Back from the Beach

We are home from the beach. It was a great trip and I wish it could have been longer!
This was the first beach trip for Greer.

First time in sand, first time in a pool. It all went really well.

We took 179 pictures, I think there were only one or two without Greer.

We got to stay on the beach for the first time ever as a family. It was beautiful!We spent most of our time on the beach and I'm so glad Greer liked it.She was in a good mood probably from the good naps she got.
We did find time for a quick family photo. 7 months together. This is my favorite one of her that my dad shot over the trip. Such a big girl, sitting up on her own these days!
We are home now and it already feels like the trip was forever ago.
Today in the mail we got a little giraffe that I ordered under the impression that babies just love them!
I'll let the video show you Greer's feelings on this.

On the Way

It's beach week for us!
On the way, we stopped in Dothan to let Fancy Pants "stretch her legs". We found this great park. It has buildings from the 1890's.

We walked around and got to see animals and crops.


The weather was beautiful. It was a nice break from the car ride.
We're now enjoying the beach. Lot's more pictures to come!

Roast Chicken

I roasted a chicken!!I am so proud of myself.
I've wanted to try for awhile. A whole chicken is cheaper than just buying a specific cut of meat. And I really wanted to use leftovers for chicken salad.

It's totally easy. You should do it!
3lb Chicken
2 T. Olive Oil
2 T. Butter
5 cloves of garlic, left whole
Salt & Pepper
Kitchen Twine (I just used a thick string I found that had no plastic in it)

Preheat oven to 400º
Remove 3rd joint of wing so it doesn't burn (mine was already clipped off)
Season chicken inside and out with salt and pepper.
Put the garlic inside the chicken
Tie the legs together with the string
Heat the oil in an oven-proof pan and brown the chicken on both sides. About 3 minutes each.
Spread the butter on the breast and place in the oven, breast side toward the back.
Bake for 20 minutes for each pound of chicken. (Mine took 1 hour)

I just made my roasted veggies to go along with it! Delish!
And yes I also made chicken salad from the leftovers, we've already dug into that as well :)
One day I will get super crafty and make chicken stock from the bones. We're just not there yet.

Big news from Fancy Pants.
She's sitting up (a small bit) and is loving some baby food. Not anything I make of course but the packaged stuff. Here she is having some Apple/Blueberry.
And next week we will be back with LOTS of pictures. I mean LOTS.
We're traveling somewhere she needs these...