Kyle and the boys came home on Monday from a long weekend in Canada.  They returned with Coffee Crisps, Aero Bars, a promotional travel folding stool, and our 11-year-old niece.  Our niece stayed with us for the week and I spent most of it trying to convince her to live here permanently (“No one will notice because your last name is already Kosior”), but it turned out her parents wanted her back; so, on Friday, my sister-in-law drove down with my other two nieces (who also couldn’t be convinced to live here but I blame that on the fact that they only packed one bathing suit) to spend a couple of days in Grand Forks before returning from whence they came.

Although their visit was brief, it was fantastic.  For one, my 14-year-old niece taught me how to use Snapchat, which has been beneficial because now I can share my daily photos of bric-a-brac with someone other than Kyle, who will have to practice feigning interest elsewhere.  For another, my sister-in-law and I got to catch up on sister-in-law stuff such as, “Do my legs look too cellulite-y in this” and “What’s your egg bake recipe and can I make it without eggs and/or baking.”

Kyle and I also got to experience 72 hours of enchantment thanks to our 8-year-old niece, who looks like, sounds like, and has the personality of a Christmas elf.  I show my love with food, and so here are three food-related stories from our recent time together:

1.

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law live on the family farm right outside of the village of Fillmore, Saskatchewan, population 311 according to Google (although that number sounds really high).  The Kosiors moved to the farm ten years ago, meaning my niece has never lived anywhere else – and, as such, has apparently never experienced the majesty of food delivery.

After my 11-year-old niece made an inexhaustive list of the American restaurants she has never visited (Taco Bell!  Chick-fil-A!  Starbucks!), we made the decision to order from The Pizza Delivery Experts™, Domino’s.

“How will they know how to find us?”  Canadian Eight asked Kyle.

“I gave them our address,” Kyle said.

“We’d better wait outside, just in case,” Canadian Eight told Kyle.

They sat on the front steps for half an hour.  When the Domino’s delivery guy pulled up, Canadian Eight refused to engage in the hand off, instead standing basically on top of Kyle without saying a word.  After the exchange was made, Canadian Eight ran inside.

“MOM!”  She shouted.  “In America, they bring the pizza RIGHT TO THE HOUSE!”

2.

This is not to say that Canadian Eight was all that impressed with the U.S. in general.  Kyle took her to the gas station for ice – since he doesn’t have his backyard rink in the summer, he bought an ice cream maker to give him something else cold to obsess over – and offered to get her a treat.  He pointed out a number of sugary delicacies, like a toilet bowl filled with gumballs, until Canadian Eight put her little hands on her hips and said,

“Uncle Kyle, just because you HAVE everything in America doesn’t mean I NEED everything.”

3.

Canadian Eight and my own 8-year-old were playing in the backyard when Canadian Eight announced she was hungry.

“Come with me,” American Eight said.  “I’m going to make you my specialty.”

I followed them inside to ensure American Eight’s specialty didn’t involve burners, gasoline, or a toilet bowl filled with sugar.

“I’m going to make you pancakes,” he said, reaching into the freezer.  He pulled out a box of frozen Eggo waffles.

“Those are waffles,” Canadian Eight said.

American Eight blinked twice – once to realize he misspoke, and once to lean in.

“In America, we call them pancakes,” he said.

“It says ‘Waffles’ on the side of the box,” Canadian Eight said.

“That’s wrong,” American Eight said.  He put four waffles in the toaster.

“I’ve had Eggo waffles before,” Canadian Eight said.

“You’ve never had them American Style,” American Eight told her.

“Well, maybe I have,” she said.

“Probably not, though,” American Eight said.

The pancakes waffles popped.  He put them on a plate and began to slather them with butter.

“This is American Style,” he said.

“That’s everyone’s style,” Canadian Eight said.  “Everyone has eaten waffles, and everyone eats them with butter.  EVERYONE does that.”

American Eight blinked two more times.

“Have you ever had them with chocolate chips?”  He asked.

Canadian Eight thought for a moment.

“I’m not sure,” she said.  “I’ve had chocolate chip pancakes.  I’ve probably had them on waffles.”

“We’ll put chocolate chips on them,” said American Eight.  “THAT’S American Style.”

“Ohh-kaayyy,” Canadian Eight said, sticking chocolate chips into the waffle divots.

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The photo above is of my 11-year-old niece and 12-year-old son, back when they were about four and five, respectively. Their relationship is not that different.

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This week on North Dakota Today, we talked Vikings and the Fargo Police.  Check it out! (North Dakota Today)

What time is it?  It’s STATE FAIR TIME.  Click here for details. (Facebook) (ND State Fair)

This is such a fantastic program – a family in West Fargo raised money for their adoption through an organization that connects funds to acts of service. (Fargo Forum)

No one has lived full-time in Blabon since 1997, but it doesn’t mean it isn’t a community. (Grand Forks Herald)

Tuttle’s Steven and Weston Weisenburger spent 20 years chasing gold at the ND Governor’s Walleye Cup – and, last weekend, they won it with 42.22 lbs of walleye. (Bismarck Tribune)

Bismarck’s Ty Olson is thirteen years old and already a veteran race car driver. (KFYR TV)

This is nice news that happened TO North Dakotans: A performer named Jelly Roll left the North Dakota State Fair and headed out to the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch after receiving an invitation via Twitter. (Hot 975 FM)

If you find yourself homesick in Nashville, look no further than “Wynot.” (Minot Daily News)

Fargo’s Alex Lattergrass is mowing lawns for free for Fargo’s first responders and active military. (Valley News Live)

Speaking of the Fargo first responders: Make a wish, help the Fargo Police Department. (Valley News Live)

In “I’m jealous” news, a group of teachers got to participate in a fossil dig. (KX Net)

I recently told my mom that I think people are a little disappointed when they meet me in relation to North Dakota Nice and I’m not that great (as a reminder, I started my website because OTHER people are nice). Here’s a fact about my mom: she thinks I’m a sparkly magical unicorn. Here’s another fact about my mom: she’s an author and motivational speaker. So, she sent me what I’d say is my rose-colored origin story to prove to me that I’m A-OK. Enjoy. (North Dakota Nice)

As a reminder, I’ll be appearing on North Dakota Today on Monday mornings. Tune in, and send me the people and stories that make you go, “Oh, for nice” (and if you have already sent me stories – THANK YOU!).

ALSO as a reminder, Kyle now has a North Dakota hockey podcast on Pulltab Sports. It’s called “North Dakota After Dark” and he hosts it with our friends Kelly and Corey. It’s pretty dumb, pretty funny, and I said, “KYLE, you can’t say that” at least 3x when they were recording…so be warned. Episode 2 is about North Korea. Click here to listen.

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