Family and Froberg's

What a week it has been! We've gotten in lots of family time in the past week, and I am so very thankful for it. One of the biggest difficulties (for me at least) of being a working mom is that I don't always have a lot of time for my family. Now more than ever, I am working all day, a bit more each evening, and even during the weekend. Plenty of people handle the working mom thing with grace. I'm not that girl. More on that later.

Last Wednesday, we got to spend one last dinner with my brother before he headed out of town. We spent a little time at our house and then headed to Chuy's for dinner. Thanks to Megan and my mildly decent reminder to myself, I remembered to take pictures. They were all on my iPhone, and most of them are blurry, but something is better than nothing...

These are three of my most favorite boys.

Cullen gave Nana some high fives.

And a big bear hug for Uncle Chris.

Seeing my brother was such a great reminder of how important family is to me. I loved that Cullen really formed a strong bond with Chris while he was in town, and I honestly teared up a bit yesterday when Cullen asked if we could go play with Uncle Chris. I can't wait until Chris, Jess, Ben & Claire are closer to home and available for more regular play dates.

After dinner, we headed home so that I could get started on a chocolate peanut butter cake. This cake was a bit ridiculous and just like a Reese's. I don't really like peanut butter, but I have found the best chocolate cake recipe ever. EVER. I might make this chocolate cake for myself for my birthday with a different frosting. Either way, it came out beautifully, and my customers were happy. Match made in heaven for me.

Thursday night, my friend Tera came into town. Her husband was here on business, so she came in to have dinner with me. I'm really blessed to have a friend who could make the trip just for a meal. Of course, we walked the Galleria for a while where we tried on clothes and played at the Tesla display. If I could convince myself to drive a sedan, I might be happy to look at one. Until then, I'll take fun pictures of Tera in the display models.

Saturday morning, I went in for possibly the most amazing massage of my life with my friend, Camille. I came home relaxed and refreshed. Then I ate Chick Fil A for lunch and watched the Baylor game with my awesome little family and some extended family. Because... We are a Baylor family. Sic'em.

 Sunday morning, we headed out to Froberg's to pick strawberries. I was so excited to have another family day for our little family, and Cullen was excited to pick strawberries. James was agreeable to go on the trip. I figured that was the most I could ask for. It seemed like he had a good time with it once it was all said and done.

On the long meander out to the strawberry fields, James and Cullen sang the theme songs from "The Jungle Book" and "Toy Story." It was like I wasn't even there.

 

 

Cullen spent a lot of time holding the bucket and staring while we picked berries.

Then he suddenly got interested.

And off he went to pick his own! 

He made sure to investigate each one before putting it into the bucket. 

 

And he was so proud when he pulled a particularly big one from the plant! 

For those farther away berries, Cullen got a little help from Daddy. 

And he only got himself caught in the taller grass once. I'm pretty sure it was just a strawberry safari for him. 

 Cullen was even willing to take a picture with Mommy. 

And then he showed off his awesome bucket of strawberries. 

At this point, I am probably averaging an intake of one pound of strawberries per day. At this rate, I should be done with them on Friday, and none should go to waste. I also might turn into a strawberry, but how bad would that really be?

In other news, Cullen is really starting to enjoy family dinners. Even if he has already eaten, he wants to sit down when James and I eat, and he always asks for food. The other night, he ate rice during our dinner out of a tiny Mickey Mouse bowl with a huge Pampered Chef spoon. If he eats, I'm happy. If we eat as a family, I'm even happier. 

Cullen also enjoys showing off his organization skills. If you mess up his row of trucks, he will cut you. Not really, but he might throw a tantrum and scratch the heck out of James' face. Not that we know this from experience. Because my angel of a child would never do such a thing. 

In other Scout news, I feel like I'm moving on up in the business world. I am now officially requiring deposits to reserve your date. A special thanks to a wedding that cancelled on me... I hate having to require a deposit, but if people aren't going to respect my time, I have to do a little something to protect myself.

Last night, I had dinner with Amy. Amy and I always have fun when we're together, and we usually share some wine and good talks. Last night was no exception. We laughed a lot, we talked about the important things, we talked about the less important things, and we talked about fulfillment as a mom.

Something that is really tough for me is the judgement I've received from some stay at home moms. I am a huge fan of doing what works for your family when it comes to deciding to work or stay home. I have good friends who have made both choices. Some of my friends who work, work because they love what they do. Some of my friends who work, work because their family needs the second income. As moms and as women, we need to start supporting one another. Is that so hard?

Once we've made the decision to stay home or work, there are so many other decisions to be made. And, let's be honest here, I still struggle with the working mom decision every single day. As women become moms, we tend to lose our identity from our pre-mom stage. At home, we can't just be the wife anymore. We are the wife, the mom, the chauffeur, the chef, the waitress, the maid, the laundress, etcetera etcetera ad nauseum. Losing our identity becomes so difficult. Don't get me wrong. I love my son more than words. I just want my own identity. I love being known as "Cullen's mom," but like so many women out there I want more. I want to give back and contribute. I want to do more than just survive. Now that I've figured out that much, I just need to figure out what to do and how to do it.

Never a dull moment in our home.

xoxo Ashley

Adventures In Food

 Now more than ever, I have been trying to watch what I eat. Since having Cullen, it has gotten ridiculously hard to stay at a decent weight. Pre-Cullen, I could eat what I wanted, as long as I exercised. Now, I need to exercise and watch what I eat. Insert great line here about being an adult and a role model for my child.

I've been doing a really great job lately. Focusing on proteins and fruits and veggies. And then my brother came to town for a week. Lankfords, Lupes and Goode Co. The food is amazing, and we don't eat like that very often. Which is why I had mayo on my BLT, chips AND tortillas, and two pieces of that delicious jalapeno cheese bread. On top of all that, Blue Bell is on sale at HEB. Between Chris and James, I thought I should stock up. I've only had one scoop. I'm hoping to stay strong on that one. Otherwise, it's down the slippery slope we go. 

Of course, I've taken a million pictures since Chris got here, right? Nope. Cullen gets super excited about seeing Uncle Chris, and he even gives out hugs and high fives. Since tonight might be my last visit with Chris before he goes, I'm hoping to remember to take some pictures. If anyone feels like texting me a reminder tonight, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.

In the time that I haven't taken pictures of my brother and son together, I have taken a couple dozen pictures of James wearing Cullen's pajama pants on his head.

And of Cullen wearing his own pajama pants on top of his head.  

And my boys making funny faces. 

Cullen has started taking notes at school and now likes to read to me at home. When I'm cooking dinner, he brings in an additional audience. Race Car Joe took a flying leap from his car after hearing one too many car stories. 

The time change has been especially tough on Cullen and his attitude in general. There have been so many more tears than usual. I would love to chalk it up to him being two, but I'm pretty sure it has more to do with the time change. On the ride home yesterday, Cullen passed out in the car. I read a book in the driveway for half an hour just to let him get some rest. It did nothing to improve his mood.

In an effort to keep my business fresh, I've been thinking about how awesome it might be to have seasonal flavors and/or monthly specials. So what's better at this time of year than incorporating girl scout cookies? I introduce you to the beginnings of Thin Mint Brownies. God bless 'em.  



xoxo ashley

All About The Boy

I think have mentioned before that Cullen had a girlfriend. Her name is Jillian, and she is precious. A few weeks ago, Cullen got in trouble at school for kissing her. On the mouth. Last week was Jillian's last day at Little Blooms. Her mom got a new job as a nanny and could take Jillian with her to work. The teachers made a fuss over it being her last day, so this is the little boy I picked up. We sat in the car for a good 20 minutes while he absolutely wailed. JILLIAAAAAAAAAAN. He bounced back the next day and has moved on to a girl named Michelle. She speaks French, and she's a brunette. I like her.

This weekend was ridiculously busy. I stayed up late Friday night getting work done, and then I got up early Saturday morning to make cookies and cupcakes. After that was done, it was time for fun.

We headed out to Angleton to see Dana and her precious family. On the way, Cullen reminded us that he hadn't been fed any lunch. Much to my chagrin, James turned into a McDonald's. And so it begins. Cullen had his first Happy Meal. He only ate the fries and the apple wedges, and I threw away the toy. I reserve no judgement for parents who regularly use McDonald's for dinner. It isn't a bad thing. It just isn't my thing.

All powered up after a healthy lunch, Cullen hit the Ernst family's back yard like a tornado. Cullen and Noah played in the playhouse, bounced in the tiny, toddler-sized bouncer, and generally destroyed the yard and each other.

Neither of the boys had taken naps, so we separated them for about 20 minutes at one point. They realized that life was more fun together and went on about their business. Cullen went through two sets of clothes in that afternoon, and garnered a few new bumps, bites, and bruises.

Dinner was a really proud moment for me when I learned that Cullen liked blueberries. And he ate a lot of them. Our fridge is now stocked with them. He also ate a cupcake. How cute is that little face?  

The fresh air and fun really threw Cullen for a loop. He slept until 9 the next morning. I would love to say that it was a productive morning for me, but I switched out the laundry around 7 and went back to bed. It's a pretty rare occasion for all three of us to get up at the same time and feel well rested.

Sunday night, we met up with Katie and Cullen for a Lupe Tortilla dinner. It is always great to spend time with them, and all five of us adore Lupe's.  

While driving in to school this morning, Cullen told me, "Mommy, look at Kermit. He so funny." Kermit and Cullen are inseparable.

Tomorrow afternoon, my brother arrives from Okinawa. I am so excited to get to see Chris. In the next week, I'm sure I will eat plenty of Lupe's and Goode Co and cash in on hugs. I just wish that Jess and the kids could come, too. I am so looking forward to a week of fun family time!



xoxo ashley

Baby Things & Family Time

Last week, I got to enjoy baby things. We aren't expanding our family just yet, but that doesn't make teeny tiny clothes any less adorable.

Thursday night was Smockaholics Anonymous. I LOVE this consignment sale. Each time, I have managed to get name brand and boutique clothes for Cullen on the cheap. This season was no different. Polo shirts, a really cute jumper, and some precious PJs for my little man.

Of course, I lingered over the baby shoes, since all of the boy shoes are on one table together. There was one little pair of itty bitty baby slippers. Hand knit and shaped like little puppies. Just because we aren't having a baby yet doesn't mean I can't buy a little unisex something that will get used sooner or later.

Friday turned our kitchen into cupcake central. 10 dozen cupcakes and a lot of laughs with Megan later, I was prepped for a baby shower and birthday party. Per the usual, James' office was able to benefit from the spares.

Kristen's baby shower on Saturday was amazing. The other hostesses and I put a lot of planning into it, and it came together beautifully. We spent a lot of time together laughing and eating, but (of course) I took zero pictures. Luckily, Kristen's mom caught a great shot of the cupcakes. I love love love my Williams Sonoma cupcake stand.

Sunday was set to be a family day. My plans involved Cullen's first trip to Build A Bear and a nap. Naps... Over-rated, right? James' boss shot an extra deer at the lease this weekend and offered the meat to James. For some unknown reason, I volunteered to ride to El Campo with him to get the deer processed. It was a short drive that involved a couple of Disney movies, some ridiculous nose bleeds by Cullen, and a bad experience between me and a beetle. I don't think I like Prasek's. Maybe James can pick it up on his own.

To redeem the day, we took Cullen to Build A Bear. I fully realize this is a place to purchase ridiculously overpriced stuffed animals, but they had a Kermit one! Cullen loves his Kermit cup, so I thought it might make it a more special event for him. The high point for me was finding out that Kermit also has a puppet mouth. Which made me all nostalgic for the Kermit puppet I had when I was a kid.

Cullen was a bit put off by un-stuffed Kermit. James kept showing him Kermit until Cullen was close to tears.

After a short wait in line, Kermit got stuffed, and Cullen got to put Kermit's heart in from the safety of James' arms.

Cullen's hate for Kermit grew by leaps and bounds when the Build A Bear employee decided to do the worst Kermit voice I have ever heard. Ever.

While I waited in line to pay, James took Cullen to get some milk. By the time Cullen was back, Kermit was stowed safely in his box. Much to my surprise, Cullen was happy to carry Kermit when he was trapped in a box. I couldn't help but laugh when he later told Aunt Peggy, "This my Kermit box." 

Of course, Kermit is now a beloved member of Cullen's bedtime crew. He has made his home comfortably with Pillow Doggie, Panda Pillow, Blue Pillow, Blue Blanket, Pets Blanket, Rupert, Mickey, Other Mickey, Mouse, Giraffe, Other Giraffe, and Horsey. I think that covers them all. Last time Mom visited, she was pretty sure he was going to smother himself with everybody in his bed.

My favorite part about Kermit is that Cullen has officially renamed him Kermit Frog. He is no longer Kermit THE Frog. More appropriately, he should probably by Kermit the Attack Frog. While I found his little puppet mouth a fun thing for giving kisses, Cullen thinks it is great for frog bites. His favorite is frog bites to the face.  

I'm pretty sure James was preparing for a hug when Kermit bit his eye out. 



I got attacked while lying on the floor. That was just my bad.

Sunday night, James and I went into Best Buy to look at a laptop they had on sale. We've been looking for a bit to find a way to make it easier for me to work from home. More and more often, I am putting in hours in the evenings and during the weekends. With only the desktop, I was stuck in the office working while James and Cullen got to play. Of course, we left Best Buy with a laptop, a new tv (that was supposed to be James' surprise anniversary present), and a blu-ray player. We are a family of electronics lovers. That's tough for me, considering how much I love to read.

As can be expected, I've already put in a few extra office hours on my new laptop. I also spent time blogging, Pinterest-ing, and playing on Facebook. Surprise, surprise. While playing around on Facebook, I decided to finally take a big step and make a page for Scout. So far, I have 30 likes and two new orders. Next step will be creating an actual website. If you're on Facebook, please stop by http://www.facebook.com/#!/ScoutBakedGoods and "like" it!

xoxo ashley

Waco, Cupcakes, Zoo Trip & Mardi Gras

  The last week has been a whirlwind of fun for our little family. Lots of sports, lots of time outdoors, and lots of time as a family.

Friday night, we were invited to go to a Rockets game and dinner with some friends of ours. Between traffic and rain delays, we missed dinner, but we made it into the stadium just in time for tip off. James and Richard went to school together, so they were happy to watch the game. Julie and I spent the majority of the time getting to know each other and staring at the dancers. Oh the dancers. They made me think that I will never let Cullen go to a Rockets game with James. I am always excited to make new mommy friends, and I'm looking forward to the next time we get to see the Howells.

We had talked for a while about going to see the Bears play at some point this season. With only two home games remaining, we thought it was about time to go to Waco. We got up early on Saturday and headed out on the road. We managed a quick lunch at Bush's, a basketball game, a visit with the family I used to nanny for, and a dinner at George's. 

Cullen has decided that he is quite the serious basketball fan. He spent half of the game on the floor playing with cars, but the rest of the game was spent in awe. It was so funny to watch James and Cullen staring with the same intensity. 

Between the game and dinner, we went to visit the Williams family. During my last year at Baylor, I helped out with their four boys. That time was such a blessing for me, because it really reinforced the idea that I would love to have a bigger family. Cullen jumped right in with their four boys, and all of the boys played while the grown ups talked. It's hard to believe that their baby is now as old as their oldest son was when I started working for them. They were 8, 5, 3, and 10 months when I started. Their oldest just turned 16. If that didn't make me feel old, I don't know what would.

Of course, no trip to Waco is complete without a trip to George's. While waiting for a table, we ran into one of James' fraternity brothers and his wife. Cullen ate queso for dinner. It had meat in it, so I'm just going to be happy he got some protein.  

On Sunday, I decided to make a practice round of cupcakes. I have a baby shower this weekend that requested red velvet, so I've been trying to perfect it. I can't wait to whip these up for my dad's birthday in September. He loves red velvet. I'm also going to be doing a wedding in May, so this was a perfect time to take a cupcake up to the bride for a little taste testing.  

I had Monday off, so I planned a zoo trip for Cullen with another awesome friend. Dana and I cheered together in middle school, so it is really fun to get together and let our boys play. We saw lots of animals and reminisced about our first trip to the zoo when our boys slept while we talked. She is an awesome mom, and it's always refreshing to hear that she has the same outlook on so many things. I couldn't help but laugh when we knew one of the boys had a dirty diaper. When they realized we were onto them, they both ran. We'll work on potty training when Cullen shows even the most remote bit of concern that he's dirty.  

James had to travel for work on Monday, so Cullen and I spent a lot of play time at home after the zoo. One of Cullen's favorite activities is making a huge mess. Here, he has dumped out an entire box of blocks to wear the box as a hat. 

Yesterday was Mardi Gras, so Cullen's school had a parade. Cullen came home with a too big mask and a bunch of beads. He liked it all a lot better when Daddy wore it. 

Over the last few months, my little bakery has really been taking flight. I am getting advanced bookings, and I am being given the opportunity to cater baby showers, birthday parties, and weddings. How lucky am I? I saw this clipping in a magazine over the weekend, and I couldn't help but appreciate it. Baking is so easy and fun for me. By selling my goods, I am taking it seriously. Love it. 

xoxo ashley

When James isn't home, Cullen and I are living in a Dickensian style world.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times...

Cullen absolutely idolizes James. He usually likes to sleep in, but he occasionally wakes up and wants to hang out with us. Cullen loves acting like a big kid, and he really enjoys climbing into our bed in the mornings. Sometimes the boys watch ESPN. Sometimes they play games on the iPad. I just love seeing them enjoy their time together.

I got asked to make some treats for one of James' company's showers again. I was delighted to be asked again, and I really enjoyed the unique order. One of my favorites to make are my triple lemon cupcakes. I got the icing to a really vibrant shade of yellow, and the sugar paste booties were a perfect little accent. 

James headed out to the deer lease for a long weekend with his company. He sent Cullen a picture of "Daddy's Big Truck" to remind Cullen that Daddy always thinks of him. Cullen was excited to see that the truck could handle an entire tree.

On Saturday morning, Cullen and I went to a Valentine's brunch at Megan and Lee's. The food was fabulous, the company was great, and Cullen provided plenty of action and entertainment for me. That boy is so unfamiliar with being calm.

After brunch, we went to visit my parents. My mom was ready to go with Valentine's Day presents for both of us. Cullen is in love with his new toys, and my favorite gift was this mug. Mom thought it was great because of all the cupcakes I make. I couldn't agree more.

After such an exhausting day, I expected Cullen to be wiped out. I settled in to watch The Help and flip through my People magazine after he was in bed. For Cullen, bed does not always mean sleep. Cullen wasn't feeling very well, so neither of us got much sleep that night. At some point, I brought Cullen into our bed. I'm not a fan of co-sleeping, but he is also old enough for this to not be a danger for him. Shortly before sunrise, he finally took a nap we'll call sleep. 

Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Cullen had a precious party at school, James sent me some gorgeous roses, and I got James chocolates and BBQ things. We both got home late, ate pizza for dinner, and I fell to sleep on the couch. Just our usual evening together.

On my lunch break, I ran out to see Kim and get my hair cut. I usually squeeze my hair cuts in during lunch so I don't miss weekend time with my boys. I've been wanting to try something new, but I'm always anxious. My willingness to try something new generally winds up with my hair looking hideous. This time, I got bangs. And I love it. James seems to be on the fence about it, but he's doing a good job with only offering constructive criticism. It's a huge improvement over the time he told me I looked like Darth Vader.

This weekend, we're hoping to make a day trip to Waco to see a men's basketball game. I'm looking forward to lots of time with my boys and a three day weekend. I can't wait!

xoxo ashley

Just Keep Swimming

The last week or so in our house has been wild. It seems like we can't slow down long enough to even catch our breath. Work has been incredibly busy for both of us, and we are working hard to keep up at work, at home, and with family.

Last week, Cullen received his first Valentine's present of the year. It is a cute little dog that he pulls on a string. He loves it. I think his favorite part is that it keeps up with him better than Scout.

A couple of nights ago, I caught Cullen performing some surgery on one of Scout's toys. Cullen is sure that the bear is his, so I think he was trying to leave some sort of mark of ownership. As soon as he saw me coming, he ran across the room. His unpracticed sneakiness cracks me up. 

For dinner, I made a shrimp pasta. Cullen would only eat the noodles. Out of the bed of a truck. With my business card. What. How do you eat your pasta? 

Of course, Cullen wants to do everything with Daddy and/or like Daddy. He likes to feed Scout, "help" take out the garbage, and put the new trash bag in the trash can. I think his favorite part is shaking out the new bag. Shake shake shake. 

For the very patient family crowd, here is a video of Cullen going through the exercise.

The last couple of days, Cullen has been pretty grumpy by Cullen standards. All four of his newest molars have broken through the gums, but he seems to still be having some pain associated with the teething. In an effort to improve his mood last night, James set Cullen up with a bubble bath. He loved it so much. I love that someone is making use of my bubble bath.

This weekend, James is headed out to the lease again. I'll be handling Cullen, catering a baby shower, managing a couple of family visits, a brunch, interviewing a maid, and catching up on work. My guess is that the work thing doesn't happen. Cullen is way too fun to be distracted by insurance and angry people.

xoxo ashley