A really fun lady at a blog I have been keeping up with has created It's Real Life Thursday and I'm going to do my best to participate this week! If you click on the "badge" you should link back to her site. Here I go . . .

Curb Appeal . . . not so appealing right now. We've let the grass go in anticipation of re-doing the whole front yard but it's a little hot right now for landscaping.


Favorite Jewelry . . . obviously what I wear every day! I had a hard time taking the picture so it's really hard to see.


Junk Drawer . . . my hubby recently decided to clean it out so it's not as bad as it has been. He completely cleaned it out and I couldn't find a pen or a spare piece of paper or a paper clip . . . what's a junk drawer without junk?
Best Feature . . . my husband and I agree . . . my legs.

From "whence I blog" . . . I have a lap top so I am a mobile blogger. With a crawling baby we have the coffee table up against the wall which has created a convenient desk. My pictures a little dark so it's hard to see.


This wasn't so hard . . . next time I'm going to try to work on my photo quality!

Updates

Little Bit is in full crawling mode and we have strategic placement of pillows and cubes around the den to try to keep her "penned in." This creative move shows you just how active and determined she is to get around. We estimate we are within a week of pulling up on things!

JP has gotten a lot completed in the last couple of weeks. The drywall went up quickly and then he taped, mudded, and caulked it. This past week he built the base of the cabinets. Of course he has had a little helper and they have both been wearing their tool belts. As you can see, Ranger is still wearing the same shorts - he was very serious about wearing them every day. The boys are at their favorite store (Home Depot) right now buying more supplies.

















Not sure a caption is really needed . . . !

Summer Uniform

How cute are these guys? JP wanted plaid shorts so that is what he got for Father's Day but I couldn't resist also buying the same shorts for the Little Guy. He decided to get dressed today just like Dad . . . and he announced they'd be wearing this every day this summer.

Hard at Work

I worked from home yesterday and was able to capture a picture of Josh during his work day.

Little Bit - 6 Month Check Up

Little Bit had her 6 month check up yesterday at 6 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days. She weighed in at 17 lbs, 5 oz and measured 28" tall. Dr. Alexander was very impressed to see her sitting up all by herself and when he said that she would soon be able to get herself up like that we said, "she already does." And when he said next she'll be crawling we said, "she already is." How long can we put off the walking . . . I don't know. We will be lowering the bed once again this weekend as I caught her tonight climbing on the bumper pad trying to get to her mobile!

Cookies!

I found this recipe in Sunset and I just love when I have all required ingredients to make something! These were pretty easy . . . I like drop cookies much better than rolling and cutting! The recipe says it will make 5 dozen but I only got about 3 dozen . . . . I also only added chocolate chips to the second half as I did not have the required amount and I thought JP might like some without chocolate (crazy, I know).

Here you go . . . Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup butter (softened, of course)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 T vanilla extract
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats (I'm not sure mine were quick-cooking . . . .)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350
Using a mixer on medium speed, cream butter & sugars until smooth.
Add peanut butter and mix until combined; then add eggs & vanilla.
In another bowl whisk together oats, flour, and baking soda.
Add to butter mixture and mix on low until well incorporated.
Add chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoons 1" apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes, switching positions of pans halfway through baking, or until lightly browned but still soft in the center.
Transfer cookies to racks to cool.

Construction

House project #1 has begun! JP is building a new pantry that will take up the whole wall in what we call the "ante room." This room was the laundry room at one point but before we bought the house the previous owners had moved the W/D out to the garage (other side of the wall below) so we just have this room that you enter from the garage. Before demolition we had an older cabinet and a wooden shelving unit that served as our pantry. We'll keep you posted on construction . . . next up is dry wall!

Garden Updates

Ranger's pumpkin plant and our friend the gnome!











Cucumbers - the abundance of plants are finally producing fruit (to the right- it's very hard to see).























This is a cantaloupe!



We also have some potatoes that we started from old ones that were growing "eyes" before we could eat them. Other items in our garden are radishes, cilantro, basil, peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, sage, and thyme. We attempted some lettuce but the birds ate it before we could pick it and eat it ourselves! We also have pots with parsley, oregano, and mint. I'm very excited to have fresh herbs!!

News and Updates

Not a lot of exciting things going on at our house and we have been pretty busy that Blogging has not been a top priority. JP and I did get to have a night out on Saturday spending the WHOLE night out. WOW! We had some nice time sitting by the pool, a dinner out, and then even went out for breakfast at The Farm http://www.thefarmatsouthmountain.com/.

On Sunday the kids joined us at the pool and Little Bit had her first pool experience. I will try to get a picture posted from that day . . . . Ranger of course is still swimming like a fish and is now working on his strokes and side breathing.

Little Bit is "crawling" although she doesn't get very far. She can move just enough to reach out for whatever it is that we have used to tempt her. She has been moving through many of the vegetables (peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, and currently winter squash) and will soon get to try fruit!

Please post your comments. I'd like to know if anyone is reading this . . . .