Mom's a winner!

My mom submitted her name into a contest.....and WON! This is a miracle in itself since she never wins....ever! If she submits my dad's name then he wins but her name is never chosen...until now! She won 6 tickets and meals and a hotel stay up in Star Valley Wyoming for the Super Bull! Now I hope you know that we are Big Rodeo Fans! So of course we were going! It was a long drive for a Saturday and then to get up really early to drive all the way home in time for church. But we made it and had a lot of fun. Here's our cabin that we stayed in, we put the kids up in the rafters... Can you tell Carter is so thrilled to be up that high!

At the rodeo they did a thing called Bull Poker. It was intense! They have volunteers sign a waiver (of course) and pay a fee to play and they go into the ring and sit around a table playing poker. Then when the bull charges the last one to leave his/her chair wins.

This particular bull did NOT want to play and wouldn't go near the "players" so they said that the players had to get closer to the bull. Here's the kids watching the action! Me and Lindsay with..."the winner" The kids wanted to jump into the picture! And Kinney and Grandpa (neither of which can sit still on hard benches for very long) Over all it was a fun trip and fun memories!

Until the next post....

Chocolate Raspberry Tart

I did it again! and yes this time as well was all by myself. I made a delicious Chocolate Tart with Raspberries.....thanks again to Paula Deen! I did have to go out and buy a tart pan for this particular project, but as we speak (type) I'm looking up more recipes to use my tart pan. And it's not just any pan it's a removable-bottom tart pan! There's days I wish I came with a removable bottom...especially after eating all these sweets I'm making!

Anyway it's

2 cups crushed chocolate graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
16 (1-ounce) squares semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
1- 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup sugar
4 pints fresh raspberries
Garnish: melted semi-sweet chocolate

Preheat oven to 350 In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and sugar. Add melted butter, stirring to combine. Press mixture into bottom and up sides of an 11x1-inch removable bottom tart pan. (I found mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond) Bake for 6 minutes. Let cool completely.

In a medium saucepan, combine chopped chocolate and cream. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted and smooth. Add sugar, whisking until combined. Pour chocolate mixture into bottom of prepared crust. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 3 days.

Just before serving, arrange raspberries over chocolate. Drizzle with melted chocolate, if desired (who wouldn't want more chocolate?) Serve immediately!.....YUMM!!! Okay are you ready for the pics of this yummy treat...really you only need to eat a little sliver, and share with friends...we did :)

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! and say thanks to Paula Deen.

Until the next post....

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake

I LOVE Paula Deen. She has fabulous recipes! And I have (a no longer printed)..sorry :( Paula Deen's Special Collection Chocolate Celebration Magazine. It has recipes that have chocolate in them. And can I just say she has just used my favorite word...chocolate and I now have 157 recipes that include that fabulous little bean! If you want this tasty little magazine it's going on amazon for about $35. Anyway the reason for this post is because I made something out of it. And just for those of you who know me...I MADE IT MYSELF! No Daniel did not make it! So here's a delicious picture that you just want to lick of my tasty treat!

Okay I lied it isn't in her Chocolate Celebration...I thought it was and then when I went to check it wasn't in there. It's actually in Paula Deen's Special Collector's Issue Best Desserts 125 Irresistible Treats. Sorry for the confusion. If you want the recipe email me since it's kind of long to put in the blog.

Cabin Trip

We stayed up at the cabin after the rodeo to start working on our "remodel." Actually we are just extending the kitchen so the front of the cabin will be flat, right now the TV room above it has the kitchen below half and the other half is the outside, so it makes it very cold at night in the winter. Anyway the Bindrups were up at there cabin and we had a lot of fun as well. Ty had brought up his motorcycle and let us ride and play around on it as well as his quad, we took the kids on a ride later. Here's Raurrgh jumping it over the rode Madison and Grandpa taking a ride Believe it or not, Grandpa had a motorcycle when he was younger (pre-marriage) Now it's Carter's turn Bindrups had this little four wheeler that Madison (took some convincing) drove for a little bit and is now a huge fan and wants a four wheeler for Christmas! for proof she is actually driving it not just sitting on it for a picture Rodney bought a salt lick and wanted to haul it up the mountain so we could get more deer/elk in the area. So the men dared him to lick it....and they wanted proof so we took a picture

Then they harassed Rollan into doing it

And here's Daniel falling for peer pressure Then of course Dad/Grandpa had to man up and do it Kinney wanted to have some fun too! so she went with Raurrgh for a four wheeler ride

Oh ya. we were up there to do some work. Here's all the cement bags we used

And the result...footings, the next trip we'll pour the floor and then put up the walls and tear down the walls and such...it's going to be a long project but totally worth it!

Until the next post....

We love the Rodeo!

Oakley Rodeo

It's that time of year again that we go to parades, watch fireworks and spend time with family celebrating our nations Independence. However the traditions I hope you all have a wonderful Independence Day! Our tradition for the weekend of the 4th is to attend the Oakley Rodeo! Here's some pictures from our fun!

Here's our cowgirl...so excited!

Had to try a picture with just her hat colored...fun

Here's McKinley and "B" waiting at the cabin for the rest of the family to get there so we could head to the rodeo.

This is the stool we brought to help "B" up into our "monster" truck. Our new to us Expedition has about a 6 inch lift to it so it makes it hard even for me to get in let alone my cute almost 90 year old Grandma to get in.

Here's Carter ready to GO!

And a picture of his new cowboy boots (they have Woody on them!) Lindsay and Carter at the rodeo waiting for it to start O Say Can You See....or as Carter kept singing....."JOSE CAN YOU SEE! First the Bare Back Riding! Then comes the Calf Ropin' Then the Saddle Bronc Ridin' Next out of the shoots is the Steer Wrestlin' And we can't forget the ladies with the Barrel Racin' Then our families absolute favorite...BULL RIDIN'! the stare down....

It's so intense and we absolutely love it! Afterwards there's fireworks and a dance but we have little ones and "B" usually has someone drive her home while the rest of us drive on up the canyon to the cabin. And this weekend there's lots to do...we're adding on to the kitchen so it won't be a one person kitchen anymore! Until the next post...