Hello! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I sure did, and not just because my boyfriend is the best gift giver around. Matt and I exchanged gifts on Monday night, and on Tuesday morning I said goodbye (yes, I really did) to my new dutch oven and we headed south to Iowa. Our days were filled with plenty of good food, many winter beers, chilly hikes around the farm, and several episodes of Real Housewives and Jeopardy. On Christmas morning my brother and sister-in-law showed up with my cat-niece and soon-to-be human nephew, and we opened presents and enjoyed a delicious Christmas dinner, even after my mom realized that she had been given a pork tenderloin instead of the beef tenderloin that she’d ordered. A few choice words were said, but at the end of the day aioli tastes good on pork just as it does on beef, and a praline cheesecake makes everything better.
The day after Christmas was spent catching up on the dramatic events of Orange County Choppers, eating even more food, drinking a few too many winter beers, watching the Packers win, putting on a bridesmaid dress fashion show, and eventually entering a food coma that could only be dealt with by laying on my bed and groaning. Once Monday rolled around we had to escape from the irresistible Christmas leftovers, so we headed to Wisconsin for a couple of days with Matt’s parents where we opened more presents, visited the Milwaukee Art Museum, and watched Iowa down Mizzou. It was an awesome week that I wish didn’t have to end, but I’m also super excited to start trying out all of the fun new things I have for my kitchen.
Pretty Christmas tree + pretty snow
Stockings
Christmas Eve hike around the snowy farm
Following the deer path through the prairie grass
Into the woods
We made a quick stop at a pop machine in a trailer park on the way home from Christmas Eve mass. Just for kicks.
I baked a loaf of stollen for my dad for Christmas morning – one of his favorite things that my grandma used to make.
The kids after opening gifts. I’m pretty sure my dad was making fart noises in the background.
The parents
Obi was not overly impressed with her new hat.
Cat discovers the hungry opossum
Pink nosed possum
David the gnome + me + my sweet new calculator watch from my sweet boyfriend
Christmas dessert made by yours truly: pecan praline cheesecake
Late night family Christmas photo
Fresh deer leg
Also known as a midday snack
Walking on ice
Shortly before Kyle carved out a part of the male anatomy in the snow on the pond
Hoar frost (not to be confused with whore frost, Caryn)
Leaving the farm behind for Wisconsin
Milwaukee Art Museum
Hi
Hi
Awesome space filled with giant table and chairs
Buttons + glue. I can’t imagine how long this took to make.
On our way back up north we made a stop at the Mousehouse Cheesehaus in Madison for fresh cheese curds. My life is complete.
Kyle, that is amazing hair. Just amazing.