• Travel & Vacation: Tubing, Knee Boarding, and Water Skiing at Milford Lake!

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    Waving as she passes family!

    We spent the weekend at Lake Milford playing in the water!  It was fun to watch everyone go tubing, fishing, knee boarding (or boogy boarding as we grew up calling it), skiing and more.  Thankful for some time together creating memories with our extended family!

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    Grandma and Zachie hanging out on the boat!

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    They are having way too much fun back there on the tube!

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    Karlie tubing with Aunt Megan and Uncle Josh

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    Karlie got up on the knee board again this year! We knew she could do it!

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    Working on getting the rope unlatched so she can hold it on her own!

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    She’s doing it on her own!  Way to go Karlie!

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    Karlie’s first time knee boarding with someone else!  She was so excited to be knee boarding at the same time her Daddy was knee boarding!  A big thanks to my brother for taking these pictures for us of Karlie and Jake because I was on another boat with Brina!

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    Karlie knee boarding with Jake!  She could live in the water she loves everything about it!  So proud of her for doing the knee board by herself.  She said it was a lot of fun, but her arms when her arms got sore she didn’t want to stop she was having so much fun!

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    Megan and Josh on the knee boards!

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    Lee making it look easy!

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    Waving to Nicko and Zachie on the boat!

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    Swinging his way out!

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    Skiing until the sun started to set!  The lake was smooth and beautiful at this time of day!

  • Travel & Vacation: Traveling to Kansas, Jesse James Bank Museum, and Milford Lake

    Travel to Kansas - Jesse James Bank, Lake Trip, Milford, Family

    On board and ready for take off!

    One of the reasons our family travels is because our extended family is so spread out.  This summer we headed out to Kansas to spend time with my family.  We got on the plane early Thursday morning in Greenville, SC and by mid-morning we were in Kansas City ready to go.

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    We had a layover in Chicago!  The kids found it very entertaining to go on the walking sidewalks in the airport.  We didn’t get a chance to visit the actually city of Chicago, but it was good to get out and stretch our legs in the airport for a little bit between flights.  The advantage to the really early flights is the airport is not as crowded!

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    Karlie found a great way to pass the time during our layover….reading!  She was so excited to found out that I had added a bunch of free kids books onto my Kindle!  She is frequently found around the house with her nose in a good book too so this did not come as a surprise.

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    Brina found a good amazing animal website to check out too.

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    After landing in Kansas City and getting our rental car we were off to explore the area.  Our first stop was Wendy’s for an early lunch (we had been up since 4 am).  The second stop was the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty, Missouri.  Not far from the Kansas City MCI airport.

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    Karlie was surprised at the weight of the bank bag!  Wow!

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    Learning about the Jesse James bank robbery.  Banks are very different now!

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    Walking around the historical district of downtown Liberty!

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    Brina walking along the edge of the water fountain!

    Travel to Kansas, Lake Milford, Family

    Riding with their cousin Nicko on the tube!

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    Their faces crack me up!

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    Having a blast tubing on Lake Milford with family!

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    So much fun!

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    Go faster Grandpa!

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    They even let me go on the tube with them!  Fun times with family in Kansas!

  • Travel & Vacation: Visiting Family in Vermont

    Family in Vermont

    Spending time with family in Vermont!

    We had the opportunity to visit family in Vermont this summer!  Jake’s Grandpa Wesley or “PopPop” as the girls call him turned 90 and we were able to celebrate his birthday while we were there.  It was nice seeing Jake’s Mom, grandparents, and his sister’s family while we were in Vermont.

    Family in Vermont

    PopPop with the three girls at the picnic table!

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    Sunning themselves on the rock after going for a swim in the pool!

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    Brina loved Grandma Kay’s chickens!  She thinks we should get some too now, ha!  Midge was very accommodating and allowed the kids to carry her around.

    Family in Vermont

    We made a lean to fort now they are weaving some items.  Always something with this crew.

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    Celebrating PopPop’s 90th Birthday!

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    Nana opening up her singing card!

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    The three girls hanging out with PopPop and Nana!

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    Grandma Kay with three of her granddaughters on July 4th!

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    Happy July 4th from Vermont!

    Family in VermontRunning around by the river!

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    July 4th was a little bit of a raining day, but we still had a lot of fun and managed to squeeze in some time playing down at the river.

    Family in VermontThe three girls putting on a play.

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    These chickens let the girls hold them, which made it even more enjoyable of the kids!

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    Playing the Jelly Belly Bean Boozled Game!  Wonder if Noelle got a good flavor…..nope!

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    Irish enjoying her ham bone!

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    We tried the Vermont Maple Soda for the first time this summer!  The four of us split a bottle.  It was cold and good.  A little sweeter than I expected, but delicious!

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    Splashing around in the cool river on a sunny day!

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    The girls had fun hanging out with cousins at the river!

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    PopPop and Nana relaxing in their chairs!

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    A full table!

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    It was great spending some time with family in Vermont.

  • Jello Jigglers

    The girls had a lot of fun making Jello Jigglers after school to share with their friends who were coming over after dinner.  We had a great time doing this treat together while talking about memories, the girls day at school, and the fun we were anticipating having with our friends that evening.

    I remember making Jello Jigglers when I was a little girl with my Great Grandma Vi so this activity brought back a lot of sweet memories of my Grandma Viola.   It is wonderful being able to carry on this fun tradition with my girls too.

    The girls had a wide variety of shapes and animals from birds, flowers, Mickey Mouse, hearts, bears, rabbits, and more.  They had a blast choosing the cookie cutters and getting this special treat together to share with their friends.  I would say it was a big hit because there were only a couple “jigglers” left by the end of the night.  🙂

  • Travel & Vacation: Snow Days

    Jake walking through the woods with his girls.  This area had changed a lot since we had been there last (besides the snow) there was a clearing were the loggers had been.

    The girls had a grand time exploring the area.  We took several walks that let to the river or other places nearby.   A couple times we stopped to take a break or they got pulled on the sled but for the most part they kept up.  We even built a snowman this year which was a lot of fun.  Little pieces of the snowman (mouth, nose, etc…) started falling off throughout the weekend but he remained standing even as we were getting ready to leave.

    Grandma Kay and Irish leading the way

    The river looks a little chilly! The last time we were in Vermont we were swimming and splashing around in it.

    Daddy and Karlie chatting

     

    Daddy and Karlie working on a snowman

     

    Brina decided she was too cold so she went inside with Grandma and watched from the window

    Karlie being silly!

    Daddy and Karlie by the snowman

  • Family Recipe: Bierocks

    You can pack your bierocks with more meat less bread if you want! I usually do a mix of both (more bread and more meat) so people can choose what they want to eat. This one is a picture of a more bread.

    My Grandma taught me how to make this delicious recipe that is basically a dinner roll stuffed with hamburger, sauerkraut, and cheese called Bierocks (although the first half of the word is pronounced like the word “beer” it does not contain any actual beer).  Even though the combination sounds a little interesting it really tastes amazing!  I am not sure where the recipe actually originated from but I do have family from Czechoslovakia so maybe that area.  I remember as a kid helping my Grandma make this recipe and have great memories of spending time together talking while cooking for the harvest crew.

    Fresh out of the oven and ready to be eaten!

    Every once in awhile I like to make up a big batch of Bierocks so we can eat some right away and the rest I like to stick in the freezer to pull out on those busy days for a quick meal.  I have used a number of different bread recipes to make Bierocks and they all have turned out well.  Today I will share the latest bread version I made earlier this week using Money Saving Mom’s Freezer-Friendly Pizza Dough.  We have made this pizza dough so many times and love it, so we figured why not try using it to make Bierocks!

    Dinners ready…….Bierocks…..come and get it!

    Bierocks:

    • DOUGH
    • 2 cups warm water (105 to 115 degrees F.)
    • 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 2 teaspoons salt
    • 4 Tablespoons oil (vegetable, Canola, or olive oil)
    • 5 cups flour (can use all whole-wheat, half white/half whole-wheat, or all white)

    Pour the warm water into a bowl and sprinkle the yeast over it. Stir to dissolve.

    Add the remaining ingredients and mix.  Put onto a floured surface and knead dough for two to five minutes until smooth and no longer sticky.  Take the kneaded dough and roll out.  

    Note:  I used this recipe but split the dough into thirds, two of the pieces I wrapped and put in the freezer for future pizzas or other recipes and used the remaining third to make the Bierocks.  I love that I get the base to 3 meals out of 1 pizza dough mixture! 🙂

    • FILLING:
    • 2 pounds Ground Beef
    • 1/3 Onion (diced)
    • 2 teaspoons Salt
    • 1 teaspoon Pepper
    • 2 cans Sauerkraut
    • 1 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese (or mixed cheese)

    Brown beef with onion and seasoned with salt and pepper.  Drain any excess oil off the meat.  Mix the sauerkraut into the meat and cook on medium for 2 to 4 minutes until the sauerkraut is mixed well.

    Cut the dough 3 to 6 inch circles (depending on the size you want it to be).   Place 1 ice cream scoop (or 1/4 to 1/2 cup) of meat filling onto each circle.  Sprinkle about a teaspoon of cheese over the top of the meat.   Bring the four corners up over the filling and pinch together to seal on the bottom.  Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Place seam down on greased baking sheets.  Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top of the bierocks.

    Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until the dough starts turning a golden brown color.  You can rub a little bit of butter over the  tops of the bierocks immediately after taking them out of the oven for additional flavor and color if you want.  Makes approximately 24 Bierocks

    You can eat these plain or (my favorite) with a touch of ketchup.  Any leftover Bierocks after eating them for dinner are wrapped individually and put in a freezer ziplock so we can easily pull one, two or more out at a time, stick them in the microwave (or toaster oven) and have a meal ready in minutes.

    Ground hamburger and sauerkraut mixture

    Bierocks stuffed and ready to be baked

    Cheese sprinkled over the top of some of the Bierocks (we like the cheese inside and out but it is optional).  I made some with cheese and some without since we have a family member who cannot have dairy.

    Picture of the Bierocks without cheese!

  • Family Celebrations: Catching Up with Family Over Spring Break

    Cousins Riding Together on the John Deere Gator! Fun Times!

    The girls and I had the opportunity to go visit family over their Spring Break this year.  We had a lot of fun spending time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and more!  It had been a few months since we had been in the Midwest yet I was amazed how much the girls remembered.  They LOVED seeing family and spending time on the farm.  Each night they would crash from their busy schedule but they would be up early the next morning ready to (as Karlie put it so nicely) “Go explore more of Kansas!”

    I am thankful the girls have an opportunity to spend time with my parents and all four Grandpa and Grandma’s on my side of the family.  Each one has a special place in my heart and I am thrilled the girls get to have such wonderful memories of them as well.  It has been a nice adventure full of old and new memories.  It was such a blessing to see so many family members throughout our stay in Kansas!

    Here are just some of the exciting activities we participating in during our stay in Kansas (I hope to have some more pictures to show in a few days):

    • Riding Horses – Brina and Karlie LOVED Sassy
    • Playing with Dogs, Cats and Farm Animals
    • Watching them Work the Calves
    • Easter Egg Hunts
    • Kids 4 Truth Activities
    • Spending Time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins
    • Playing with family and friends
    • Riding the Gator
    • “Hunting” (Brina’s paraphrase) for Corn Cobs for the Horse
    • Coloring Easter Eggs
    • Crafts
    • Seeing Grandpa’s Big “Sprinkler” (Center Pivot)
    • Lots of Pheasants
    • Seeing a Coyote chase the Pheasants
    • Gathering Eggs in Grandpa Verlyn’s Hen House
    • Feeding the Turkeys
    • Homemade Food (including special Waffles)
    • Hot Chocolate
    • Helping Grandpa Russell on the Farm
    • Shooting Uncle Lee & Uncle Josh with Nerf Guns
    • Puzzles
    • The Big Hole
    • The Pet Cemetery
    • Grocery Shopping with Grandma Penny
    • Reading Books with Grandpa Russell & Grandma Penny
    • Planting Flowers
    • Learning More About our Family’s History
    • AND SOOOO MUCH MORE!!!!!!!

    The girls and I had a grand time seeing so many family members and spending time in Kansas.  A big thanks to everyone for a super fun trip!  It is a Spring Break that the girls will be talking about for years.  And yes, they found out that Easter does come to Kansas too!   Although we made a lot of wonderful new memories during our trip the girls are ready to see Daddy again.  Hopefully he is ready for us!

  • Family Recipe: Grandma’s Stuffed Pork Chops

    Jake’s Grandma Marge is a wonderful cook and she has an amazing recipe for pork chops & stuffing.  I am not a huge pork chops fan but these are really delicious.  She is a great cook and the pork chops are awesome.

    Grandma’s Pork Chops & Stuffing:

    • 4 Pork Chops (about 1 lb)
    • 3 cups Bread Crumbs
    • 2 Tablespoon chopped Onion
    • 1/4 cup melted Butter or Margarine
    • 1/4 cup Water
    • 1/4 teaspoon Poultry Seasoning
    • 1 can (10 1/2 oz) condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
    • 1/3 cup Water

    Brown chops on both side, place in a shallow baking dish.  Lightly mix together bread cubes, onion, butter, 1/4 cup water, and poultry seasoning.  Place a mound of stuffing on each pork chop.  Blend soup and 1/3 cup water; pour over.  Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until tender.

    Photo by Dan Perry

  • Family Recipes: Grandma’s Western Meatloaf

    Grandma Willa has an amazing recipe for Meatloaf.  I am so thankful for the many opportunities to spend time cooking with my Grandma’s.  If you are looking for a great meatloaf recipe, you should try it out!  Please note:  this recipe does make a large amount (for several loaf pans).  Adjust the amount if you are wanting to make a smaller amount.  Although, it does freeze well for all of you meatloaf lovers who like to prep meals in advance!

    Grandma’s Western Meatloaf

    Grandma Willa has an amazing recipe for Meatloaf.  If you are looking for a great meatloaf recipe, you should try it out!
    Prep Time30 minutes
    Cook Time1 hour
    Total Time1 hour 30 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Grandma, Meatloaf
    Servings: 20

    Equipment

    • 3 4x9 Loaf Pans

    Ingredients

    Meatloaf

    • 5 lbs Ground Beef
    • 2 1/4 cups Rolled Oats
    • 2 Onions (diced)
    • 3 tsp Salt
    • 3/4 tsp Pepper
    • 3 Eggs
    • 6 slices Bread (broken into fine pieces)

    Sauce

    • 6 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
    • 6 tbsp Vinegar
    • 4 cups Ketchup
    • 1 cup Water
    • 12 tbsp Brown Sugar

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
    • Mix the meatloaf ingredients together in a large bowl.
    • Split into 3 to 4 large loaf pans.
    • Mix the sauce in a bowl, then pour evenly over the loaves.
    • Bake at 350 for one hour or until the meet is cooked throughout.
    • Broil an additional 5 to 10 minutes until the top is carnalized.

    Notes

    This is a large batch meal.  Once the loaves have cooled, they can be removed from the loaf pans and wrapped in foil to be frozen.  To reheat, thaw in refrigerator overnight, then bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
    The refrigerated meatloaf can also be sliced for great meatloaf sandwiches.  Just slice into 3/8 inch slices, serve on white bread with Mayo.
  • Family Recipe: Homemade Egg Noodles

    Grandma Willa makes the best Egg Noodles!  She received this recipe from her Mom, my Great Grandma Joedemann.  If you are wanting some great tasting homemade egg noodles these are amazing.  The ingredients are ones you typically have on hand and it is easy to make.

    Egg Noodles:

    • 4 Eggs
    • 1 1/2 cup Flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon Pepper
    • Optional – dash of garlic salt or caraway seed

    Mix and place on a floured pastry sheet roll out & cut.  You may need a little more flour depending on the moisture of the dough.  The dough should be pretty thick you want it just enough to roll it out.  Use the noodles immediately or let them dry for a few minutes before using with your favorite dish.

    Photo by msufal