Peanut Butter Brownies

YUM!!!!!!! That's definitely what these are. But don't eat too many, or even more than one, you will regret it! 

To makes these scrumptious brownies just follow this recipe:

recipe from Betty Crocker

I changed things a little. I didn't have a brownie mix so I did homemade (which I prefer anyway), and I drizzled the chocolate topping because I didn't want too much chocolate-I was craving a more peanut butter taste. I also was too impatient to let it cool, so I stuck the brownies in the fridge for 10 minutes, spread the filling on and stuck it back in the fridge. It worked great! :)

Brownie Base

1

box (1 lb 2.4 oz) Betty Crocker® Original Supreme Premium brownie mix

Water, vegetable oil and egg called for on brownie mix box

Filling

1/3

cup butter, softened

1/3

cup creamy peanut butter

1 1/3

cups powdered sugar

1 1/2

teaspoons milk

Topping

3/4

cup semisweet chocolate chips

3

tablespoons butter

• Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease bottom only of 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with cooking spray or shortening. (For easier cutting, line pan with foil, then grease foil on bottom only of pan.) Make brownies as directed on box. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• In medium bowl, beat filling ingredients with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Spread mixture evenly over brownie base.
• In small microwavable bowl, microwave topping ingredients uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds; stir until smooth. Cool 10 minutes; spread over filling. Refrigerate about 30 minutes or until set. For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

The Boat

Chris inherited his dad's old tin boat this weekend. It needs a little love but it will be a good project now that he is graduated and has free time. Now that he has a little boat, fishing will hopefully be a little more fun...no more shore fishing for this guy!! 

9 months

Lincoln is so busy and curious that he no longer sits and stares at the camera...what a shame! :) Now I just need to learn about action shots. 

About Lincoln at 9 months...

*now has 4 teeth

*loves bananas

*loves wrestling, especially with dad

*loves to chase and be chased

*learned how to growl and roar

*loves being outside but still unsure of grass...he bear crawls around so the grass doesn't touch his knees. It's pretty comical.

*doesn't stop...ever...even when he sleeps he moves like crazy

*so super smiley!!! 

*a tad bit shy when he meets new people...I love when he shy's away into my shoulder!

Sleep Deprived

This momma is sleep deprived! It's starting to become a very big problem. I love my little boy but lately I'm having a hard time loving him all day. I just wish he would sleep! It sure would make most things a lot easier.
We took him in for his 9 month check up and he had only gained 3 oz. in 3 months...not so great! The doctor told us we need to start feeding him more. He eats a tons already but I guess it's not enough to keep up with his active little body.
It's kind of funny how things change because the doctor told us just the opposite at his 2 month appointment. He gained so much weight but he was happy and healthy and sleeping. Now he moves everywhere and we can't keep his tummy full enough and he doesn't like to sleep.
Well, the doctor told to start more table foods. He has been eating what we eat but now it's mostly what we eat and a little of his baby food. Since we started to try and feed him more he has started waking up 4-6 times a night. Um....we are passed the super newborn stage are we not?! It's awful! We have exhausted our check list and are ready to re-evaluate. Hopefully we will be able to find something that works because I want to be able to sleep like Chris does...for more than 2 hours at a time. Soon....I have a good feeling about this :)

Frisbee golf

So...we are trying to save money so we can move and hopefully buy our own place. I'm starting to get even more tight on our budget (which drives Chris nuts) and trying to be more creative on our dates so we don't spend so much. This little date cost us $3!!! We couldn't find our Frisbees so we bought two super cheap ones and we made lemon brownies for our desert. It was a lot of fun. I set up 5 different holes around our yard and each had something we had to say or do once we reached the hole. If you lost you had to do jumping jack or push ups and if you won you got a kiss! Needless to say...I was the recipient of many kisses  and I came away with sore arms. I am not a good Frisbee thrower and I am not a good looser. I should probably learn quick so my kids don't learn that bad habit.  But it was fun for everyone!

 Lincoln ripped off the sticker from the Frisbee and Chris stuck it to Lincoln's face. Lincoln thought it was so funny.

 Lincoln has also conquered his fear of grass. He now explores everything and we often find grass, twigs, and rocks finding their way into his mouth. Yuck! 

 Chris naming of places he wouldn't mind moving to. My favorite place he chose was Bora Bora....what would it be like to wake up every  morning to the beach?!

The first hole was in the garden and there was just too much for Lincoln to get into so he hitched a ride with dad.

 I've been practicing my photography skills....plants are so much easier to get pictures of than my crazy active 9 month old!

 Chris aiming for the last hole. We had to go over the house and pray our Frisbee didn't get stuck on top. Mine went the opposite was and landed in our neighbor's back yard... oops.

It was a little tricky with Lincoln in tow but he still managed to beat me...shocker!

Boys and grills

The weather is finally starting to warm up and that means it's time to break out the grill! Chris finally threw away his little propane grill (it made everything taste like propane and never really cooked things any more) and  was grill-less on a warm afternoon. Thank goodness for KSL! About 30 minutes later and a trip to get some charcoal we were equipped to do some yummy grilling. Chris took Lincoln outside to teach him the finer points of this very manly task while I got everything else ready for dinner. It was so so yummy and Lincoln loved being outside with his dad. 

Peas

Lincoln is such an independent little boy. He rarely likes to be fed and prefers to feed himself. This often makes meal time difficult. Sometimes I just give in even though I know I will be cleaning up the biggest mess ever! So off come the clothes and in comes the food. You know much of it won't be eaten, but rather splattered everywhere. Lincoln seems to enjoy it though so I guess it's not all bad. I just don't like messes, but that's what dads and bath time is for!

 Lincoln is starting to get the hang of the spoon...and which end the food should be one.

She thinks my tractor's sexy....

This is the closest thing we will probably ever get to having a real tractor. But it sure is fun to have around.

Lincoln pushes it back and forth all around the house. I think we may need to get some more cars...

For the love of books

Lincoln loves his books. This love bug book (shown in the first picture) lights up and plays music....probably one of his favorites. You can find him in this little corner at least a couple of times a day. They are the rare moments when he isn't getting into too much trouble elsewhere :)

*please don't judge the quality and look of these pictures. my camera wouldn't cooperate*

Food Storage

The other day Lincoln and I went food storage shopping. I got all my shelves filled back up (thank you case lot sales!) and Lincoln found it all. He made his way to the little pantry and started un-organizing all my hard work. It was so funny to watch him get so excited about pulling things off the shelf. He would pull one item down, turn around and smile at me with the cutest smile! He is also perfecting his ability to pull himself up and walk along things. I was just glad that the canned food was just barely out of reach. This new little trick of his has made nights a little difficult though. He loves to pull himself up in his crib but he hasn't yet mastered getting back down so he cries and screams until someone comes to put him back down. I love that he keeps learning and practicing so many new tricks but why does he have to practice so much in the middle of the night!? Oh well...soon this stage will be over and I know I miss it. So, as much as I miss my sleep, I remind myself to enjoy the moments because they pass much too quickly!