Paczki, Birthdays, and a Shower

It was time for our annual paczki making day with Lent arriving next week. My dad and Chris came to Minnesota this weekend to celebrate Lauryn and Soren's birthdays, so we were able to wrap both events into one day. Paczki are a fried Polish doughnut. My mom used to make them from scratch and then have everyone over to our house before Lent for a Paczki party. I can vividly remember the amazing aroma that would be coming from the kitchen after my mom would pick me up from school. It was so hard not to sneak a doughnut early. Then that night we had family and friends over for cards, doughnuts, polkas, and visiting. It makes it very special to me that we continue my mom's tradition.
We began with all the bakers in the kitchen. After making the dough, we had to let it rise for a few hours before beating it down and repeating the process.

While the dough was rising, Kelsey and I snuck away to Diane's wedding shower. It was good to put faces with names that I have heard about and get to know some of Diane's family. There was good food, good company, and many really nice gifts for Natey and Diane. It makes the wedding seem that much closer!
Next, we headed back to my brother's. We missed the frying of the dough, but definitely not the taste testing! They turned out better this year than any previous year we have made them. All of our practice is paying off!


We also celebrated our niece, Lauryn's, and nephew, Soren's, 7th birthdays. They opened presents and we had cake and ice cream. Although, our bellies were pretty full from the paczki, we made room :)



I have not seen my dad since Christmas, so I was very anxious to spend time with both he and Chris. We talk on the phone a lot, but it is just not the same as being together. The day seemed to fly by so quickly and we were headed back home before we knew it. The exciting thing is that I will be seeing them again soon because Baby Skala is due in 2 weeks.