Some More Summer Fun

T-2 takes on the Rogue with King Daddy.

T-2 LOVED her horseback riding lessons.

Fun with friends in Jacksonville.  Yes, friends, that's Prince P.

Cupcake Corner Part 3 (Portland)

A couple of amazing friends and I visited Portland for a girls trip of shopping and Les Miserables (which was wonderful by the way).  It turned into a cupcake frenzy though as my friends were fully indulgent and supportive of T-1's  and my obsession.  (The were totally on board with the sacrifice of scientific research too.  I have very intelligent friends)

Our first stop was Saint Cupcake Galore in downtown Portland.  We all agreed this was the best place.  Queen Krista loved the Red Velvet, Queen Natalie was all about the chocolate and I loved the coconut.  When we go back, this will be the one where I take the princesses.  The variety is best and the place is adorable.  Best Cake too.

Next we hit Cupcake Jones in downtown Portland.  This place didn't have anywhere to sit, but the unusual flavors made it definately worth the trip.  Peanut Butter and Jelly, Rootbear Float, etc.  Queen Krista tried the red velvet here too.  Not bad, but not as good as the Saint.

Our last stop was a traveling cupcake truck we had to locate on Twitter.  It was at a tiny little farmers market and only had a few flavors.  This one was a recommendation from a friend.  There was Almond Joy, Rasperry Lemon and Dulce de Leche.  I'll have to get the other queens to comment on the Dulce -carmel is not my fave, but the other two were not bad.  Maybe a little dry, but to be fair, we did eat them much later since we were stuffed from the others!  I'm not sure it was worth the hunt to find this truck.  Maybe if you live in Portland and it is in your neighborhood.....

T-3 can see!

Adorable Princess T-3 in her new glasses.  She's worried people will make fun of her.  I think she looks smashing.

Royal Tennis Tournament

T-1 came in 2nd in Doubles, and 3rd in Singles.  T-2 came in 3rd in Doubles.  Overall a successful and fun first tournament - especially since as she was walking up to the courts from the car, T-1 tripped and scraped up her knees something fierce.  Poor thing.

Princesses Monkeying Around

The Princesses and some friends went to Urban Monkey - a bouncing air park of craziness with trampolines and squish pits.  Very fun.  No, princesses don't sweat.  They sparkle.

Musical Theatre Camp

T-1 and two of her amigas from theatre camp.  She had a blast for two weeks and did a show at the end called, "I need a Vacation."

Cupcake Corner Continued

Our visit to Portland led us to The Sweetest Thing Cupcakes.

These cupcakes were pretty, but very dry.  T-3 didn't even want to eat hers.  Bummer.  Icing was tasty though.  It was the little kiosk at the shopping center though - they were not baked on site.  The shop was adorable.

We didn't want to let Portland let us down in the cupcake department, so on advice from a friend we found a total hole-in-the-wall bakery called

T-2 had an amazing Carmel Apple, T-3 - Chocolate Mint, T-1 Chocolate Orange, and I had the recommended "Chantilly".  These were really delicious.  A little too much frosting maybe, but nice and "spongy" cake.  The Carmel Apple was Queen Mommy's fave.  It wasn't a cute shop though and you know how we like our packaging.  You sit in what looks like a antique shop with really dirty looking seats and toys everywhere.  Close your eyes and take a bite!

This last weekend, the princesses visited the Science Works in Ashland, Oregon for a special Magic for Muggles event.  Afterward we got on our brooms and flew over to

Larry's Cupcakes.  New place by the owners of Yummy Cakes which just closed in Medford.  They are focusing on Cupcakes now and had over 30 different flavors.  T-2's bubblegum butter cream left something to be desired, but really, what do you expect?  T-1 loved her chocolate cupcake, but not the raspberry buttercream.  Queen Mommy thought the Carrot Cake  was great.  So. Oregon - go in and try them!



CUPCAKE CORNER

T-1 loves Cupcakes.  To be honest, so does Queen Mommy.  We discovered a new cupcake store in Medford a few months ago called The Cupcake Company. 

We've been there twice now and think their cupcakes are delicious.  T-1 really likes the chocolate raspberry.  Queen Mommy says it's all about the minis (that way she can have 2!) - Carrot Cake and Snowball.

Since then, we have made it our mission to scientifically test the deliciousness of cupcakes in cities across America.  We are willing to do this testing for as long as it takes.  We're selfless like that.

We'd been enjoying the cupcakes at Frosting Bake Shop in Walnut Creek, CA (near the Queen Mum)

 where T-1 loves the Black and White

While Queen Mommy prefers the Lemon Twist

We think the cake to icing ratio is a bit off, but delicious. 

Last time we visited San Francisco, we tried Kara's Cupcakes.

T-1 had Chocolate Raspberry and Queen Mommy had Chocolate Coconut.  There is nothing wrong with these cupcakes (except they are spendy, but all of the shoppes seem to be.)  These definately are some of our favorites though.

While visiting San Diego last month, we took time out to visit two different shops.  The famous Sprinkles cupcakes was the first Cupcake Shop in the US.  They had opened a branch in La Jolla so we twisted everyone's arm and they agreed to make a quick stop. 

We tried several flavors - all together 6 or 7 and they were all smashing.  Our favorite shop by far.  These surpass even Kara's, our previous favorite.  Add to that that we got our order free because we gave them the secret password (and there were 10 of us so it would have been like $35!) add the amazing view of the San Diego Temple and there is no beating Sprinkles in La Jolla.

We also tried a place called CB's Cupcakes that lets you choose your cake, your frosting, your toppings and then assembles them for you.  They were not delicious.  Dry and the icing tasted canned.  Overall a disappointment, but a good idea in theory.  Keep trying CB's!

Playing Catch-Up

Seriously?  It's July?  Why has this year flown so fast?  The Princesses have kept me so busy, I haven't been diligent in the Blog department.  Several pictures have made it to Facebook, so that is something.  Here's the first half of the year in a nut shell.

JANUARY

Thing 1 goes to All State Choir and performs some really fun songs with kids from all over Oregon.  Aunt Barbara joined me and Thing 3 at the concert.

FEBRUARY

The royal family visits Cancun, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

MARCH
Queen Mommy visits Queen Christina (King Daddy's sister) and her family in Colorado.
Thing 1 does a report on Martha Washington.

APRIL
Thing 1 turns 11.

Thing 3 turns 5.

The Royal Family Visits California

MAY

Thing 2 and Thing 3 are Soccer Stars

The Princesses Hike Table Rock

The Princesses see Wicked in Eugene with Queen Mommy, the Queen Mum, Aunt Barbara and Cousin Nancy.  T-3's first time, T-2's second, T-3's Fourth!!  We love Wicked! 



T-1 performs in the 4th/5th grade program.  She's a surfer, of course!

JUNE

T-1 and T-2 rock their piano recital

T-3 Graduates from PreSchool!

T-2 Sings "I Say a Little Prayer for You!" in the talent show.  She was fabulous.

T-1 Graduates from 5th Grade.  Next stop:  Middle School.  Queen Mommy is not ready for this.

The Princesses perform in the Dance Concert.  T-1 was a chimney sweep in a Mary Poppins medley, T-2 shook her booty to 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' and got her 5 year award, and T-3 did two dances;  'Rockin' Robin' and 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls'.

The Royal Family visits Los Angeles and San Diego.  We rented a house with the cousins (third year!) and had so much fun swimming, visiting the temple and the Mormon Battalion, shopping, eating and visiting Shamu!