OH SH*T...

I am totally up for mother-of-the-year award! Please vote for me:)

Recipe of the week...

Caramel Apple Dip:

1 8oz package of cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar - or more if desired
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 bag scor candy bars/heath bits (they are hard to find, you can just chop up heath candy bars)
3-5 Granny Smith apples, cut into wedges

Mix first 3 ingredients. Take a sample bite for good measure. Cut apples into wedges; set aside or arrange on serving plate. Add candy to cream cheese mixture and gently stir it in.
I guarantee there will be no left overs! Try the dip on cinnamon rolls. And as always, this is a fat free recipe! :) HA!

Have a great weekend!

Yummy...

I was canning tomatoes and salsa last week. McKinley was quite the helper by sitting on the counter handing me lids. Next thing I knew, she was eating a pear from the fruit basket. She ate the whole thing! She then moved on to the nanners...

The peels must taste good.

Finally...Lake Kachess pictures...

** Update- Granny Poppy made the blue sweater, the buttons were from Aunt Peggy...Granny made the sweater for Tyler when he was little. If we can find a picture of Tyler wearing the sweater, I'll scan it in and post it.

We had such a fun on our camping trip last weekend. Tyler's family spent a lot of time at the Lake Kachess campground when he was little...so, we spent a lot of time re-living his childhood by riding our "big kid" bikes around all the bike trails. It was pretty funny:) We also hiked on the trail along Little Kachess. Todd, Kathy & Kaylee joined us on Saturday. It was great!

Another funny story about how our families are connected. The blue wool sweater that McKinley is wearing was Tyler's. My Great Aunt Peggy made it for him when he was little- and now our baby is wearing it. Aunt Peggy also made Tyler and I blankets when we were babies and they are very similiar- we both still have our blankets.

Recipe of the week...

So here is another good one. I made this for Sunday morning breakfast at Lake Kachess this weekend. It was delicious! Pictures of the weekend to follow- the camera is in Tyler's truck at work:(

Breakfast Casserole:
6 eggs, beaten
pinch of salt & pepper
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz cottage cheese
8 oz cream cheese
1 bag hash browns, thawed
2 cups cooked ham, bacon, sausage or whatever meat your little heart desires
1 onion, chopped
3/4 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9x13 pan. Beat eggs, add salt and pepper; pour into 9x13. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients, mix thoroughly and put over eggs. Bake uncovered for 30-40 minutes.

SOOO Good!! I have also added asparagus, bell peppers and mushrooms.

Enjoy!

Ps. McKinley loves this for breakfast. She ate 2 helpings for breakfast and 1 huge one helping for dinner:)

Recipe of the week...

I am going to TRY posting a recipe weekly. This is one of our favorites. It is especially good this time of year. Enjoy!

Chicken Lasagna:

2 cups cottage cheese (no fat free crap!)
1 package cream cheese, softened
4 cups cooked cubed chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of celery soup
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
6 lasagna noodles, cooked
1 package (6 oz) stuffing mix
1/2 cup butter, melted

In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and cream cheese. In a large bowl, combine chicken, soups, milk, onion and salt. Spread half of the chicken mixture into a greased 9x13 pan. Top with 3 noodles. Spread with half of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers. Toss stuffing mix with butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered at 350 for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

Every Day Life...

McKinley and I had a low-key day. We went grocery shopping this morning and hung out at home the rest of the day. I did a lot of paperwork and McKinley took good naps. I even managed to squeeze in a 15 min. power nap- it was heavenly! Tyler has been elk hunting with my dad this week. I just talked to him and he got a shot in, but missed:( Dang! I love elk meat!! Here are a few pictures of McKinley fresh out of the bath today. She loves to run around the house with these towels on her head. It is pretty cute, they look like little capes.
NO more pictures, Momma!

Now is one of those times I wished I had a really good camera. The moon is beautiful tonight as was the sunset. Oh, I love fall!!!

Alpine Country...

Tyler fishing. I was perched on a rock relaxing when I took this picture. I think I sat on that rock for an hour. It was heavenly. There are a few little creeks that trickle into the lake. Completely serene and peaceful! We forgot to take a picture by the lake, so the creek by our camp was our only choice for a photo op.
Coming down the trail. It was pretty rocky in places.
Rachel fixing my rats nest. We named our spot the "Tangle Ridge Salon."

Rachel with her dust protection gear:)


Miranda & I this morning.

Tyler and I went on an overnight jeep trip in the high country. It was heavenly! Dan, Miranda, Unky Allan, Rachel & Claire came along also. The seasons have officially changed- we froze our rears off until about noon. Tyler caught 2 beautiful fish, which we are having for dinner tonight. We also picked huckleberries and black caps on our way up and had just enough for pancakes this morning:) We love the alpine elevation. The scenery, wildlife and vegetation is amazing.

Have a great week.

Protein...

Okay, McKinley still hummms when she is eating. A few days ago, I heard "the humm" and went into the living room to investigate what she was eating (I hadn't given her anything) And this is what I found...

SHE WAS EATING A FLY!!!!

I'm sorry, Momma...

Blessed...

McKinley is lucky to have such a good Daddy. Tyler took her to the cabin on Saturday night with Jonah, Ava & Mason. The Dad's packed everything (including meals!) and headed off Saturday afternoon. From the sounds of the stories, they had a great time. I went to a movie Saturday night and cleaned like a madwoman on Sunday. It was so nice to have a quiet peaceful, clean (if only for a few hours) house. By the way, if you are looking for a good movie...Momma Mia is awesome. I am not into musicals by any means, but I seriously wanted to get up and bust a move in the theatre! You should have seen us dancing on the way out:) It was great!! Probably more of a girly movie though...

Have a great week and enjoy our cooler weather.

PS. Good luck Becca, Justin & Dailey. They will be welcoming the newest member of their family today!!! Can't wait to meet her!

Grabbin' Gears...

Some friends of the family gave us this awesome PINK jeep. McKinley is too short to reach the pedal, so we follow behind with a stick...it gets a little hairy, as she knows how to shift (hmmm, where did she get that?) She quickly discovered high gear, which means that we too, hit high gear. Thanks Pott family, for the awesome jeep!!!

Don't pee in my boots!...

McKinley really enjoyed putting on other people shoes. She also really enjoys naked time (still) :)
She likes to steal Tyler's hat and parade around the house...
You are a redneck if...your childs piggy bank is a beer bottle! She is really good at putting real money in it!! :)

Fair...

Tyler and I took McKinley to the fair for a few hours on Thursday. Grandma Jackie and Aunt Hannah were there as well. It was fun.

Mommy & Daddy-a-thon....

Tyler and I had quite the workout yesterday. We decided to go for a family bike ride after lunch. It was perfect weather outside (in the hills, I should say- little wind) I hauled McKinley on my bike up and down the Wilson Rd. to the first concrete bridge and then she hopped in the backpack and Tyler hauled her while we hiked and hiked and hiked. Didn't see a single grouse- not sure why?? Could it be the little bird in the backpack? :) Tyler kept her in the backpack and rode his bike back to our truck. We had a great time and McKinley loved it.

Top of the viewpoint


This picture made us laugh. I was trying to capture all of us...but, I forgot to un-zoom the camera:)We lost her hair clip, as you can tell!
This was on the way back...