J Dub meets P Dub

Are any of you fans of The Pioneer Woman?? If you don't know who I am talking about you need to go check out her site. She is amazing. UH-MAZE-ING. Her blog covers a range of things including photography, home and garden, confessions and of course cooking. I have made quite a few of her recipes and they have all been fantastic. I love the fresh corn with wild rice casserole, crash hot potatoes, french breakfast puffs and my husband loves the apple dumplings. Ok, everyone loves the apple dumplings! Oh my goodness.. I could go on and on about her food!
So when I learned that she was coming out with a cookbook I was elated. I was even more excited to hear that she would be doing a book tour. I made plans with a friend to go to her signing that took place on Saturday. Now, my friend Becca went to her signing at the Mall of America and waited in line for five hours. Five hours! I'm telling you, P-Dub is one popular woman! This is where my wonderful husband comes in.
He wanted to give me her cookbook as a birthday present but wasn't able to get it before my birthday. No problem, we could just pick it up at the signing. Well, not only was he going to get me the book but he woke up early and went to the bookstore to stand in line for me so I wouldn't have to wait so long. The signing started at 11:00am and he was there by about 8:30am. When he got there he sent me a text saying "I'm here. I feel really awkward. It's all middle aged white women and they are looking at me like what the heck are you doing here." He is so sweet :) I didn't think he would need to do it but I am very glad he did. The line was LONG, so long I couldn't see it's end.

Thanks to my man we were right at the front of the line. This sign was posted to the window of the bookstore telling all who passed by that Pioneer Woman would be there signing her book. And we were there for it!

With our books in hand and the excitement building!

I had Charles with me and he had been perfect the whole morning. He slept through the majority of his first train ride into the city and had woken up as we waited in line and charmed everyone around us with his cuteness. He started to fuss a little as we got closer but I had a bottle with me so that kept him happy. It was almost our turn! What was I going to say to her? I was trying to juggle a baby, bottle, stroller, book and camera all at once. Luckily Kimberly was with me to help out otherwise I could have become flustered. HA.

Pioneer Woman was so sweet. And so pretty! She signed my book, took a picture with me and my fussy baby, said he was adorable (he is) and graciously accepted Chris's gratitude for her apple dumplings.

It was perfect. I only wish I could have sat down with her and talk for a few hours. It went by too fast!

We didn't get a chance to become friends..

Thank you Christopher for waking up early and standing in line for me. I love you.
Thank you Pioneer Woman for signing my book. For the yummy food and loads of butter. For stories of your life on the ranch with Marlboro Man and the Punks. And basset hounds. It was a pleasure to meet you.