Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have found it! The perfect chocolate chip recipe. I have tried all kinds and this is it. Forget Martha Stewart's, forget Nestle Tollhouse's...the recipe found in Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey Treats for Kids is the absolute best. They puffed up and aren't flat. They are soft and chewy on the inside with just a little hit of crispiness on the outside. Perfect, I tell you, just perfect!

If you want the recipe just email me. I don't want to post it on the blog for copyright reasons.

I'm so excited to add this to my "Best ___ Recipe"

I'm still looking for the best Banana Bread recipe if you have suggestions.

This month's Cooking Light Magazine has an Oatmeal Pancake recipe that is fantastic. It's been put to the top of the "Best Pancake Recipe" for our household.

Okay, I'll stop taking about baking and eating now. : )

Slip N Slide

I found a Slip N Slide at our local Walmart on clearance for $3.50. I couldn't pass it up! So this weekend Matt and Sydney have been tearin' it up.

Look at those skills. : )

Hello.

I'm starting her out early for the play kitchen and felt food! : )

Labor Day Weekend

This past weekend we traveled over to Texas to visit Matt's side of the family. Aubrey was able to meet Nonny & Pa for the first time. Sydney is a seasoned pro at the great-grandparent's house. Only there can Sydney have dessert before dinner. : )

A quick stop to the grandparents before heading to Coopers. Coopers is the best bbque...no lie!

Happy Wednesday

The Faces of Aubrey

Here is her smiley face. Notice the 2 top teeth.

Here's her curious face.
Here's her "I'm sick of pictures" face.

First Day

Alabama Trip

So the girls and I went to go visit some friends in Alabama last week. It was a lot of fun seeing Debbie and the kids. The kids play so well together so us moms get to sit there and chat the whole time. Nice! One morning we took them to the Fine Arts Museum. I know this isn't the best picture but it represents the girls quite well. : )

Thanks to Chris who watched all 4 kids both nights! Notice the girls have matching dresses - that's what happens when we have nights out and a Target nearby.

Debbie bought these nail stickers for the girls. Needless to say, Sydney loved them.

Sydney & Aubrey

Just a couple new(er) pictures of the girls.

And

Matt's sister and her family came to visit right before the 4th of July. I can't believe I didn't take any pictures! I was too busy being hostess and taking care of the baby. So pathetic! I need to do better. Anyway, we had so much fun. Sydney loves her cousins. There was always someone there to play with her. She got lots of beach time too. She's still rockin' a pretty nice tan right now. So a big thanks to Jen & Rob for trekking it all the way out here. We appreciate it. Anyway, here is a picture of all grandkids for Matt's parents.

Do you notice the bright blue shoulder behind the baby making sure she doesn't fall off the piano bench? haha. Yep, yours truly. : )

Last Ones, I Promise!

Yep, You Guessed It!

More beach pictures:

7 Months Old

Aubrey is 7 months old today. Yes, time goes by so fast. She has been crawling for about a month now. Her new tricks include pulling up an anything and being able to climb the step in our home. Overall, she's a happy baby. She does get fussy when she is tired and wants to go to bed. Can't complain there. Her favorite foods are Cheerios, acorn squash, and bananas.

She cracks me up!

Beach Pictures

Yep, I'm dragging these vacation pictures out as long as possible. : )

Matching Swimsuits

Sydney just had to have a swimsuit that matched little Aubrey's suit. I couldn't argue.

Vacation!

No, I haven't forgotten you!! We've been on vacation since the beginning of July. It's been really great but it is really great to be home. Hopefully this weekend I'll be able to sort through the hundreds of pictures I have taken and show you some. Until then, here's one of my favorites.

Don't be blinded by my pasty, white skin at the beach! I don't tan. : )

Aubrey at 6 months

She's growing up so fast. She is now crawling. Craziness. I guess she just wants to keep up with Sydney.

"Oooh...grass!"

Swinging

Eating Peas

And because I don't know a lot of my crafts on this blog anymore, I just wanted to give you a sneak peak of what I have been up to. You can always find out more of my crafting here.

All American Apple Pie a la Mode.

Homemade Caramels

I don't know why I decided that I needed to make homemade caramels but I'm sure glad I did.
I used this recipe here for chewy caramels. They were absolutely fantastic!!
I did use the reviewers suggestions about heating the caramels to a higher temperature. I even loved individually wrapping them like I owned my own little candy shop.
I can't wait to make them again...I'm thinking next week. : )