August!

It has been a pretty busy couple of weeks for us.  We closed on our house! We are mostly unpacked and need a couple more pieces of furniture, but we are finally feeling settled and comfortable!

We have had quite a bit of company!  First, my FIL, Tony, and his girlfriend, Kit, came for a quick visit. We had to scramble, but we were unpacked for the most part before they arrived.  Avery adored Kit right from the get go just like the last time we saw her and she was a little shy right off with Grandpa, but it didn't take long for her to warm up.

Grandpa Smith reading to Avery!

She had fun playing kitty and wolfy with Kit.  It did take a few days for Avery to come out of her role as a wolf after they left...  It was a great visit and we hope to see them again soon!  

Sam and Tony at Nugget Falls

 

Avery and Kit watching a duck (it went under for a minute).

Next, Avery got to meet her Great Grandma Lil!  Lucky us!  It was a short 3 day trip, but Avery and GG Lil hit it off right away.  It was a wonderful visit and I am so glad that we got to spend some time with her.

"Super me to the rescue!"

"

playing out at the Shrine of Saint Therese

The weather was not great for her visit. We did make it out to the shrine one afternoon :)  It was so cute how they connected! 

Now, Sam's cousin, Courtney, is in town. She is a vet student in Texas that is up here doing an externship with Sam and the practice Sam works for.  They are currently up in Haines, AK doing some horse work.  She is here until the 25th!

Then we have a bit of a break.  Avery will start preschool and then Sam's mother and Rick will be here near Avery's birthday.  I can't believe she will be 3 in just over a month!  It is going WAY too quickly!

a sunny morning on our back deck.

best recipe EVER!

Okay so I don't really consider myself a good cook.  I can follow a recipe really well and I usually succeed with baking.  I have attempted not using a recipe a few times and it has ended in basically feeding the trash.  I made a carrot layer cake for a dinner party the other night and it was flippin' fantastic.  Like better than any carrot cake I have ever had, including Rock Bottom Brewery's carrot cake and Whole Foods' carrot cake.  I have to share this awesome recipe!

Carrot Cake

The cake:

• 4 eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup applesauce
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 oz can crushed pineapple (drained)
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg (optional)
• 3 cups grated carrots

The frosting:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (make sure it is soft enough)
• 8 oz  cream cheese, softened (make sure it is soft enough)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

 Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9 inch cake pans.
2.) In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, sugars, vanilla and pineapple. Mix in flour, baking soda. baking powder, salt, cinnamon & nutmeg. Stir in carrots. Pour into prepared pans.
3.) Bake in the preheated oven about 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let pans cool for 10-15 minutes on a baking rack, the turn and remove cakes from pan and cool on wire racks until completely cool.  Cool them completely!  Don't even make the frosting until they are cooled!

4.) Frosting: combine butter, cheese and vanilla until smooth.  Slowly beat in sugar.  Beat until smooth.  Frost your cake and top with pecans :)

Enjoy and be ready to want to make another!