Recipe- Orange Dream Squares

I used to post a few recipes on the blog....then for some reason I stopped.   I'm going to try to start that again. I came across this one and it sounded good, so I tried it a few weeks ago with some friends.  It was tasty!  And pretty easy too!

(sorry- no pictures)

Orange Dream Squares

40 Nilla Wafers, crushed (honestly you need more than 40!)

1/2 stick butter, melted (I used more!)

2 cups milk

2 packages (4 serving) vanilla pudding

1 8 oz tub Cool Whip

2 cups orange sherbet (Raspberry would be good, too)

Line a 9x13 pan with foil (ends extending over the side).  Mix crumbs and butter.  Press into pan.

Add milk to dry pudding and blend.  Stir in half of Cool Whip.  Refrigerate 10 minutes.  Add other half of Cool Whip to sherbet and spoon over pudding.  Freeze for 3 hours before serving.

It was very easy to half the recipe, but I definitely used more than 40 Nilla Wafers and more than 1/2 a stick of butter.  A 9x9 pan served 8 adults easily.  I also thought about it... you could use a graham cracker pie crust but it would give it a little different taste...

ENJOY!

Six Month Pictures

After our success with Parker's three month pictures, we decided to attempt her six month pictures ourselves as well.  This time, we headed down to the Auburn University Arboretum to try to take some outdoors.  I was hoping for some flowers, but due to the summer heat and drought conditions, most of the flowers were dead.  We still had fun with her pictures though.  Here are a few of the ones taken....

Six Months Old

Sorry we're a few days late on this post... We didn't go to the doctor until yesterday.  

Parker is at such a fun age!  However, it doesn't seem possible that my baby is six months old already!  

Six Months Stats-
Height: 27 inches (90th percentile)

Weight: 15 lbs (30th percentile)

Head: 16.6 inches (40th percentile)

Parker is definitely a little girly girl right now.  She squeals and giggles all the time.  She LOVES being outside.  If she is upset about anything, all I have to do is go outside and she will immediately calm down.  She is sitting up on her own very well.  She still falls backwards occasionally but it no longer makes her cry.  

Parker talks a lot.  Especially in the car.  We will hear her talking to herself, or her toy bar, or whatever lovey or toy she has in her hands.  It is definitely a sound I love to hear.  She really started with "mamama" this weekend.  LOVE it!  I know that she doesn't really know what she is saying but it makes me smile!

Parker has a fake "cough" that she does if she isn't getting enough attention.  She has been doing it for about a month now.  It's pretty funny!  

It took us a while to get her to eat any oatmeal or rice, but now that she will, she eats like a champ!  We have tried green beans, sweet potatoes, squash and pears.  She has done well with all of them.  

Here is Parker at 6 months old:

Beach Trip Part 3

Having Parker with us meant that we couldn't spend all of our time outside in the sun like we normally would.  We hung out inside and played, walked on the beach in the evenings and played in the swingset.  

It was Parker's first time swinging and she loved it!

 Of course, we had to travel with half our toys to entertain a certain someone....

We also enjoyed yummy dinner's out!  She was a very happy girl this night...

and no... we did not plan to match or coordinate that night.... it just happened!

We had a blast spending time as a family!  I can't wait to go back again in a few weeks....

Beach Trip Part 2

We already knew that little girl loved the pool, so we knew if the beach itself did not go over well the pool would be a back up.  Even though she loved the beach, we swam some too.  This little one kicked herself all around the pool giggling and squealing!  She had so much fun!!

Beach Trip Part 1

We went to the beach this week to celebrate our fourth anniversary.  We tried to start the habit early of going somewhere to celebrate our anniversary every year.  For our first, we went to the lake for the night.  For our second, we went to the beach.  For our third anniversary, we stayed a night at Ross Bridge.  This year, when we were planning, we decided that for our anniversary, we wanted to take Parker to the beach for the first time.  Yes, it was our anniversary trip, but it was fun to see her experience something new!  We had plenty of offers to babysit, but I'm so glad we took her with us....  

Experiencing the sand for the first time....

And the salt water....

We have a future beach bum on our hands.... and I'm so glad that she loved the beach as much as we do!

Half Birthday

Sweet Girl,
It is so hard to believe that you are six(!) months old today! It seems like just yesterday that we found out we were going to have a baby, and now you are half a year old! You have been such a blessing to us. We can't imagine what our life would be like without you in it. We love listening to you giggle and squeal and playing with you! We have so much fun playing with you and watching you learn new things.
We are at the beach right now to celebrate mommy and daddy's fourth anniversary tomorrow, and your half-birthday today. We can't wait to watch you on the beach and play with you in the pool. You are such a joy to us. We love you more than we ever could have imagined. Happy half-birthday Parker Beth!

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Play Time

We have really enjoyed play time since I have been home from work.  (I'm sure that Parker enjoyed it before, while I was working).  We pulled out her shape sorter last week, and Parker loves it.  She has already figured out that if she turns it over or bangs the handle that it makes noise.  Who cares about actually putting the shapes in the box!

Success!!

After about six weeks of trying rice cereal or oatmeal every few days, Parker finally decided to eat it!  I don't know what caused the flipped switch.  She will eat both the rice and the oatmeal too.

Friends

Parker and I went to Birmingham for a short visit.  We stopped by the Esslinger's house to play!  Of course, Amanda and I had to get pictures of the babies...

Will was all.over.the.place.  It was hard to keep him still.

Parker did not know what to think about it all.  She is still pretty stationary, but is definitely wanting to go.

We had a few sweet moments in there as well.  Will and Parker were very intrigued with each other.  We have several pictures of them "hitting" at each other.  Will even tried to climb over Parker's head at one point!

It sure is hard to get a good picture of 3 kids 3 and under.... This was the best one of all of us!  

John was much more interested in the puzzles than in anything the "babies" were doing!

I'm so glad we got a few hours to visit with the Esslingers!  I wish we were closer so we could see them more often!!  

Silly Girl

Since she has been rolling so much lately, Parker has decided that it is funny to hang on to the rings and then roll over while hanging on.  It's pretty cute, but looks uncomfortable on the way over!

Memorial Day

Drew's shift had a pool party on Memorial Day.  We had a great time hanging out and grilling and swimming.  Drew has been blessed with a great shift....good friends and families to hang out with and for him to work with!

Oh- and see Miss Parker sucking on her bottom lip in most of these pictures... we think there might be a tooth on its way in....

Water Baby 2

A few weeks ago, our Sunday School class had a pool side social to honor a few couples who are moving this summer.  We took Parker's swimsuit and decided we'd just see how she was before putting her in the pool.  Well, stinker didn't nap that afternoon, so after she slept on me (in the 90 degree heat) she was HOT.  So Drew decided to dip her feet in the pool so that she could cool off.... next thing I know Parker is soaked!  She loved playing in the water... good thing we had extra clothes!