Play Kitchen

We decided that we wanted to give the kids a play kitchen this year for Christmas, but that a new one was slightly out of our budget.  After looking at all the fun ideas on Pinterest we decided we would just make one! And we love a good project around here.

Before! 

We found this entertainment center at a garage sale for $15.

After!

We spent a total of $20 on this, doesn't get much better than that!

We had so much fun making this..

First, we sanded it down a bit, then primed it!

We painted all the pieces the colors that we wanted.  We picked Red since we had an abundance of it left over from painting another room in our house.  We used grey for the appliance to look like stainless steel appliances.

We used an extra cabinet door handle for the "oven door handle" For the oven and burner knobs we used some of our old cabinet door knobs.

 Inside the oven.. The oven rack is just a cookie cooling rack!

 The front of the kitchen.

For the kitchen sink, we used a cake pan from the dollar store.  For the faucet and the handles we used old PVC pipe.  We then spray painted them silver. We paid 75 cents for the faucet.  

To insert the kitchen sink we just cut a small hole in the entertainment center and then glued it to the sides so that it would stay put.

For the burners we used old outlet covers and painted them black(these were 25 cents at the Reuse It Center).

We made the kids aprons so they have some to wear when they are playing!

  Side with the oven mitts...

We are super excited to give this to the kiddos this Christmas.  Since they are both so helpful in the kitchen and love everything about cooking.  I'm so excited to see them open this at Christmas time!

Not my plans...

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord" Jeremiah 29:11a.

This verse is ringing true for me today(yesterday, ok always, but especially recently)! A great reminder and promise that even when I do NOT know the plans HE does, and HE has it all under control.  I need to make sure that my DAILY plans line up with HIS and NOT mine!

The kiddos have been grumpy since daylight savings time.  They are waking up earlier and still going to bed at the same time.  Their naps are pretty much non existent.  Needless to say this makes for looong days, lots of correction, lots of snuggles, and a WHOLE HEAP of patience.  And while mommy is lacking on sleep patience some days, change that- some moments, patience can be hard to come by.

After getting everyone ready and dressed, we load up in the van...click, click, click. No this is not the sound of all the car seat buckles, but rather the sound the car is making.  No nice Vroom noise, just a bunch of clicks-ugh dead battery!  I call my husband to have him listen to the noise over the phone and confirm what I thought may be the problem(I know nothing about cars, so to guess right equals big time score for me!)

Sigh...unload all the kiddos.  Athaiah is screaming "No shopping, I go shopping." Note-she is all girl, can you tell? Elijah say "It needs new batteries." Which is his standard saying for what is wrong if something is broken, but yes son, today you are definitely correct.  The van needs a new battery. Another sigh, then the verse from above pops into my head. My plans for today must have been my own. I ask semi out loud, "then what are your plans today/

The two little ones run ahead, while I lag behind hauling the heavy car seat, and kind of dragging my feet because MY plans have been changed.  I tend to be a creature of habit and don't usually like sudden changes.  Although, these sweet children have definitely taught me to be more flexible.  Finally, we all make it back to the front door and battle with the dog to make it inside the house.  Athaiah immediately starts to rub her eyes so hard I think they might fall out.  She goes and gets her blanket, paci, and lulley and tell me she wants to rock.  Not 2 minutes later she is asleep.  Elijah is playing quietly with cars. My house is peaceful!

Ahhh God, now I know.  You had plans for peace today! Much better than my plan of grumpy kids and staying busy running errands, that (if truth be told) can wait until the weekend.  What a relief to know that His plans are always better than mine.  We had a quiet peaceful morning, Athaiah got an 1.5 hour nap...as you can guess this severely altered her disposition making her a happy girl, rather than one that screams all day.  And  let me tell you, this girl can scream!

What a wonderful reminder, and promise.  As I go about my day I need to consistently remember He knows my plans.  I need to make sure that I am following His plans for my life and not my own.  I am excited to see what this week holds-with one car we will be staying home all day every day this week.  It may just be the wonderful break in life we were looking for.

Recliner Redo

When I was pregnant with Athaiah we got this wonderful recliner.  It truly is wonderful, it is big and comfy.  It just had a hole in the side arm rest and was the wrong color.  But when has that ever stopped me.  That just means it will become a project at a later date right? Well the later date has arrived and now it goes perfectly in the basement!

To recover this we bought a set of queen size red sheets that were on sale for $9. (We bought the recliner for $10), this means this project was $20 and a very well spent $20(rounding up here people, I promise I can do math!) at that.  It is one of my favorite seats in the house, not only does it recline, but it also rocks. Perfect in this house filled with small children who love to climb into laps for story time, or just for some good old fashioned rockin'!

What you will need:
Old Recliner
Queen size sheets(clearance preferred to keep cost down)
staple gun and staples(a lot of staples)
Extra batting if you feel it is needed(we used extra in the arm rests)

Ok it is a bit hard to explain, but we started with the fitted sheet, we cut all the corners and trimmed off all the elastic. Easy enough!

Next we took the recliner apart, top off, and the arm rest removed.

Then, we just laid it over top of the back of the recliner, stapling and pulling it super tight as we went. (Make sure it is centered so you have plenty left to wrap over the front. We started stapling along the bottom(as you can see below), and then worked our ways up the sides and eventually over the back.  Also, for positioning purposes, we laid the fabric out super straight on the ground and then laid the top on it, wrapping one end around to staple.

Flip it over and continue to straighten everything out, pulling tight and using lots of staples!

*before front was stapled

*After front was stapled

For the bottom half of the chair we put it in the up position(legs up) and started at the bottom. Make sure you take the lever off first!

Make sure this is centered because this will also wrap around the arms and down the sides.  Make sure to pull it tight and staple as you go. (We didn't remove the old fabric, we just put everything on top of it). This project also involved no sewing!! YEAH!  Now pull it tight. I know I keep saying that but it is important that it is pulled tight everywhere.  Wrap it around the arm rests and down the sides, and staple all along the bottom. Staple well! There is no such thing as too many staples in this project.

*Bottom before the arm rests were attached

 

For the arm rests, we used one pillow case for each arm-handy enough right?! We filled the arm rests up with some extra batting we had lying around just for some extra cushion.  Then we pulled it tight(LOL) and stapled it all up so it was closed.  Do this for both pieces.  Now to attach it to the chair.  Staple away my friends.  Just make sure it looks nice and neat and you will be all set! We did this all by looking, no real pattern or directions, just a lot of pulling fabric around everything, and lots and lots of staples from our staple gun!

Now just put the chair back together.  We cut a small hole in the fabric where the lever came from so we could attach it back on.  Oh yeah...for the lever we just took off the old fabric and there happened to be a nice plastic lever underneath.  We had planned to recover it or to paint it, but turned out it needed nothing, SCORE! So lever goes, back on the bottom, the arm rests are already back on, and then put the top back on the bottom.  Close up any loose seams that may need stapled up last minute. and you are done!

This took us an afternoon during nap time to complete.  My wonderful husband helped me with this project, he is great at fixing things and being my other half and helping me come up with my wonderful, crazy ideas that have no pattern! Looks pretty good-what do you think?

Thankful Turkey

We decided to make a Thankful Turkey this year.  I want my children to learn how to be positive and thankful people. We decided to help them recognize the season and being thankful-we would do a month long project.

Elijah helped me make this, and he thought it was so much fun! Got love craft time with mommy! (too bad I didn't get a picture of him helping me, I need to be better about that)

What you need:
2 Foam Balls-1 small and 1 large
Brown spray paint
yellow paint(just a dab)
orange pipe cleaner
2 googly eyes
small wooden sticks(toothpicks)
construction paper(all colors)
glue

 Take your foam balls and spray paint them brown. This took 2 coats!

(this was the 1st coat)

 

Attach the two balls, do this using 2 of the small wooden sticks

Glue the googly eyes onto the small ball, paint a yellow beak on.

Attach a small portion of the pipe cleaner around the beak-attach it using glue

 (don't mind he eyes, they kept getting a glare on them from the light.)
 

Put two of the wooden sticks on the bottom to help hold the balls up in a standing position!

Cut out the construction paper to make your feathers and attach a small wooden stick to each with glue. 

Then for each day we will write something we are thankful for on a feather and place it in the turkey.  Look for a full turkey at the end of the month.  I am so excited to do this with my kids.  I'm hoping it will just help them put thankfulness more into practice.  I can't wait to make this a November tradition leading up to Thanksgiving.

Burlap Wreath

I decided to make a very simple burlap wreath for fall/winter.  I chose a burlap ribbon with some red woven thru it so it would be good for fall or winter/Christmas time.  We will see how long I keep it up! I just felt like doing something small and quick and crafty.  With 3 kids in the house the crafts around here have to be quick!

I took a wire wreath and simply wrapped the burlap around it nice and tight. (I'm not a fufu kind of girl-that would be my mom and sisters, if you are looking for fufu you would have to ask them!) Do this starting about 15 inches into the ribbon(do you have an end to make a bow with!).  Keep wrapping it around until you get back to the beginning.  Now tie a bow! And your done! Simple, fun, and easy!

 Note: This can be done with a small child in your lap-I would know!

Friday-Breakfast Mush

I have made this before, you can look Here for the recipe.  I hope you enjoy this as much as my family does.  Please don't let the name fool you, it really is amazing.  It all comes together in one skillet, that means less dishes. Something I find truly amazing, because I'm the one who does the dishes around here!

Thursday-Onion/Egg Casserole

Thursday-was my attempt to recreate a dish that someone brought to a fellowship that was amazing.  Now it is still missing something-maybe I will be able to get the actual recipe from her some time, but for now here is mine.  By the way it is still amazingly good-my husband said "make sure you write this one down it is amazing!"

Onion/Egg Casserole:
8 eggs
1 c milk
1 loaf onion or everything bread
1/2 package cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1 lb shred cheese(I used colby jack)
1 tsp mustard powder
1tsp garlic powder

In a greased 13x9 pan, crumble up the bread and put in on the bottom, sprinkle half of the cheese over top of the bread.  Add cream cheese on  top dropping in tiny balls or crumbles.  In a bowl mix together the eggs, milk , garlic, and mustard powder.  Pour over top of the bread making sure to coat it all and get it in all of the corners. Top with remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 covered for 30min and 15 minutes uncovered.  

This was melt in your mouth good.
*This could also be made the night before, kept in the fridge all night, and then pop it into the oven the next morning!

Wednesday-French Toast Bake

This recipe was supposed to be one of our family friends, BUT my computer decided to act up and not let me on the internet...meaning I couldn't get to my email to find the recipe. I had to make this one up since I had no internet access-I will say this is my best one yet.  I usually have something to go off of, but all I had on this one was my taste buds!

French Toast Bake:
3/4 Loaf of bread(just regular bread) or 1 loaf of day old french bread(didn't have that on hand so I used regular bread)
6 eggs
2 c milk
3/4 c sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1 TBSP cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1 sick cold butter
Apples(peeled and chopped) *optional, but highly recommended

Grease a 13x9 pan, cut or tear your bread. I cut mine because I am OCD like that(or as my husband likes to say CDO-because then it is in alphabetical order!)  I was able to cut each slice of bread into 9 pieces, and I used about 3/4 of a loaf of bread.

I didn't have any french bread on hand-but I do know that the family friend makes it with day old french bread-so feel free to go that direction as well!
Mix the eggs, milk, sugar, and cinnamon together, and then pour over top of the bread.

Let this set for at least 1 hour-or overnight, in the fridge! (I made this up that morning and let it set until I was ready to pop it in the oven which gave it slightly over an hr to bake)

For the topping: Mix everything together except for the apples, and cut it all together until the butter chunks are really small, like pea sized or even smaller if you wish.  I used my mixed on low to do this step since I didn't feel like cutting it with a knife(like usual), still had grumpy kids, so convienence was a must!(worked wonderfully, I will do it this way from now on, so I don't have to waste all that energy on cutting thru cold butter!)

Assembly: Since you already have the eggs mixture and the bread together, right before you put it in the oven top with apples(if your not using apples, skip this step), then top with the crumbly buttery goodness!

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes(this keeps it moist, if you like yours a bit firmer then cook it for longer) We like things underdone in this household, and this was not under done but was just perfect!

Enjoy!

Tuesday-Mini Quiches

Tuesday-I needed something quick and easy due to melting children recovering from the flu. What threw some stuff together from the fridge/freezer and called it good.  And you know what? It wasn't just good it was great!

Mini Quiches:
4 eggs
1/4 c milk
1/4 c frozen spinach(thawed)
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp onion
1/2 c cheese
1 pkg crescent rolls

*This makes 24 mini quiches!

First, I thawed the spinach-I simply put it in the microwave for 1 min and called it good. 
While that was thawing, I mixed my eggs, milk, garlic, onion, and 1/4 c of cheese together.  Then add in your spinach. Grease your mini muffin tin really well.  Now for the "crust" for each section of crescent roll(meaning the two triangles that kind of come partially together), press the seams together, making a rectangular piece.  Cut this in half and then in 3rds, giving you 6 pieces(for every 2 crescent rolls). Place these in the muffin tin.  Pour the egg mixture over top.  Add the rest of the cheese to the tops of them.

 Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Quick, easy, and yummy.  A bite sized lunch that was perfect for little fingers to eat.

*Note I would have loved to put bacon in these as well, just didn't have any on hand-but would definitely recommend adding some if you have some available, just for an extra little something!

Monday-Strawberry Scones

On Monday we had Strawberry Scones.  This is not your average scone, it was moist and oh so very yummy!  I couldn't get enough! To be honest my husband and I ate all 8 since the kiddos were still down with the stomach flu, and not up to eating much.  I think they each maybe ate one bite! They did say they were yummy, but all done, which means this recipe also wins kid points!

Strawberry Scones:
1 c strawberries hulled and diced
2 c flour
1/3 c sugar
1 TBSP baking powder(yes a TBSP!)
1/4 tsp nutmeg(heavenly!)
6 TBSP cold butter, cut into 1/4" pieces
1/2 c whole milk(yes whole milk-it tastes better that way!)
1 tsp vanilla

Cut up your strawberries really small and place on a paper towel to dry-you don't want them too wet!
In a bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and nutmeg.  Cut in the butter until butter is the size of peas.  You can do this by using to knifes or I use my kitchen aide on slow with the whisk attachment and it comes out fine, but you have to watch it to make sure it doesn't beat it all together, you don't want that. Add the strawberries and lightly mix with a fork-just enough to coat the strawberries. Mix the milk and vanilla together, put a well in the flour mixture, and pour the milk mixture into the well.  Gently stir until it forms a ball.  Knead this ball on a flour surface just a few times.  Place onto baking stone and gently press it into an 8" circle.  Using an oiled pizza cutter, slice it into 8 slices, and then gently move them away from each other so they are not touching.  Bake at 425 for 18 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes. If you want to go the extra mile then cool it on a rack, I usually just let mine set on the pan I don't like the extra dishes and it does keep them a bit more moist!

Sunday- Biscuit & Gravy, Bagels

We actually made two breakfast meals on Sunday(well technically 3 if you count actual breakfast as well!).  We love breakfast food around here-don't you?  To kick off Breakfast week today you get 2 recipes!

Biscuits and Gravy:
Butter Biscuits(usually I make them from scratch-didn't have time tonight,these came out of a can!)
1 lb Sausage
1/4 c flour
1 qt milk(I used whole, but use whatever you like or have on hand)
1 tsp pepper(I don't like pepper to spicy for me, so add more if you wish!)

Open up your can of biscuits and bake them according to package directions(really difficult right?!).  OR if you wish make your own, go for it.  I have a good recipe but of course can't seem to locate it currently(I guess that means I need to reorganize my cook book!)

Brown the Sausage in a skillet. Once it is completely browned sprinkle flour on top and mix well coating all the sausage.  Add the milk and pepper.  Stir occasionally until thick and bubbly! (this usually takes about 10min)

 Enjoy!

Homemade Bagels:
1 1/2 c lukewarm water
2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast(or one sml pkg)
4 TBSP sugar
3 3/4 c flour
1/4 c onion, chopped fine
1 tsp minced garlic

1 egg white
poppy seeds
sesame seeds

In a bowl mix together 1/4 c of the water with the yeast, mix it a bit and let set until foamy-usually about 5-10 minutes.  Pour into mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, flour, and remaining water, mix well.  Add in 2 cups of the flour, onion, and garlic.  Mix until well blended. Continue to add the rest of the flour in slowly this should form a dough that is firm enough to knead.  Knead the dough on a well floured surface mix in any additional flour that is needed to keep it from sticking!  It should hold the imprint of your hand when you are done.
Place the dough in a well greased bowl, turning over once to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let set for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Punch dough down and knead for a few more times. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Take one of the balls, and push your floured thumb thru the center and then stretch the hole out a bit, making it about 1" in diameter.  (It should look like a doughnut) Place on a well floured surface and continue with the rest of the dough balls. Let these set. While the dough is setting bring a pot of water to boil.  Once it is boiling drop them in one at a time, starting with the first one you put a hole in.  Let it set in the boiling water for 30 seconds, flip it over with a slotted spoon and boil on the other side for 30 seconds. Place on a tea towel to absorb the extra water.  Continue to do this with the remaining dough.  Place on a well greased cookie sheet. (I did mine on a stone and they were a bit soft-we liked them this way, but if you prefer a firmer bagel then I suggest a cookie sheet would be better!)
In a bowl whisk the egg white until foamy.  Spread over top of the bagels, then sprinkle with poppy and sesame seeds.  Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes! Our baked for about 23 minutes!

Spread some yummy goodness on top or just eat them the way they are.  I used butter, and the hubby used a nice pile of cream cheese.  These bagels are dense, filling, and wonderful.  I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!! They are my attempt at a remake of Tim Hortons Everything Bagel-for those of you lucky enough to have one near you.  I will say-these are better LOL!(per the hubby, but maybe he is just being nice!)

Breakfast Week

This past week was breakfast week around here.  Something I just felt like doing, who knows why!  We had breakfast food every single day for lunch.  Now that the week is over, I would like to share all the yummy recipes with you.  I will be posting one a day since we ate one a day, please stay tuned.  Some of these are to die for, some of them I may change a few things the next time I make it(but will make sure to include that in the recipe)

I hope you enjoy Breakfast week just as much as we did!

No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:
1 3/4 c sugar
1/2 c milk
1/2 c butter(1 stick)
4 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 c crunch peanut butter
3 c quick cooking oats
1 tsp vanilla

In a saucepan combine the butter and the milk.  Stir until butter is melted, add in the sugar and cocoa.

Bring to a boil and boil for 1-2 minutes. 

Add in the peanut butter and the oatmeal. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla.

Place drops of the chocolaty mess on wax paper to make your cookies. 

Let them cool and Enjoy!

These are my hubby's favorite and I finally got around to making some for him! Hope you enjoy them as much as he did.  This recipe makes 2-3 dozen(depending on how big you make them!)
ps. I think he ate all 2 dozen in 24 hours!

 

Seasoned with salt

As Christians, is our conversation seasoned with salt?  I have been hit really hard with this question lately. Is my conversation seasoned with salt and full of grace?

Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." (NIV)

According to the Bible it should be!  As a cook, this verse hits home.  Salt can add something to the food in a significant way.  I was once told by a dear friend, if you think your food tastes like it is missing something-add some salt. I have found this to be true.  Is our conversation missing grace? Grace is the salt to our conversations, we need to make sure it is in all of our conversations.
I have seen so many young children committing suicide because people are bullying them.  Are we teaching our children how to be full of grace, and their speech to be seasoned with salt?  Are we teaching them to help those in need? Are we teaching them to "be kind to one another?"  I hope that we are, I really do.  I hate to see all these young lives gone because no one stood by them, and they felt they were all alone in this world.  We need to make sure we are reaching the lost.

Ephesians 4:32 "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

I am reminded in my daily life, with my children, that I need to let my conversation be full of grace.  Because Jesus offered me grace and mercy, I should also do the same for them.  After all, children learn best when they see something in action.  They do not do just as we say(in fact we could turn blue telling them something), but will most often follow our lead.  We need to step up and lead them in the correct direction. Are we teaching them how to speak? Are we teaching them how to answer another without offense?  Are we teaching them what it means to be kind, and compassionate? Do they know what true forgiveness is?

Speech is something that can cut straight to some one's heart.  We need to think about what we are going to say before it is said, so that is may be seasoned with salt.  We need to show the love of Christ not just in our actions, but also in our speech. When we stop and think we are letting our speech be seasoned, we are thinking about how to answer according to God's Word.  When we think, we are doing just as God commanded. Is it full of love and compassion?

I don't just see bullying when it involves young children.  Goodness, I see it so much in the mommy circle it isn't even funny.  AND we are GROWN adult women caring for children.  We should be raising them up according to HIS Word!  They should not see us bickering with other moms because they don't breastfeed, or don't use cloth diapers.  OR just maybe they have to work and don't have the blessing and the gift of being able to stay home with their children(because it is truly a gift and a blessing from God to be able to stay home with your children, no matter their age).   Let us please remember we are each called to something different as a mom.  Each of our circumstances is different. 

When we speak to each other we need to make sure it is FULL of grace, because let's face it what mother doesn't need a huge helping of grace each and every day?  Which person doesn't need a FULL helping of grace when we are speaking with them?  We don't know their circumstances, we don't know what they have or don't have.  They could be falling apart on the inside.
Please I beg of you, let your conversations be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone!  Let God's Word shine forth in your life.  Be the light for the lost, and stand up for those in need, and even those who may not "appear" to be in need. We all need the Lord and we all need grace. DAILY!

Dear Father,
I pray that you will let my speech be full of grace, and seasoned with salt.  Help me to please think before speaking so that I may know how to answer everyone.  Help me to encourage those around me, and to help those in need.  To be kind and compassionate. I thank you Lord for giving me the strength to do all things through your power.  I also thank you for showing me grace and mercy on a daily basis.  I would not be where I am today without your grace.  Please help me to show others the same grace you have shown me, so they may in turn be pointed in your direction.  Make me a light to the world.
Amen

Featured...

A recipe of mine was posted on a friends blog...Go check the recipe out, I'm telling you it is amazing!  It is for my Berry Streusel Muffin.

Thanks Cherise for sharing my recipe!

Here is a sneak peak at what they look like! Click on the link above to see the recipe!

Pillow Case Dress- 12months

Pillow Case Dress:

I love these because they are super simple and they are quick!  I made one for Athaiah to wear to a bridal shower to go with my maxi dress!  It was a lot of fun and I will definitely be making more.  You do not necessarily have to use a pillow case you can obviously just use some fabric, but I found the pillowcases on sale and loved the cute little pattern!

 

What you will need:

Pillowcase(or fabric if you are going that route)

Ribbon-cut 2 equal pieces twice the length of her neck-or greater for a bigger bow

A dress of current size(for measurement purposes)

 

First step:  Cut out your dress.  To do this I placed a dress that currently fit her on top of the pillowcase.  Fold the pillow case in half width ways, that way you just measure half the dress and you won't have as many seams to sew up! Easier is always better in my book!  Make sure you add 1/2" all the way around for seam allowance.

 Second Step:  Cut it out! Easy enough, right?!

 Third Step: Sew up the sides with the right sides of the fabric together. But do not sew the part where the arms would be or the top part(along the neckline)  When you get to the arm holes, sew up each side(top and bottom) separately, this will make a nice seam ensuring you don't have any rough edges. But will keep the arms open so it is easy to slip on and makes the ribbons the top of the "arm hole."

 Fourth Step:  Cut out a piece of ribbon for the neck line.  I did one piece for the back and one for the front so it can tie together at the sleeves.  You can use any size of ribbon you like. I did super skinny ribbon because Athaiah has super, super petite shoulders and I thought a big ribbon might be overwhelming on her little arms.

Fifth Step: Fold the top piece of the fabric down 1/4"(I recommend ironing so it stays nice and straight). This is so there is no fraying fabric.  Fold the fabric down again the width of your ribbon(mine was another 1/4").  Lay your ribbon inside the flap(This eliminates having to string it thru later, but if you prefer that method by all means go ahead, I just like to cut out as many steps as possible) See picture below!

Sixth Step: Now sew along the bottom, ensure the ribbon is tucked inside, but don't sew the ribbon.  You need the ribbon to be able to move some! Center your ribbon in the sleeve with extra on either side, sew a line down the center(top-bottom) this will hold the ribbon inside the sleeve but still enable you to gather it at the sleeve so it can fit your sweet little one!

Do this again with the back piece!

 No need to hem the bottom if you used the bottom of the pillowcase.  I made sure that I did to eliminate another step of sewing, keep it simple.  That is the point of these dresses to be extremely simple!!

My life these days...

My life these days are filled with...

Smiles, giggles, and belly laughs..

Crying, because of a scraped knee...

Kisses to make every thing all better...

Diapers and a lot of them...

Sand filled hair and shoes, from our time outside...

Little shoes lined by the front door...

Reading books and Bible stories

Dancing around the house...

A mountain of laundry...

A pile of dishes...

Warm little fingers grasping for my hand...

Coloring pages and warm comforting gazes...

Cars strewn all over the floor...

Blocks being built into garages and towers...

Play dough all over the kitchen table...

Snuggle time with each of my babies...

Being silly and making faces...

Jar lids becoming bracelets...

Children playing make believe...

Late nights and even earlier mornings...

Prayer and a lot of it...

Wishing that time would slow, so I can sit and enjoy more of the little moments like these! Life may be crazy at times, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.