Mother's Day 2015 .:. Dear Mom

Dear Mom,

Your day is here. Well, one of them anyway. Today is the day we celebrate all moms and today I especially want to celebrate you.

Throughout the years, we've experienced different types of relationships. I remember getting off of the bus after school and being so excited that I didn't have to go to daycare anymore. You were home and you were consistent.

As I grew into a teenager, I realized how mean you were. I couldn't go online whenever I wanted. When I tried, you grounded me. I couldn't have a MySpace account and then you made me delete my Facebook account. You made me clean my room! *UGH*

But then, at the same time, I'd be invited out with friends (to activities I didn't want to go to) and you had my back. Playing the game of, "Mom, can I go?" while shaking my head. Always followed by you saying, "Sorry, we've got plans that night." You saved me from many nights of small talk and activities that I desperately tried to avoid.

After my first year of college, I moved home for the summer. Lo and behold! I had a curfew. I couldn't believe it! WHY WOULD I HAVE A CURFEW? As an "adult", I was appalled.

Did you have any idea that the summer between my freshman and sophomore years would be my last summer at home? I didn't.

I'm not sure what happened, but after that summer we became closer. I remember coming home almost every weekend that first fall semester I was at UND. Part of that was because I didn't have any friends at school yet. But the other part of it is that I wanted to spend time with my family.

And even since then, our relationship has continued to grow. Yes, I do know you're my mother. I am reminded of that every time I leave your house to come back to mine. Especially when you remind me to "text when [I] get home safe!" But you're not just my mom, anymore. You've become a friend.

But here's the thing. You've shown me so many things throughout the years.

You've shown me how to cook. It may have started out with scrambled eggs and Kraft Mac'n'Cheese, but it's evolved into one of my favorite hobbies.

You showed me how to love other people. I watched you love your kids. When you disciplined us growing up, I just thought it was you being mean. Now I see that it was you training us to become the successful, independent adults we've become.

You've shown me how to love a spouse. I've watched you love Dad. Through jobs, many Craigslist purchases, & some tough times--you've shown me how to be a loving, supportive wife. I pray that I can learn to be as good of a wife to my husband, that you've been to yours.

Most importantly, you've shown me how to be a Godly woman. You lead by example and I admire you for that.

Mom, thank you for being the woman and mother you are and have been. I look up to you every day and I pray that God would bless me with your qualities, your consistency, and your love. And one day, I pray that I can practice everything you've modeled for me, to my children.

I love you, Mom.

{Five on Friday} What I'm looking forward to...

...this weekend.

I'm looking forward to only a handful of things. That's why I decided to have my Five on Friday not be things that I'm currently loving...but things I'm looking forward to.

[one]

We are having friends over to our house tomorrow. For dinner. A turkey dinner. And yes, I do know it's not Thanksgiving or Christmas. I'm thinking about making this one?

Or maybe this one

Or possibly even this one

minus the excessive greenery

Help a girl out...which one? I'll make gravy and twice backed mashed potatoes, if that sways your decision at all.

[two]

I'm really looking forward to spending some quality time with these Friends. (see what I did there?)

[three]

In addition to friends, I'm planning to spend all of Sunday at my kitchen table (maybe the futon in the basement) with my grading spread out in front of me. I will.be.caught.up. no ifs, ands, or buts, about it. Hold me to that?

[four]

I think I'm going to start saving up for my next tattoo. So I'll start planning that out so that I can make that happen in the near-ish future. (hint: it's gonna be a family affair!)

[five]

Last, but certainly not least, I'm planning to spend some quality time with this guy:

What are your plans for the weekend? 

Since it's Friday, I'm linking up over at:

A. Liz Adventures

Hello! Happiness

The Good Life

North Carolina Charm

It's Friday and all I want to do...

...is think about food. Like seriously.

Kyle has rehearsal tonight and then we're having a guest over that we're hosting for tomorrow night's concert. So that means dinner needs to wait til they get home.

And I'm super excited to try this pizza recipe. I'm also making a standard pepperoni pizza in case our guest isn't a fan of non-traditional 'zas. (that's short for pizzas...)

So I thought that since I'm waiting, waiting, waiting to eat until my main squeeze gets home...I'd share our belated Valentine's Date.

the menu:
New York Strips
Garlic Mashed potatoes
Stuffed Artichokes
Strawberry cheesecake cupcakes

*I've never cooked artichokes before

*We've found our new fav dry rub!

*Excited for dinner*

*Kyle brought me flowers at work!

We had a great dinner together and I'm looking forward to another good one tonight. 

Happy Friday! And if you're in the upper Midwest--stay warm!

So this is happening.

Here's what's going down. I've decided that I'm going to read more this year.

However, I may have bitten off more than I can chew for January. I'm currently reading these two books:

and

And in case you've forgotten...book club starts up this month! Wahoo!! We've already got a few people joining in. Please join us too!

That being said--our book this month is:

At this rate, I'm going to be more well-read than I've been in years! Here's the thing. I love to read--I always have. And I attribute that love of reading to my dad. Sure, my mom liked to read too--but it was my dad who I saw sitting in his chair in the living room reading as many Tom Clancy novels and Louis L'Amour books as he could get his hands on.

If you feel so inclined, take a look at my Goodreads profile. It'll show you what I'm reading currently, what I've already read, what I hope to read, and where I'm at in my yearly reading goal. *It's 24 books, by the way.*

Now off you go...read some Night.

A house, you say?

You may recall reading this post and possibly this too. Well, I can officially say that we

OWN A HOUSE!

I know, I know...Kyle is shaking his head right now saying, "Well, technically the bank owns it because of our mortgage and we'll be making payments on that." That's true. BUT! We do have a house, we have the keys and we have a place to call our own.

One day I'll write the whole saga of our house hunting horrors (alliteration, anyone?). And in reality, it wasn't that bad. We didn't start out on the right foot, so that was a bit of a let down for us. Once we found the realtor, the house, and the lender, everything fell into place and happened extremely fast. Praise the Lord for some fabulous people to work with.

*More on our realtor and our banker later. But if you need someone...seriously...look them up.*
*Read about our awesome realtor here*

We put in an offer at the beginning of November and we closed December 15. Everything was super condensed and we wouldn't have been able to do it without support. Our parents play a huge role in our lives and we are so thankful for them. 

*Again, more about that later*

All of this to say, again, that we own a house. Our very own house that we hope to soon call a home. So, if you're in our neck of the woods this Saturday (from 11-2ish)...please stop by and say "Hi!" and maybe carry in a box or two. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving...

I figured that with Thanksgiving being just hours away, I should join with the masses and talk about what I'm thankful for.

Here's a very condensed list of what I'm thankful for:

family
a job
a home
friends
Jesus
Aubrey
food
a car
gas in my car
money to buy gifts for people
snow
sunshine
opportunity


Now that I've got "the list" out of the way, here's the thing... I'm so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of two wonderful families.

Munters 2014

 Kyle & nephew 2013

 me & nephew 2014

niece & me 2014

#k2getshitched2013 

Eric, Amanda, Kyle, & me July 2014

After sharing all of these photos, I just am struck with how blessed we are. Both sets of parents are so supportive and loving. They spoil each and every one of their children (and in-laws). We seriously have the best siblings ever. Older and younger siblings alike are some of our best friends. If ya'll are reading this...we don't see some of you often enough, but we really do appreciate and love all of you. We've got the best niece & nephew ever (and one more on the way)! We LOVE being aunt and uncle to you. All-in-all, we love each and every one of you. And if we ever forget to tell you, don't hesitate to remind us.

Happy Thanksgiving and we love you all!

Christmas is on the way...

I know what you're thinking. "Kelly, your recent posts told me it was hunting this weekend. Plus, it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Why are you thinking about Christmas?"

Well, you see, Fosston had their first accumulating snowfall this weekend. What a better time to take photos for a Christmas card?

So, we had a mini photo shoot. Oh...and I'll add some weekend photos too.

Here are some photos that didn't quite make it onto 

our Christmas cards.

*Silly dog, now I've got a tail?*

A Weekend Recap: Photos

Entzel Fall Break 2014: North Shore