It Has Been Like This:

A smashed, Sprinkle's Cupcake represents my current state. 

Violated by the heat. Out of Commission. Deprived of anything that once made it look normal, cute. Too forgetful to take care of itself (ok, maybe it was I who was forgetful and allowed my precious cupcake to get ruined, but stay with me). Numerous opportunities for enjoyment crushed (by school). 

Brianne has brought me several Sprinkle's cupcakes this month. It has certainly brightened my self-inflicted house arrest because of school (though she has been just as busy)! This was the first cupcake she saved me, I was running all over that day so I quickly shoved it in my bag, ran my errands in the 110 degree heat, and remembered it too late. Shameful. Poor little cupcake. 

It was only fitting for this month. Only right.

 Last week was Southwest's BIGGEST, and I mean BIGGEST, sale of the year: Their anniversary sale. Oddly enough, it is this shopper's favorite sale of the year. I stayed up until 11:30 on the last night of it panicked as to where and how we could possibly and reasonably take advantage of these steals. Flights to the East Coast, $120 each way (and that included non-stop to NYC & DC), flights to San Francisco $80. We started planning mock trips and creating Excel budget spreadsheets (though I refuse to talk about Excel anymore after my statistics class). Elliott eventually put the decision into my hands and I could have assaulted him for making the most indecisive person EVER decide such an important thing for her. I may have almost cried, like this is such a "hard" and "difficult" and "burdensome" thing, and then I slapped myself in the face.  We had also thought back to Beaver Creek. We discussed the things we could do again, the differences of doing it in the Fall as opposed to Summer. Again, I may have almost started to cry being the excessively EXCESSIVELY nostalgic person I am, but HEY, Elliott was getting plenty sappy about it as well. 

We will return to Beaver Creek this Fall.  

Two days after booking our flight but not the hotel, we received the above little postcard in the mail. Yes, that's a picture of the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek reaching out to us as if they already knew our decision and were simply saying, "Welcome Back." Oh the magic of May still pushing me through June. 

Beckett enjoying what apparently I only thought of as a mistake: visiting the outdoor mall park on a hot Saturday afternoon. Looks like it's indoor malls from now on--I certainly don't have a problem frequenting the Chandler or Scottsdale malls... Please mind his black eye. He pulled a blow dryer onto his face. Oopsie.

Wish Fish Wish

Beckett looks like an owl in this picture. I was always told I had eyes like my Great Uncle, dark, and so brown they looked black. I think Beckett's are beautiful and deep. Beckett has a fascination with toothbrushes and on a given day, probably spends a good hour brushing his teeth. We didn't get a father's day pic of him and Elliott yesterday, and we didn't get one the year before either. Shameful. Definitely my least favorite unintentional tradition. For Father's Day, Elliott and I attended Church where they passed out root beer floats to all the men. Elliott and I spent our Sabbath resting (peacefully napping away the afternoon) and watching the Newlywed Game--a weekend favorite. I made egg salad sandwiches for lunch and he barbecued chicken for dinner. Something about a homemade meal on a Sunday makes the week start off extra right. Elliott is the best father and I never imagined anything less. He is my human holiday and Beckett's playground and comfort. I also granted Elliott one wish... Which he used...  That night... I love the ideation of wishes and everything they mean and can mean if you wish it. They are selfless of the wishee and liberating for the wisher. Or is it the other way around?? Either way, my classes are just past the halfway mark and I can begin to feel the sun over the horizon. It's nice to say, "Next week, I'll be through." Until then, my dreams will remain un-restful and I'm sure a few more about my teachers and classmates will seep into my mind (seriously). I am trucking through June. I cannot wait for splashparks, pool times, sparklers, and more barbecuing in July. 

Scorpion Master

My "Scorpion Master" black light.

 Elliott and I have taken it upon ourselves to become hunters of the night. After spraying our supposedly top notch scorpion killer, we spotted one above the dreaded bathtub (the worst location to trap them) a mere three days later. The next day, I drowsily drove to Lowe's (it was the day after I got my Wisdom Teeth out--I know,no driving allowed) and resentfully purchased a black light. We have made it a nightly bonding routine. I am the brave Raid and little bat holder, and Elliott is the really brave black light and big bat holder. We obliterate a good 1-2 scorpions a night. Yes, it is terrifying but profoundly rewarding in a vengeful sort of way. I'd like to get a picture of the neon glowing devil bugs, but we usually go out around 9:00 at night, and that is far too late for me to prep for a scorpion photo shoot. 

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Today marks like the 5th first day of school since January. I just don't know how often I'll have a chance to post, what with my 4x4 classes (that is, 4 nights of 2 classes for 4 weeks). June will be made into a good month and July will just naturally be a great month. 

Meanwhile, I have these albums to keep me company during my painfully long commutes: