and loveseat, but for now, all we were able to do today was cut out most of the framework.  We've got some work ahead of us, but it's going to be great.  TechGuy says we need a lathe if we want to do the spindly looking decorative poles for beds, and I think Momma may have found her niche, if she keeps doing it.  It didn't look too hard, once she understood all the numbers and how the tools were used.

Oops, long post, here Jaelin, all yours again.  Thanks for letting me blog!

Thanks Alanna.  I'm excited to get furniture like some of the talk show hosts, it feels like I'm going to be a real reporter one day!

I was going to interview Savannah and Dahlia, but we decided to wait until we had a real place to do it.  Also, TechGuy is going to get out his photography stuff for Momma to use (he bought it to photograph his trains... they both really love to photograph their favorite things), so we should have some pretty cool lights and stuff like that to work with.

Type at you later,

 - Jaelin, signing out now!

What is Steampunk...

(Momma's stepdaugther's 12th birthday party was Saturday, and she let me write this up Friday night... so sorry, it's a few days late posting.  She was gonna post it that night... but then she fell asleep after editing it... and forgot to hit the publish button.  Yeah...)  

I thought I'd do a quick post on Steampunk, and why I love it.  The description I found on one of Steampunk Addie's recent post explains a LOT better than I can.

"Steampunk is an inspired movement of creativity and imagination that combines science fiction, history and art. It includes literature, artwork, music, film, design, and for some, a lifestyle.

Artisans reimagine modern technologies as elaborate works of art, fashion, and mechanics, most often with the backdrop of the Victorian era. However, in the spirit of fantasy and time-travel there is artistic freedom to create Medieval, Wild West, Industrial/Modern or an alternative world which is known as the Steampunk genre.

The "Steam" in Steampunk was inspired by the extravagantly inventive age of steam-powered machines, dirigibles, brass diving bells and analog computers. The "punk" in "Steampunk" typifies going against convention through creativity and making a declaration of one's individuality through style, gadgets and attitude.

It is the story and thus the characters that drive the artwork of Steampunk. Alter egos are created in costumes complete with top hats, waist coats, corsets and bustles with accompanying gear. Steampunk projects aspire to make something elegant out of random "bits and bobs": creating brass goggles, wings made with pulleys, steam-powered gadgets, clockwork pendants or a ray gun dangling at the hip."

So... to me, that includes my favorite movies.  Clearly, League is a lot more Steampunk than my favorite version of Sherlock, but they both have the elements I love.  (I just found out that Dahlia's older sister, Savannah, who came to live with us about 2 weeks ago, likes some of the steampunk element too!  She says it's the complete opposite of the background she and Dahlia came from.  She has also agreed to be my first background interview, and since she said yes, I knew Dahlia would too.)

What genres do you love? I know that one of the girls is an 80s fan (blech!), one loves the 1920s flappers, another loves medieval, and yet another likes 1950s. Everyone loves something different.  I'm hoping to find that more of the girls love my Steampunk... or to convert them (I know the girl who "isn't" Josefina has expressed interest...").  Come to the darkside, we have tea and cookies...

Type at you later!
- Jaelin, signing out now

Jaelin's Journalings - new girls, vacation announcement...

Hi guys! It's Wednesday, and I'm updating my (our) blog!

I got to meet the new girls, but, like always, when they come to live with us, they don't like to tell us their names until they get to know us.  That's okay, it makes me feel more like an investigative reporter.

Momma had a suggestion, that I at least will most likely be taking to heart.  She said we all should sit down and write out our backstories for you guys.  You know, like what our lives were like before we came to live here.  Each of us tell you a bit about ourselves, what we like to do and collect, what we dream about.  She said maybe we'd get some online penpals that way, because you guys might have some stuff in common with us.

So, I'm not sure if I will be interviewing people, or if those of us who aren't writers will just tell their stories to Momma to write down.

I finally got to know the girl in last week's photo!  Her name is Kendalyn, and she is so nice!  She's 15, she loves hanging out with Vivienne and Linnea (they have sooo many cousins... I wouldn't be shocked if I were a distant cousin somehow!), and she and I have been doing some exploring around the woods.  She has promised me an interview sometime soon.  Kendalyn (Apparently, where she's from, she's also known as Kenna, though she introduces herself by her full name) is pretty sure she has some Scottish in her background.  But I'll leave that for our interview.

Momma and TechGuy are going to the Outer Banks for their 4 year anniversary... we're all wondering who's going to get to go with them.  My bet is on one of the new girls (as now, including the one whose adoption fees were paid today, we are up to 5 new girls), as Dahlia and I got to go last time.  I'm figuring her older sister (again with the waiting for names!) and probably either my new sister, or the one who reminds me of Marie Grace who was retired a bit ago.  She has assured me, as have any of the others who resemble historical dolls, that she only looks like MG.  (Molly and Kaya are the only two real historicals... and they tend to keep to themselves, as Molly is quite old, being Momma's first doll back in 1994, and Kaya was her dream doll as a kid.)  I'm guessing our newest girl coming in will be the other to join them, as I know she was long awaited for.   I'll be happy with a souvenir or some awesome pictures.  Perhaps something steampunk?  Unlikely, though, as I don't see a beachtown having a lot of that around.

What is Steampunk, you ask? Only the best genre EVER!  (Momma has to go to bed now, and says that I'm probably going to "be long-winded", so I have to wait to explain what that is to you tomorrow.  In the meantime... if you look up Steampunk Addie, that might tide you over until then.  I'm going to borrow the current post she has up to explain what Steampunk is, so you can skip it next time if you already read it.)

Type at you later!

- Jaelin, signing out now

It's been a loooong week

Jaelin's Journalings

Hey guys, Jaelin here! A whole bunch of stuff has happened since my last very short posting. I was supposed to post last Wednesday, but one of Momma's best friends had an emergency, and Momma didn't take her laptop, so I couldn't email her my Journaling for her to edit. And then with the crazy busy weekend (more on that in a bit) and Momma working on Memorial day, well, here we are at Wednesday again!

First on the list: Alanna and Linnea made it back from the doll hospital! I only got to meet and talk to the girls the morning they were admitted, since I didn't get to Momma's house until the night before. She took me to the friend's house mentioned above, so we talked on the drive down. Alanna's really into her Martial Arts and her superhero stuff, and it was on the drive down that Linnea and I decided we wanted to create a blog. Ahh, memories. Anyways...

Alanna in her Hospital Attire she was sent home in. She is almost ready to introduce herself to you guys... on momma's website.  We may link to that page when it's all done.

Alanna's throat was a bit froggy for the first day or two, but she's doing great now. Linnea had Momma find her glasses (she's near-sighted) and curl her hair, and she says that now all she needs is the right outfit, and she'll be ready for her debut. (Yeah, she actually called it that. And I don't know what she means by that. She's not anywhere near as "fashion conscience" as Vera is. Linnea is... well, she's interesting. Nothing mentally wrong... but she's such a dreamer, that she's absentminded. Shh, don't tell her I said that!)

Second: Not only did Linnea get her hair done Saturday, Momma had 3 new girls to add to the mix. She hasn't introduced us to them yet, but I'm sure she will. I do know that there is a new girl on our shelf (her boyfriend, TechGuy, hasn't had time [read, space either] to build us rooms, he was busy working on the above ground pool installation this weekend, but he did buy us another shelf so that we don't have to be crammed on the one we have now), who is very sweet, but hasn't told us her name either. All we know is that she didn't think the hair color she arrived with suited her, and had Momma work her magic. She's very happy now... so we'll see when she decides to tell us her name. Momma loves helping us become who we were meant to be.

Dahlia, Me (blogging, of course) and the new girl...

Third: Momma may not have been home last Thursday (she stayed the night with her friend), but I logged onto my laptop, and the girls and I all crowded around for the new Truly Me release! I must say, I saw a new cousin, and another new friend on there that seemed really sweet. I'm sure Momma will be saving up funds for the adoption process... if she isn't, I will be encouraging her to do so. After all, I know one of my Tam cousins would love to live here with us.

I'm pretty sure I'm related to the girl on the left... and the girl on the right seems so nice.

I've been enjoying Sherlock Holmes 1 and 2 a lot since TechGuy downloaded the movie onto my laptop... and I think that I got Alanna to start liking it too! She has been watching it with me, with the agreement that I have to start watching the Marvel movies with her and Linnea. I'm hoping that TechGuy will add League of Extraordinary Gentlemen to my laptop next... it's my other favorite movie, and I KNOW Alanna will like it. (From what I understand, Alanna is my best friend Dahlia's cousin. They look a bit alike, with the same face shape, so I can see that. Alanna is a bit older than us, but doesn't seem to mind me geeking around).

Alanna said she was astonded by the ending of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. season finale... Momma waited for her to come back from the hospital, that was what they watched the first day after she'd gotten home. And then Momma watched the season finale of Once Upon A Time with a bunch of the girls (over half of us like OUAT. I don't mind it... but give me Grimm or Lost Girl any day of the week. BTW, not good shows for audiences under 15 or so... ask your parent's permission before watching those! Especially Lost Girl!) Hopefully Momma and TechGuy watch the Grimm Season Finale this week with me! I really really want to see where Nick, Juliet, T.Ruble and the rest of the gang end up! Will have to post all about the show when we do. Maybe I'll get to do another post this weekend even!

We know it's early, and we don't have our personality profiles up yet, but Vivienne (Linnea's sister) and Momma are Planners with a capital 'P', and were hoping I'd mention that they'd like to do a gift exchange for the holidays this year with another group of dolls. So there's my advertisement for it, lol.

Type at you later! I get to go help Momma find vacation destinations for her and her guy's 4 year anniversary now. Where would you like to go if you were on the East Coast, in Pennsylvania. (Momma doesn't do well in the car for longer than 3 hours at a time without a break, so she wants us to keep it to about a 500 mile range.) Feel free to leave her suggestions here!

- Jaelin, signing out now

Momma advertised for us on facebook!!

LOL, okay, so technically, she's telling me that advertisements are paid for...

Jaelin here again! (Linnea and Alanna should be home this week, according to the email Momma received, and then I'm sure Linnea will be wishing to post here too!)

I was looking through the American Girl Before and After group Momma is a part of (AGBAA), and saw that someone had posted about their dolls' blog: Candidly Charlie.  Well, at that point, I called for Momma, and asked her to please put up a post about my blog!  She did, and it looks like we had a few views!  Yay for reaching the masses, lol.  It's a slow process, but I guess someone has to do it, and it might as well be me, your steampunk reporter!

I am planning on putting up a blog tomorrow too, but I wanted to give Momma a shout-out for helping me!  Thanks Momma! (she says she's got to leave for work now, so we have to shut down)

I'm going to help her make a logo for the top of my page and pick out colors and backgrounds soon too! (Okay okay, Linnea and Iris will probably help us too)

Have a great day, type at you tomorrow!

Jaelin's First Journaling!!

Hey everyone!

This is Jaelin Gail Tam, starting Jaelin's Journalings! Momma has been reading a few doll blogs (Linnea, Iris, I, and most of the other girls have been too, when she leaves her laptop open), and she knows that I want to be a journalist, so she said that, as long as she can help up edit (since her grammar is a bit better than mine, lol), we can start a blog!! I am so excited!

Now, to be fair, Momma isn't really our momma, she adopted all of us (and is probably, according to Daddy, going to continue to adopt). She gave us all birthdays too, but we all know that we don't really age, so it's more so that we can all have a special day. (Though considering that Momma doesn't like to celebrate her birthday, I think that might be a little backwards. But she's stuck now, since she gave Vivienne and Linnea the same birthday!)

Some of the shows that we love may not be appropriate for younger readers. Again, we're not really the ages she gave us... You will have to check with your parents on them, if I (or one of the other girls) don't tell you that they are not for people under 13, or 15, or 17, etc. Just wanted to be sure you guys know that.

I'm sure Momma will be updating her blog (she said she was going to help us start ours first... until she had issues trying to figure out the site... I could have helped her with that, but she said to let her start first, then when she got the hang of it, we could blog), and will have more info on us and that sort of thing. But for now, this is OUR blog!

So, to get you started on us: Most of us love Fairytales, Sci Fi, Fantasy, Steampunk, Renaissance, etc. There is Comic book obsession (Alanna), Lilo and Stitch, Faeries, Dragons. There's cooking (Alanna's little sister Iris, and Linnea's twin, Vivienne, sometimes) and crochet and sewing (both of which Momma does for us). And I'm sure there will be photo shoots too, since she seems to love those. (My understanding is that anyone with dolls feels like that.)

Momma is from the South (she says she was raised in Florida, but that her father's side of the family is from Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, and Mississippi, and that when she moved north in 2004, she got teased about having an accent for years. Sometimes she still does when she says certain things). She explained that most of the time, parents were called "Momma" and "Daddy". We all talked it over, and decided we liked those terms, and so, there you go! (We keep hoping Daddy will propose... shh!! Momma will shoot me for posting that!!)

So there you have it, my first Journaling!!!!!!

- Jaelin, signing out now

P.S. The pic is of me and Dahlia, my best friend, since Linnea, who will be my blogging buddy, is at the doll hospital. Momma will have to explain her side of it... as far as I'm concerned, she was silly to send her with her cousin, Alanna. Alanna's hair was coming apart. Linnea's... was manageable... which Momma didn't figure out until after she'd already sent her in... thank goodness she stopped them from doing anything! Two dolls with sore throats would have been worse than one!  Iris, Alanna's little sister and our other blogger, in is Momma's doll hospital getting a "tummy tuck".

P.S.S. Momma's blog is here: Dolls, Crafting, and Writing!