Celebrating Lilliana's 6th Bday

For Lilliana's 6th birthday she got her ears pierced. She wasn't sure she wanted to at first. I had mine done at that age, so it has just been the age that we do it. We went early as her aunt can do them and had just gotten a new job. It worked well. I worried we might not get the second ear done, but she was so brave and managed to make it through no issues. She picked red which I was very surprised by.




On her actual birthday she spent it with her grandma. They usually go and visit their Grandma on Saturdays. We gave her the option, but they really look forward to seeing her so that is what she wanted. We all met up at Chili's that night for her birthday dinner per her request.



Of course it we came home for cake and some presents. I think she had a wonderful birthday.





We had a pinata for their birthday party. You wouldn't know it, but this girl basically was the first to break it. At first she out swung even the older boys. She is definitely our athletic girl. Between that and singing and dancing I always have a performer on my hand. I don't mind though.






Finally birthday interviews. 

6 Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  Orange

2. What is your favorite toy? Elsa Baby Doll

3. What is your favorite fruit? Clementine

4. What is your favorite tv show? Strawberry Shortcake

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut Butter and Chees Sandwhich-SO WEIRD!

6. What is your favorite outfit? Blue Skirt with Pink shirt that has a dog dog with glasses

7. What is your favorite game? Sorry

8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks

9. What is your favorite animal? Flamingo

10. What is your favorite song? Trolls-Put your Hair up

11. What is your favorite book? Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales

12. Who is your best friend? Sara

13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios 

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Climb the Tree

15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade

16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Turtle

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cheerios

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Chilis

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A Police Officer

5Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Stuffed Turtle

3. What is your favorite fruit? Pear
4. What is your favorite tv show? SuperWhy
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Elsa Dress
7. What is your favorite game? Sorry
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? Cat
10. What is your favorite song? Her Own She makes up
11. What is your favorite book? Burgess Book Old Mother Westwind
12. Who is your best friend? Hayden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the Garden
15. What is your favorite drink? Lemonade
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Turtle
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Cheerios

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Spaghetti
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A mom

Four Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? American Girl Twin Dolls

3. What is your favorite fruit? Clementine
4. What is your favorite tv show? The Incredible Dr. Pol
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Dress From Grandpa and Grandma Crawford From Mexico
7. What is your favorite game? Connect 4
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe
10. What is your favorite song? Go To Sleep Lullabye
11. What is your favorite book? The Animal Book
12. Who is your best friend? Hayden
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios 
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the Sandbox
15. What is your favorite drink? almond milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? A Purple Coat
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Blueberry Pancakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? Veterinarian  Like Dr. Pol 

Three Years Old

1. What is your favorite color?  Pink
2. What is your favorite toy? Hedgehog Stuffed Animal

3. What is your favorite fruit? Pears
4. What is your favorite tv show? Super Why 
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Peanut and Jelly Sandwhich
6. What is your favorite outfit? Blue Corduroy Dress with Snowmen on the Bottom
7. What is your favorite game? Hungry Hungry Hippos
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Salad
9. What is your favorite animal? Cat
10. What is your favorite song? Jesus Loves Me
11. What is your favorite book? The Very Hungry Caterpillar
12. Who is your best friend? Daddy
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios with Honey from the local beekeeper
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play in the Sandbox
15. What is your favorite drink? almond milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Easter
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Eli's blanket that Aunt Di made....she has basically claimed it. 
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Blueberry Pancakes

19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Pizza
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? This was funny..... She said a goose. We told her no something like what people do a mom, teacher, astronaut, etc. She said to play with her hedgehog. We explained it again and this time it was an Astronaut. Then she changed her mind to a Teacher. 

365-Weeks 7 and 8

Day 43

Eating all the apple off the floor before I could get to it,
 as I was cleaning up Daphne's mess. 

Day 44

Beginning of many warm days for February leading to a bike ride and walk

Day 45

Practicing

Day 46

More Practicing

Day 47

Birthday Photo Session and a moody edit that didn't fit the rest of the set, but I had to keep.

Day 48

Celebrating 6 

Day 49

Beautiful WARM (meaning 60s)sunny day in February called for a bike ride with just the big kids to the park. They spent so much time rolling down the hill. 

Day 50

Just waking up

Day 51

Watching the big kids play outside, patiently waiting for mom to take us out.

Day 52

Wrestling with Big Brother

Day 53

Piano Playing AKA NOISE MAKING!

Day 54

Birthday Party Eve Sleepover in the Living Room 

Day 55 

Family Birthday Eli, Lilliana, Ari, Annalise, and Daphne

Be prepared for lots of Birthday posts. Since Anthony and I somehow managed to give 4 of our 5 kids bdays within 2 weeks of each other the next 4 posts will probably revolve around birthdays. We had a birthday party for all 5 this past weekend as it just made sense. So, those will be sprinkled in throughout the coming days!

This is 9 Years

9 years ago, I married this amazing man. We may look worse for the wear, but we have grown so much in these past 9 years. 

I remember posting something similar in Instagram of me hugely pregnant with the girls last year. I looked less haggard and tired ironically. We couldn't dream this is where we would be today. In fact we still very much are in disbelief we have 5 kids. We almost completed our goal of 6 kids. I don't think we had planned to do it in this way, but God different plans. Most people find us crazy, but we love it even the crazy times.

I could not do life without this man. Some days he may drive me crazy, but truth is at one point everybody in this house drives me crazy so it doesn't take much. Nobody else would put up with me as long as he has and I am so grateful for that. I knew after Eli was born and I could not even go to the bathroom without help I picked the right man. I am so thankful for him even when it is hard and many days it is hard! I can't wait for many more years and raising this crazy clan we have. Happy Anniversary Anthony! I love you!

Comfy Mom Pants Pattern

I DID IT! Finally I am blogging about my favorite pants. Disclaimer: self portraits and modeling clothes is way harder than it looks! My neighbors probably think I am crazy by this point after seeing me try on 5-6 different outfits and run back and forth to my tripod today. If you saw me just laugh. I promise there was a method to the madness.

If  are like me you need some comfy pants. I know I know leggings are all the rage if you don't sew you love LuLaRoe double brushed poly ones. If you sew you wear PegLegs from Patterns for Pirates or maybe another company. Just a tidbit if you join patterns for pirates you can get the pegleg pattern for FREE! Here is the thing, I don't like leggings. I wore them out of necessity while pregnant. I also tried after the babies. I just don't enjoy them. I think maybe I am too self conscious. I don't love jeans, but I will wear them. So what is a mom to do!?! Bring on some Mama Bear Joggers. These are also from Patterns for Pirates. You can dress them up or down or just lounge in them. My opinion the best solution. These are made out of the softest French Terry from So Sew English. They are not my favorite pattern. Lilliana picked it out for a dress and then hated it when it arrived so I had to use them somehow. I think I may have wore them a week straight. French Terry is a perfect transition to spring, Not too hot or cold.

The first original pair I made out of sweatshirt fleece and they are super warm. Don't pay attention to the shirt I paired them with. In reality it would work, but this particular shirt needs some adjusting and I'll address that in a minute.

Needless to say when I get my fabric budget back after birthdays and other expenses this month I will be ordering some more french terry for some more joggers. This pattern also comes in a capri and short length so a lot of options. I love these and plan to make a couple pair for summer pj pants. 

Now the pink shirt is a Slim Fit Raglan from Patterns for Pirates. I actually love this pattern, but this is one of those patterns that I have to tweak for myself. I began sewing because after 5 babies my body is a wreck even after losing 50 lbs. My shoulders are narrow and my stomach, hips, and thighs are not. I also am short so adjusting my own clothes was the best idea. This was a muslin piece and while I absolutely love the top part, the curved hem needs some adjusting. The fabric choice also has not recovered well. It is in my stack to readjust. So it really is not flattering. The sleeves are brushed poly which is so soft and what LuLaRoe uses. This happens to be some of my favorite fabric and I really should have purchased more as I can no longer find it. I bought this from Knitpop which ships super fast. It was available elsewhere, but I needed it in a week for a Christmas present. It arrived in 3 days because they ship that fast! The leftovers are what you see here. Lilliana and I have matching shirts. 

The slim fit raglan with add on pack has so many options. This is another one I made out of my favorite french terry. This is the fabric that sold me on  rayon spandex french terry. I still have 2 yards and I am so happy about that. The girls are getting rompers from some of it, and I may hoard the rest until the perfect project. The mail lady also has some soft gloves from it. Regardless it is my favorite. It is of course from So Sew English Fabrics. The pink is a solid rayon spandex. If you purchase two yards of anything you can make it a bundle for $8.00 more and they will send 2 yards of coordinating fabric that matches. It is my favorite part. The rest of the rayon spandex is going to be a summer shirt I believe.

This particular raglan has a ruched neck and banded bottom along with side pockets. If I can add pockets I do. I pretty much just love pockets being a mom. There are many more options. It is definitely a favorite pattern and I will be using it more.

I truly use to hate shopping just because my poor body has changed so much. This past year I have learned to sew for my body shape even with my curves. Somethings work and some things don't like the pink raglan. I know it needs some adjustment. I have learned to love my body again and that has been important. I also can get more bang for my buck with a little effort. It has been therapeutic. I am testing a new women's shirt and can't wait to share that next week.  

I am not going to reinvent the wheel with these blog posts. I am sure I could come up with some awesome marketing tool etc. and stand out in some way. The truth is, there are so many wonderful tutorials and resources already available. I promise they do a better job than I would. I just love to show off my creations. My style may not be yours and that is cool. I know I have a different style. As my husband says I just like to be different. If it is normal, I will purposely do the opposite...so he says. I want to inspire though. If you have ever wanted to sew you really can. Everybody has to start somewhere. This amazing Ebook came out this week. You can get it for free for a limited time by joining her group. I know a lot of FB groups, but hey FREE! I wish I had had this two years ago. It is fabulous and I have learned even some things reading it. It is called The Beginner's Guide to Sewing Knit Apparel. The lady that wrote it is fabulous and her style is amazing. She sews some great things. So check it out and maybe get started yourself. I promise you too can learn to sew beautiful things and of course COMFY MOM PANTS!!

Happy 6th Birthday Lilliana

Dear Lilliana,


Today you are six and I am feeling the changes. You are losing your little girl attitude in some aspects and becoming sassy and determined. You have gone from not caring about a lot to having an opinion on everything and knowing exactly what you want. You take after your mama in this aspect. Some days this has resulted in a bit of clashing of heads, but in the end my sweet girl still emerges. You have always been sweet and even during the tough times you continue to be so.  

 I have watched you go from being the only girl to having sisters this year and it has been wonderful. You are the best big sister.  You love those girls like they are your own. I love that you have helped me take care of them. I love that you are always willing to jump in and help me grab them, make them happy, or just hold them for a second. You have been a such a blessing. 

I love that you want to spend your evenings in the kitchen cooking with me. You are such a help. I know if I am baking I can always find you there. It is a dream come true being able to teach you how to bake and cook even if you want glitter, neon frosting, and sparkles on everything! 

The highlight of this year and watching you grow has been having you by my side learning. You have taken up the love of documenting things. You have your camera in your hand a lot. My favorite is the videos you did of me sewing. You also have wanted to learn to sew and and I spending time sewing will always be a highlight. 

Your birth was always such a healing and bright spot after Eli's birth. You were the easiest labor and delivery. To this day you still hold true to those things. You are my bright spot when things are tough. You make them easy and fun. I love you sweet girl and I am so glad you are mine! Happy 6th Birthday to the girl that loves to twirl!

Love,
MOM

I took her to a greenhouse for these. She is such a goon and insisted on posing herself the entire way and choosing where we took photos. I gave some directions, but she definitely had her mind made up about some. It is here though. The blue dress she helped me sew. She doesn't like it, but she agreed to take some photos and now it is being passed to a friend. It may go down as the most difficult item of clothing we have had to deal with, but in the end we compromised and came to an agreement. The black dress is her all time favorite. It is close to being to small, so she wore it for these and soon it will be put away for the girls. Regardless these are Lilliana and I wouldn't change them for the world. I still need to do her "chalkboard" style photo, but that is ok.