Polk County Fair--Here we come!

I know that I haven't written in a while, so it is definitely time for an update. I have plans for more things to write, but for now, we are happy to say that we have bought tickets to come home to MN in the summer! We will be there for most of the month of July. This means (to Yaminah's delight) that we can now say, "Polk County Fair--here we come!" Although Yaminah is excited to go to the fair to go on rides and see animals, etc., I know that she is also excited to come home to see everyone who lives there, family and friends. She talks about her grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and even everyone's pets by name. :)

As for me, I am also looking forward to coming home, as I am sure Tomas is as well. The Fair rides no longer appeal to me (how in the world could Stephanie and I have ever wanted to go on all the scariest rides?! Now even swinging on a swing makes me queasy!), but the hope of seeing friends certainly does. (Not to mention the need for an Oofda Taco :)

If you are interested, the local (very local :) web page is here: http://www.polkcountyfairfertilemn.com/ 

So, for my friends and family back home in frigid Minnesota... hopefully this note finds you well, and helps you look ahead to the hopefully warm and sunny month of July. Although we do not know our plans for the rest of the time, we do know for sure we will be in Fertile for the time of the fair. Will we see you there?

Our little cupcake... new photos!

Last year I was very excited to win a free photo session with photographer Caty Larson at Cloud Nine Photography based out of Fertile, MN (my hometown). Although they are so popular it is often hard to make an appointment, Caty managed to squeeze us in for a session between Christmas and New Year's while at home in MN for Christmas vacation.

Here they are...we love them! Yaminah chose her clothes herself, of course her new dancing skirt she received for Christmas. Our cupcake turns four on January 19. Thanks a million to Cloud Nine Photography !

 

You haven't missed some new recipes, have you?

In case you are keeping up with this blog by e-mail, you will not automatically receive all updates, only letters (posts). Therefore, I want to suggest you check out my other pages as well. For example, I just uploaded a new, delicious, pumpkin pie recipe. It is delicious!

  Here is a link to the recipes page!   http://www.lifeandacupoftea.blogspot.se/p/recipes.html

Fall family photos

The last weekend of September (2013) we were happy that Tomas' brother, Jonny, could come for a visit. We spent the weekend hanging out, and one bonus was that Jonny brought his nice camera (a similar camera is right on top of my list of things to purchase when I get a teaching job!) He graciously agreed to take fall family photos for us, and here I have chosen some favorites to share with you. (Those of you who know me well know that I love love love taking/looking at photos! And I tend to get a tad obsessive about it as well. When it was time for these to be taken, the weather kept changing, causing a lot of yelling "the rain is coming!" and general running around. But in the end it worked out. :)

In these pictures Yaminah is 3 years, 8 months old. No wonder she is looking so grown up... Thanks again, Jonny!

I think this one should be called, "Trust the Stenbacks for all your banking needs." :)

Taken in town with Uppsala's beautiful cathedral in the background