My First Rag Quilt Part 1

I am making my first baby rag quilt!! I am super excited about it.  Here is what a rag quilt looks like if you have never seen one:

These quilts are sewn block by block, but the seams and snipped to create a slight fringe look~~

To start, pick out your fabrics, and depending on how many you want to have in the quilt, you may need 1-3 yards of each fabric.  Start by cutting off the selvage and cut fabric into 7" strips.  It's best to fold your fabric in half, so it doesn't take as long to cut.  After you have your strips, cut each into 7" blocks.  If you are using a fabric that is 42-45" wide, you should get about 5 squares, maybe 6 from each strip depending on your selvage amount.  

Here are my blocks:

Decide on the pattern that you want for the front of the quilt.  I decided to go green print and then the brown, green print and then brown, with it alternating on the back.  Put two squares (for front and back), wrong sides together (a total mess in my brain since I have been doing right sides together the last seven months on my bed quilt lol) and create your pattern.  For a typical baby quilt, you need about 7 squares across by 8 squares down, so start with that.  Here are my squares that are put together....

Similar pictures, I know, but if you look close at the corner, you can see the brown peeking out.  and this square is basically reversed for the brown square that goes next in the pattern.  Here is my pattern.  I took the picture before I decided on how many squares I wanted across, so same idea, but add one more square...

Okay, sorry about my belly being the picture, but I was already standing on a barstool (so dangerous, especially being 35 weeks pregnant, so you have to deal...lol)  And then you can start sewing.

From the top pictures, they used two different techniques.  You can sew X's on each square to keep them together or you can sew along all the edges.  Either way is fine, however, the X's definitely give an interesting look.  And then sew the blocks together, using a 1/2" seam, so that you can snip the edges.

This post is too be continued as I am able to get more done...maybe tonight or tomorrow.  But I am so excited for the finished product!!

You've been Boo'd!!

This last weekend, we decided we wanted to BOO some friends!! This was kind of tricky, since I can't really be running too fast ( I look a little funny) and it would take way too long to buckle and unbuckle Amilee for every house so quickly.  So we decided I would drive and Samuel would take Amilee to the doors to run with him and she would just sit in front with him and we would drive really slow!! This was quite an adventure for Amilee.  We got the treats and the message ready to give out and got some jackets out and we were on our way.  It was pretty funny watching Samuel run with Amilee and watching Amilee's expressions as everything was happening.  We had a great night together and were still able to do booing, though we didn't have optimal circumstances!! it is definitely a memory we will remember forever!! 

And don't forget when you are boo'd to make sure you boo other people too!! it takes the fun out of it if you don't!!

Pumpkin Patch

On Monday for FHE, we headed down for a quick trip to Bishop's Pumpkin Patch.  We had a great time and plan on going again next week to spend some time with Amilee there.  Here are some photos of our little outing.

We had a great time.  Amilee did NOT like the petting zoo at all.  We took her in to feed the goats and oh man, that was like torturous for her.  She was like screaming daddy, all done, all done.  It was pretty funny and cute all at the same time!! oh goodness!! 

A few Halloween Decorations

Jolene is huge about decorating for Halloween, but this year, it was a little delayed since the decorations would have clashed with the baby shower decorations!  haha

Here are some things that we made.  I love the banner...it turned out so good~~

Baby Shower

This last week, my mother in law, Jolene, and good friend, Montez threw me a baby shower! The theme was pink and green with safari animals!! Everything was so cute!! I am so thankful for them and their kindness!  Here are some pictures.  We had dessert shots-which were delicious with cake pops and tons of green and pink candies.  so fun!!

picture overload!!

Tissue balls

Maddyson banner!! loved it!!

Theme and background for invitations

Pink and green candies

These are my new favorite chocolates...dark chocolate with raspberry swirl!!

dessert shots!!

Raspberry mousse over pound cake

Key lime pie 

chocolate mousse over short bread

cake pops!!

presents

some guests playing game

not the best picture of me since I am totally slouching and my face looks so huge, but I am smiling in it!!

I had a great time and we are very thankful for the wonderful gifts and friends! We can't wait for Baby Maddy to get here!!

Orange Pancakes

Yesterday, I made orange pancakes for breakfast!! they were delicious!! I am all about trying new things for breakfast, lunch or dinner, but breakfast has been my bandwagon lately.  


For the pancakes, I used Great Value instant buttermilk pancake mix and added milk and water, and one egg.  If making a ton of pancakes,  I would use two or three eggs.  The eggs help keep the pancakes fluffy, but if you go overboard on the eggs, your pancakes will turn out like crepes instead of pancakes.  I then added one tablespoon of imitation vanilla extract and about one teaspoon to 1 1/2 teaspoons pure orange extract and then made the pancakes on the griddle!! They smelled so good!! 


In the process I made some delicious syrup.  Here is the recipe. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Bring butter, sugar, buttermilk, vanilla extract, corn syrup, and cinnamon to a simmer in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Once simmering, whisk in baking soda, and cook for 10 seconds before removing from heat. Serve warm.

The baking soda causes the syrup to bubble, so if you don't want that, don't add the baking soda.  I also added a bit more cinnamon than the recipe called for and it was delicious!! The pancakes turned out warm and fluffy and the syrup was a perfect compliment to the orange in the pancakes!! Give them a try!! so delicious!!!

When baby comes......

This last Saturday, I was talking with my friend Montez, who has a two month old precious baby, and we were discussing how hard it must be to nurse your new baby when you have other children, especially when nursing with just one is difficult enough.  I thought on this for a while, since I am planning on nursing Baby Maddy.  But how do I do that when I have a wild child to also take care of?  How does Amilee come to understand that she might have to wait for a few things or whatever the circumstance may be?  How do I have energy to nurse in the middle of the night when I still have to get through the next day and not be able to sleep when Baby Maddy is sleeping?  And what about when I have to go somewhere longer than three hours?  Should the baby know how to nurse and how to also take a bottle??

I think that nursing is very important, especially the first six weeks, but what about after that?  When you basically have to get back into the swing of real life?   I feel like Baby Maddy should be able to nurse and take a bottle?  Or would it be better to just pump?  I did that with Amilee and it was really nice, but how do you have time for that when you have other children?  I am not sure what to think about everything, but it is definitely a little worrisome for me.  I am not too stressed about it, but I am definitely wondering what the right steps will be to take.  What about you other moms out there??

General Conference Weekend!!

This weekend was wonderful and very relaxing.  It all started with Friday night.  Samuel's mom and the girls went to Utah for the weekend and Steve went to the cabin, so we had the house to ourselves. Friday night, we enjoyed dinner together, and then watched most of the BYU game, and went hot tubbing. Though BYU won, it is still disappointing to watch them play so badly.  Maybe they will pick it up this season, and hopefully, they will play Rylie Nelson more!! We also decided that we wanted cinnamon rolls for Saturday, so we made the dough and everything for the cinnamon rolls Friday night.  It was a great night.

Saturday, we woke up and got the cinnamon rolls going, along with some eggs and watched conference together.  Amilee did pretty good, and when she got antsy, we turned on Elmo for her, and then she would be fine.  The talks were great in the morning.  I told Samuel that President Monson would speak first, because that has been his trend in the recent conferences, but he didn't speak until after the intermediate hymn.  Turns out, he wasn't even there until the intermediate hymn due to being in traffic or something, which was why he spoke after the hymn, instead of at the beginning. I knew something was up.  Haha.  Between sessions, we had some delicious grilled cheese sandwiches with turkey for lunch and we took Amilee to the park! she loves the swings and the big slides.  Thank goodness the weather is finally cooling down, so it is nice to go outside or to the park or wherever. We watched the Saturday afternoon session, and Amilee took a nap.  During the session, I made some hair bows.  I am still in a bow frenzy, and I really enjoy making them.  It is a really good creative outlet for me. And out of all the bows I have made, there are still some days when I don't have a good matching one for Amilee's outfit.  haha. 

Saturday night, I went out with my friends Montez and Janay for girls night with our kids Amilee, Olivia and Brynlee. It was really nice to get out and have girl time and not stress or anything.  We then went back to Montez' and talked for a while, and then Amilee and I braved Wal Mart at 9 pm, and it wasn't too bad.  It was a good day.

Sunday, we had peanut butter chip and chocolate chip pancakes and they were delicious.  I fell asleep during the first session and I wasn't feeling too good most of the day.  no bueno, but okay.  The talks I did hear were really good.  For lunch, we had a little picnic in the living room and Amilee ate some pizza and we had tuna wraps and they were delicious. We also ate chips and queso and had a great time together during our little family picnic.  The afternoon session was great. Amilee finally took a nap and I made a few bracelets...I am in a crafty mood.  lol.  I took a little nap after the session was over, and had choir practice that night.  While I was gone, Samuel made dinner.  He made Parmesan crusted chicken with a buttermilk Parmesan sauce with bowtie noodles and green beans!! it was so good!!

It was a great weekend! we are so blessed to be able to have continual revelation for our Father in Heaven delivered to us every six months in conference.  It is wonderful!! we are also very excited about the new temples announced, especially the new one in Provo.  I was very sad when the Provo Tabernacle burned down, so it is quite exciting, they are rebuilding it and making it into the second temple in Provo.  And having lived in Star Valley, WY for a while, I am thrilled about that one too.  All new temples are wonderful, but some have more meaning to each of us than others!! We are happy the gospel is progressing and the church is growing and that all is well!!