Lookin' for some help here!

Greetings my wonderful friends! I am getting ready to do an Open House next week and need some great fingerfood ideas/recipes.

Help a sista out!

Doing some cookin' in the Tundra,

Sarah

Baby, it's cold outside....

Winter has arrived! In full force! No warning baby! I think it's making up for lost time. Two weeks ago, it was 70, now, I'm so excited that it's all the way up to 4 above that it scares me! Reminds me of the day I saw this in Jamestown, ND and made Sam stop on the side of the Interstate to get a picture:

Yep, you read that right, -196 degrees. Well, it may not have been quite that cold, but pretty darn close! :) Hence, the Frozen Tundra. (Acutally, I started calling this place the Tundra long before I saw that sign!) I mean, seriously, have you ever been here in the winter? I think you should come. Just to say you've done it! How else can you wear those super cute hats, scarves, gloves, coats, long johns, wool socks, sweaters, long sleeves, etc. ALL DAY LONG - looking super cute and stylish?!

But seriously. I will post some pictures later. The trees are so beautiful. You can't beat it when the frost freezes to the trees. This place turns into a magical winter wonderland! We are braving the frigid temps to head out for some family pictures today. I hope it goes well. I think it should be fun! Stay tuned for some sneak peaks!

Well, I don't have much going on these days, well, actually I have a lot going on, that's why I can't keep up with things. I hate to even count how many loads of laundry I finally got around to folding yesterday, but pretty much my life has become dull. I have no more funny stories.

Next up, pies for Thanksgiving....

O happy day in the Tundra,

Sarah

PS. There are A LOT of giveaways and great deals on the Silhouette Machine out there. Just sayin'.

More giveaways....

Sam just laughs at me, actually, it's not really that funny. He just shakes his head and ignores the pity that bubbles up inside for me.... I can't help it. I even sign up for giveaways I don't even care about. How pitiful is that? I think I have a problem.

Hello. My name is Sarah. I'm a giveaway joining addict.

But seriously, it's Silhouette Stuff. Ok, I don't even HAVE a silhouette, but still, what's a girl to do? ;)

Trying to win something in the Tundra,

Sarah

My husbands going to kill me....

I just entered another giveaway.

#1 - just because it is for a CAMERA

#2 - just because it's my anniversary and I deserve something nice from the Pioneer Woman. I mean, after all, I'm probably her biggest fan, what with our love/hate relationship and all!

#3 - and heck, just because I wanted to!

Trying to win something in the Tundra,

Sarah

Date Night

Some really good friends of ours have been telling us over and over that they want to watch Gabe so the we can have a date night and it never really worked out till this past Tuesday! And what a fun date night it was! We were going to go to the opening of an art show in town, but didn't make it because, suprise! we were running late!

So we picked up our Johnny Carino's to-go and headed back home to load on the canoe! It was the perfect fall evening. All day it had been around 80 degrees and what a wonderful way to end up the evening. Didn't get too many pictures, but I am going to invite you along on our date, via video!




It was such a beautiful evening!

And Sam suprised me with a delicious dessert!



This is how it looked when we finished up!

Thanks for the awesome date, Love of my life. Thanks for watching the Gabe man, Mike and Jen.

Eating up every minute of this gorgeous fall in the Tundra,

Sarah

More videos....

My computer uploads these pretty fast, so here are some more from yesterday!

And here is more bath time fun, except Gabe did just like kids do - smiling and laughing and talking and then as soon as the camera goes on.......well...... boring!!!!

And here we have my main squeeze, Sam the Man!!! Today is our Papa's Pumpkin Patch Potluck time-o-fun! So here's my cowboy, all ready and dressed to lead the games and have a blast! How about that - it hasn't even started yet, and you see him here, first!!! By the way, that's our pond in the background, Aunt Gayle. Looking a bit shabby right now but we like it!!!

Well, I'm making a chicken casserole and Mom's Bread pudding. As soon as that comes out, I'll get you the recipe, because I hate bread pudding, but this, why this would even make the Pioneer Woman's heart beat a little faster! (Even though it doesn't call for butter, I'm sure you could throw a bit on the side!!!)

Livin' up the Fall in the Tundra,

Sarah

Just so you know, I made "The Bread" last night. And to tell you the truth, it didn't seem quite so ungodly as I was making it, but then I realized I'd only used half the stick of butter. I worked very hard to find a space for all the butter!!! And somehow I managed to get the whole stick on there! I was a little intimidated by using two sticks of butter last night, so I only made half "The Bread." But I will admit it was GOOD!!!

We got out the other day to get a few more pictures of Erinn. It turned out to be a beautiful day!

I thought I would post a couple of pictures of the family we took photos of a couple weeks ago. These were some of my favorites, not necessarily Sam's. But here you go....

The first set is a combination action shot we took of them on the slide, it was so much fun getting together with these guys to do pictures. Hopefully they loved it as much as we did!

We've got our schedule filling up for more family photos and a couple more seniors. Everyone is trying to squeeze it in before winter - imagine that? I can't imagine why? We are feeling the rush because last Friday, the 17th of SEPTEMBER, yep, it snowed. For like 3 hours straight. I was in complete denial because it just drove me nuts! Sam was out in the Badlands hunting and while it was really cold out there, he got some beautiful pictures....

I can appreciate the picture without remembering that it's still September!!! Anyway, will try to get a good picture of the pond before it freezes over, just for you Aunt Gayle!

And we are coming up on the little man's #1 birthday - so we will try to get some good photos and share his special day with you!

Other than that, stay warm in the rest of the country, enjoy the Fall and we'll keep you posted on what's going on in the Tundra,

Sarah

We might have a slight problem...

First off -

***DISCLAIMER***

Bad quality photo's. Couldn't find Sam's camera which has the right lens...

Ok. Here's my problem. I heard VERY loud banging noises on the floor and so I checked to see what exactly Gabe must have been playing with and what did I find?

Now, where might two D batteries come from? I asked myself the same question. I back tracked through the sun room where Gabe has boat loads of toys laying around and didn't see anything till I walked up the stairs to his room and this is what I found!



Now, if you look closely, you'll see how the battery cover goes on with screws. So. Answer me this? What have we gotten ourselves into? And how did we get such a braniac miracle child who unscrews the backs of toys before the age of 1?!?!

Ahhhh!!!!!!

Trying to stay on top of things in the Tundra,

Sarah

Que the music...

CHORUS
You're the meaning in my life
you're the inspiration.
You bring feeling to my life
you're the inspiration.
Wanna have you near me
I wanna have you hear me sayin':
No one needs you more than I need you.

You know this song??? From Chicago? Well, anyway, the people have spoken. My inspiration is renewed, maybe I WILL keep on blogging!

Although, I did decide that if I am going to keep on blogging, I am going to change some things.

#1 - the font definitely needs to change!!! I hardly liked looking at it myself. I think this is much more pleasant, don't you?

#2 - I will keep my paragraphs smaller.

#3 - I will try to get myself organized enough to put more pictures in. (Stay tuned for "mound of laundry!" - Just kidding. I like y'all better than that!)

#4 - I will try to stop making lists.

#5 - I was just kidding on that last one. It helps me stay organized. This way you MIGHT and I mean MIGHT be able to follow my train of thought!

#6 - I already forgot. See what I mean about making lists.

#7 - Enough about all that - let's get on with some pictures!

Ok, here you go, eat your heart out Pioneer Woman! I might not be able to win your giveaways, but I sure can make your Cinnamon Rolls! Sam says they taste like Cold Stone Creamery - hot. I guess you wouldn't understand if you haven't ever been to Cold Stone Creamery. All I can say is....yummmmmmm!!!!

And of course, for some updated photos of the little Gabe man!

This is Gabe at 10 months. He and I went down to visit Grandpa and Grandma in Virginia while Sam was in the Boundary Waters. So this is Gabe's first "taste" of the salt water! He loved it!

And finally,



This is his 11 month picture, we were at Phelps Mill in Minnesota over Labor Day weekend and I just LOVED the way this picture turned out.

Ok, I have to run, but thanks for hanging in there with me!

Rushing around like crazy in the Tundra,

Sarah

Top 10 lessons learned

I check in with THE Pioneer Woman on a fairly regular basis. For the most part, looking to win a giveaway - I threw that in for my husband! It's not really true, ok, maybe a little! Anyway, she just posted today on the top ten things she's learned about blogging. It inspired me to write about the top 10 things I've learned about blogging.

#1 - Seems a lot easier than it really is.

I mean, seriously.

#2 - It's hard to get readers.

I mean, seriously.

#3 - Who really wants to read your ramblings?

I mean, seriously.

#4 - Technology does NOT cooperate with you.

I mean, seriously.

#5 - It's fun!

Seriously!!!!

#6 - Even if no one reads your blog, but yourself, when you pretend to read back over your entry to "check for grammatical errors," all the while really cracking yourself up!!!

#7 - I'm bad about blogging frequently, but I'm trying to organize my photos to get them uploaded along with my post, because seriously, who wants to read without seeing pictures?

I mean, seriously?!

#8 - I've decided I haven't blogged half enough to learn 10 things!

Speaking from the heart, seriously, in the Tundra,

Sarah

Retro'n it up!

First, I spotted THIS coming out of Hobby Lobby!



Upon closer inspection, I realized...it was MY HUSBAND!!!



Then I remembered, it's Retro Night at WOW! Our last Wednesday night service of the school year and we were suppose to dress like this - (although some might take it to the extreme, SAM!)

So here we are!



Not to go to bed without trying on Daddy's wig!



And I got to try my hand at tie-dying yet again this year - I think this is my masterpiece!!! There you go, A-rick!!!! This one is for you - (the picture, not the shirt! See, patience pays off!)



Stayin' alive, in the Tundra,

Sarah

Updates....

I thought this video was so cute, I especially like watching Sam's face as he's feeding the baby! I find myself doing this several times myself! But Gabe is growing like a weed. He's already grown out of the Bumbo and is now firmly seated in his Booster chair! He loves eating!



Here is a picture of cousins watching their dads play walleyball!



It's getting nicer outside so we can actually get out and enjoy it bit more!

>

And here we have the little Gabe man trying to crawl! I think I've got a couple of videos!





Hope you enjoy! Living it up in the Tundra,

Sarah

One picture down and more to go!

Haven't had a chance to blog much, but here's a 6 month picture!!!

Otherwise, Mom has been here for the last week and a half and Gabe has had a couple of ear infections and now Mom's got a head cold! Will definitely update later with more pictures! Thanks for hanging in there with me!

Playing nurse in the Tundra,

Sarah

More to come!

So sorry for the delay - more to come, soon, just been so swamped...You should see how dirty my house is..... gag!!!

Barely keeping my head above water in the Tundra,

Sarah

Thursday Musings....

Is it Thursday anyway? I thought with the internet at home, I would be better at keeping up with my blog, but I have also been exposed to the thousands and millions of blogs out there and how all of the have a purpose. Mine is kind of like a rambling pointless blob of words, with a sprinkling of pictures every now and then. So I'm looking for a purpose. But in the meantime, you get my blobbly words and picture sprinkles!

By the way, I entered two more giveaways at the Pioneer Woman. I don't know why I keep doing it to myself. Sam says not to get my hopes up, but what's the heck reason to enter a giveaway if I don't have my hopes up?! I'm going there now to see if I won. My guess is that I didn't. I'm working on not getting my hopes up! Sam says that you have to look at your odds... I told him yesterday that my odds were like 1 in 3000...(then I realized I was trying to exagerate and that wasn't enough to exagerate, so I threw in there an extra "hundred!") (But in reality, no exageration, my odds were 6 in 30,000!) Pitiful isn't it? Ok, the winners are still not posted, there is still hope for me!!! See what I mean, while most people are blogging about something important or a how-to for something, I can waste an ENTIRE paragraph on the woes of not winning a giveaway on the Pioneer Woman. I need help!

On to bigger and better things...
This was Tuesday after Sam watched Gabe for me in the morning. I guess it was a rough day!


Let's see if I have another one....


What a cutie patootie!

Well, gotta run...

Keeping busy in the Tundra,

Sarah

It's been forever, feels like....

Who needs a pair of these?



That's right, oh yeah! Can I get an amen? Anyone? Anyone? Oh well.... at least they make me happy just lookin' at 'em. And my boy's got 'em! That's right, feast your eyes folks - the little man is styling it!!! Yesterday, he was sporting his homemade tie-dye onsie, denim overalls and these babies on his feet! My all time favorite outfit - I'll get a full body picture one of these days before he grows out of it, don't you worry!

Here is one more "just for fun" picture that I took yesterday!



Gabe doesn't really look like he knows what's going on, but that's because his old wrinkled up mama was taking a picture from the back of his car seat!

I thought I'd give y'all an encouraging verse that I got via long story... So here it is...

II Samuel 22:20
"He also brought me out into a broad place, he delivered me because He delighted in me." emphasis mine....

Do you ever feel like the Lord DELIGHTS in you? Or do you feel like He's only out to get you and make your life as miserable as possible? Or maybe you just feel like He's there...somewhere. And you are here, right now. And as my great grandmother would say..."never the twain shall meet." Well, I just want to give you a bit of encouragement. The Lord does delight in you. He does. I promise. He not only tolerates you, He not only likes you, but He DELIGHTS in you! What do you delight in? I mean what really makes you feel pure joy? (I'm pretty sure Sam's answer to that would be Starbucks!) But I'm not talking about Starbucks... I'm talking about what makes you feel like all is right with the world - what DELIGHTS you? I am here to tell you that the Lord DELIGHTS in YOU! How awesome is that? So when you are feeling confused, alone, worn out, used up and good for nothing, remember that God has rescued you and delivered you because He DELIGHTS in you!

Whew... that felt good. I feel like I can breathe a little easier. Not to get that off my chest, but just to remind myself that there is so much in this world working against you but Romans promises us that "...If God is for us, who can be against us?" (8:31) You've already won the victory - just remember it and live in the freedom that He offers...

Thank you for that moment on my soapbox. Do you have any verses or experiences lately that really have encouraged you? I think we need to share them with one another since you never know what someone else may be going through... Share your story with me! I'd love to post them to share with others!

Kind of chilly in the Tundra,

Sarah

PS. I was telling my dad this story, but thought it was kind of ironic and thought I'd share it with you. The other day, they were giving the weather report on the radio - "it's 14 right now with a windchill of 4 above... In other news the Polar Patch is going on today, so get on over there and enjoy this weather!" (The Polar Patch is an outdoor winter playland.)

Weekend Adventures...

Good Monday morning to you all!

Well, we had a great weekend. We went to Fargo to celebrate Ruth and Ethan's birthdays. We started off on Friday night with a Mystery Dinner....



We had such a good time. Then on Saturday, we started off doing a little bit of swimming and then off to this beautiful park for cross country skiing and riding a horse drawn sleigh!!!! It was so magical - except the part where Gabe was so dang tired that he was screaming his head off the whole sleigh ride, but don't you worry, as we were pulling up from our ride, he fell fast asleep! (Isn't that just like kids, no appreciation for any of it!)









Then for our Sunday afternoon adventure... First of all, who can find the horizon line?





Here's a little action on the road....


Ummm.....

Sam, don't you think that is a LITTLE too fast, considering we can't see the road???

Oh well, at least I'm here to tell you that we made it through safely! We got to the Dwyers for the Superbowl party and we're are safe and secure at home now! I hope all of y'all had a great Superbowl Sunday! I'll see if I can drum up some more interesting adventures!

Livin' it up in the Tundra!

Sarah

I had a catchy title but Sam couldn't remember it for me! :(

Welcome to our Saturday adventure!

Well, last night Sam had an overnight with the Jr. Highers and so today, we took it a little easy... We went ice fishing....

****Caution, lots of videos today******


Isn't that lots of interesting information?

Do you want to know if we caught any fish? Let's ask!



>



I'm very disappointed at today's post. I had the best of intentions, but after working on it for a VERY long time, frankly, I'm sick of it taking so long, so here's what you get!

Tired in the Tundra,

Sarah

Clean Refrigerators....

Bet that title caught you a little off guard! I just posted an older post, I had typed it a couple days ago and was having a hard time uploading the videos but I think that's done now. Now I have a couple pictures for you!



Here are my two favorite guys!!!

And for today - this is what I have been up to! For many of you who know anything about me, you'll know how much I LOVE pictures of people! I thrive on them. In fact, we just got a Digital Frame for Christmas and Sam was uploading a bunch of pictures to it, and he says, "How's that, I put half landscapes and half people!" Because he knows how much I love looking at pictures of people. So anyway, every year, I clean off my fridge and restock with the new year's pictures! I love seeing faces up all year round. I pray for you and think about you. And I just love the constant reminder! The only thing is that starting this year, we'll be having little hands reaching up all over the fridge, but not to worry, it turns out we didn't get as many Christmas cards this year so it's all good!

Ewww, yuck!



Ahh, much better....



Keeping it real in the Tundra,

Sarah

Ha!

I knew it, you are all getting up early on Saturday morning to see what crazy stunts the Colemans have been up to today!!! Caught ya! Yeah, you know I'm talking to you!

Well, he's the short and skinny of it - I worked this morning and then Sam took off for a ski weekend in Red Lodge, MT with the Student Leadership Team and the Gabe man and I hung out with Grandma Ruth! I don't really have too many pictures for you - actually none. I did take a bit of a video of Gabe in the bath, but shouldn't really post that till I figure out how to edit it if you know what I mean! So in the mean time. I'm going to get ready for bed. The Gabe man went down a half hour or so ago - no crying, just laid him down and he just looked around and laid his sweet head down and snooooooooooozing away!!!!

But.....

Sam and I just got around to ordering Gabe's birth announcement cards - better late than never! :) So I get to go and pick them up tomorrow, but I don't know how many I'll be able to get in the mail, so I'm going to give you a sneak peek! I'm pretty cool that way! So here you go - and a very happy weekend to you all!!!!



Livin' it up in the warm and balmy Tundra,

Sarah