Red, White and Blue Poke Cake

1 box (18.25 oz) Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® white cake mix
Water, oil and egg whites called for on cake mix box
1 box (4-serving size) strawberry-flavored gelatin
1 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cold water
1 box (4-serving size) white chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
1/3 cup milk
1 container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup fresh blueberries


Heat oven to 350°F. Make cake mix as directed on box for 13x9-inch pan, using water, oil and egg whites. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack 1 hour.
Pierce cooled cake with fork at 1/2-inch intervals. In medium bowl, stir gelatin and boiling water until dissolved. Stir in cold water. Carefully pour mixture over entire surface of cake. Refrigerate at least 3 hours until serving time.
In large bowl, mix pudding mix and milk until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread over cake. Arrange strawberries and blueberries on top of cake to look like flag. Store in refrigerator.

Alsea Falls

I went camping again this last weekend. I think I am trying to make up for last summer when I didn't go at all! This was such a great spot. It was kind of crazy the first night because the family next to us had a very unhappy child. I dont know why people insist on bringing a sick baby camping but oh well. After they left the next day there was alot of rejoicing:)

I love the sun through the trees can you tell?! I know I had alot of shots of it in the last camping post.

Just another shot to show how incredibly green everything is everywhere you look!

This is on the trail going to the falls

Another cool shot on the trail. There was moss on the trees.

This is Trish up by the falls.

This is me by the falls. I wasn't going to put this in because I dont look the greatest. I thought I better put a few of me in once in awhile to prove I am there:)

This is at the top of the falls. It was really pretty and very scenic. We tried to hike to another falls but the directions they gave us were awful. When we ended up in another campground at someone's site we headed back. Maybe next time we will find it!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

There is the cutest family in our ward that we always sit behind in church. They have adopted us into their family and we love them! Recently the parents were able to go on a fun filled trip. The youngest in their family was turning 2 on the day they would get back. I thought it would be fun to make him a cake so it would be less stress on the mom. He loves trains so we made him a train cake. I think it turned out pretty good. There are a few things I would do different next time but overall he loved it!

Camping fun

This is the camping spot we chose out of like 600 sites available! It was a really nice spot under the trees. I am so glad that I have such a great friend to live with and be able to go on adventures with.

The light through the trees was so pretty I couldn't stop taking pictures!

It was nice and sunny while we were there but the wind did blow so that made it kind of cold.

This is the lake just down from where we stayed. They had swimming and canoes and kayaks you could rent. We were in the area of the Oregon dunes so check out how pretty and white the sand is!
We went just down from our camping spot to hike up to the Heceta head lighthouse. This was a shot through the trees on the way up.
Isn't Oregon so pretty and green! This was at the beginning of the hike.
So this is the view from the porch at the bed and breakfast they have up on the hill just down from the lighthouse! I could live there in a heartbeat!
We also went to a place called the sea lion caves. This is outside of the cave a bunch of sea lions sun tanning and catching lunch!
This is down 200 feet in the cave. Sorry about the fence shot they have to keep it up so people dont climb down and bother the sea lions.
This is the view from the cave over to the lighthouse! It was alot of fun to get out and adventure around. I am hoping to go a lot more this summer!

Wow I haven't been very good at blogging this month. There has been a lot going on but nothing exciting enough to blog about. I did go camping this last weekend so I need to get my pictures up for that. I recently wrote about my cousin's twins being born the same day as my niece. I thought maybe you would like to see a picture of them. They are just too cute! I promise to be back on here soon so stay tuned....

a visit from a sweet friend

I was really excited to hear from a good friend of mine over memorial day. She was coming to Oregon to visit her husband's sister and wanted to get together. It happened that she was only going to be an hour from my house so of course I agreed. We found a spot in the middle to meet and it was a great day. There is a riverfront park in Salem that I have never been to and it was nice. It had a carousel that you could ride for 1.50 but since it was Sunday we didn't go on. Trish found the next best thing outside to ride:) There was also an old fashion steamboat that was fun to watch. You sign up and it takes you for a ride and they provide a meal. Its quite expensive though so I dont know if I ever will do it. I was just content eating a picnic and visiting with my good friend. She was an old roommate of mine and I just love her. The last time I saw her was 3 years ago when I catered her wedding lunch. It was fun to meet her new little boy Connor and the other family she brought. I love days like this and wish they happened more often! I would love to see any of you if you want to make the drive:)

Its a girl!

This last week I became an aunt again to a sweet little girl! Her name is Ivy Joy and I cant wait to meet her! I love being an aunt except when I live too far away to enjoy them. I am so glad she is in our family. The same day she was born my cousin Jodi gave birth to her twin girls!I would post a picture of them but I dont know how to take pictures off my phone.Its fun to share birthdays with loved ones:) Welcome to our Family! (I hope the parents dont mind that I borrowed the picture.)