Family Fun At The Fair!!

BUBBLES! Who doesn't love bubbles?

The end of the fair... relaxing by the all you can drink milk :)

Claire talking on my phone!

Wait.. is this my mom being techno-logic?!

Bob went on a long hard hunt for this pineapple..I will admit it was well worth it!

First bite of fair food--aka stick food!!

She wanted more food and animals!

telling daddy all about the cows! I love how animated she is!

I can't believe she kept those ears on long enough for a picture..it took quite a few tries, but well worth it!

Of course Auntie has to tell Claire all about the horses!

She found a way to see every animal we passed..

What a lovely tour guide.

So happy togetherrrr!

Sheep go..Baa?

Heart warming!

I love this shot! So precious!

This is my favorite shot!!!! Dear Bobby and Sara: Don't forget--I will drive up to babysit for freeeeeeeee! Anytime!!!

Havij Polo

Last week we threw a division picnic for work. It was tons of fun! For our house, I made Persian food--and tried a new recipe--> I am assuming it turned out beautifully seeing as I had no leftovers!

Ingredients:
4 cups rice (I use Basmati)
oil
4-6 large carrots
water
1lb chicken (I use chicken breasts--and I like more chicken so I used more)
1 medium (unless you're an onion lover like me, I used 2)
salt
pepper
tumeric
1/2 cup sugar (you can add more if you like)

Wash and rinse the rice, then soak in water for a few hours. Add salt to the water you are soaking the rice in

Chop up the onion finely, add to a pan, and fry in oil until it begins turning golden brown in color. At that point add chicken pieces to the pan and saute. Add tumeric, salt, and pepper to the chicken and stir. Finally add a half of a cup of water to the chicken and place a lid on it. Allow it to cook for about 30 minutes.

(I had a little helper)
(The chicken being added to the onions)
The beautiful color after Tumeric has been added


In the meantime, wash and peel the carrots. Then grate them. Heat oil in another pot and add the carrots. Fry them up a bit then add sugar and 3/4 cup of water. Allow the carrots to cook until the water is pretty much gone.



Prepare the rice by bringing it to a boil and then straining it. Once the rice starts getting tender, put half of it in a pot, and then add the cooked chicken, onions, and carrots and put the rest of the rice on top. Add some of the homemade chicken stock and some more oil to keep it moist. Place a towel on top of the pot to allow steam to escape and turn the heat down to low. Allow the dish to cook for an hour.

I served this dish with maast a kheahar (the yogurt and cucumber dish) and a Persian salad (tomatoes and cucumbers) ENJOY!!

July Fun!

Meet Zach. He is a good friend of mine and made the mistake of allowing us to give him a "make over" from eyeshadow and lipstick to his pretty purple nails!

Enjoying our time outside!

It was so nice to catch up and reconnect with my high school friend, Dave. Even though we both ended up going to Winona State..we had lost contact--and he spent the entire weekend with us, it was fabulous!

Me and Emily-M :)

A beautiful flower in my mommy's garden

The Grill master doing a beautiful job

Andrew's visit.



Meet Kitten number 1: Samson--Emily's cat

Meet kitten number 2: Black Jack Kerouac--my kitty.. unfortunately he looks evil in every picture I took of him--but he is definitely the opposite

Lake Arbutis

Me and Sara (Nate's cousin) taking a jump off the boat!

We had a blast on the wave runners

Me and Jenny (Nate's sister) blowing everyone away at pool

Aw!

On our way out to go fishing!

Catching some air!

He picked me a flower!

The Dam we found while exploring

I wish I could go camping every weekend

Wow... It's Already the End of June!!

Apparently I am very poor at updating my blog!

This past month has been quite the piece! Wonderful none the less.

I am all moved into my new apartment--thanks to my wonderful mother!!

I will post pictures of it soon. I have a new addition to the family--Black Jack--he is a sweet kitty!

I have been a Program Assistant at my job a little over a month now--and am applying to go higher--fingers crossed!

It is nice to have a routine again. The past two weeks I have finally been feeling 'settled'. It's such a good feeling...I feel like myself again.

Last night my brother took the train to come stay with me for the week!!! He is so grown up--I am excited for this week. Right now he is off fishing with some of my friends. I wish I could of gone..but I work. boo.

And we cannot forget--SUMMERFEST this weekend! I am super excited!!!!

Pictures to come soon!

May Is Here!

Well this month has been full of ups and downs so far--but it looks like it will be going up from here!

I am now employed full time and start on the 22nd!!!! I took the Program Assistant Position where I currently work. I am excited to start!

On top of that, I am moving into my new apartment on the 24th--I am pretty excited about that as well--a start to reorganizing my life and living more adult-like.

This past weekend was full of wonderful activities! Last Friday, Emily-M graduated! And then I got to spend a few days back in Milwaukee. It was wonderful to spend Mother's Day with two of the greatest mothers I know and am fortunate to have as mine!

Bob had surgery last Friday and is having a smooth recovery thus far.


The girls together for Emily's graduation!


A wild turkey that has been wandering my parent's neighborhood


He is becoming so grown up!! But he'll always be my baby brother


This is quite possibly one of my favorite photos ever. Such love!


We are goofs, and I love every minute of it!


Such a beautiful family!


I like to smother her with kisses! She deserves them!


Our famous three generation photo


I am really happy Nate came to join us.






I can't believe he is as tall as me now! I made sure not to tag him in any of these on facebook...

Life

Ok, Ok, so I admit it... being a new graduate isn't all what we make it out to be in our heads. I am still working at my current job, however that is part time, though I do get close to 40 hours a week...which is nice, but I would enjoy a full time. I have been trying, and not succeeding.
I realize that one of my flaws is wanting to figure things out for myself. Make my own mistakes. I like to think I am a good young lady with my head screwed on the right way; but when it comes to growing up, there is much I have to learn; I am just eager to find this out my own way. I don't want people telling me how I should be doing it. This may be immature of me, however I don't believe it is. As of right now, I am fully capable of supporting my own basic needs. I manage my money well and am opportunistic. Things have not been falling into place--which has stressed me out even more, and has pushed my blood pressure and health out of this world. But I am trying, and how can I learn if I don't try?

^ ^ ^
If none of that made sense, it was more of a rant to myself.

But anyways--on top of the bad many great things have happened so far. For example, I was finally able to make it to Milwaukee. It was a fabulous weekend. Here are a few moments at the zoo that I captured.

Even though life has its struggles. We have to remember to breathe and to slow down. I know I have to remind myself frequently, if I didn't... well, let's not go there!

Happy Easter to all! I will be going back to Milwaukee and spending Easter with my Grandma (or now as she started referring to herself .. "Grannie")!!!!!