Montana: The Places We'll Go

The great state of Montana has to much to offer and I'm sad to say I've barely experienced yet, even though I've lived here my whole life. I love Montana and can't imagine leaving, but I feel it is inevitable at some point. With that said, I would love to see it while we're here, and a heck of a lot closer to these places! Although I don't imagine we'll be doing a ton of sight seeing this year, I do hope we can at least mark a few off!

1. Museum of the Rockies - Bozeman, MT 

I can vaguely remember going there when I was a child, but would love to see it again. Plus, What little boy wouldn't want to see dinosaurs up close? I know Hunter and JP would! Between the Planetarium, the Children's Discovery Center, and the Living History Farm, we would end the day one tired family! I love watching the excitement of kids when they're learning!

2. Ringing Rocks - Whitehall, MT

I had a co-worker tell me about this place when she took her kids there. The rocks chime when you tap on the them. How cool would this be do see and hear? (And then maybe we can hit up the Lewis & Clark Caverns while we're in the area!?)

3. Montana Vortex - Columbia Falls, MT

This just sounds like a super fun place to go! I would love to see how the kids react!

4. Gem Mountain - Philipsburg, MT (see our trip here!)

Gem Mountain is famous for sapphire mining. In fact it is one of the best in the world! It must be a natural instinct for boy to dig in dirt, so I would have a hard time believing this wouldn't be just right up there alley. Who wouldn't want to be able to take pride in finding their own sapphire? This would be so much fun in the spring time when it's not to hot out!

5. Yellowstone National Park

I remember taking a trip to Yellowstone when I was young, and I can just barely remember seeing Old Faithful. Or maybe I just remember seeing it in videos...Anyways, I can't believe I've only been to Yellowstone, maybe twice. And I live only a few hundred miles from it!

6. Glacier National Park

That being said, I've only been to Glacier a handful of times too. When I was maybe a 7th grader we took a drive on the "Going to the Sun" Road. We were able to get out at one point and climb on a glacier. How many people have done that? They're melting away slowly but surely, and I would love my kids to have that experience too! As well as take in all the other wonderful things Glacier has to offer! 

7. Pompeys Pillar - near Billings, MT

I never been here before and would love to learn a little bit more of Montana's history. Pompey's Pillar contains the last physical evidence of Lewis and Clark's journey. What a sight to see, especially since they are a huge part of Montana history.

8. Crow Agency, MT

Simply put, I personally would enjoy seeing a pow-wow. Going during the Annual Crow Fair Celebration in August would be amazing as it is the largest in the nation. Could there be a better way to experience the culture of Native Americans?

9. Charlie Russel Chew Choo - Ware, MT

Take a ride out west on the train! The boys would love this! This is a dinner train full of scenic views and outlaws! Although going in the summer would be fun, I'm hoping to take them on the "North Pole Adventure" sometime in the winter.

10. The Round House 

Okay...we've been here before, LOTS of times! But trips to the Dome Home are becoming far and few between so I made sure to add it to the list. At least once a week Hunter or JP ask when we're going to go to the Round House. As much as I would love to take them sledding down the hill we used to as children, I just hate driving in the winter. It always snows when I need to travel! Anyways, now might be a good time for at least Hunter to sign the infamous "Guest Wall."

I wonder how many we can cross off this year? What places do you want to see in Montana or have seen that should be on the list? 

Rustic Burlap Cake

I did it! I finally finished the wedding cake that have given me too many dreams to count! Not only dreams but this cake was keeping me up at night long before it was even in the oven! I am glad it is finally done!

 I think I must have stressed about it a little too much today because I have had the worst headache in at least 5 years! Let me interrupt you and say no, this is not a hangover headache either! This was probably the first time I didn't have any wine to sip on to relax me while I worked, though it was clearly needed! But maybe I'm just overly exhausted? Anyways, I'm relieved to have finished the cake on time. I hope it tastes as wonderful as my practice cake last week! 

 The reception area was decorated beautifully too! I loved all the burlap! The table runners and flower jars with burlap were the perfect touch. I wish I would have made more little flowers though for the cake table! They would have been cute on a few other tables as well.

P.S. Have you "liked" my cake page on Facebook yet? Click here to do so ---> Simply Delightful Cakes

Family Yearbook 2013

Just like last year, I made a family yearbook. I surprised myself when I had it completed only a few days afte the new year. Unfortunately though, not quite in time for the fabulous discounts! I've waited, very anxiously, until now, to order it at a discount. I simply couldn't wait to see the final result! I'm excited to get it in the mail next week!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Start your own Shutterfly Photo Book today.

My next project is going to be to make a Christmas book. We had so much fun and did so many things that I had a hard time picking only a handful of pictures for the yearbook. This way I'll be able to display all the the wonderful photos we took!

The Perfect Baked Potato

I'm not much of a potato fan, but it has been appearing on the dinner table fairly frequently the last few months. Potatoes are awesome when you're on a budget so I'm learning to love them. JP on the other hand - I'm not sure if he hates chicken or potatoes more? I managed to get through many childhood meals, where mashed potatoes were served on the side, by slathering them with butter. I can actually still picture the crater in my potatoes filled with melted butter. Yum... But as a child, if I had to have potatoes, I would rather have baked potatoes over mashed. Anyways...

It seems as though each time we are served a home-cooked meal by Perry's mom, twice-baked potatoes are always on the menu. They are super delicious, but I can't seem to recreate them for Perry, as they are one of his favorite sides. For now anyways, twice baked potatoes will be a nice treat at the cabin. In the meantime I have mastered the "standard" baked potato.

There's a few different ways you can bake potatoes. Growing up, I had learned to wrap them in foil. Wrapping potatoes in foil makes the peel soft when you cook them. Although they can be quite tasty this way, my new favorite method is so much easier for me. I hate foil... Plus the crispy outside has ME wanting seconds, which is pretty rare!

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Wash the potatoes under running water and pat dry.

3. Place potatoes in a small bowl. Add enough olive oil to coat all the potatoes. Add Alpine Touch (my favorite seasoning), a little bit of garlic salt, and a hint of dill to the bowl. Using your hands, mix all the ingredients to evenly coat all of the spuds.

4. Pierce each potato multiple times with a fork to allow the steam to escape.

5. Bake the potatoes in the oven for about an hour. You can place them directly on the rack, like I do, or use a baking sheet to place them on. Turn potatoes every 15 minutes for even crispiness.

Delicious! What's your favorite way to eat a potato?

The Story Behind Monkey Shiner

I've been asked quite a few times what exactly a 'monkey shiner' is. To be honest, I didn't even know for the majority of my life. Who would? I don't know of anyone outside of my family who has even hear the term 'monkey shiner' before.

So what exactly is a monkey shiner? Hunter and JP are prime examples if that doesn't give you a hint! But according to my Grandma Carol, my sisters and I were monkey shiners too! "OH you little monkey shiners!" The apple doesn't fall far from the tree I guess...(Watch out Casey! Your mom is crazy too!) After wondering for a long time, and discussing it with my sisters, I thought I would do a little digging to see if I couldn't come up with a definition of what my grandma used to always call us.

There is no definition for monkey shiner, but there is one for monkey shine. It is defined as "mischievous doings, or shenanigans" as well as, "the activities of folk when the boss isn't looking." In that context it's used a a verb. To be called a monkey shiner, you would be the person, hence a noun, doing all the monkey shine business, which nails Hunter and JP right on the head, because how many "naughty" things have these boys done when the boss, ie mom, isn't watching? Too many. 

Shall I list some of the shenanigans of my children? For example, while at the farm last year, the mud pit bath started with them playing in a little puddle. Since they were already covered in mud, I just helped to make the puddle bigger. You win some, you lose some.  And how can you forget the time Hunter found Uncle Chris's razor and did this? I would also go as far to say that the land mine Hunter planted in backyard counts too! Do I even have to mention what happens in their rooms? 

There's no doubt about it, I've got two little monkey shiners on my hands! Hence the name for my "things kids say" posts, Monkey Shiner Babblings.

Child Care Rant: The Sequel

There are days (a lot of them) when I really would rather not move. Not that we are right now anyways. But it's in the back of my mind that some day, probably sooner rather than later, we'll be moving. It makes me sad to think that Missoula will no longer be what we consider home, but that's life. Got to go where the money is I guess...

That brings me to the ONE reason I would move in a heartbeat. Two years ago, almost exactly, I had posted this child care rant. I hate child care. Not quite as much as I did then, but I still hate it. Lucky for Perry, he has his VERY reliable wife to watch his kids when he's at work, so we're not stressing about finding a reliable babysitter anymore.  After the doosey we had with one of our sitters, I'm so thankful I don't have to go through finding a daycare/sitter again.

If you went back and read through my little rant, you would know that the last sitter we had, in a sense, left us high and dry. And still hasn't paid us back, about $500 give or take. Like I said, it's been two years since and I'm trying really hard to forget about the whole thing. But seriously?! That's a lot of money to not pay back to someone! Honestly, it would probably be long forgotten if I would stop running into her at random places! Missoula is fairly big, but we still manage to be at the same place at the same time. Every time, I'm not kidding you, I want to punch her in the face. I'm not an aggressive person but the way she treated the whole situation just really makes me mad.

The first time I ran into her, I was with my dad and kids, last winter at Wal-Mart. Because I was with my family I didn't want to make a scene so I just ignored her and kept walking. She sent glares my way. The next time was a few months ago at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Again, I was with my family enjoying dinner but I swear if she was to even glance my way one more stinking time, I was going to lose it. Thankfully Perry was able to calm me down enough to get through the last part of dinner. Then this evening I ran to the store to pick up a couple things, and guess who's there...At least she's intimidated by me. I happened to go down the isle she and a friend were in and as soon as she saw me, she grabbed her friend and darted down the isle and around the corner. I happened to leave the isle at the same end they did and we nearly walked into each other as I overheard her saying, "she's down this isle." You're dumb. And obviously still feeling guilty. But it doesn't change the fact that I still want to punch her....

And yes. She is that ONE reason I would move from this beautiful town. I would be okay with never seeing her again. More so, I hate that she can get me this fired up!

Practicing for the BIG ONE

I've spent the last two days practicing for a wedding cake I'll be making next weekend. I've never made a wedding cake before and am thrilled, and honored to be making one! 

Normally, like many of you know, I work with fondant. This wedding cake has zippo fondant, which is fine with me because sometimes fondant and I can get into a little yelling match. Fondant + yelling + wine = Stay out of the kitchen before I throw my rolling pin at you!  Luckily for Perry, I'll be doing most of the decorating away from home...

Anyways. The bride to be sent me a picture of the cake she wanted and I was relieved to see no fondant would be involved, just some frosting and a pretty burlap flower/bow. The last few cakes I've made, like Hunter's Wreck It Ralph cake, seemed to crumble a bit when I went to serve them. So the other day, I surfed around and found a few recipes to try out. I hit gold on the first one entitled Best White Cake Recipe {Ever}. Delicious - even though I forgot the vanilla, and no crumbles what-so-ever! I also tried my hand at "messy" frosting too! I think it turned out pretty darn good! Especially since this is the first time I've done it!

I'm anxiously awaiting for next week to roll around so I can see the finished product, which will be three tiers!

OH! And Charlotte went from laying on her back to sitting up today!! Proud momma!