Montana Day 2- Hike up Blodgett Overlook

More hiking on day 2, the Kelty daypack for Sula worked so well. This was the most amazing day for taking pictures.

1.4 mile hike to the overlook.

It was a rocky trail with beautiful views of the valley.

Sula and Ella taking a break at the top of the trail.

No feeding the chipmunks!

Montana Day 1- Blacksmith Brewery

On Friday night, we enjoyed some amazing burgers at the Burger Shack in Stevensville, MT. Then it was time to kick it, with the kids, at the Blacksmith Brewery.

Montana Day 1- Hike up Bass Creek

During our first full day in Montana we took a short hike up Bass Creek, near Florence.

Aspen leading the way.

Sula checking out the creek.

Ella playing near the creek.

Some mushrooms near the creek.

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Happy 2nd Birthday Ivy

Last Sunday we celebrated our friend Ivy's birthday.

Enjoy a Nila Mojito this summer

I think I may have created paradise in a glass- this will be my go-to summer drink. I was experimenting with drinks for the Blizz BBQ this weekend and I stumbled upon the most fantastic drink imaginable. I am calling it the Nila Mojito- a marriage of pineapple, lime, mint, and silver spice rum with a splash of sparkling mineral water. Now because this is my own creation, I don't recall exactly the exact measurements but I'm going to give it a shot.

Cheers!

The Nila Mojito

1 fresh pineapple

10 limes

1 cup of sugar

handful of mint

good rum

soda water

Dice a pineapple and put half of it in a blender. Add a few sprigs of mint and blend until pulpy (you may have to add a little water). Strain fresh pineapple-mint juice from "blended juice pulp" and save in a glass mason jar. Juice limes, heat on stove with 1 cup of sugar to make a simple syrup, then combine in glass mason jar with the pineapple juice. You now have a little jar of heaven that will make many mojitos (maybe 10). Save it in the fridge for up to a week.

Now to make the actual drink. In a cocktail shaker combine a handful of ice with 2 shots of rum, 4-5 tablespoons of the pineapple-mint-lime syrup, 3 chunks of fresh pineapple, and a few mint leaves. Shake well and strain. Pour in a glass full of ice and top off with some soda water.

Enjoy and don't forget to share some with a friend!

Sula's entourage

The paparazzi were out in full force during our visit to St. Louis, capturing Sula's every move. Thank you Kelly, Ian, and mom for some great shots!

Below are a few of my favorites. You will find even more of them here!

This is going to be one fun, busy summer!

To kick off the start of summer, Sula and I took a trip down to St. Louis over Memorial Day Weekend. She is becoming a pro moving through airports and even helped us quickly get through the security checkpoint.

Here is Sula at the St. Louis airport showing mama all the airplanes.

Here are a few quirky shots from our trip to St. Louis, taken with my Hipstamatic iPhone app that creates "vintage shots"

St. Louis City Garden

Dessert data with Ian and Kelly.

Lafayette Square in St. Louis

The Arch