Independence day

We had a memorable Independence day, Thursday. The temperature was very tolerable and it only rained for a half hour. 

Every year I like to make something festive! This year I made little cupcake cheesecakes. Cute?  

Raspberry Swirl Cheesecake Cupcakes

Yield: 32 cupcakes

               INGREDIENTS

For the crust:
1½ cups graham cracker crumbs(I used gluten free cookie crumbs)
4 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
3 tbsp. sugar

For the raspberry swirl:
6 oz. fresh raspberries
2 tbsp. sugar

For the filling:
2 lbs. cream cheese, at room temperature
1½ cups sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 large eggs, at room temperature

Preheat the oven to 325˚ F.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners.  In a small bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, melted butter and sugar.  Stir together with a fork until well blended and all the dry ingredients are moistened.  Press 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the bottom of each cupcake liner.  (I like to use a small drinking glass to easily and evenly press the crumbs down.  One of Andrew’s sippy cups works wonderfully.) Bake until just set, 5 minutes.  Transfer to a cooling rack.

• To make the raspberry puree, combine the raspberries and sugar in a blender or food processor.  Process until smooth, then pour through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.
• To make the cheesecake, beat the cream cheese on medium-high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer until fluffy.  Blend in the sugar until smooth.  Mix in the salt and vanilla.  Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
• To assemble, spoon 3 tablespoons of the cheesecake batter over the crust in each cupcake liner.  Dot a ½ teaspoon of the raspberry puree in a few dots over the cheesecake filling.  Use a toothpick or a wooden skewer to lightly swirl and create a marbled effect.
  
  
  
  Bake until the filling is set, about 22 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through baking.  (They will look quite puffed initially but will return to normal quickly.)  Transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool to room temperature.  Transfer to the refrigerator and let chill for at least 4 hours before serving.
  
  
  *recipe from http://www.annies-eats.com/

Pictures from the day:

 Jack (photo credit: Kathryn)

 Mary and Luke

 Mary and Dessa

 Dessa

This was delicious!

My great grandma(photo credit, Kathryn)

Playing Volley Ball(photo credit, Kathryn)

six years

This little princess turned six this week. It's hard to believe. I remember when we first brought her home from the hospital all sweet smelling and wrapped up in a blanket. I remember peeking in the bassinet at her literally every five minutes, hoping that she would wake up and cry so I could hold her. I remember mixing up bottles for her(that awful smelling baby formula is one thing that I do not miss!)and mom teaching me how to feed her. I remember whispering in her ear that someday she would learn to talk too. I remember when she learned to sit--I took her too my room, sat her on the floor, put pillows all around her, and taught her how to play tea party. I remember the way she said "yes, ples" when I asked if she wanted some tea. I remember the day she took her first steps and the day she learned to ride a bike, too.

Now, six years later, she brings the same smiles to our faces as she jumps around the room like a monkey, looks up "how to tie shoes" on youtube by herself, and randomly quotes lines from movies. She's such a ham. But a smart ham. This girl is a reading whiz. Some days she sits by me when I'm doing school and tries to read my books. "Aren't you done with that page yet?.... I am."

Ah Mary, It's been fun. It IS fun.

Happy Birthday Sis!

                                                   Happy thirteenth birthday Kathryn!

Print Shop!

On Friday I had the privilege of going to work with my uncle who works at a printing company. I got to learn all about the printing process, meet his co-workers, and have a few of my watercolors made into cards. We had a great time!

 

                                                   My uncle's desk is the one on the right.

                                                                    Isn't it huge?!?!

                                                We got to ride in this old elevator too!

                                 Hmm, somebody seems to be obsessed with batman...

                                            I took this in the computer screen...haha :)

                       Working on setting up one of my watercolor paintings for a card.

                                                                   Do you like it?

Lauren's Graduation!

I snapped this shot of Lauren when she was practicing. Don't you just adore the dress?

Dad did a great job presenting the diploma!

Uncle Steven gave a great Challenge to Lauren.

                                                   Mema and Aunt Erica serving drinks.

                               The cake! Not the best decorating job, but it sure tasted good!

The cousins and Mary being silly!

The big display board that Lauren and I spent hours decorating. I think it turned out pretty well.

             Kathryn and I made this sisters scrapbook as a present for Lauren and for the display table.

                              Doesn't it look pretty?!?! Mema did a great job decorating!

                                                              My two grandpa's talking :)

    A few friends and I. All of the girls except for me are seniors getting ready to go to college....it's going to be so hard to say goodbye to them!

The finale was a instrument ensemble. We practiced for the first time about a week before graduation! It was almost a disaster, but thankfully it came together at the last moment.

I think the graduation was a success! It was beautiful and I think everyone had a great time. :) :)

P.S. Sorry for the poor picture quality. My camera is not a good one! I usually use our family camera instead of mine, but we were using it to video :(

Kitty Photo Shoot

Isn't she the cutest? I'm not sure what she thought of me following her around with a camera, but she sure makes a good subject! But it was hard to get her to stop moving long enough to snap the photos!