Cupcakes Can be Controversial

This video has been shared on my Facebook feed approximately thirty billion times.          Every single person that has reposted it has said something along the lines of, "Future lawyer here" or "This kid is the cutest ever!"  That last one was from my mom, and maybe I was just offended that she was calling a kid cuter than my own but honestly while the kid is cute-I don't find this video charming at all.   I can be really uptight about certain things and too laid back about others so I get that my gut reaction to the video is that I am just being high horsed about it.  That said, I just don't understand why, as a society, we are celebrating a child being blatantly disrespectful to his mother. 
I'm not even considering the fact that he refers to his mom by her first name-I know kids who go through phases.  I even read in an article that the mom has very good reason as to why he is using her first name, she had just taught him their names so that should he ever get lost he knows more than to refer to her only as, "Mom."  She also went on to say that he typically will use, "Mommy" however when he is really trying to get her to listen, that is when the first name comes out.  On a core level, that bugs me, I believe that my daughter should refer to all of my friends with a "Ms." or "Mr." and wouldn't be ok with being called by my first name as a sign to make me really listen, but I also believe in picking your battles.
Also read in the same response from the mother is that she believes in letting her kid have a voice and encourages healthy debate.  Cupcake kid mom-you and I share that belief.  Deep down though, I don't think this is healthy debate.  I spent many, many years working with all ages of children and how they are allowed to act at two, three, four is only the start of how they will continue to act as grown kids and eventually teenagers (and then adulthood).  
My issue with the viral sensation isn't the video itself or even the debate she engages with her child.  I don't judge her parenting-because let's be real.  If someone decided to screenshot 30 seconds of my life on video you would see me tell Baby, "Please pick up that trash that you just threw on the floor" and for her to quickly respond with, "No you pick it up" and walking away.  Picking my battles.
The thing I just can't wrap my mind around is how everyone LOVES this video and just thinks it is most adorable display of kidness ever.  Maybe they are taking the video for face value and assuming it is an isolated incident.  As a mother of a kid around the same age, I am willing to bet this isn't a one time type of argument (not to mention the title of the video gives me a second clue it isn't isolated).     If the kid was 13 would we all think it is cute because he wants something his mother has decided isn't appropriate?  He isn't magically going to become respectful because he has turned a specific age, and from my admittedly limited experience, I would venture to say it could become worse.
Maybe I just had such a negative reaction because I am so petrified that I am going to raise a snotty kid.  My daughter is so strong willed and opinionated, and I can very easily see her arguing the same way.  If there were to be a video of her having a similar debate, I wouldn't want people to praise her acting that way towards me.     Or maybe, what my real issue, is that I just really, really feel for the kid because I know that I would be losing my own cool knowing there are cupcakes around and I couldn't eat them.  

Weekend in Glen Rose, Texas

I've mentioned before that Boyfriend and I don't celebrate Valentine's Day.  It just isn't our thing and I'm all about date nights at a good restaurant without pre fixe menus that are overpriced.   We seem to have come up with a fantastic solution-a romantic weekend trip...with all of our couple friends!  

  Last year, we rented a cabin at Canyon Lake and while we loved our cabin and being near the lake, for a trip that happened from Friday evening-Sunday afternoon, it was just a tad bit too far.  This year we wanted to find something that was more in the 1-2 hour range of driving for Dallas and landed upon this listing on Air B&B.  

 

Seriously, we couldn’t have been more pleased with our rental.  The home was just absolutely gorgeous and the owners obviously took extreme pride in being hosts-we had more snacks than our large group could eat, plenty of space and it just seemed as every little detail was thought of.  They even had a safety ladder upstairs, which after seeing it made me think that should be an obvious inclusion, but sadly it is not.  

 

Upon our arrival, Boyfriend and BFF’s husband immediately got into the country state of mind.

 

Our first dinner was at Hammond’s, supposedly the place in Glen Rose to order BBQ.  I was not disappointed at all but the highlight was the warm banana pudding.  I actually don’t like my pudding warm but with each bite I grew fonder and fonder.  The boys at first refused to eat any and then immediately stole half our dessert after their first bites.  

 

 

We stayed up late talking, watching the boys make up silly card games and while I was so sad to miss out (extreme sarcasm), also participating in the yearly Moonshine Cherry eating contest.  Why we have decided to make this a tradition I have no idea but I was really, really happy I didn’t have to partake.

We all woke up early the next morning, the boys went on a hike, some of the girls went on a run and I did nothing but sit on the couch soaking in the sun.  It was glorious.  The boys came back and cooked a big breakfast (all cooking utensils and cookware provided by our hosts-seriously they thought of everything!) for everyone.  

After breakfast, we headed out to Revolver Brewery.  The weather was near perfect-a bit windy but temperature wise we were neither cool nor warm and just enjoyed hanging out all day outside.  

 

 Apparently Revolver makes their beer a bit stronger than the average brew because having the preggo and the non beer drinker as a DD came in handy.  Naps were taken by many upon our arrival “home” while others just relaxed on the porch.

For dinner we made pizza, pasta and salad and we discovered the one item our hosts didn’t have-a pizza cutter.  That said, we didn’t expect them to have it and of course a knife works just fine.  People started to get to bed pretty much after dinner, I think everyone was tired from staying up so late the night before and being in the sun all day.

The next morning another breakfast was made by our boys and we cleaned up/packed our belongings for the last part of our group activities-Fossil Rim.  I had never been and was really excited.  At first it seemed as though we went on the wrong day-it was cloudy, the animals weren’t really hanging out near the cars but about 2 miles into the 9 mile trip the sun came out and we felt like kids identifying the various animals and feeding them.  

If you have never visited Fossil Rim-one warning I wish we had known.  It is a LONG 9 miles and there is a bathroom right around the halfway mark, after the giraffes.  If anyone in your party is a frequent bathroom breaker, be sure to go right before you start and drink no liquids otherwise you are stuck with no place to go.

After our trip around the Rim, our cars parted ways to head home.  My car stopped at Pie Peddler’s, I couldn’t decide and picked a little of everything to take home.  I was really, really sad when I had finished my pie selections and wanted to steal Boyfriend’s but I was nice and only ate half.

When Boyfriend and I got home, we were greeted by an ecstatic Baby and a Nana who was exhausted after their weekend together.  I relish our weekend trips away and am already looking forward to next year.  

 Does anyone have any suggestions on a semi-local place to Dallas to visit next year?  Ideally we would like for it to be no more than four hours away. One of our favorite things about Glen Rose was that it was close enough that several of our friends were able to drive out to hang out for the day since they couldn't actually stay the weekend.

Texas Burrito Company-Anything Rolled This Good Should Be Illegal

I really love food.  I know many people will say, "sure so do I" but seriously I'm kinda obsessed.  

 

Yeah right.  Krispy Kreme, my current pregnancy favorite, is the first thing that comes to mind.  I have no problem sacrificing skinny (which I actually have no desire to ever be) as long as I can indulge on those warm little pillows of glazed deliciousness. 

Dallas Moms Blog understands my adoration for edibles and sent me to check out the latest food truck to hit the Dallas scene, Texas Burrito Company(TBC) at their launch party last week.   

  Owned by Two Trucks LLC. who is also responsible for the nomtastic The Butcher’s Son, Gandolfo’s, and What’s da Scoop, TBC is rounding out the foodie options of burritos, tacos, bowls and salads.  Also offering elotes as a side, Boyfriend and I were stoked to try a little of everything.  

As a wannabe foodie, I do have a confession to make.  As much as I seriously want to love all things spicy, I just can't handle the heat.  I'm a complete baby-even pepper will torture my taste buds.  I have gotten slightly better in the fact that I can take a bite or two to savor spicy offerings, but for the most part I have to steer clear.    Both the elotes and the fire grilled steak were extremely tasty and someone a little more mature than I would adore, but they both packed a punch of heat that I just couldn't handle more than a few bites.  The ATX taco though was the perfect solution though with goat cheese, full slices of bacon, perfectly ripe avocado and well seasoned chicken.   I didn't see a dessert offering by TBC but our hosts didn't leave us hanging-parked right outside was What's da Scoop and no joke, even though they didn't have the stereotypical ice cream truck soundtrack, I heard the ice cream angels singing.    

There are a few other unnamed ice cream trucks around the Dallas area and while they really top notch, I am not exaggerating when I say I have thought about going back on a daily basis for another ice cream treat.  I ordered Black Magic, a Nutella lined waffle cone, Zanzibar ice cream, Dulce De Leche, sea salt and whipped cream and can't stop dreaming about it.  One tip-as delightful as the cone was and really did add a complementary crunch, I would suggest getting yours served in a dish with the cone on the side.     While our meals were complimentary, we weren't asked to post or review so please trust me when I tell you it is worth stalking their Twitter to find out where they are and grabbing a burrito or taco (or two, or three...).