Fresh Raspberry Bars

1 C unsalted butter, cut into 1 inch chunks
1/2 C packed light brown sugar
1/2 t kosher salt
2 C unbleached all-purpose flour
1 C seedless raspberry jam or preserves
1 pint (2 C) fresh raspberries
1-8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1/2 C sugar
1 T flour
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 T finely peeled lemon zest
2 T fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 t pure vanilla
Powdered sugar

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9x2 inch baking pan with foil and set aside. In a large bowl, beat the butter for about 30 seconds.
*Add brown sugar and salt, beat on low speed about a minute. With mixer off, add the 2 cups of flour. Beat on low until dough forms. With fingers, spread dough onto bottom of pan. Bake for 20 minutes, just until dough has begun to puff.
*Let crust cool and then evenly spread jam on crust. Then spread fresh raspberries evenly over jam topped crust.
*With a lemon zester, remove peel from lemon. Sprinkle lemon zest lightly over the jam on the crust.
*In a large bowl beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute. Mix in granulated sugar and 1 T flour until well blended. With mixer running add egg, egg yolk, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until smooth.
*Spread custard mixture evenly over the crust and berries, tilting pan back and forth to distribute evenly.
*Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer foil to wire cooling rack for about 1 hour. Use foil to lift the bars from the pan. Peel the foil from the sides of the bars and cut into shape.

Sunday Evening Walk With Cousins

I can't think of a better way to spend our Sunday evening than with the Hill cousins taking a walk on the BYU campus. We climbed rocks, caught a snake, took a look at some of the experiments in the science buildings and had many adventures!

Sundance Summer

Because it was HER birthday & she's definitely worth celebrating!

Because we craved the cool mountain breeze...

Because we needed the fresh air...

Because the conversation is like medicine to our souls...

Because we needed to see the mountain before it's covered in snow again with the skiers rushing down her...

And just because it was FUN!!!

Cutest . Mugs. Ever. Period.

Because We're Awesome MOMS...

...And because we both found ourselves without our husbands this weekend, we took all the kids camping in Hobble Creek with tons of our neighbors and ward members.
We had a great time....
One of my favorite parts was on the way home when Abby declared she had something to tell me:
"Mom, I hate to tell you this but I've had the same "underwears" on all the days we be gone."
It was only one day...but I guess that is a big change from her usual 12 pairs a day.

First Day Of School 2011

That's right folks, I sent my baby girl off to Kindergarten today. I think it was me who was the baby at the bus stop crying my eyes out while the other moms assured me it would be okay. Little Abby (or should I say BIG Abby) wouldn't even let me take her to school. Hmm, I wonder where that sense of independence comes from.

Just Call Him Costanza

Me: "Ethan, why is your shirt inside out? You didn't wear it to school like that on the second day did you?"

Ethan: "No ma, I had to go poop."

Me: "Why do you still take off all of your clothes every time you go number two?"

Ethan: "Because ma, it feels good."

For those of you who don't know...George Costanza as in "Jerry Seinfeld" was know for this same trick. Remember that time the fire alarm went off in Jerry's building and Costanza was caught not only with his pants down, but his pants and everything else OFF!
We've been trying to explain to E-Man how unnecessary this is ever since he left for Kindergarten.


Me: "You know you CANNOT do that at school, right?"

Ethan: "Don't worry ma, I would NEVER go poo in the school bathrooms!"

LOVE HIM!!!

It's That Time Again...

And man oh man...this boy is HUNGRY for it! He scored 6 goals on Saturday's game (and it wasn't an easy team either)! It seems that not playing on the same team as big brother has helped an aggressive player emerge! It's going to be a fun few weeks but with all three kids on separate soccer teams and me coaching the 4-5 year old girls, it's bound to be hectic. I see lots of fast food in our future.

So I figured...

If Justin is away playing with the boys in Tulsa for a week that I would get a sitter and go with some of the coolest girls I know to FINALLY catch this. I loved this book, but I think I already told you that. I also LOVED the movie! You should experience it for yourself. And beware of the chocolate pie :)

Flashback Friday (Hard To Believe)...

You start Kindergarten in one week!
I'm not sure when you went from being a baby to such an strong willed little lady.
It seems to me it happened literally overnight.
Your dad and I agree on one thing more than anything else in the world:
We are so glad you are OUR DAUGHTER!

So This Is What Happens...

Boy cousins+ Idle Time+ Bugs+ Available Stock Pot+ Little Parental Supervision= ONE BIG DARE & A Stock Pot of LOTS of Bugs and Random Ingredients....This is how you eat bugs apparently....SILLY BOYS!

That Looks Like a ONE CRAZY Cook!

Ethan was a cautious spectator of the whole debacle

Oh the insanity, and to think these are my boys role models. Ha ha! I love my nephews!

The girls loved it (NOT)!!!

The DELICIOUS "End Result"

Milk just helps everything go down a little bit easier now doesn't it?

A Day On The Lake

With Summer coming to an end soon, we've been trying to get out on the water as much as we can. We have the best friends and neighbors who always include us on their boating adventures....enough about that though, I need to tell you about something much more important...

This is my best friend. I think her spirit can be seen in this smile. She is the greatest friend a girl could have. I consider her my sister. We've spent the past 3 years in one another's daily lives literally living almost connected by our back doors. She's the person I look to for everything. She's smart, beautiful, righteous and strong in the gospel. She moved this past week up the canyon. We have not talked about her moving much, we've just been busy making all the preparations for the move. And, I think we are sad. So we just leave it alone. I know that 20 miles isn't that far but there's no denying it will change things for us. I love her. I'm grateful for her mighty example. I'm grateful to be a constant recipient of her love and attention.