Yesterday Perrin and I had a lovely day. We took the train downtown to J's work, where Tara also met us on her lunch break, since RTD just opened up a new line on the light rail that goes right by T's work. It was such a pleasure to see two of my favorite people in the middle of the day during the work week. Plus Perrin did a wonderful job on the train ride in, sitting on my lap, smiling and babbling at strangers, and watching out the window. We had a wonderful lunch at Davita, which sounds strange, but they have an awesome cafeteria--seriously restaurant quality. I had Pad Thai with chicken. Perrin got to eat some of my chicken and veggies off of Aunt Tara's salad. It is good to have Aunt T around when we are eating out; we know someone will order something that is healthy/ natural enough to share with the little one, as J and I's plates of cheese laden, carb heavy plates arrive.
I had thought that when Perrin started eating solids we, as a family, would naturally start eating healthier, less processed foods since we want to be able to largely all eat the same foods. This has not happened. Instead our evenings look more like this:
Nurse Perrin at 6:30, put her to bed at 7. J gets home at bedtime. I haven't shopped for food for a meal. J and I are both worn down by our days so someone suggests, Want me to run and get Jimmy Johns? (Or to be perfectly honest, Taco Bell.) The other person's face lights up and decision is made.
Other nights we may have pasta (quinoa pasta, to counter act the Taco Bell) with jar sauce and if we are feeling our oats, and I have grocery shopped in the the recent past, we will throw in some sauteed veggies. This meal ends with one of us thanking the other for cooking.
The funny thing is that J and I both enjoy cooking. But we do not enjoy planning meals, grocery shopping, or compiling the list of magical items that when combined create a legitimate respectful meal, where everything isn't the same color and you could serve it to guests and not be slightly embarrassed/ashamed.
In order to prove that we aren't completely unambitious, I will brag on a few great things we do sometimes make...(clear throat)...
Homemade bread. This one is olive rosemary.
J makes great pecan pie, lemon meringue too.
We do Chicken Tikka Masala that we are both really proud of. It takes a decent amount of time, but keeps thus makes great leftovers. We make it nice and spicy with lots of cilantro sprinkled on top. The chicken gets coated in a ginger yogurt sauce before being baked and mixed in. Wish I had a picture of this one. The red with the green cilantro is very pretty.
On our 2nd date we made orange glazed pork chops with rice pilaf (from The Working Stiff Cookbook). We continue to make these dishes from time to time, as they are sooo good. It always makes me remember that date when we were still figuring out who the other was. I walked into the house he shared with three other guys in our little college town...the top of the kitchen cabinets were lined with empty beer bottles...Oh no, I was sure he wasn't one of those guys who act like they are in a fraternity for the whole of their adult lives...He wasn't. If anything, in that house they were more Dazed and Confused than Greek...anyway...
I guess the point of all of this is that I am not sure how to eat the same food together as a family, while making sure my daughter is getting healthy and natural food, even when J and I have both had long days. I fear the only answer is planning ahead, so I will continue to implore, how do we do this?
We just got back from a big day celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary, going to the theater. The musical was good, yea yea, let me tell you about the pizza we ate before the show. It was from Lucky Pie downtown, a sort of sexy cool little pizza place. The pizza was called Freak A Leek. It had leek, goat cheese, mozzarella, and bacon on a thin crust. Wow, leeks. Who knew. And leeks with goat cheese was magic. I took really small bites to make it last longer, while I looked at Joseph sitting across from me and considered knocking him out and hiding his slumped body under the table while I devoured his slices. I am already plotting another trip there...maybe I can use my upcoming birthday to get close to that leek pie again.
I found a baby tunnel at the Goodwill last week. Now that P can crawl we busted it out. She hasn't crawled through it, but likes to sit at one end and peer through at you on the other. Both cats also like the tunnel.
I love how in the above picture you can see Perrin in the background craned around in her highchair watching the cats. She is thrilled just watching them lay curled up motionless on the couch, so Puck getting ready to attack Simon in the tunnel is riveting business.
Merry sent us some great books for Perrin the other day. The series is called...
We have Baby mix me a drink, Baby make me breakfast, Baby get me some lovin', and Baby do my banking. I would also appreciate a Baby clean my house tutorial for Perrin, so if anyone sees that one..., as there is a funny smell emanating from somewhere in our kitchen.
Speaking of funny smelling, I captured a great Perrin "I just smelled a fart" face...because we are classy ladies like that.
My old friend from college, Merry, came to visit us for a few days and just went home this evening. It was wonderful to have her meet Perrin and see my daughter with my old friend--just really heart warming for some reason. We all went out to dinner at Watercourse Foods for Tara's birthday. It is a vegetarian restaurant in downtown Denver with really amusing rabbit art on the walls. They have seitan wings, that are made of mysterious non-meat meatiness, and are pretty tasty, but the best thing about them is that we decided to call them Satan wings, which gave us a chuckle every time. We are a simple people.
Merry decided to make tutus for Perrin, so off to the fabric store we went to look through all colors of tulle. She made the cutest little things--they look like a mix between magic, dessert, and an explosion.
On Thursday we went to play disc golf on this amazing mountain course in Conifer. At the first hole you throw straight up the mountain side...or off to the side into a bunch of snow...however you want to do it... We carried Perrin in the backpack, and just took her off when ever we threw. She enjoyed herself I think, chewing on a stick and watching us play. She is a pretty good sport, where ever we drag her.
Merry told us about internet sensation Grumpy Cat, so I just looked him up--damn, that cat is grumpy. If you are looking for an easy laugh, check it out. This cat looks how I imagine our Simon cat feels. We love to give him really cranky internal dialog, as I'm pretty sure he wouldn't deign to speak even if he could. Mr. Dignified Cat. You can address him as Sir.
Puck cat however...
We will end with a little sprinkle of Perrin tutu magical fluffy goodness.
And...
I have just had two days off work. Yesterday I gave blood and today I had a check-up with the doctor who ripped out my wisdom teeth, and bought a yellow dress. Yes a yellow dress. Now I have just finished my lunch, which I have shown here for Tara's benefit.
Joseph and I are going to Shakespeare in the Park in Louisville tonight. They put it on for free and you bring a picnic and sit on the ground. I used to go to plays outside in Bloomington at the little park behind the police station. Oh, I miss Bloomington, but I knew I would. Even if I went back today it wouldn't be the same with out Merry and DR there...walking over to their house for a cook out and having drinks on their front porch and laughing, a lot. Those were some of my favorite times. Well, and Jiffy Treat-I miss being a two block walk from tasty ice cream...and a million other things...
But I am so excited to move out to Littleton and finally settle in a place where I don't have to move and find a new apt. every year, where I can start feeling like part of a real community. My life has been so temporary feeling ever since college. Everything was "just for now." I think Littleton is a place a can settle into.
Well, the doctor cut out all four of my wisdom teeth this morning. It was a strangely good time. They were really nice at the office and I had never meet the doctor but I like him. They let me keep my teeth. Joseph had the idea to put them in a pot with a plant at some point. I was holding one of the teeth and it looked like an artifact or something and I just thought, I made this. Our bodies are so amazing, what they do without our even thinking of it or asking for it. This is not always good of course.
I am feeling really well. I hardly have any swelling due to the alternating frozen corn and peas I have been holding to my face. Plus I have been eating divine ice cream. It is cake batter flavor. Let me just say, if you get a chance, eat it. Seriously.
I had friends in high school who had their teeth done and for days looked really scary, like there was a tennis ball in their cheek. I feel lucky.
For today I have been on clear liquids and soft food. Tomorrow I can eat anything I want. Watch out Rally's, you're about to get one person busier.
