Steamboat Springs, CO. Triple Crown Magic Mountain Tounament Champs!

We went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado for Jens' baseball tournament this past weekend. Steamboat is such a pretty place. It's a ski resort town and it reminds me of Park City, Utah.

We played 7 games. We 10 ran each game!

We played at the base of one of the resorts. It was such a beautiful backdrop! This Olympic ski jump practice thing (I don't know what it's called) was right behind the field and sometimes they were out there practicing during the day.

Cade and Molly had a blast running all over playing with all of their cousins who came with us to watch the tournament.

The mountain was on one side of us and literally on the other side of us, just where the ballpark grass ended was a train track and the really full, raging, yet beautiful Yampa River. I was nervous the whole time that one of the kids were going to wander too far.

The Dawgs played so good. Everyone hit the ball awesome and everybody fielded great too. We ended up winning the whole tournament and took home not only the championship, but we also qualified for the Triple Crown World Series in August!

Jens getting his trophy.

WAY TO GO DAWGS!!!

On one of the days there we took the tram up to ride the Alpine Slide.

The kids did a little hiking around and Cade was so excited with his findings.

And of course another hit was the pool!

When I was on the tram to ride the slide, I took a picture of the baseball diamonds below me.

I thought it was a pretty little town.

The Yampa River

Cades highlight of the trip:

Being able to ride this silly dinosaur at the gas station on our way out of town!

What are you doing???

This morning Molly was playing downstairs with her Barbie's. I heard her yell, "Ummm...Hello? I need a little help here! I'm stuck!"

This is what I found.

So me being me.... I said, "Stay right there" (like she could go anywhere) "while I just grab my camera first. Then I'll help you out."

Blueberry Ice Cream Pie

I saw this recipe yesterday in a magazine and had to try it. It's really cool and perfect for an outdoor treat for a party.

ALMOND-BROWN SUGAR CRUST:

1/2 cups slivered almonds

2 tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

3 tbsp. melted butter

Pulse almonds, brown sugar and salt in a food processor until they are coarsely ground. Transfer to a bowl and add the melted butter.

Press into a 9inch pie dish and bake on 350 for 8 to 12 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

BLUEBERRY SAUCE:

3 c. blueberries

1/3 c. sugar

1 tsp. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 tbsp. water

Put all ingredients together in a pan. Cook and stir over medium heat until the blueberries begin to pop, give off juice, and come to a simmer. While simmering, gently stir for 1 additional minute until sauce is lightly thickened and cornstarch is well cooked. Refrigerate until COMPLETELY COOL! Otherwise you will end up with a blueberry milkshake instead.

After the blueberry sauce has cooled, spread softened vanilla ice cream in the bottom of the crust (you may want to just put your ice cream in the fridge for 30 minutes or so to soften). Then spread half of the blueberry sauce on top, then more ice cream on top of that. Cover with plastic wrap and re-freeze for 8 hours or overnight.

After it has frozen again, spread whipped cream on top. You can sprinkle fresh blueberries on top and serve with the remaining blueberry sauce that has been warmed.

Now that you have gone to this much work - - - - DO NOT CHEAT YOURSELF by using store bought cool whip!!! Whip fresh whipped topping yourself! Don't know how? It's SOOO easy!

WHIPPED TOPPING

1/2 pint whipping cream

1/2 tsp. vanilla

about 1/4 c. powdered sugar

Pour the whipping cream into a bowl and beat on medium to high for several minutes, until the whipping cream starts to thicken and makes peaks. (don't over-whip or you'll end up with butter!) Add the vanilla and powdered sugar. Whip all together and that's it!

Molly's Pinkalicious 4th Birthday Party

We celebrated Molly's 4th birthday today with the most adorable Pinkalicious party! I ask Molly what kind of party she wanted and she said a Pinkalicious one. I wasn't quite sure about what to do for a Pinkalicious party.

I called my amazing friend Allison in Phoenix and told her what I wanted the invite to say and look like and about 30 minutes later she emailed me back this!

Soooo cute huh!

Ever since I saw the invite, I haven't hardly been able to wait to give this party!

So I made some tissue paper flowers and butterflies and bought some pink Chinese lanterns at Hobby Lobby.

I couldn't find a cute "Happy Birthday" banner so I scrapbooked one of my own that turned out too cute.

I made cupcakes to look like the cupcakes in the book.

I bought a whole bunch of different candy that was pink and put them in different jars.

I also bought some diamond rings and wands like Pinkalicious has at Hobby Lobby.

I put pink food coloring in white chocolate and dipped marshmallows in it and topped it off with a red heart and put them on a stick.

Sidney and I made Molly this cute tutu to wear today.

We painted the girls fingernails pink.

(As I was getting out all of my pink and red nail polish, I realized that I have WAY TOO much PINK and RED nail polish!)

Then I made this little cupcake and we played Pin the Cherry on Top -- which is my version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Then we had a cake walk. As each girl would get out, I would give them a little treat so that they wouldn't feel bad. Turns out, they were more excited to get the treat and they were actually trying to get out.

After the gifts I read them the book of Pinkalicious.

Then we ate cake!

At the end of the party the girls got to fill their treat bag.

I was so happy with how this party turned out! I loved it just as much as Molly did. It was so cute! Happy Birthday Miss Molly!