4th of July

Better late than never, right? Hannah had fun this year with the sparklers and we inducted her in the true Torgesen fashion to the "bucket of doom." Which basically is just putting ground blooms into a large metal bucket and lighting them off. It looks like a smoking cauldron and is much louder. When we were kids, my sisters and I really got a kick out of it and begged my Dad to do it.

Shoo-Fly Pie

I made this pie for my Dad recently on his birthday. I'd always wanted to try a Shoo-Fly Pie and it turned out pretty good. Find the recipe here. (I used my own flaky butter pie crust recipe...) Don't let the molasses scare you- the pie ended up tasting more like a delicious gingersnap. If you make it, be sure to put some cream on top. Everything is better with cream or butter. Thanks to Ina Garten for proving that!

jamba

Did you know that Jamba Juice has a secret menu? Well, they do and Hannah and I are hooked on the White Gummi (tastes just like a white gummi bear).....find it here.

McCall

We went up to McCall for the day to celebrate my sister Heidi's birthday. Hannah had her first ride on a waverunner on the lake and had a great time. The weather was perfect and we had a great spot on the grass along the beach to play and relax on.

Strawberry Tarts

Here's an easy recipe for some summer tarts. Just take a sugar cookie dough (from a mix if you want), add a little lemon extract, and press it into mini-muffin tins. Bake until golden. Mix equal parts cream cheese and cool-whip and fill the cooled shells. Top with diced strawberries and garnish with a sprig of lemon-thyme. It's like the recipe for fruit pizza, just in a different format.

recent happenings

at the park

Hannah wanted her turn with the camera

uses for a wakeboard when you don't live by the beach anymore

The Fifth Little Einstein

Hannah turned three last week and we celebrated with a "Little Einstein" themed party. (It's one of her favorite shows!) We had red balloons, Little Einstein paper goods, shot off rockets on the driveway, had Little Einstein cupcakes and astronaut ice cream, and lots of presents.

Hannah - age 0

Hannah- age 1

Hannah- age 2

Hannah- age 3