Stock Show trip to Denver

Over the long holiday weekend, Ronny and I had the opportunity to go with our friends, Matt & Lindsay Hastings, to Denver for the National Western Stock Show.

The weather was beautiful…we didn’t need our coats for most of the time. We even found some Nebraska signs to take our picture with.

While we were there, we enjoyed the cattle shows, horse jumping show and even the dog pull (did you know a 30 pound dog can pull 900 pounds!).

The highlights included walking around and reminiscing in the yards, seeing old friends, spending time with the Hastings, the cowboy church and the rodeo.

We were super impressed with the “One-Armed Bandit” at the rodeo.

Such a fun weekend! We also got to stop by my parents house on Friday evening and show the Hastings my family ranch. Always a great time to see my family and be home.

“beach balls” baby quilt

One of the quilts I took to the county fair I couldn’t blog about earlier because it was a gift for my niece, Maelle. And I forgot to get a good picture of it before I gave it to Ryan & Lindsay. Here is a little bit about the quilt that I made for her.

For the pattern, I used a Lazy Girl Littles pattern.

For the fabric, I used the Moda Pezzy print Charm Pack.

Here are a few pictures of the quilt.

Meeting Maelle.

We had a great weekend loving on our  new niece, Maelle Rose! Maelle was born December 31 to my brother and sister-in-law, Ryan & Lindsay.

She is absolutely perfect…I’m not biased at all! Ronny even held her for just a little bit.

Auntie Em came down for the weekend, too. It was fun to be together as siblings!

Welcome to our family, Little Miss!

Details 2013

I am a shoe person.

And when I say that, I mean I don’t like walking around barefoot – I wear shoes all the time.

It could be because my parents are shoe people and always wear shoes around the house, although I don’t believe my siblings do…(I’ll have to ask them). Or it could be because I have extremely high arches in my feet and it just hurts them to walk barefoot without my orthotics.

I preface my story with this because as I was putting on my house shoes (aka Crocs) this morning getting ready after I put my socks on, I felt like there was a large lint ball in my sock, but I figured it would move enough when I put my boots on later.

It didn’t. But I needed to get out the door so I just walked on it. Walked on it 4 blocks from parking to work. Walked on it around work in the morning and walked on it to a lunch meeting 4 blocks away and back.  I finally took the time to take my boot off to get the large lint ball. To my surprise, I found this pin. Yes, I was walking on that all day.

My first thought was to call myself an idiot. I was! That was an idiot move – why didn’t I take time to just figure out what the problem was this morning when it first bothered me. I didn’t take the time.

I wasn’t going to resolve to do anything this year (except drink more water – more of a health goal than anything), so I decided this was a good lesson that teaches me to pay attention to details – and take the time to get something done at the time it needs done.

I also want to do things that are meaningful to people I care about. I recently received a subscription to Taste of Home’s simple & delicious magazine from my friend Lori. She didn’t’ have to do this, but she did because she is such a great friend.

Lastly, I want to dig into to God’s Word and focus my heart on Him.

So here’s to 2013!

Snow angels

I love making snow angels – especially with my sister. It must be an inherited thing because our Mom had made one after her workout to cool off the day before! :)

Happy New Year!

DIY doll blanket and pillow

For my cousin, Katie’s Christmas present, I made her a dolly blanket and pillow. She is really into dolls right now, and according to her dad, is always wanting to put them to sleep. Perfect gift idea!

I didn’t use any particular pattern, although I got the idea for the doll quilt from my friend, Shelley’s Garden Bricks Quilt.

I simply used 4 inch strips and tried to alternate the lengths in each row. The finished quilt size was approximately 24”x18”. I used some pink embroidery floss to tie the quilt top to the solid pink backing.

To make the pillow, I used two pieces of fabric that were 6”x9”, sewed the right sides together and flipped inside out, then filled with stuffing.

I’m pretty sure she liked it! :)

Christmas Day | 2012

It was so nice to relax at home on Christmas Day after our fun Christmas Eve outing with my sister and parents! We missed my brother and sis-in-law though, but they are expecting a baby any day!

Ronny was excited about his K-State gear and Mom and Dad were excited about dinner and a musical.


Emily got a Prince William collectors doll. “I’m staring at you, Emily!” (in a British accent of course). :)

In the evening, we did our intermediate family tradition – fondue! Ronny stole the camera while we were preparing all of the food.


Hello Mama!


The table was all ready to go and we ate ourselves full of delicious meat and veggies. Then chocolate with cake and strawberries. Another great tradition besides our Swedish ones! We missed you, Ryan and Lindsay!



We celebrated an early Christmas with Ronny’s family in early December – but I unfortunately didn’t take my camera to get any pictures! The whole fam was there and we enjoyed all of the little kids celebrating Christmas.