Things that make you go, Hmmmmm?

It's quite the day here with my "kids."  Odd, kinda funny, and just plain questionable.

I've written before about our dog Bella.  Kind of weird, not exactly what we thought she'd be, but we still love her.  Today though, it's like she's storing up for winter.  Today she's eaten:  one of K's socks, some wilted rose petals that had fallen on the floor, TRIED to eat a venison plastic meat wrapper (got that away from her), licked the remaining baby food out of the plastic container, and 1/4 of a RAW ONION. 

Another thing kind of freaking me out.  Today, K is 7 months old.  There's no way that's true!  She should still be my little baby.  But, she's definitely not little anymore!

2 weeks old:

And just the other day...



Stop growing up so fast!

A few other things from today:

*Trying to return a redbox movie:  won't let me return it, but spits another one out.... that I didn't pick or pay for. 

* It's garbage day, and our garbage can thing has been picked up and dumped...3 times.  I think maybe there may be some miscommunication at the garbage home base... whatever they are called.

* My phone delivered 3 voicemails this morning... that were left last week.

* My kitchen smells like a hot dog.  We don't have hot dogs in the fridge and haven't eaten them in like a month.  Where is this STRONG hotdog smell coming from?  It's not even a bad smell, and it's making me want a hot dog.

Curious to see what this afternooon will bring!

honest opinions, please!

So last night I went to a photography workshop!  It was really fun!  I went in wanting to learn more about posing people and backlighting, and I learned a ton!  I'm super excited to use the knowledge I have gained.  I am going to post a ton of picures on here from last night, and I want your honest opinion about my photography.   What do you like?  What do you not like?  Which pictures are your favorite?  BE HONEST. If you don't want to comment on here, feel free to facebook message me or email me at lkleffman7@gmail.com   Thank you SO much!
First we photographed a family of 6... probably the best looking kids ever!

And then we photographed an engaged couple...



don't underestimate maple glaze

So, I really like Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.  I met her one time.

She signed her books that I had, and told me she liked K's boots.  I remember I was super nervous, very tired, and I just wanted to ask her what he put in her hair that smelled SO good.  She's a big inspiration to me in cooking, photography, gardening, raising kids- just kind of everything!  This morning was the debut of her show on the Food Network.  So, in honor of this special day, my friend Kerri and I made cinnamon rolls!!  Her cinnamon rolls aren't for wimps- one batch is 8 pans of rolls!!  We're keeping one pan for ourselves and giving the rest away.  I'm excited to hear what our friends and family think!

Rising dough..

a tiny bit of butter...

A solid recipe...

A sleeping baby (didn't last very long)...

And a great friend to spend the morning with-

Success!

Note:  the recipe has you make a maple glaze.  Both Kerri and I were less than enthusiastic about that- we're cream cheese frosting kind of girls- but this is the BEST thing ever.  Totally delicious.  I might start putting a maple glaze on everything.

Fried Pickles

Brent, K, and I went to the Minnesota State Fair!  It must have been THE day to go, because it was packed!  Add the stroller, and it was less than easy to get around!  I will say though, that bringing a stroller is nice because you can pile all your stuff underneath or in it if K's being held.   We didn't stay a super long time; we just kind of hit the highlights and left.
Brent really like the DNR fish pond.  K liked it too, even though i'm not sure she could even see the fish!

Brent also got an elk burger.  It was delish!

Also outside of the DNR building were those picture opportunity cut out people.  You know where you stick your head in the hole and take the picture?  The was a hunter, a dirt bike rider, and this one...

future kayaker.  I love it!

I also love....

Oh, fried pickels.  I had them several years ago when I was showing a horse at the state fair.  I tried one of my friend's, thinking I'd hate them.    I don't love pickles, but these are different.  A pickle and cream cheese, fried, and then dipped in ranch dressing.

Oh my gosh, take me back there for more.   I'm not going to lie, my mouth is watering a little just looking at them.  It was a fun day!  I always think I'm going to see someone I know, but this year I didn't. 

We will be back at the state fair grounds in about a month to watch Rachel and Callie at champ show... maybe K will stay awake for that....  : )

One more thing... i'm guessing K will grow to be about 6 foot 11... talllllll girl!

chicken

I don't have time to blog.

I'm up to my ears in chicken.  I got a buy one get one free coupon for value packs of chicken.  Like, 20 boneless skinless breasts... maybe more.


I have 6.2 million friends who are pregnant or just had a baby, so I'm cookin' that chicken into meals to freeze and deliver to new mamas.

I've made 3 chicken and veggie pot pies (like, 9 inch pie size.) and one chicken broccoli stuffing casserole.  And two loaves of banana bread, but that's because I also had bad bananas.  I need more chicken recipes that can be frozen!!  Help me out!

whirlwind

A lot has happened in the past few days.  I can't shake the feeling that today is Sunday.  Probably because we just came home today from Grand Rapids.
Quick recap-  hopefully pictures can adequatley display the fun, joy, and love.
Friday morning, K and I went to the hospital.  Here's K with her visitor badge.

and here is the most precious, beautiful baby.  My friend had a tough delivery, but babies are so worth it. : )  It's strange to love a baby that isn't yours, but I love this little girl!

Then we came back home and Friday night I got to hang out with some of my friends from college. Amy, Gina, and Jodie thank you so much for coming over!  I loved seeing you and hearing about your lives : )

Saturday morning we woke up and drove up to a resort near Grand Rapids.  Our friend Gina's parents own a charming resort and this was our 4th year going up there.  Brent and Dave did lots of fishing and swimming, and I got to hang out and talk to Gina.  I love being around her, I feel like I always learn something new, weather it's a canning recipe, a gardening tip, or something about raising children.  I'm pretty sure this woman could go out, kill an animal and gather random plants, cook them, and you'd think you were at a 5 star restraunt.  Yum.  And she looks gorgeous the whole time... such a beautiful person inside and out.  Here is a picture of Gina, as well as pictures from our long weekend at the lake!

and then today we stopped at a place called Red Willow.  I never should have gone in!!  I could have bought about 3,000 things but settled on these two signs. 

County Fair

I took a little trip to my hometown because one of my best friends had a baby.  More on that later.  My parents and I decided to go to the county fair to walk around, get something to eat, and see what there was to see.
Here's K at the beginning of the night:

and at the end:

I like this picture because there are cows in the background.

The Houston County Fair is a HUGE part of my life.  Not really as much now, but growing up.  I would spend every minute from Wednesday until Sunday at the fair.  I had horses there, as well as entering projects in things like photography, arts and crafts, pets, and I think once I took a birdhouse.

True story- once I took my horse in the Pets category.  You had to bring your pet in, talk about how you take care of them, what's great about them, all of that.  I got reserve champion.  Do you know what got grand champion?  A HERMIT CRAB.  

My friends all showed at the fair too.  It was so much fun.  We'd walk through the cow barns looking for cute boys that went to other schools.  The boys that brought cattle also brought friends, and were usually good ol' country boys that wore shirts that said things like "Here I am, what are your next two wishes?"  and "Farmers work it round the clock"  No, I don't remember exact shirts... the same type of boys were in the cow barns today, looking for girls from other schools wearing shirts with phrases meant to get a conversation started.

And then there were the horse shows.  I didn't miss a year after I got my own horse.  I would dream about the fair year round, and plan out what I'd wear, what my stall decorations would look like, and of course, how we'd do.  One year I was SO excited to show, I had a new horse and we'd done really well the whole year at local shows.   I fell off 3 times.  Yes, 3.  It was muddy.  Unrelated to me falling off, there was also this huge tree branch that grew out and reached over the rail, so when you rode, you had to either duck, or kind of move your body sideways to get out of the way.

A lot has changed about the fair-  they got a new horse arena, cut down the branch, and everyone looks super young.  But, its fun to see that another group of kids are having the same experiences and loving it like I did.

At the horse barn tonight, I saw Lena and her girls Avrie and Emma.

Lena gave me riding lessons when I was just starting out.  I thought she was the coolest person in the world.  I remembered everything she said and would think about lessons long after I got off the horse.  One time she called a horse a name under her breath, not meaning for me to hear. I went home and repeated that name because if Lena said it, I repeated it.  : )

To make me feel really old, her oldest daughter was born right around the time I started taking lessons.  Here's her baby, holding my baby.

Instead of feeling sad, or old, or wishing I lived closer, it made me happy and so thankful for the experiences I had growing up.  I hope K gets the chance to show at the fair, both horses and maybe even pets... if I ever get over the bitterness.   She just can't chase the boys from the cow barn : )



what i'd rather

Two posts in one day because the last one was depressing.  I just miss certian people and places, but have a great life here too!  So, here you go.


Today I was driving to target, and I heard on the radio that in some national poll, it was discovered that women would rather have people think they were a bitch, than think they were unattractive.

Huh.  I started thinking about that.  I don't want people to think i'm ugly, but I would hate if people thought I was mean. Anyway, here is what i'd rather... for today anyway.  Who knows what I'll love, be, or think a year from now.  It's all about being the best version of yourself no matter what.
http://www.pinterest.com/ is a website where you can make boards of things that interest you.  I don't completely understand it, but it's fun!  It's also fun to see what pictures make you think "oh... I like that."  It's fun because everyone's boards are different.  Check it out.  All of the pictures I'm using in this post are from that website.


I would rather be graceful than beautiful.  Have you ever met a woman who was so kind, and gentle, but strong, funny, and just warm?  I would rather be like that than be a size 4 and superficially beautiful.

I want to be the kind of person who can keep a secret and be there for people when they need to talk- not the kind of person you'd call for the latest gossip.

I want to have a warm, inviting home.  I want to have a place where people feel comfortable, have fun, and not want to leave at the end of the night.  I would rather have that than to eat at fancy restraunts with 5 forks and crumb scrapers.

I would rather have a Christmas tree with homemade and sentimental ornaments than a tree with perfectly matched everything but with no stories behind them.

I would rather have smile lines than wrinkle free skin.

I would rather have dirty fingers from working in my garden than perfectly manicured nails.

The end.. for now.  Here are some pinterest pictures that make me feel goooooood!

What would you rather be?

A Hurting Heart

This is the first year I haven't gotten a classroom ready for the start of the school year.  I am so glad to be staying home with my baby, but it's definitely an odd feeling. 

I miss the school I used to teach at so much all year round, but especially this time of year.  After graduating in December, I subbed at St. Peter's thinking it would just be temporary.  I ended up getting a teaching job for the next school year and stayed 3 years.  I miss it so, so much.  I don't want to go back to be a teacher again right now, I want to be a stay at home mom, I just want to be near that school- maybe volunteer once a week, and I would love for my kids to go there.

St. Peter's is located in Hokah, Mn, which is a town of about 600.  I love everything about that place.  I loved the drive to work- short, but beautiful, and I'd stop to let my horse out on the way.  Nothing wakes you up like cool country morning air.  I loved how many days the kitchen at school would be filled with people peeling apples and making pies.  I loved how everyone knew everyone, and how parents and grandparents had been a part of St. Peter's.  I loved the whole school Monday morning meetings.   I loved the Christmas and Spring programs.  I'm not even Catholic, but I loved Mass.  I loved how the school and church felt like they were full of memories and life.  I loved my big classroom and the two whole walls full of windows; being able to see the bluffs, the snow, the rain, or the sun. 

 I loved being a teacher there.

But I miss much more than those things- I miss my friends.  I miss the girls I taught with so much that sometimes my heart literally hurts.  I feel like I've moved away from a best friend... but its more than one friend, its 5 best friends that are more like family.  I miss Sherry's spunkiness, Rachel F's wisdom, Rachel S's patience, I miss Linda's energy and vast knowledge, and the way Theresa and I just kind of understood each other.  We see each other whenever we can, but it never feels like enough.

Maybe someday my children can go to St. Peter's.  It's the best place in the world, and I miss it everyday.

"it"

When I go grocery shopping, I usually have people stop and look at K.  She's a pretty friendly baby, so she'll smile or make a little noise.  Today I ran to the store to get milk, fruit, bread, the basics.   I was getting some peaches, and this sweet older woman came over and said, "oh, what a beautiful baby you have!"  I said thanks, and smiled.

Then the lady asked, "how old is he...or it?"   Wouldn't the opposite of he be she?  I tried not to laugh, I'm not sure why it was so funny to me.  Possibly becuase she was wearing a pink onsie.. holding onto her pink blankie.  : )

i love my little it.

Pretty Much Perfect

Last night was Jen's baby shower at our house.  Sadie did the sweets, and I did the not sweet stuff.  I made these little open faced steak sandwiches... though they are small, and not really anything close to being a sandwich.  Anyway, people liked them, so as promised, here's how I put them together.

I used "everything" french bread which was presliced, from walmart.  I toasted it up on a cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet so both sides get the same heat (thanks Rachael Ray).  The first layer is horseradish cream sauce:  1 cup sour cream, 1 tsp prepared horseradish, 1 tablespoon mayo, 2 tablespoons dijon mustard, and a sprinkle of garlic salt.  On top of that I layered thinly sliced beef tenderlion, chopped fresh tomato, and a small sprinkle of blue cheese.  Toss it back in the oven for 5-7 minutes, and you're good.  Yum.

Besides the good food,

and the delicious punch sipped from mason jars,

there were pretty presents,

mamas and babies,

lots of friends,

and one gorgeous, glowing, happy mama to be.

I'd say the night was pretty much perfect!