Memories and Messes

I’m a Barbie girl

When you have five kids in a small house, you realize just how important your years of playing Tetris as a child were. I’m sure my husband is less than thrilled with how many times I have purchased organization items, rearranged furniture, and change room layouts. It just comes with the territory of never having enough space.

A confident girl

Raw and real, that’s what I wanted my blog to be. None of this fake me having my life together kind of mom. Most days I am killing it on having my chores done and my kids are happy, but I have my days. Days where I don’t have the fight in me to keep my kids from eating a second cookie, or putting away electronics sooner. You can even catch me on days where the laundry isn’t done, and I’m ordering a pizza. It happens, trust me.

Old to new

When we first found out we were pregnant with Declan, our sixth baby I experienced a ton of different emotions. After we lost Rhys, I was certain I’d never have more children. I just didn’t think I could experience a loss like that again in my lifetime, ever. Aside from all of the normal emotions, and the emotions of anxiety from our loss, I knew we’d need baby items as I had gotten rid of everything after Rhys passed away. By your sixth child, you have a good idea of what items are essential, and which ones you will most likely never touch. The most obvious thing we needed was a dresser for our new bundle of joy because along with a baby comes lots of laundry. (oh joy!)

No more tears

If you are a mom to little girls or are someone who gets to do the hair of little girls, you are most likely familiar with the elastic bands used for hair ties. Yes, I am talking about those cheap and slightly annoying ones.

A new me

If you know me, you know it’s no secret that I have always struggled with my weight. Thanks genetics (insert eye roll) and years of poor choices. Ever look back and think “I wish I did something about my weight when I thought I was fat the first time!”

Our switch to cast iron

Years ago (roughly 13 if your counting) when my husband was just my boyfriend and still had the chance to make a clean break for it, he had told me of his desire to use cast iron cookware. Funny enough shortly after that my dad was at the flea market and found some cast iron pans and bought them for him. Now I can’t know for sure if my dad was just being nice or if he was trying to pawn me off on my poor husband, either way we still own those pans.

Apple of my eye

Now that the bigger kids are back to school in person most days, Evie our five-year-old is home with just Declan left to play with. When he goes down for a nap, I like to take a bit of time just one on one with her. Everleigh is one of our kiddos who is on the spectrum and she has a few obstacles she will have to overcome as she hits school age and is with more peers.

Fall fun

Have you ever just had one of those days where you feel completely overwhelmed with your to-do list? I generally wake up ready to tackle each day with a well thought out to-do list, but yesterday for whatever reason I just wasn’t into it. If I’m being completely honest with you, that happens to me. I will go in spurts of being super productive than just feel like I need a mental health day.

Let their light shine

October is pregnancy and infant loss awareness month. Sadly, 1 in 4 women suffer from such a loss, and the number of people that devastation ripples out to is even greater. The numbers are so significant, and yet we as a society still struggle to speak on this topic.

Fancy Nancy

Our fancy Everleigh turned 5 this past week. That seems impossible. It seems like just yesterday she was born. Is it just me or does time fly once you have kids? She’s our fourth kid, and the absolute most stubborn but has a heart of gold.