Brownies + Cookies = BROOKIES

I found a new recipe today and they are called pillow cookies or brookies. All you need is a pan of brownies and some chocolate chip cookie dough and you can make deliciousness!!!!

You wrap cookie dough around a piece of brownie and bake it!

Click here to get the recipe!

New Home for the Trailer

Well, not exactly! We have always parked our trailer beside the house on uneven ground but then one day someone turned us in to the city of Shawnee for not having it parked on concrete. Now our wonderful trailer has a smooth and legal spot to park.

High School Buddies

We had a great evening with Mike and Jenni. Mike is one of Michael's friends from high school and I can not believe Mike has had to put up with Michael longer than I have! Way to go Mike!

Unfortunately, it had been years since we had seen Mike so we have decided from now on we are having "FOOD CLUB" once a month. What is "FOOD CLUB"? Well, Michael and Mike love to grill and smoke meats and Jenni and I love to cook and bake so once a month we will be getting together to try out new recipes and just enjoy spending time together. Let me tell you that when Mike and Michael get together there is never a dull moment. Jenni and I are happy as can be to talk about cooking and new recipes. There are not a lot of people that enjoy talking about that topic for HOURS so Jenni and I hit it off great! The menu was stuffed jalapenos, steak, ranch potatoes, sauteed mushrooms and Jenni made a delicious white chocolate cheesecake with chocolate shavings. Looking forward to "FOOD CLUB" next month!

Tropicana-Michoacan style ice cream

Finally, we stopped by Tropicana and had some dessert. Michoacan ice cream is named after the state in Mexico and they are known for having unique flavors of ice cream and popsicles. (that could be the reason why I have never tried it until now) They had pine-nut ice cream, rum raisin, mamey (tropical berry fruit native to Mexico), coconut and they had popsicles that were cucumber with chile, cantaloupe, avocado and that was just some of the unique flavors. We were not adventurous. Cass had a tropical smoothie, Dylan had chocolate and I had Oreo ice cream. Oreo ice cream would not be a normal flavor I would choose but HOLY COW it was quite delightful.

I even let them get Mexican coca-cola!!

Swimming at the Shawnee Pool

We got to the pool around 3:50pm and they were closed due to thunder and lightning but reopened at 4:10pm. We stayed a couple of hours and it was quite enjoyable because a lot of people had left due to the weather.

Cass loves the lazy river! The sun was is in her eyes so that is why she is covering them.

Dylan having fun on the high dive!

Dylan needed a little push to get down the slide.

Another fun day off with the kids!

Krispy Kreme has a new doughnut and since I had the day off I woke the kids up early (8:15am is early for Cass) and we tried the new lemon doughnut dipped in glaze and then drizzled with lemon icing. SCRUMPTIOUS!!!

Later in the day we went to the movies and saw "Toy Story 3". We loved it!!! Last weekend my sister had to leave the movie early because Keeley ran out of popcorn and apparently Keeley thinks that no popcorn means the movie is over. I think my sister will be buying the jumbo tub next time.

Camping at Watkins Mill State Park

We just got home from another fun camping weekend. We were at Watkins Mill State Park.

Cass and her friend Allison getting ready for a 4 mile bike ride around the lake.

Mr. Raccoon was not shy and he was determined to get into our trash.

Saturday around noon the sky was looking a little scary. We were on our way to Smithville Lake to drive around and then find some lunch when the storm hit.

After lunch the sun came out and we were able to go to the swimming beach at the campground.

Dylan and Michael were digging a big hole and I was wondering what was going on.

Then this happened!!!!

"Daddy, can you please get up now???"

Mid-Week Break

I took the day off today and Dylan and I made "Grape Granita" before Cass woke up. It took all day to freeze but it was so refreshing and so easy to make.

We had to wake Cass up because Dylan and I were ready to start the day. We took a trip to the Overland Park Farmers Market and we bought some peaches.

I have been wanting to go to a new store in downtown Overland Park called "The Tasteful Olive" so I made the kids go with me but I told them that I would be buying them a treat later. After we walked around and looked at all the different olive oils we walked next door to "Sugar Mama's". Check out the website and look at all of the yummy flavors of cupcakes. Dylan got one that was called WHAT THE FUDGE? and it was full of chocolate. Cass got one that looked like a hostess cupcake and she really liked it. They have a cupcake called FRENCH TOAST and it has a delicious cinnamon buttercream frosting with a maple filling. Now I think I am in the mood to try a new cupcake recipe!!

WE LOVE CUPCAKES

After filling up on sugar we went to the movies and filled up on popcorn. We saw "Karate Kid" and it was a pretty good movie.

Camping in Topeka, Kansas

We can make camping fun even if it is only an hour away from home! We went to the KOA campground in Topeka because I had a "Stay one night get the next night free coupon".

Friday night we unhooked the trailer and went to "Bobo's Drive-in" for dinner. It was on the TV show DINERS, DRIVE-INS AND DIVES. We ate in the car and got the full drive-in experience. The hamburgers and onion rings were delicious and the kids asked if we could eat there again.

Then we went back to the campground and walked around the three fishing ponds and enjoyed the sunset. Michael even caught several fish.

Saturday it rained from 7:30am-10:30am. We went to Starbucks and the donut shop during the rain and then it stopped for the day.

We went to the Kansas Museum of History and the kids were not real excited about going to a history museum but when we were finished they both said that it was really good and Dylan said thanks for taking us.

Drove by the Governor's mansion

Glory Day's Pizza was awesome

After lunch we drove to Gage Park and rode the train and went to the zoo.

Cass and one of her favorite animals

My favorite animal and it is Michael's also! (Maybe that is why we both went to Pitt State, Go Gorillas)

Dylan enjoyed watching the elephants dance.

"Please do not spit on me"

Back at the campground Cass and Dylan swam in a pond for the first time.

Someday he will shoot me for this picture!!!

Yes, that is a real goose who did not want to be bothered.

Miniature horses at the campground

Next weekend we are off to Watkins Mill for more camping.