Dilly Ranch Party Mix

Hey, there everyone!  We made it to the weekend.  I would love a margarita right about now to celebrate.  If you are so lucky to have one close by, have one for me, too!   Last week I was sitting at the Olive Garden bar beside a 7-or-so year old.  We were having the same drink--a Shirley Temple.  On a side note, it was one of the better Shirley Temples I have had in my lifetime.  :o)
Thankfully party FOOD is not off limits and I today I developed my own party mix.  We like it here and hope you will, too!

Dilly Ranch Party Mix
1 pkg dry ranch dressing mix
3/4 cup oil
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/4 tsp dill weed
Assorted snacks of your choice--I used 1 box Cheese Nips, 1 box Club Multi-Grain minis, 1/2 box cracked pepper Triscuits, 1/2 bag pretzel sticks, about 1 cup peanuts and about 1 cup Cheerios. 
Mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over the snack mixture.  Stir every 10 minutes for about 30 minutes and then store in an airtight container.  No baking required!

Where Have I Been?

1.  Enjoying the coneflowers in my perennial garden.  Somehow all of my randomly planted flowers are taking turns blooming so there is always color somewhere. 

2.  Eating and shopping my way through Sioux Falls on Friday.  When the men are on a business trip, the wives will save money!  My friend Roxanne and I shop well together.  We both consider shopping (um . . . SAVING) at Kohl's to be an excellent part-time job!  She also introduced me to Hu Hot Mongolian Grill (which was yummy and fun) and Oh My Cupcakes! (http://www.ohmycupcakes.com/).  We both had "the Marilyn."  YUM!  If you don't live near Sioux Falls, they will ship their yummy treats right to you!

 3.  Saturday was spent at my grandparents' auction sale.  I came home with this little treasure (with my grandpa sitting on it) for $2.  He didn't want to come home and work around the house for me, so I settled for just the step stool.  It was a good day, but also bittersweet.  The great little town of Leola will no longer serve as our meeting point.  We hope "Grandma & Grandpa's house" will go to a good family.

 4.  Yesterday found us on the beach on Lake Eureka!

My boys loved the diving board as much as I did growing up. 

Why South Dakota?

As we were nearing my hometown of Eureka yesterday, Landen asked me, "Why do we live in South Dakota?"
My mind instantly started to swim.  How should I answer that?  I've asked myself that same question a time or two.
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For me, the biggest reason I stayed here (before getting married) is this is where my roots are.  I love to travel, but being able to spend time with my extended family is priceless.  I admire those who can move long distances from their families and see them maybe once a year.  That was never in my DNA.
I also love the sunsets, the people, and the sense of security we have here that is seldom shaken. 
Even with the positives, I am still far from saying that South Dakota is the promised land.  The wind, mosquitoes, and extreme temperatures can about do me in from time to time.  There is a reason why we Germans have the reputation of being stubborn.  Our ancestors had to be or no one would have survived.  The landscape (in my part of the state, anyway) is not very exciting to the average non-farmer.  Our entertainment options are often limited to siblings of once-famous people or local bands who someday hope to make it big.
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After those few short seconds, I answered, "I suppose because this is where our farm is."
Landen replied, "Dad said it's because people wave."
I couldn't argue with that.

Camping

Camping seems to be the reclaimed summer fun family activity.  I know some have always camped, but I seem to hear a lot more people (even some with very young children) talking about family camping trips lately.  And liking it.
I wish it sounded like fun.
I really do.
I blame my parents.
Camping for us was a Super 8.  A luxurious camping experience included an indoor pool.
The closest I want to get to camping right now is what we had near Duluth last summer--a 2 bedroom apartment with no air conditioning.
As is usual in such circumstances, as I was trying to forget about my hot, sticky misery and wondering what to do with three energetic kids in a small space, David made the comment that living--yes, living--in such conditions wouldn't be so bad.  Oh, husband of mine!  I suppose it wouldn't be so bad if I was the one working 12-hour days OUTSIDE our imagined hot, cramped apartment.  But, I digress.
So what do I have against camping?
I have about a 5 degree outside temperature comfort zone and about the same tolerance for wind speed.  I like to be clean at the end of the day and have my kids be clean, too.  If I am on vacation, I do not want to cook.  If we had a camper, I wouldn't want another "house" to keep clean and free of mice.  We can roast marshmallows right here in our yard at home--and I can go inside when the mosquitoes start to bite! 
When it comes down to it, if I am going to have the same responsibilities that I do at home only in a much smaller (and probably less comfortable) space, I would rather just stay home and wait for the next vacation opportunity to arise.
A hotel next to the mall?
Now that's quality family bonding time!

Paper Plate Creatures

As we began another day in the Land of Extreme Temperatures, it was clear we needed something new to do around here.  I found a stack of paper plates and a vinyl tablecloth (bought on clearance) in the closet, dug out some old craft supplies, and had the kids come out to the kitchen for some fun.

 My original intent was to make windsocks, but they had more fun making creatures instead.

 That worked for me!

Teresa did decide to put the tails on her project. 

Landen had the idea of using the pipe cleaners (I guess the correct term now is "chenille stems") to make a grassland diorama. 

We will see if that takes shape.  I'll keep you posted!

Just a Monday

It took me awhile to find my groove this morning.
Our family had a FANTABULOUS time at the Aquatic Center yesterday.  We hadn't been there for 3 years and at that time, little T was not to impressed with the water.  That was not the case this time!  We all enjoyed the cool water with the temps reaching almost 100 degrees.
But . . . today I just wasn't feeling it.  I felt anxious and couldn't shake it.
So, I did something I haven't done in . . . well . . . probably 8 or so weeks now.  I hit the treadmill.  After a couple of miles, I felt my mood lifting.  Now that I feel like doing more than just surviving the day, I NEED to get back in the habit of exercise.  My pregnancy weight gain has been minimal, but my body and soul just need to get moving.
Then I mowed for a little while while Landen took his water break.  I don't care how hot it is outside, mowing the lawn is therapeutic to me. 
Now as I approach the end of the day, there was plenty of good about it.  A few scrapbook pages got finished (even with three kids in the house), I had whipping cream for our mashed potatoes tonight, and the deer fly bites I got today didn't swell to the size of Texas (thanks to my miracle bug cream). 
It's time to get the kiddos to bed.  Good night!

Snow Cones

When I was a little girl, there was one thing I wanted every year when the JCPenney Christmas Catalog appeared in our mailbox.  Yes, it was this--the classic Snoopy Snow Cone machine. 

Even when I outgrew my want for this machine, I still gave my mom a hard time about not fulfilling that one dream I had early in life.

One day in my sophomore year of college, she surprised me with my very own Party Penguin Snow Cone machine.  He sat proudly on my dorm room shelf--a childhood dream fulfilled. 

My kids experienced snow cones at our friends' house earlier this week.  They have an electric machine, which really is the way to go if you are mass producing snow cones.  They even had an array of syrups to choose from.  My kids were in snow cone heaven.

I told them that we had a snow cone machine at home, too, but that it wasn't electric. 

Finally, after days of begging, I let them try it out tonight.  It really is not as labor intensive as Nathan makes it out to be. :o)

 After they worked to shave their three ice cubes into snow, they decided they didn't want to eat it, but to make a snowball to throw outside instead.

May all your childhood dreams come true!

A Sister in My History

This Saturday the Presentation Sisters will formally celebrate 125 years in Aberdeen SD.  There will be activities, tours, and historical presentations throughout the day on the convent grounds.  Point of Grace will perform an outdoor concert in the afternoon. 

I always love visiting Presentation Heights, where the sisters reside, during the half-day retreats they host twice a year.  Their hospitality is like nowhere else and it is always to joy to visit with them. 

The Presentation Sisters have long been active in education and medical care in Aberdeen.  They opened their first school in Aberdeen 1886 and St. Luke's Hospital, which is currently our major regional medical center, was begun by the sisters in 1901. 

 

Although there have been other nuns and at least one priest in our family, I believe Sister Leona Kallas (above) is the only Presentation Sister in my family history.  According to the Presentation website:

Sister Leona (Clara) Kallas was born July 21, 1903 in Leola, SD. She entered the convent Feb 10, 1926 and professed July 16, 1928. She entered nurses training at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles city and graduated in 1931 with a nursing diploma.  She died Sept. 5, 1997. 

Coincidentally, this is the same day Mother Teresa died.  She served as a registered nurse in Aberdeen for 45 years.

Here she is on a Black Hills vacation with her sister, Sister Anicetus (Frances) Kallas, who was a Dominican Sister. 
I did have a chance to meet Sister Leona at least once while I was growing up.  She took me on my one and only trip over the Aberdeen traffic through the brick walkway that connects St. Luke's with Lourdes Hall across the street.  I had always wanted to do that! 
I wish now that I had gotten a chance to know her better.
And, so, that is your Kallas family history lesson for the day.
Happy Anniversary, Presentation Sisters!

Take 2!

This past Sunday was the perfect day to make up our family 4th of July.  We traveled to Minnesota for our niece and goddaughter's 4th birthday.  (I can't believe our "baby" girls are turning 4 this year!)  I don't have any photos from that occasion due to the fact I was eating (very important) and a lack of motivation to walk across the street to get my camera, but it was a very fun time!

After the party, we went swimming!!  All three of the kids found their favorite thing to do.  Teresa loved the kiddie slide.

 

 Nathan made it up to the top of the rock climbing wall lots of times.

 Landen went down this huge slide (and up all those stairs) 25 times by his count.  At one point, the lifeguard told him he was probably going to break a record for the most times in one day.  After that, he made it a point to surely claim the record as his alone.

 We woke up in Sioux Falls on Monday and hit the ground running for our day of adventure.  We started at the Great Plains Zoo.  It  is a nice little zoo and just the right size for kids.

 Then, after a three year hiatus, we finally made a return trip to Chuck E. Cheese's!  Our previous trip near the Cities was the highlight of the boys' lives.  This trip to the Sioux Falls location did not disappoint.  David's favorite part was watching Teresa with her own cup of tokens.  It is interesting to see how a 3 year old will spend her money!

 They all wanted to visit the waterfalls (the actual Sioux Falls in Falls Park), so we stopped by there for ice cream on our way out of town. 

 Our last stop for the day was a little town not far from home.  The boys finished off their t-ball season undefeated (as does every t-ball team). :o) 

Whew!  When we have Daddy along, we make every minute count.  It was a super two days of great family fun!

The 4th of July . . .

Overall, we had a fun 4th of July.  There was a parade with lots of candy . . .

 A ride in Papa Butter's red racing car . . .

 and slipping and sliding . . .

 but, we were missing this guy. 

(Credit for this unflattering photo goes to his daughter.)

Did you know that it is legal for farmers to work on the 4th of July?  Yep, it is.  Several of my "farm wife" friends can testify to this.  So, we did what we had to do.  We saved the 4th of July for the next weekend!

Little Blessings

Here's the great part about pregnancy--you wait for 4 long weeks to hear this quick whooshing sound for about 30 seconds.  Then you're on your way and happy as a clam. 
It's all pretty crazy. 
I was really hoping for another ultrasound today, but I had to settle for the Doppler instead.  Next time will be the official 20 week ultrasound.  This baby is already a little movie star with three appearances so far.
Even though baby has looked great on all three, I'm still a bit on edge for the BIG one.  With the unusual things that have happened my past two pregnancies and this one (all of which have turned out to be fine), I am no longer one of those giddy moms who hops on the ultrasound table and asks, "Boy or Girl?" 
I tentatively walk into the dimly lit room, hold my breath for a few minutes and then I ask, "Healthy?" 
We are very thankful as our prayers were answered and the complication I had existing beside (but not affecting) this baby has since healed.  Measurements and heartbeat are right on track. 
That, of course, also means I couldn't hide this pregnancy any more if I tried.  (Thank heavens I don't have to any more!) 
One of the excuses I came up with last winter when God was faithfully presenting this leap of faith to me was, "but I just gave away all of my maternity clothes!"
Well, my friends, never doubt that God will provide.
Yesterday my friend Deb presented me with two big totes of maternity clothes.  Some of the clothes I gave to her last summer were in there, too.  It was nice to see my old friendly mommy clothes again.  I have been invited to "shop" at friends' houses as well and I have a nice Target.com order arriving shortly.  (They had an amazing clearance sale on maternity clothes.  I couldn't resist!)  No--a lack of clothes will not a problem at all!
If you have been keeping our family in your prayers, we thank you!  If you haven't, don't worry.  We will still need some in the future, too, especially when we are REALLY outnumbered come December.  :o) 
Good night and sweet dreams!

Peaches & Cream

All you need is a generous splash of whipping cream, a little milk, some sugar, a dab of vanilla and a few peaches. 

(How's that for precise measurements?)

Let your taste buds be your guide and enjoy the plentiful July peaches!

Festive Food

Check out these festive cupcakes I made for the fireworks gathering tonight.  They don't look quite as professional as the ones in the magazine, but as my mom says, "They will still taste good!" 

(My mom actually says that about every type of botched food--except for bread that has been squished by a value pack of toilet paper.  She has no encouragement for that unfortunate catastrophe.)
I am excited to have breakfast guests tomorrow before our local parade.  I am going to make my friend Tina's Baked Caramel French Toast.  Remember that post from almost 2 years ago?  It is so very yummy . . . and must be shared!
I hope you are having a blessed Sunday and a safe and Happy 4th!  We are thankful for all those who continue to fight for our country so that we may live in freedom.