Nurse cookies

To honor the lovely Nurses out there, here's to you!

Tie Quilt

I love pink. "Pink is my signature color."

I love Teal too. 

Pink and teal together.... Heaven! 

So, I guess that's why Im in love with this cute little tie quilt. 

It's pink and teal! 

Also, it was fun and easy to make. I hope you enjoy! 

Materials Needed: 

It's the size of a standard crib mattress but you can measure it however you desire. 

1 and 1/2 Yds of desired printed material (top)

1 and 1/2 Yds of batting (middle)

1 and 1/2 Yds of snuggle flannel material (bottom)

1 Spool of matching yarn

1 thick needle

Quilt binding (for edge, at Dream weavers they give a pretty good tutorial. Sorry, I didn't take pictures of it. My bad.)

Baby quilting frame (or make one, see here)

Standard needle and matching thread (for hand stitching an invisible stitch on binding)

Sewing machine

Step 1: Layer your fabric (the sandwich way)

I used the floor to help me sandwich these babies together! Start with your bottom (or top) layer of fabric. Lay it on the floor flat, right side against the floor. Grab your batting and lay it evenly on top of your bottom layer. Lastly, layer the top material evenly onto the batting. Viola! You have just layered your quilt.

You can pin the sides together if you want. It helps so you can more easily transfer your layered fabric to the quilting frame. I find ,however, that the batting helps keep it together. You happily decide for yourself. :) 

Oh and it's ok if your edges don't align perfectly, we will trim them later. ;) 

Step 2: Get-er on the Frame 

Your frame will not look like mine if you have the legs. I don't have much room in my tiny apartment at the moment, hence the legless, ghetto-ish quilting frame. Im so sorry I don't have a better picture but I hope you get the idea. 

As you clamp your material to the frame, the idea is to get a tight fit. It helps to have the layers tight so that the "tying" will be easier. 

Step 3: Marking where you are to tie

Now it's time to mark your quilt. You can mark with pins, but I found myself wishing otherwise due to pricking my fingers a zillion times. I recommend a washable pen or chalk. Then start in the bottom of your "picture" frame and mark where you would like the ties to be placed. I marked mine about every 3 and 1/2 inches away from each tie. 

Step 4: Connect the dots.. la la la la...

After your chalking attack, your blanket should have a heap of dots everywhere. Now it's time to connect them. Thread needle with a long piece of yarn and go to town. Fell free to sing, "connect the dots...lalalala.... connect the dots.... lalalala!" (humor me, it's late;)

Also, don't forget the material that is hiding UNDER the clamps. Simply undo your clamps and adjust as needed to cover as much blanket as possible. This is always my "favorite" part. :) 

Step 5: Lines and the big cut

Once you have connected your dots, your quilt should look like this. Ta Da! Grab your handy dandy scissors and cut in the middle of the line of yarn. (see pictures) You should end up with a bunch of pieces to tie in a knot. 

Step 6: Tie away baby! 

 Tie. Tie. Tie. Tie. Tie...... well you get the drift. Tie all your cute little ties together. My Mother taught me to tie Right over Left and Left over Right. She said it helps keep the tie longer, so I do what she says. She is one smart cookie. :) 

Your lovely ties once completed! YAY! That was tiresome.... go take a break and eat some chocolate for a reward. 

Step 7: Trimming

Trim your excess edges so that all your pretty layers are even and straight. :) As for corners, you can either stop here or make a curved one. I think the rounded corner is cute. Just grab a bowl, trace and cut. (see pictures)

Step 8: It's Binding Time! 

Grab your binding, unfold it and pin your edges together. Right side of cute fabric to right side of biding. Sew 1/4 inch along seam to connect binding and blanket together. (does that make sense?) After you sew the FRONT side of your binding together, fold it over your edge and HAND stitch the other side. (great tutorial HERE)

 Step 9: Enjoy the fruits of your labor and eat some more chocolate. :) 

Seriously. Chocolate helps. I love chocolate. It is my friend. Mmmmmm. 

Let me know if you have any questions. Im all ears and love to help! I love your comments! Have fun with it and let me know if you make one! I'd LOVE to see how it turns out! :) 

Loves,

Rachel 

Moments

My Boys,

I love you. 

Baby #3,

You are such a light in our family. Your happy little spirit just shouts to me JOY! 

I can't believe that your already 4 months old! 

Time flies ever so quickly.

I love your sweet smile. I love playing "Im gonna get chu!" as you laugh historically and bury your face into mine . I love your laugh. It's music to my soul. 

You hate it when we disappear to an other room. Your not shy about telling us how you feel.

My favorite is when I smile at you and you smile back. 

You already have teeth coming in = not a happy camper. 

Your a pro at grabbing stuff and putting it into your mouth. Go figure. :) You make us laugh. Like when you fell asleep with Daddy's finger in your kisser from gnawing on it. Im happy to say he still has his thumb. :) 

You are captain of the rolling team. Ha! I'll leave you on the floor for a moment and then come back to find you clear across the room. Tummy time definitely frustrates you. You just want to run with your brothers.

You are kind, I see it in you and can feel it. 

Your blue eyes are beautiful. They remind me of "Pops."

The only thing that makes me sad about you, is that you are growing way too fast. It makes me appreciate and love the moments that we have together. The moments where I'm still the only woman you love. The moments where time stands still. The moments at 2 am when it's just us, nursing the night away.  The moments when this crazy world cannot touch you or distract you from what's really important. The moments of crazy brothers laying a million kisses on you then quickly bounding away while you just smile and absorb the love. The moments of Daddy tickling you to make you laugh. The moments of just us, when nothing else matters. I love our moments. 

You are a joy in my life. I just thought you should know. :)

Baby boy #2,

You are so full of life! You make me smile with your exuberant spirit! You have such a tiny body, but with your lively spirit no one notices! 

You love to wrestle. You love to laugh. You love to be moving. 

You are the definition of boy to me. If it has to do with dirt, cars balls, running, sticks, pockets full of rocks, trucks, mud, puddle jumping in church clothes, or rough housing, you want to experience it all.

You love singing. I love it when you sing to us. It melts my heart. Especially when you jumble the words together so cutely. 

You are so filled with love too. My favorite is to snuggle with you on the couch and watch a movie. You just sit there on my lap, tugging your ears, eyes glued. I think I like it because it's the only time your not moving so I can get my hug fix. I also love laying by you singing you songs. You gently trace my face with your fingertips and giggle. 

You definitely teach me about patience and kindness. 

You are a helper at heart and love to just jump in and help. Like the other day when we got home from grocery shopping. You observed what I was doing and then jumped right in and said, "I do it, BY MYSELF!" So I let you help and you couldn't have been more happy. You are a sweetheart. 

You are always helping with your brothers. You copy AJ's every move. The good. The bad. 

Your a great talker. 

Last night was a hard night for me with you. I tried everything to keep you from getting out of bed. Nothing seemed to work. You just wanted to play, or go potty, or snuggle, or get your brother. Finally, when I found you in your brothers bunk bed playing, I felt overcome. I put you into bed and wanted to leave you alone. You however asked me to snuggle with you. "Peeaassee Mommy. Nuggle with me?" So I did. As I laid there quietly, all I could do was look at you. Your buoyant spirit quietly drifting off to sleep. Right then I realized again how lucky I am to have you. You may test my ability to show patience, but you teach me how to love when I feel like I can't. That night I just cried because the moments of you being my little boy are fleeting. So I laid there. Taking a moment to remember how you looked. Your tiny hands tugging on your ears. The clicking sound of you sucking on your tongue. Your closed eyes. Your long blonde eyelashes. Your breath. Your Mr. Incredible pajamas. Your bare feet. :) 

I love you. I just thought you should know.

Baby boy #1,

You are my bubba. My first little man. 

You have the biggest heart a boy can have. You are always helping your little brothers. Encouraging them. Loving them and teaching them.

You know love.

You love to draw and are very good at it. You love to play with legos and can make ton's of cool things that impress us. You love Phineas and Pherb. 

I love your sense of humor.

Your hero is your Daddy and I love that you want to be just like him when you grow up. He is my hero too.

You love Family Night and are often disappointed if we have to change it to another night. Your favorite song is, "I Hope They Call Me On A Mission" or "Praise to The Man."

You love to choose the right. You are always trying your best and do a great job. 

You love to ride your bicycle and could do it for hours if I let you. 

You love to be a boy and puddle jump too. If there isn't a stick in your hand Im shocked. 

I love your dancing, when your elbows are stuck out far like your about to do a chicken dance and you shake what your Momma gave ya. 

You have an incredible memory too. You memorized the whole Cars 2 story on your V-reader. Verbatim. Plus your Articles of faith. Scriptures. Funny sayings on movies. It's great!

My favorite, however, is when you do a "drive by." It's when your running around the house and playing in every room. Then, suddenly you spot baby. You stop. Kiss him, smile and then are off again. "Drive by." 

Your'e very smart! You are reading and writing already! You can even sound out words and spell all by yourself. Like the other day when you spelt out, "I lov Mmom!" all by yourself. I was so proud. I was also taken back because this year you are going to be starting school! I can't believe it. I know it's only going to be half day but still. Half a day of no playing at home with Mommy. :) Some would say I'm silly. But, I love you. It's hard for me to watch you grow. Become independent. To no longer need me in ways you once did. It's hard for me to let you go. I love you. More than you know. You are my joy. I just thought you should know. 

Im thankful to God every day to have such amazing boys!

I let go of work, school, the latest fashions, showers, my favorite television shows, and sleep (just to name a few) to be your Mommy everyday. I didn't have to. It's just what I do now. I don't ever regret it. Really. Of course it was hard letting go at first. But Im happy I did it. All because I love my sweet boys. Because guiding you on the right path each day means the world to me. I know I may fail daily, but that's the beauty of it. Trying and trying again. Trying daily to raise you the best I can and know how. 

How do you deal as time seems to fly by? :) 

Loves,

Rachel

Missionary Puppets

Have you seen these guys riding their bicycles around your neighborhood? Or perhaps they have knocked on your door? Yep, these cute little puppets are missionaries. 

I thought I’d make some little puppets for my boys Sunday file folder. The folder has activities for them to do during church time to keep them entertained. I got it at Target for a dollar along with some of the activities. (stickers, file folder games, dry erase board, crayons and paper, homemade puppets) 

You can adjust them to whatever you like. Fireman, Nurse, Farmer, Nativity set? Have fun!

Hope you like them.

Loves

Rachel 

If we remembered this

Daughter

Boys and Being a Mommy

Boys.

Boys are my life. 

Dirt.

Cars.

Sticks.

Energy.

Star Wars.

Swords.

Footballs.

Trucks.

Basketballs.

Nerf guns.

Lightening McQueen.

Legos.

Stinkies.

Phineas and Ferb.

Superheros.

Rocks.

Blue.

Fishing.

Baseballs.

Wrestling.

Outdoors.

Running.

Soccer balls.

Never stopping.

When I first saw that ultrasound screen with boy parts on it, I don't think I could have anticipated the joy that would come from being a Mommy of boys. 

I love being a play at home Mommy.

My boys are sweeter than honey.  

They make my life better. I hope I make their little lives better as well. But let me tell ya, being a Mom of boys can be exhausting! Actually, being a Mommy can be exhausting. Period.  At times, I find myself at the end of the day wondering, "have I done any good in the world today?" Many little mishaps of tiresome sibling rivalries wear on me. The word "no!" or "please don't do that" are too often friends of mine. The evil Mommy "don't do that stare" finds itself on my face too frequently. Sometimes I feel like all I do is "Nag-a-gate" their tiny little lives. Doing dishes and keeping up on house becomes more important than playing on the floor with legos. I so wish I had a moment to pee by myself.  But, while in the midst of these tiring days daydreaming about when they can make their own decisions or pour their own milk or  let me pee in peace without asking, "Mommy...are you going pee or poo?" I remind myself why I am a Mother. 

I am a Mother because I wanted to be! Because I LOVE to be! Because these little guys need me to be. Because I am the hand that rocks the cradle that will some day rule the world. In a world where being a Mommy is oftentimes belittled, I find strength knowing that I am raising a generation of Men who will some day call me blessed. Men that will stand for something when everyone else is falling. Being a Mommy may have it's hard times, but the joys that come are FAR more than none! 

So to you Mommies out there wishing you could pee by yourself, do the dishes, tackle that mountain of laundry, or just have a moment to breath, remember. Remember you are doing a glorious work. Remember that your gonna miss this. Remember that it all passes too quickly and the next season of your life will be here before you know it. 

Get down and PLAY with your little ones. It really makes a difference! I've noticed because I started doing it! 

Things that help me get through the long days:

1. Running up to them and giving them random kisses! (so fun to see them light up when you do!)

2. Listen to them... 

3. Play legos with them. Just playing with them creates happy memories. They just want to be with you.

4. Hug. Always hug. I like the random, just because ones. ;) 

5. If you think you are going to yell, STOP and SING what you have to say instead. This helps me ALOT and the boys even sing what they have to say back. 

6. Be a kid with them.... try to look at life from their little view. 

7. Most of all, LOVE. Love Love Love them with all your heart! 

8. Oh and read "The 5 Love Languages of Children." It's a great one! 

9. Be in the Moment more.... here and here are some great talks about Motherhood. Here is a quote I like: 

First, recognize that the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be hard times and frustrating times. But amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction.

Author Anna Quindlen reminds us not to rush past the fleeting moments. She said: “The biggest mistake I made as a parent is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of my three children sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” (Loud and Clear [2004])

10. Praising them for the good things they do do! It always makes them smile.

Anywho, I am not an expert! As a matter of fact I fail at being a Mommy every day. But, Im trying. Im trying to be better. Im trying to do the above a lot more and be a "Nag-a-gater" ALOT less. 

How do you try to be a better Mommy??? 

Happy Love Day with Strawberries & Nutella

Heaven. 

I am in Heaven.

I first discovered these babies when I was in Seattle for one of my besties Wedding. Her brother in law is an incredible Chef. So for her rehearsal dinner, he made these. And I fell in love. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner. Really? Combining strawberries and nutella. Heaven. So for those of you who are feeling a little adventurous, make these. Make them NOW! 

Happy Love Day Everyone!

Loves ~ Rachel 

Materials:

Nutella

Strawberries

1/4 tsp Measuring spoon

Knife

Step 1: Wash and dry Strawberries.

Step 2: Cut off tops

Step 3: Pit Strawberries with 1/4 tsp measuring spoon

Step 4: Fill with Nutella

Step 5: Eat your heart out! Yum!