Pour Some Sugar on Me

Our Austin trip for June was a visit to Hey Cupcake! which is a local cupcake trailer chain in and around the city. I know our last trip was also of a trailer-food nature but I can't help it. I started a new job this month and by the time I realized we hadn't done our Austin thing for June I was too exhausted to plan anything big. Plus, who doesn't love cupcakes?

The cupcakes were good but I am sad to say that they did not even come close to Sara Sara Cupcakes in OKC. That place is one of a kind and this trip really made me miss Oklahoma City. I'd heard that Austin was famous for it's food, but there were some wonderful gems in OKC and we haven't found those out here yet.

Now, on to some pictures of our sweet excursion.*







*I also have photos of the actual cupcakes which we ate at home but they hadn't been uploaded and I'm too much of a slacker to do it right now.

Back to Life...

...back to reality.

I just finished my first two night shifts at the new hospital (and by "just" I mean exactly that, just). "Just" as in I've had a shower and am feeding the kids breakfast. "Just" as in the time on this blog post is not a fabrication. "Just" as in I'm working on my end of shift beer and am about to fall blissfully into bed.

I can already tell that getting back into the routine of leaving after dinner and coming home during breakfast is going to take a little more time. I do however, love working nights. There are less intrusions and less distractions, not to mention the added bonuses of not having to wake up early AND getting to sleep during the day.

All in all it's a good fit even if it does mean that I have to spend a few days on an opposite schedule from the other people in the house.

White Wedding

I know I'm behind on my "what I'm reading" reviews and it's probably because I haven't had many good things to say about the books I've been reading. I was however, thrilled with what I've most recently finished and am optimistic about what I'm reading now which has motivated me to complete the reviews in between.

Now, what to say about A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve? I think it's telling that the most interesting part of this novel was the book that one of the characters was writing about the Halifax Explosion. The awkward conversations between old prep school classmates, reunited by a wedding 20-odd years later, did not hold my interest. Nor did the seemingly contrived inclusion of references to the attacks on the World Trade Center. The story seemed forced and the characters incomplete.

I would recommend a big PASS on this one...meh.

Food, Glorious Food

As a special treat, and because Asher woke me up at 0630, I made blueberry muffins for breakfast this past Sunday. I've made them before using this recipe from The Pioneer Woman's website and they are so delicious. And I'm not just saying that because I made them either. I made a dozen and by Monday morning there were only two left. Yesterday, Amelia wouldn't eat her lunch because she saw the muffins and demanded one of those instead. I love that my family enjoys them but I especially love that I can name, and recognize, every ingredient!

(Note: The recipe calls for fresh blueberries, but I have used frozen and they work just fine.)

Boys of Summer

Yes, it's true...that is Asher. And yes, my darling little boy is sporting what his father refers to as a "sweet mullet."

Asher is a boy who has always hated to get his hair cut. When he was younger we endured countless screaming sessions in the salon chair. And I'm not talking about the barber shop ones, I'm talking the cutesie made for kids with video games and movies salons. The entertainment (nor the price tag) didn't matter to him one bit, he was going to scream throughout the cut and I was going to have to shell out for the tip. One summer we bribed him. He was two years old and we were visiting family in Pryor, Oklahoma. His hair was becoming unmanageable so Elijah and I told him we'd buy him a little three wheeler if he'd sit still and be quiet for a haircut. He took the deal and his haircuts have been pretty much scream free since then.

The issue now, is that he just doesn't want to get it cut. He doesn't want to spend an hour in the afternoon watching a movie in a chair that just happens to not be in our living room. He gets away with this by telling me that he wants to grow his hair long. I'm a reasonable, practical mom that believes I should pick my battles, and I've decided that hair is not a battle I'm interested in fighting. However if he does want it long, he has to let me brush it, which is yet another thing that he would rather not do.

Earlier this year, he informed us that he would cut his hair this summer. For us that meant the last day of school, but for Asher that meant the ACTUAL first day of summer, June 21. Still, we were thrilled and Elijah offered his styling services. I'm sure based on the first picture most of you will add "you get what you pay for," but I encourage you to trust me when I say you'll be relieved by the following pictures.

Before - look at that shaggy do. To be honest, I was a little sad to see it go.

Elijah was far too eager for Asher's liking.

The first cut is often referred to as the commitment cut.

Mid-way photo break. He loves his sweet mullet.

It makes him so much tougher than his shaggy style.


Finishing up the job.

Finally, I can see those beautiful blue eyes again!

The finished product. See, I told you you'd be relieved.