1st in 1st

First day of school in First Grade. 

She will miss her beloved best friend dearly. 

It was teeny bit easier to say goodbye this year, the second time around. He was so very excited to start. 

And there goes my heart...

Christiana before bed, "Nicholas, make sure you wake me so I can get ready too." She was beyond excited to receive a new box of school supplies and especially paints. 

After Mass, the kids take an all school picture. He winked and pointed at me and my heart melted.

Back to School Teacher Gifts: Mini Apple Pies

Since we love to bake in our house it's always fun to do back to school teacher gifts! 


These are super easy and make a dozen little mini apple pies so we gave all our grade school staff some :) to thank them in advance for all the hard work they will do. 

Mini Apple Pie Recipe

Makes 14 Mini Apple Pies

1 Ready Made Pie Crust or pie crust from scratch
2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and cut into about 8 slices each 
1/2 c. sugar 
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
2 Tablespoons of butter, melted 

- Preheat Oven to 425 and line baking sheet with parchment paper. 

- Mix sugar and cinnamon, leaving aside about a 1 Tablespoon. 

- Toss apple slices into mixture. 

- Unroll pastry and brush with 1 Tablespoon of butter and sprinkle      with 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon and sugar mixture. 

- Cut the pastry into strips, about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. 

- Wrap one strip around each apple slice, sugared side against the apple. 

- Place mini pies on parchment paper lined baking sheet. 

- Brush on the remaining butter and cinnamon and sugar left over. 

- Bake at 425 for 10-13 minutes or until golden brown. 



Supplies I used for Gifting:
Wax Paper
Tape
Ribbon or twine 
Brown Paper Bag Cutouts 

Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

The summer is coming to a close so we are trying to squeeze in some extra fun before school starts. 

They couldn't believe they were making it themselves :) 

Everyone got several turns shaking.

 Definitely a big hit here!

Cotton Candy, Farm Animals, and Rides

Always fun to end the summer... where else can you pet baby calves and see and smell prize winning pigs and sheep and witness a demolition derby?

 

Yes, truly the rural event of the summer, the County Fair.

Avila broke out of her shell and rode rides by herself and pet a baby calf.

Camping in the Rocky Mountains

We loaded up cars and camping gear for 20....

It was an adventure in every essence.

We explored in clear running streams, fished, hiked, picked wild flowers (apparently illegally) and looked out over mountain peaks that took our breath away.

How could this face of Isaac not take your breath away?! 



That was the romantic side to our adventure. On the reality side...well it wasn't too bad, a few minor meltdowns daily from her royal highness you know who, but no broken bones or bears.





My Top 10 Best Highlights of the trip...

1. Bacon and Eggs over the campfire in the morning.

There was a very spoken rule among the men that in order to be cook at the campfire you had to take your shirt off...and then it sort of stuck around the whole weekend.

2. Being able to take in the magnificence of the mountains beside my best friend and husband. They are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. 



3. Drinking coffee in the early morning with dad and sisters, on the front porch of the cabin. 

4. Watching them as they watched and wondered.

5. Spending time with siblings who live very far far away....camping brought out our pseudo survival sides to say the least.

 

 7. Getting to see my Mom and Dad and camping with my Mom and Dad!

8. Witnessing the making of best buddies as Aunt and Nephew

9. Hiking around Bear Lake 

10. Sitting with all my family members around the campfire, the front porch of the cabin drinking coffee, and the dinner table feeling fully blessed and getting a glimpse of Heaven.