8 Months and a Happy Thanksgiving

Over Thanksgiving, this baby girl had her 8 month birthday. She's just so darn cute. (Mom, I may or may not have stole a couple of pictures from you. Meaning, I stole these two pictures. Thanks.)

She is also the same size as her just over 2 month old cousin. She weighed in at 14 lbs 7 oz. Just 2 lbs heavier that little Luke(probably not anymore though). 25in tall. But there is TONS of happiness and so many smiles in that tiny little package.

We had a chance to hike Crown Butte after we ate WAY too much. 

It was so much fun! Rogan was pretty tired by the time we were done. OK, he was pretty tired before we got to the top. He said next time maybe he would not go with us. But he does like looking at the pictures.

What a view! I forgot what an awesome view it is from up there. What a gorgeous place.

Look! There is no sign of civilization to be seen. If you can ignore the wind it is such a peaceful place.

And the clouds! (hi Jibsons!)

I just can't get over what a pretty place this is.

a little bit of everything

Rogan replanted my aloe vera plant. By replanted I mean I killed it and am trying to save it. Notice his farming boots. His ultimate goal in life is to one day have a farm with all kinds of animals, most importantly pigs. And monster trucks.

 Kya gets a kick out of Rogan. She loves talking to him.

 And laughing with him.

And feeling him.

 But sometimes she wonders what the heck he's talking about. We all do. He's a funny boy.

 And just for fun I took a picture of the moon last night.

just because

comparing baby photos:

me at the girls age (4months):

 the girl at the girls age (4months):

Hey! She kinda looks like me!

why we live here

How many people can go out in their yard in the morning and see this?

Yes, that is a moose.

We havn't had moose in our yard since we moved from the mountain into "town". Up there we were spoiled. There was a big HUGE mama moose and her twin babies. They came literally right up to our house every night and we could sit out on the deck and watch them.

Its pretty awesome to have such a big, powerful animal right in your backyard.

OK, maybe this one wasnt "in" our yard (sorry for the grainy pic). But it was pretty darn close.

Fun in the Sun

 Spring is here for the week!

We had so much fun outside today. 

Running through sprinklers

Watering trees

Washing dump trucks

Digging trenches

Chase with Darth

Ice cold fruit smoothies

And lets not forget playing with our curly haired girl!

pumkins, pumpkins, everywhere

more mountain fun (?)

We (he) spread some top soil.

Planted some trees.

Played in the dirt.

Took down yet another trophy.

Packed it out. 

In the rain and mud.

Still hurting.
But let me tell you about this hike.
We got tired. Very tired.
Then on one of the last steep, tiring hills, my husband started quoting Homer Simpson.
"No I can't. Yes you can. No I can't. Yes you can. Oh shut up. No you shut up."

He's funny.
I'm not sure I would have made it out without him.
(I know I wouldn't have. I would have gotten lost.)

More meat to freeze.

Trying to keep our newly planted trees alive.

Laughed at sisters blog about summer meeting fall. Snow in the mountains.

We are the mountains. 

Summer meets winter in the mountains.

Snowed all day yesterday.

And all night.

Rogan loves the snow.

 
Woke up this morning to about 6 inches.
Time to dig out winter clothes.

Party

Last week was the Mountain Mans birthday. 

Last week I made cheesecake.

You should try it.

Last week we also hauled top soil.

Lots of top soil.

11 or 12 hours worth of top soil.

The boy thoroughly enjoyed it.

The boy is still thoroughly enjoying it.

He made it into pie.

In his boot.

Dirt and Rogan are best friends.

Some Sort of Cheesecake: 

 Disclaimer: I combined a couple of recipes and came up with this concoction. I in no way take credit for this recipe.

Crust

about 1 cup graham cracker crumbs

3 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp butter, melted

zest of 1 lemon

Mix crust ingredients and smash into springform pan (just the bottom) (first wrap the outside of the pan in a couple layers of foil)

Bake the crust on 350*until beginning to brown, 10-12 minutes. Lower oven to 325*.

Filling

3 (8oz) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup sugar

juice of 1/2 lemon

1/4 tsp vanilla

2 Tbsp flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 egg yolk

1/4 cup milk

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add lemon juice and vanilla. Mix in sugar, flour, and salt; mix well. Add eggs and yolk, beating until just combined. Stir in milk. Pour into crust. Place pan in a larger pan (like a roasting pan, or I used a dutch oven) put an inch or to of water in the pan (don't get it on the cheesecake!). 

This is where it gets tricky. I cooked mine on 375* for about 35 min before I found a website that said NEVER COOK IT THAT HIGH!  so I then turned the oven down to 325 for about 10-15 minutes more. The idea is that when you gently jiggle the pan, the center of the cake will still move, but not be "sloshy" if that makes sense. Another way to check is to put a knife in the center just a little bit and see if it comes out clean.

SO you could try my weird way of making it, or put it on 325* from the beginning and cook it probably 50 min to 1 hour. 

Good luck and good eating.

PS top how you like. The man chose blueberries.