Raspberry Chocolate Torte

Made with fresh, hand picked raspberries.

It was fabulous!

it was pretty easy to make :)
do you know how much I love to bake?

Bible Camp

Last Sunday we dropped Ethan off at Bible camp. What an emotional experience that was...for ME! I started tearing up as soon as we pulled in. The counselors were so nice and excited for the campers arriving. I was so impressed by the organization and just the overall set up of the entire camp. Ethan had an amazing time and can't wait to go back next year...for FIVE days!!! What ever will I do? This year was 2 days...and next year...5 days!?!? Wah! My baby is growing up way too quickly! One of Ethan's least favorite part of camp was the polar bear swim at 7am. He learned the "cubby call" and can sing it with our neighbor...who is a grown man, apparently he went to the same camp as a boy...how cool is that?!?! So...although I'm sad to see him grow up, I know this is the way of the Lord and I just need to trust Him.

Ethan walking with a counselor to his cabin.

Look how happy he was!!!

Here he is, cabin 11

He was the first to arrive so he got first pick of his bunk :)

His cabin building.

Have fun Ethan...so you in a few days...

Saying good-bye to his roomies :)
Scott (his counselor) and Ethan

Group shot of his roomies.
*notice my kid is the only one still in PJ's at the closing ceremonies...apparently he over slept and had no time to change...hmmmm...

Mmmm...

Last week the boys and I were able to pick our first zucchini from our garden.

We picked 2. We kept one and we shared one with a friend.

We pan fried ours in Tempura for supper one night and the next day we just snacked on them raw. They were so yummy. We have about 5 more growing. We have 4 cucumbers rapidly growing, some pumpkins and our tomatoes are finally turning red!

This garden makes me heart smile and so do these boys:)

Stayed tuned for updates on the cucumbers, pumpkins and tomatoes :)

Happy birthday Ella Grace

Today is my sweet Ella Grace's birthday.

She is 3. She brings me great joy.

I love her and most importantly she LOVES me.

Happy birthday Ella Bella!!!

she how much she loves me :)

Strawberry fields...

were COLD! The boys and I went strawberry picking at 7am this morning and it was 46 degrees...IN JULY!!! We picked 2 buckets full and decided that frozen fingers weren't fun. We stopped for coffee and hot cocoa on the way home. I love making memories with my boys.

and with all those strawberries I made Strawberry Cream Cheese Muffins...

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Ingredients: 2 cups flour

3/4 cup sugar

3 tablespoons sugar (for coating the cream cheese)

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

6 tablespoons cold butter cut into small pieces1 cup chopped strawberries (I used fresh. I would think frozen would work if they were thawed and drained)

3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons buttermilk

1 egg

4 ounces cream cheese cut into 36 cubes

12 paper muffin pan liners

Line a 12-cup muffin pan with papers then spray lined pan lightly with non-stick spray.

Stir together flour, 3/4 cup sugar,baking powder, baking soda.

Cut in butter with pastry blender until mixture is crumbly.

Stir in chopped berries.

In separate bowl, whisk together buttermilk and egg.

Gently stir buttermilk mixture into flour mixture until just combined.

Divide batter evenly among 12 muffin cups.

Place 2 tablespoons of sugar in a small dish and dip each cube of cream cheese to coat.

Press 3 cheese cubes into center of each muffin, but do not fully submerge the cheese, the top of the cubes should be visible.

Sprinkle remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly over tops of muffins.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown (toothpick inserted into doughy part should come out clean - do not insert toothpick into cheese).

Cool muffins in pan for 10 minutes before removing.

Store leftovers in refrigerator.
*I doubled the recipe and it made 3 dozen*
(recipe courtesy of Sarah Thacker)

watching our garden grow...bigger and bigger...

You might recall the post in May where we started our wee little garden...and then a month later it had really grown...well look at it now...

lots of tomatoes

Anniversary roses

Steven had these beautiful roses delivered to my work for our anniversary 13 days ago from Wild Rose Florist and they are still alive and just gorgeous, and they smell oh so pretty!

Thanks babe!

4th of July weekend!

The 4th of July is my favorite holiday, well except for my birthday...and this year we had an amazing 4th of July weekend complete with family, friends, food and our freedom!

We are so blessed :)
Friday night we went to a Redhawks baseball game.

Madi and Ethan-BFF's :)

11 of the 15 of us that went. The NessNest :) the kids :) Steven and Abram
Saturday, the 4th we went to a parade and to my parents house.

Abram waiting for the parade to start. Delvin and Ethan waiting. Abram got soaked by the Legacy Builders My boys :) at grandma's house...
I love us :)

Steven and his boys!
Him and I
The NessNest :)
my blue eyed boy!
Sunday was spent on Silver Lake with friends :)

Abram tubin'...all by himself!

and Ethan...
us :)
and me...
and Steven... and this is how it all ended...perfectly!