Toys!!! Toys!!! Toys!!!

Boys and their toys...

Today was so beautiful out!!! A perfect day to spend at the park!! So we packed up all the toys, extra batteries, snacks, and rocket engines :) and away we went!

We have a helicopter...(see it falling from way too high?!)

A remote control car...

A mini (foot powered) rocket...

and THE rocket....which is their favorite part...

Load it up

BLAST OFF!!!!

UP...

UP...

UP...

and AWAY!

Holy Cow!! They really like the upgraded engines, we went from B's to C's!!!

Parachute! Safe landing : )

(and we even brought the Aquadoodle...)

We hope everyone has been able to enjoy some family time outside, we know we sure love it! Especially when the weather is this nice!!!

Love,

Mallory, Rob, and Kyecen

First Dentist Visit!!!

Kyecen had his first dentist check-up this past week...he loved it!!!

They had a tv above the chair so he watched Toy Story while they looked at his teeth!!!

Plus, because he loves to brush his teeth, he got a perfect check up!!!! And he was so excited to get a new toothbrush and a balloon! He's so easy to please : )

Love,

A very happy mommy!

FISHIES!!!

We finally got fish in Kyecen's new fish tank!

We went to the store and let him pick out his fish...and a crab

He was so proud that he got his fish :)

We came home and got them aclimated to their water...

then dumped them in...

and fed them for the first time!!!

 Meet our fishies..and our mean little crab!

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming ;)

Love,

Kyecen, Rob, and Mallory

HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!

What can I say, 2011 was a great year :) Not that I'm not excited for what 2012 has to bring, but 2011 was really good! Lots of good changes, and great people came into our lives...hoping that 2012 keeps those great people in our lives and even if it brought us some more new ones, that would be okay too.

We had a great New Years Eve! Thanks to grandma watching the little man :) We went down and partied with all the crazies on Mill, at the Fiesta Bowl Block Party! It was like our own mini Times Square right here in Az.

PARTY TIME!!!

Countdown to midnight!!! 3...2...1...Happy New Years!!!

Starting the New Year off right, with a kiss : *

And some fireworks ; )

After the party shutdown we made our way to Ihop...and waited...

and waited....

and waited some more...

for almost 2 hours for some breakfast....

We finally made it to bed after 6am, but we had a great time!!

Happy New Year Everyone,

Love,

Mallory, Rob, and Kyecen

Manatee!!!

One of Kyecen's Christmas gifts was a Manatee, adopted for him by Rob's mom :)

It came in the mail yesterday...and he was so excited!!!

He was so excited that he got to open it!!!!

And he was so excited that it was his very own manatee :)

The manatees name is Ilya, and Florida is his home. Robs favorite place! We hung his adoption certificate and a letter that tells all about him and his travels next to his fish tank! (I secretly think Rob loves this little shrine to Florida)

Love,
Kyecen, Mal, and Rob

Cast Iron and a Griddle!!

We are so happy to say that we have added some great kitchen gadgets to our kitchen collection this Christmas!!! And even happier to have been able to use them already!

Thank you to Mom and Dad Hoopes we have a new Griddle/Grill!!! New knives, and sushi making kit!! 

We used it to make our hashbrowns for Christmas breakfast!!!

Thank you to Mom and Dad Charter, we have a Cast Iron pan, new pots and pans (cause mine are cheap and old), and a full set of measuring cups/spoons!!!!

 I used the cast iron pan to cook our carne asada tonight and it turned out AWESOME!!!

And between Rob and I we fancied up the rest of our kitchen for Christmas!!

My favorite is the spatula paddle for my kitchen aid!! I used it while baking birthday cupcakes!

It works great!!!

We'll definitely have lots more cooking adventures to share soon!!!

Happy Cooking everyone!!
Mal, Rob, and Kyecen

Cookies and Cream Cupcakes!!!

I will start off by saying, I DESTROYED the kitchen....

With that said, YUMMY!!!!

We love cookbooks and google! Today I found a new website, I've heard of it I think from my cousin before...but never really checked it out..big mistake! I will be baking from her website more often!!
Bakerella.com!!!! Awesome!!!

Here you can find her post and RECPIE!!!

Start by crushing the oreos, and putting a spoonful in your cupcake liners!

Fill the cups 3/4 full and bake!!!

They look perfect!

You can really see the cookie crumbs come to the top of the batter before baking in the big ones!

Yummy Cookies and Cream frosting!!! 

Top them off with a Oreo cookie!

And some birthday candles!! Happy Birthday Rob!!!

I doubled the batch, in bakerella's blog she said that per her recpie it should make 12 regular size cupcakes...I made 24 regular cupcakes and 48 mini cupcakes!! WOW!

These are very yummy, I will definately make them again!!!

Mallory