Frosting and Heat!

You would think after many years of baking, one would know that frosting will melt if it's too warm. We'll I guess I didn't think it was too warm in the house, because I made 50 cupcakes for Pack Meeting tonight and frosted them and put little sprinkles on them, and they looked so yummy. Well............I came back into the kitchen later in the day and found these. Pretty sad looking, huh. Well after much debate, I took the ones that looked half way edible and placed them in the frig. Hopefully I have enough!? I think I'll tell my family to take last, they can have the ones at home. :)

Back to School for 2-1st Day for 1!

I bet all you wish your kids were this happy the 1st day back to school! I can't believe our summer has gone by so fast. I don't think any of us are really ready for school to be back in session, but they seemed pretty happy and ready to go this morning...we'll see how long this lasts. :)Brevin is a big 6th grader in middle school, JT is 2nd grade, and Zack is a Kinder!
I want you to notice how big Zack's backpack is, he should not be going to school....this is crazy!

Zack was so happy to have is bestest buddy in his class this year, LUKE!!!! I think having Luke in his class is the only thing he's been excited about(except maybe the cool spiderman lunchbox he picked out). I'm not sure that Zack and I are ready to be parted, good thing it's only 1/2 day kinder. I love that they both have their super hero t-shirts on!!!

So this is Zack in his new classroom. I'm not sure who was more dazed, mom or Zack!?! :)

Lake Tahoe Trip

The first stop of the trip was to visit Dr. Duke and his lovely wife Morghan in their fancy new digs in Reno. The highlight for the boys may have been Bocci Ball. Duke and Zack beat JT and Brevin in the matchup seen here. We also enjoyed the pool and good food and games.

Then it was off to Virgina City - an old mining town Southeast of Reno. This picture was taken from a scenic lookout point overlooking the "Biggest Little City" (Reno).

This is Clint and the boys at Virginia City. Clint has kind of "let himself go" lately!


We took a mine tour while in Virgina City. It wasn't much. However, leaving the mineshaft was very exciting. When we emerged from the shaft, we discovered that it was raining and hailing! We decided to make a mad dash to the car and we got all wet and muddy - and about 2 minutes later the storm was over - we could have just waited it out!

Next we arrived in South Lake Tahoe, California - just across the stateline from Nevada. Just outside our hotel there was a Gondola that takes you up to the top of Heavenly Ski Resort. This picture was taken during our ride to the top.

This was taken from the observation deck half way up the mountain. You could get off the Gondola at this point, look around, take pictures and then get back on for the ride to the top.

After we got off at the top of the Gondola ride we took a hike. It was a pretty easy one (for everyone except Zack - not pictured here because he had turned back with Mommy). There was a rock wall at the top of the Gondola ride that Brevin and JT rock-climbed. They were both really good at it - it helps to be long and skinny!

The day after our Gondola ride, we took another hike. This hike was 1 mile downhill to Vikingsholm at Emerald Bay. Emerald Bay was one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. It was truly spectacular! This picture doesn't do it justice, but you can see Lake Tahoe's only island out there in front of Brevin. Hiking back up after was a little tough for Zack but he was a trooper - as was Kadie who carried Zack piggy-back style off and on the way back up.

This picture is from the same spot in Emerald Bay, but looking away from the water. Behind the boys you can see "Vikingsholm" - which is a mansion built in 1929 by a rich lady who owned all the land around Emerald Bay at the time. The house was built without moving or displacing any trees - so the house takes some interesting turns to avoid the trees. The house also has a sod roof in places and is made completely from granite and wood found indiginous to the area. Pretty cool, eh?