HomeMade Goodies

So here a few things I have done over the weekend. 

First up are a dozed baby wipes I made. The one's I made for Freddy are still holding up well but I needed more.

I make these with left-over flannel. I also had a remnant of terry cloth from I got from Joann's so made some with terry cloth backs, for extra scrubbing power.

 Here is the baby shower gifts I made, a Boppy Pillow cover, a burp cloth with baby Adin's initials, and a travel wipe case.

I really don't like using the dryer but when I do I needed something to help with static so I made some reusable dryer sheets.

 Here's as far as the star baby blanket got... I hate to admit defeat but this pattern was not only very difficult to follow but there was waaaaaaay too much counting...  

 I love a challenge but this is NOT the time in my life for it!! I needed to make something mindless for baby Jack, something with a calm relaxing rhythm. So I started this simple yet not boring pattern, of course changing it a bit to make it my "own".

 All in all a pretty productive weekend, I think! Thanks for reading!!

Help Wanted

I hate asking for help, especially when I feel like I/we got ourselves in the situation we need help with. But I am at a place where it's time to swallow my pride and ask for some help. I know some people think that us raising a large family has been our own choice and that we shouldn't have all these children if we can't handle them. Well let me clear a few things up, we were called by God to do this job and we our blessed to make this our life, that doesn't mean we can do it alone. Our family almost doubling this year was GOD'S plan for us - not mine!!! We don't have family to count on and I know some people will argue that is also our choice by moving away from and not nearer to our family but come on, they wouldn't be around to help us out anyways! I feel completely alone a lot and have no one to cry upon except God, sometimes I feel like he's not hearing me but I know he is. He has reminded me that His word says, commands us actually to help one another.

Hebrews 6:10
 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Phil. 2:4
 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others

Luke 6:38 (not just about money)

 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

and of course Matthew 25 

So here I am with 6 children and 5 weeks from delivering another. Normally I have plenty of energy to do what's needed and then some but this pregnancy has been by far the most difficult for me, not only am I older but I have 6 other kids that need me... every single bit of me! I have found myself taking shortcuts with things I always felt were important and have had to let some things go completely. I know there are people out there that I have disappointed and let down and for that I apologize. I am doing the best I can and I fail... A LOT! So I am looking at the things in my life and forcing myself to give up the things I don't have the time or energy for right now. I will not commit to doing things I don't know for 100% sure I will be able to do, and I apologize in advance if I have to say "no" to an order or a request. Most importantly I WILL ASK FOR HELP when I need it and PLEASE if you offer to help someone always follow through with it, you probably don't know how much that person might be depending on you.

HomeMade for Boys- Backpack

I wanted to find more things to make for all my boys, especially my little ones. So I thought I would start my own little bloggy series... "HomeMade for Boy's".

Here's my first project.

With another baby coming I'm thinking it's time Freddy to start carry his own "things" and so a backpack would be perfect right? And he looooves his "pack-pack".

 I wish I had a pattern or tutorial to share with you but I don't, I just drew out the pieces on tissue paper cut the material, lining and interfacing out, pressed, sewed, and serged kind of "winging-it" as I went. I made the straps out of an old ribbon belt I had and tore the big red zipper from one of JoLee's sweaters she didn't want any more. 

And there you go a backpack to hold cars, dollars, beads, and clean underpants and jeans!

Thanks for reading, I will be adding more projects as I go.

Happy- Week 6 and 7 and ok 8...

I found this pretty little piece of spring in the yard and it made me happy!!

It makes me happy to see the progress on our first addition, yes another bedroom!!

Max surprised me one morning by cleaning all Freddy's toys...

and washed his sippy cups!! (He got up early for school and I didn't get up with the kids so he left me this note so I would know they were clean). 

Very happy Mama!!

 

Also the kids have been able to play outside more lately, that too makes me happy!!

Ok, I think that get me all caught me up!

More Baby Gifts

Here are a few more baby gifts I just finished up.

 A sweet little brimmed hat & loafer set. 

This set can be made in any color(s) add a pretty little flower and it would be perfect for baby girl.

(n/b $24, 3-6 mo. $28, 6-9 mo. $30)

This set was a labor of love!!! The original pattern for the jacket was in Norwegian and not translated well, but after considerable changes I was happy with the end result. It is super thick made with 2 strands of yarn held together and intended to keep baby warm and cozy next winter.

This set was designed for a boy or girl, the flower on the hat can easily removed can be made in any color(s). (9-12 mo. $85)

Happy - Week 5 - Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

I love love love chocolate chip cookies but hate hate hate making cookies. It's just too time consuming scooping out the cookies dough onto the cookie sheet and don't even get me started on remembering to take the cookies out of the oven at just the right time, one second to soon and they are too gooey and one second to late you end you with chocolate chip hockey pucks. Sooo I'm always on the lookout for good cookie bar recipes, so much easier to smoosh the dough into a cake pan, bake, and slice. 

I have tried several different recipes and last week we had 3 foster kids here for respit so I thought I would try a one that I saw on a blog I follow Skip To My Lou and had been saving. The kids liked them, my hubby liked them, I thought they were okay but too cakey (if that's a word) for me. I wanted something soft and chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, you know just like the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Is that really too much to ask for?????

Well I think I found it...I searched on Just a Pinch Recipes, which is a very cool site and if you have never checked it out you must do so!! Anyways, I found a recipe there sounded and looked good so I tried it.  And it was perfect!!!!! 

So what made me happy this past week? 

The perfect chocolate chip cookie bars!!!

Here's what mine looked like sliced hot ... (after I ate several bites)

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

• 2 1/8 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 12 tablespoons butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Adjust the oven rack to lower-middle position.
2. Line a 9X13-inch baking pan with foil, letting the excess hang over the edges of the pan by about 1 inch so you can grab those edges and pull the bars from the pan after they have baked. Spray the foil-lined pan with nonstick cooking spray.
3. Mix the flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside. Whisk the melted butter and sugars in a large bowl until combined. Add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and mix well.
4. Using a rubber spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the egg mixture until just combined; do not overmix. Fold in the chocolate chips and turn the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with the spatula.
5. Bake until the top of the bars is light golden brown, slightly firm to the touch, and edges start pulling away from sides of pan, 24-28 minutes. Cool on a wire rack to room temperature.
6. Remove the bars from the pan by lifting the foil overhang and transfer them to a cutting board. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

 * I didn't have enough brown sugar so I used 1/4 c. brown sugar and 1 1/4 c. white sugar and added a drop of molasses. Also I cut the better down a few tablespoons and didn't use 2 cups of choc chips, just pored some in till it looked like enough.

Diaper Bag

I don't know if you all enjoy seeing ever single thing I make but I love showing you!  Ok, well I don't show you eeeeverything, just the things that actually turn out well, there are some things I don't want anyone seeing! 

But I am pretty proud of this diaper bag. Although I have made lots of different kinds of bags and purses I wanted something special for this project. I found this tutorial  for a trendy diaper bag and this one has it all- velcro, snaps, zippers, elastic... and pockets galore! I don't know about you but I have a love/hate relationship with velcro. Some of the directions were a little confusing but all in all it was pretty easy to follow and I mostly followed it, I will definitely make it again.

 

I even made a little pouch to match. Cute huh?

Thanks for reading!!

Linked up at Skip to My Lou