Buttermilk Pancakes

When I married Seth I got three older sisters. Sara and Chrissie are Seth's sisters, and Laura is married to Seth's older brother Jason. Amazing women!! Laura's family has a cabin in Hebgen Lake, Montana. This is probably one of my favorite places to go. It is truly a slice of heaven on Earth. Last summer Sara, Laura and I took all the kids and went to the cabin. I have had buttermilk pancakes before, but Sara makes them like no ones business. Ever since that trip I have been in love with these pancakes. Sunday mornings are one of my favorite times of the week. To me it is the perfect time to create tradition and special family memories. These pancakes are a big part of our Sunday mornings. I hope they become a part of your Sunday family tradition and memories.
From our family to yours. Enjoy!!

-1 cup buttermilk
-2 eggs
-3/4 tsp. baking soda
-3/4 Tbl. vegetable oil
-1/2 cup whole milk
-1 cup flour
-3/4 tsp. salt
-1/2 tsp. vanilla

Mix all together and cook. Lots of butter, powdered sugar and fresh blueberries make them especially divine.

Polar Express

This past year I decided that going on an excursion would be more fun than giving gifts for Christmas. My family and our extended family, the Harbertsons, all traveled to Heber to ride the Polar Express. I absolutely loved it. Riding the Heber Valley Railroad through fields of snow in the dead of winter was so incredibly beautiful. The train is still the same as when we were kids. Old leather seats, etc. I hope to make this a yearly family tradition.

Dunlops, Quinns, and Grandma Nettie

The Harbertsons

Grandma Nettie and Piper
This is true love
Nothing makes me happier than seeing the love they have for one another

Longing for summer

piper, originally uploaded by The Reverend Hokey Pokey.

One of our favorite things to do last summer was spend time at Alta. I grew up skiing there. My uncle still has a cabin in Albion basin. I've never been to Europe, but when I am at Alta I imagine it's what Europe is like. I would strap Piper in the pack and just go walk. When you are home 90% of the week it is nice to find activities that don't cost money. I want Piper to spend as much time as possible in this little gem of a town. I can't wait for our walks to resume.
Seth and I drove up one Sunday, and being the amazing photographer that he is, he just pulled off the road and snapped this photo.

The Quinns

the quinns, originally uploaded by The Reverend Hokey Pokey.

These are two of my favorite people in this world. It's because of these two that I definitely want another baby. I want Piper to go through the agony and friendship that only siblings can give you.
My younger sister Rachael Jeanette (28), and older brother, Patrick David (36).

I think Piper is Italian

Piper's favorite food is Spaghetti.

Forget about it.

Mondays with Erin

Every Monday I go to work and Piper goes with her aunt Erin for the day. I am so grateful that I have someone in my life that I consider a second mother. Especially for young women I think it is so important to have exceptional role models in their lives. An extra someone they can always turn to. Piper and Seth and I are so lucky to have her. Erin is the best gift my brother ever gave me.

Project 52

mother and daughter, originally uploaded by The Reverend Hokey Pokey.

My friend Rakelle has inspired a group of women to participate in Project 52. We are going to post a photo once a week. It has to have some part of ourselves in the photo. I love this idea.
I cherish the photos of my mother as a young woman. I can't really remember her when I was really young, so to this day I study the few photos that I have of her. At the end of the 52 weeks you can have the project put into a book.
I hope this is something Piper will cherish.

1/52

Taking a vintage spin

Taking a spin on her new Christmas trike.
Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Quinn!

Mr. and Mrs. with the Pipe

We met in high school and now we have a baby and a mortgage.
Couldn't be happier!

Sascha's pork chops

I have loved getting older so far. Except for the occasional grey hair here and there aging is so comical. My oldest friend Sascha and I were on the phone last week exchanging recipes, and it just hit me that we have gone from the 6th grade to now. Sitting on the phone gossiping and exchanging recipes. Anyway, she has been raving about this pork chop recipe, and I finally tried it. Oh snap. So amazing. Here it is.
Serving size (2)
Ingredients
-2 pork chops, 2 tsp. olive oil, 1 tsp. garlic, 1/2 c hard cider (apple cider will do just fine), 1 Tbl. whole grain mustard, 1/3 c. heavy cream.
Directions
Bash pork chops until they are thinner than original size. Heat oil in a pan, warm pan on low. Then increase pan heat to moderate. Cook each pork chop for 5 minutes on each side. Remove and place on a warm plate in a slightly heated oven to keep warm.
In the same pan, add cider. Bubble away for 1 minute. Reduce a little. Add mustard and stir in cream. Cook for two minutes scraping up pork chop bits and mixing into sauce. Poor over chops.
Sascha recommended making this dish with gnocchi. I did, and it was incredible. I also had asparagus that I cooked in a pan with olive oil until it was slightly blackened.
This truly was one of the best meals I have had. Thanks Bug. You always know best!

Our life

I am dedicating this blog to my family. Seth, Piper and Quinn are the reason that this exists. I want to record our memories and experiences so that we may never forget. Never forget the beauty we have created. This is our life.