Are You Ready for Football Season?

Banks is getting ready, but he is a little confused....

Banks will probably end up being a Mississippi State fan because Bryan is the Dawgs #1 fan.

Trying to figure out this cowbell thing....

But, there is always the Crimson Tide....

He is a baby divided (wait till you see his outfit for the MSU/Bama game...you all will go crazy!)

This Roll Tide ensemble is 37 years old! Whew! Mamaw made it for Leigh Anne when she was a baby and then I wore it. It is a little small on Banks since Leigh Anne and I wore it in the fall and winter when we were about 6 months old, but isn't it funny?

He loved shaking the shaker. What a little fan already!

9 Months Old

Banks is 9 months old. Everybody always says it goes so quickly and they are right! He is growing up so fast. He is in a very fun stage right now. Crawling and learning to make noises. He is still such a baby but I can see glimpses of his personality coming through. Oh, and he is such a keeper!

Such a big boy standing now!

You all know I love his profile.

He did NOT want to crawl on the bricks. I don't blame him!

Banks' 6 Month Pictures

I just got Banks' 6 month pictures this week. Barbara Harbin took them and hand tinted them. I just love how they turned out. It was hard to find a spot for all 3 of them and I am still might move them around again, but I wanted to share.

I know it is difficult to look at a photo of a photo, but I hope you can see some of the details.

Crawling, Planking, and Pulling Up

Banks still loves to plank. His new favorite spot to work on his abs of steel is this end table in our bedroom.

He is also crawling EVERYWHERE! He has picked up his speed the last few days.

Go Banks!

And he is trying to pull up on everything......especially drawer pulls.

More to come later.

OREO Ice Cream Dessert

Disclaimer: This recipe is easy, delicious, and addictive. Add it to your files.

This is one of the easiest desserts in the book and my Mom made it for Leigh Anne and Me in the summer all the time. We always called it "Oreo Ice Cream" There are many variations you can do (see bottom of the post) and they are all very good.

You will need:

1/2 gallon vanilla ice cream

1 package original OREO

1 package Cool Whip

2 Oreo Pie Crusts (optional)

Note: You may notice I use name brand ingredients, full fat count. It will taste the best with these ingredients (for a party) but you can lower the fat count if you are just making it at home for your enjoyment.

Let the ice cream and cool whip sit at room temperature for about an hour. Transfer to a large bowl and let stand until you can easily work your spoon through it.

Meanwhile, crush the Oreo cookies. If you use a food processor, do not finely chop the cookies. The dessert is best with the chunks of the cookie in it. I put mine in a gallon bag and beat it with my rolling pin. (My Granny's technique)

Add cookies to the ice cream and cool whip. Mix very thoroughly.

If you choose to put it in a pie shell, it will make 2 pies. Normally, I just put the entire mixture into a 9x13 dish. Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving.

You can also line the bottom of a 9x13 dish with mini ice cream sandwiches then put the mixture on top.

Changes and Upgrades

We have had a very busy 2 weeks at our house and here are a few of the projects that have been keeping us busy. We had the house painted.

Before

After

I also got a new car. I had to say goodbye to my beloved Volvo Wagon, but I must say, it was getting smaller and smaller by the day. Banks' car seat would barley fit into the back and the poor person sitting in the passenger seat might as well be in the fetal position. So.......after one phone call and one e-mail to our Fleet Manager at Novo Nordisk.....

Appears this beauty...... Oh yes, the MINI VAN! I love it and we have so much room!

Next, this is embarrassing but this has been my mailbox for not 1, not 2, but 3 and 1/2 years. No door and everything. We have been meaning to replace it but have been busy doing other stuff.

Until finally, Bryan asked my Daddy to help him build a new mailbox. My Dad, who many of you know can literally build anything, whipped this together in about 2 hours.

Bryan and my Dad had some good bonding time....

And here is the finished product. Doesn't it look better? We still have to get the numbers for the side and maybe plant some flowers around it, but I was so excited to post it. More pics to come of the completely finished product.

I also am working on a total re-haul of my screened-in room. More pics to come!

Our Weekend

We had the best time on Saturday because the Butler clan headed north for a visit! Banks had a fun time "observing" his cousins....and let me tell you..that is A LOT to take in! We played at our house for a bit before heading to the pool.

Jack, the cautious one

Georgie, our little fish

Banks, the observer

Daniel, the wild man

Banks LOVES to splash!

He spent so much time in the pool.....look at his poor feet!

Oh my goodness, at the cuteness! Banks is starting to show signs of having curly hair and I am beside myself with delight. Look at these curls after being in the pool.

Banks is 8 months old and here is his latest snapshot. Still just as blue-eyed as ever and very sweet.

Okay, so now to the crawling thing. We still do not have the crawling thing down but he has mastered rocking, and moving backwards. Sunday morning, he starts doing this...PLANKING! Lori Barber (plank enthusiast) would be SO proud! He rocks while he planks....thus the blurry pic. I mean, seriously, planking requires a lot more effort that crawling in my opinion. Hopefully soon we will have a crawling update.

And he is related to me....he loves to eat! Look how excited he gets when I am about to feed him.