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!