Baby it’s Cold Outside

I know, I know. It’s cold every where right now. But honestly it’s super cold here. Never this cold, super cold! To prove my point…..We live in Nebraska. Smack Dab in the middle of this good ole map.

I Live about where it says oh, say, –10. Yes people this is actual air temp right now. I know why am I complaining? There are places that are WAY colder than that with actual air temps.  But you haven’t seen this map yet? Have ya?!?

See that, –24 there on the map. That’s what it feels like outside! YUCK. I know, I know. There are a few more places that feel colder. But people, it’s NEVER this cold in Nebraska! NEVER!!!! Okay so it is, but maybe only on the ONE rare occasion, and it doesn’t happen again for a few weeks/months/years. Here lately it’s been just plain cold all the time. For the last month it’s been cold.

We’ve had snow, lots of it. About a foot every 2 weeks for the last 6 weeks! And in all actuality it’s been too cold for them to play outside, comfortably. Unless they BEG A LOT, they don’t get to go outside. Dahrran got mad at me, before they headed back to school this weak from break, because they hadn’t been able to play in the snow at home!!! Such a mean mom I am! Unless they’re at grandpa’s house.

Cause you see Grandpa has THIS. HUGE. SNOW. PILE! And well after this week’s snow, I’m not sure where he’ll go with the rest. Cause this snow pile is at it’s full potential…and then some!
 

So when it’s cold outside what do we do?? You may remember this? But when it’s cold outside, I’d rather settle up with a nice bowl of soup. Potato Soup to be exact. . . Have I made it in this cold spell….no :( I haven’t bought the ingredients. Actually I haven’t been going out to the store much with the cold.  Anyway I’m rambling. So here’s the recipe!

SUPER delish Baked Potato Soup
*1 medium Onion
*1lb bacon
*2TBS Butter
*2TBS Flour
*2 cups Chicken Stock
*1 quart Half/Half
*6-8 med. potatoes

Cut up Onion & bacon into small pieces to your liking. Fry bacon until crispy but not too crisp. Remove some for garnish if you choose (I don’t). Do not drain grease from bacon, it adds to the flavor. Add butter and add onion. Sauté onions until soft. Stir in Flour to thicken. Mainly you’re just using the flour to soak up the grease.

Stir in chicken stock, making sure there are no lumps from the flour. Add half & half. You can use milk instead, but it doesn’t thicken as well, and makes for a runnier soup. Bring to a boil. Peel & dice potatoes to your liking. DH likes smaller pieces, I prefer larger pieces. When boiling add potatoes, and salt & pepper to taste.

When potatoes are cooked and tender enough to put a fork in, your soup is done.

Serve with crackers of your choice, and top with bacon, cheese, and green onions.

*You can also make this with left over baked potatoes, but DH and I prefer this way. Seems too mushy.

Bonfire Fun

A while back dad called me up one evening and asked if we wanted to come over for a bonfire. We’re always up for a bonfire so of course we said yes…I think you may remember that I was desperate for a break as well.

 

  

I’m sorry, but I’m in a bit of a hurry tonight. You see we’ve had a lot of stuff going on lately. If you follow me on facebook you know that my grandpa passed away, and then 8 short days later my great grandpa (grandpa’s dad) passed away. There will be more pictures, but for now these will have to do! Have a great Monday!

Fair Pictures

It’s been a crazy hectic last two weeks, and they’re finally coming to an end. I promised fair pictures weeks ago, and here I am just getting around to sharing them!

  

Here the kids are waiting for their turn to show. Shortly after this picture, MacKenzie’s rabbit, Swiper, bit her then the tears came rolling down her cheeks.

 

The kids both got Blue ribbons, which is the highest ribbon they can get in open class besides Overall Champion. Dahrran’s rabbit got the top Blue in his class, but didn’t win the overall rabbit. Neither one of them cared except that they got a ribbon!

 

And to prove that I’m not a mean sister, here is a GOOD picture of my little sister and Kaitlynn. Kaitlynn loved all of the animals at the fair. She walked around with Lindsey for the longest time just looking in all of the cages.

Forgive my look! It was HOT, and I was already ready to go home!

 

After going home and taking naps, it was time to head back to ride some rides!

 

Remember last year, when Dahrran was just tall enough to ride the bumper cars?
Well, guess who was tall enough this year?

 

And guess who wasn’t? Surely she was fine with it…or not.
She wasn’t tall enough to ride the bumper cars, but she was tall enough to ride the Ferris Wheel.

 

Then again, since he was tall enough to ride last year he is obviously tall enough to drive now!

 

My kids are growing up WAY too fast!

It’s not for them it’s for me

We’re about to head to my dad’s house for a bonfire. If it were up to Joel we’d be staying home. You see, my kids have been H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E. And that’s putting things nicely. (as I typed that last sentence, Joel just reiterated that fact) Ever since I’ve got home they’ve been into everything, fighting over anything, and I just washed lotion out of Kaitlynn’s hair. (another story for another day)

Why are we going you ask? Because, I need a break. I’m already tired of yelling. At grandpa’s house they’ll get spoiled. I only have a few hours with them on Monday nights before it’s bed time, and frankly I’d like to have a good time. You see this bonfire is not for them. It’s for me!

Maybe I’ll get some post done tonight with fair pictures, and our adventure from Sat! Just maybe. Then again it depends on how the rest of the night goes!

Amanda

State FFA

See here in Nebraska, we're an agricultural State! Our schools are into more than just football and volleyball. They're into FFA. What is FFA you ask? Future Farmers of America. FFA is a way of life here, just as farming is.

I was not involved in FFA in high school, but both my sisters have been. Three years ago I went to a ceremony and watched my middle sister get her State Degree. This year I was fortunate enough to see my youngest sister receive her State Degree. It is quite the honor.

My little sister, me, my dad, and my my middle sister

Lindsey receiving her State Degree

Here she is with the other Seniors that received their degree's!

A Day at the Farm

As many of you know, we have cattle. Which means on a daily basis we have chores to do, and animals to feed. And on a daily basis we have a trip to the Farm, my dad's house where I grew up. I love watching the children run, play, laugh, and grow up on the same farm I did. It brings back memories, lots of memories.

Often I don't bring my camera out to dad's house, I'm not quite sure why. Probably because I'm too much in Chore Mode to think about pictures. When I do remember to take my camera, it's not uncommon to come home with at least 100 pictures, on this day though I ended up with almost 200! What fun!

I love how they stick together for the most part.


This is how most of our pictures go these days! Kaitlynn never wants to smile, and if/when I get her smiling, the other two aren't looking. Photoshoping her head into a few good pictures is in the back of my mind...but for now!

This one isn't bad!

Dahrran has been a great big brother! He was walking with her through a rough patch of weeds, if you look closely, you can see a nice prickly weed that was about to get Kaitlynn.

So what does a big brother to? He turns his back so the weed hits him instead, and keeps holding Kaitlynn's hand the whole time so she doesn't fall over.

Then we headed out into the pasture to play around. Dahrran was running from me, to go play hide-n-go-seek in the stock bales.

When he couldn't find me, he looked up, then MacKenzie wanted up as well!

I love how he's not afraid to hold his sisters hands. I hope it never changes, but I know it's just a matter of time before he won't want to help them at all because of cooties!

And just another lucky catch! Kaitlynn is getting so big, before I know it she'll catch up to Daddy.

While we were out at the Farm, we decided we'd take Stellan to see the cows!