Shroomin'

I still have my addiction to avocados. But I've added another vice--mushrooms. I like 'em together on really, anything. I mean, what are they putting in these things? Whatever it is, I am currently crazy about mushrooms.

Now, compared to avocados, mushrooms are a real pain in the pan. That's because I have to sauté them before I put them on my wraps, salads, pasta, burgers, breakfast. (I have no limits when it comes to shrooms. Well, I might stop at dessert.)

 I often think, "Ooh, mushrooms would be so good in this pita pocket," (Oh, that's another thing I love right now!) but then I'm all, "Do I want to get out the pan, the oil (olive or coconut are my faves) and then sauté them and then clean the pan and spatula?" Usually my answer is, "YES! Shrooms are totally worth it!!"

And they're good for you too--they've got Vitamin D, antioxidants, and B vitamins. Of course different kinds have different stuff but I'm not picky. I like portobello, crimini, white button, whatever.

It's getting to the point where I can go through a box (is it bad that I buy them in a the box and not fresh? Is it also bad that this blog is full of parenthetical phrases?) like every three days? I'm constantly making avocado and mushroom runs. (Side note: Avocados have gone way up in price lately so my addiction, like most addictions, is also bleeding me dry.)

So in conclusion, I freakin' love mushrooms.

Next up: Totally Trippin' over Tomatoes.

What a difference...

Six years makes!! 

What a difference...

Three years makes! 

"We Want Gus!"

Gus just turned three yesterday but in a lot of ways he reminds me of a teenager. He loves to sleep hard and play hard.

Over the weekend he had a killer pool party, foreshadowing many future parties in which his friends will be chanting his name.

At his pool party this past weekend (summer birthdays are so fun!), we were all ready for Gus to blow out his candle but our birthday boy was detained in the bathroom. Popsy started the chant, "We want Gus!" and when Gus finally arrived, he strutted in with quite the swagger for a three-year-old.

Here are a few more pictures from Gus' party-animal birthday weekend:

So long, Preschool!

Hello, Kindergarten! 

Leo completed his coursework at St. Francis of Assisi preschool a couple of weeks ago. Now there's all this talk of Kindergarten. It made me think back to a post I wrote just a few days ago about how Leo took his backpack to his first playgroup. I titled it "Kindergarten Already?" and I remember when I wrote it, thinking that Kindergarten was SO far away. 

I found that blog tonight and, whaddya know? I actually wrote it in July of 2008. So it turns out it wasn't just a few days ago. It just felt that way. 

So here is a throwback to when Leo was six years away from Kindergarten followed by pictures of him finishing preschool, just three months away from from Kindergarten. 

Kindergarten Already?

No, not yet. But Leo was excited about bringing his new backpack to playgroup. Although I think he is smart enough for kindergarten. He already reads! Well, he doesn't read but he stares at the books when we read them to him and sometimes he even tries to turn the pages. His favorites? Anything by Dr. Seuss. He's also a fan of Leo the Late Bloomer and any books that involve hippos, belly buttons or both.

"Thanks for not making me go to school yet, Mommy. Sorry I spit up all over my new outfit."

Tia Kristin, your premonition was right!! See below. 

VLP Parking

I drove Leo to Kindergarten orientation the other night. As we arrived the parking lot was filling up but there were still plenty of spots, albeit a little bit of a walk to the front door. So we parked and walked in, meeting up with Frank along the way, who had parked on the other side of the school. Just then an SUV pulled up, parked in the fire lane right in front of the school and the able-bodied woman waltzed into orientation. 

"Oh, I see they have VLP parking here too," I said loudly to Frank. 

VLP = Very Lazy Person. 

It really should be VLEP, the E for "entitled." 

We have this problem at preschool too. While the rest of us moms are schlepping our kids through the wind (it's a wind tunnel in that parking lot!), snow (yes, sometimes we have snow here!), ice, heat AND lugging all their gear from the parking lot, some parents just cruise right up to the fire lane, put their hazards on and skip a few feet into school. 

Hey, this ain't no carpool school. If you wanted that you should have signed up for one. Nope. Here at our preschool, we walk 'em in. All the way from the parking lot. And there are moms here with LOTS of kids. I mean, it IS a Catholic preschool. 

But it's rarely the parents with a gaggle of kids who park in the VLP spot. No, it's often some (again able-bodied) dude who has one, maybe two kids, and blocks the stroller ramp while he's at it. I don't personally use a stroller to schlep into preschool anymore but another lady told me that she and some other stroller moms are also frustrated with the VLPs. (She liked my acronym, btw). 

This used to happen at our church in Atlanta too. (I mean, come on, church? Isn't that where you should be on your BEST behavior?) Sure, it was packed but there were spots available. Still, people would park in the fire lane. I would always walk by as they were getting out of their cars and say loudly, "I SURE hope there's not a fire!" 

If I may rant a little more, I'd like to point out that VLPs are not just at churches and schools. I take Leo to a class every week and there is a mom there who is the ultimate VLP. I've even taken a photo for evidence: 

Okay, so it's not actually a fire lane but it's not a parking spot either. She makes it difficult for anyone to drive through there to get to the rest of the parking lot. I've been giving her the cold shoulder but obviously it's not working.

Frank does not get why I'm all fired up. He says that the VLPs (okay, he doesn't use that terminology), aren't affecting me. Whether they park there or not, I still have to schlep through the parking lot.

To that I say, "It's not fair! Who do they think they are and why do they think they get special (and sometimes illegal) parking spots?" I mean, what if everybody parked in the fire lane?

Clearly, based on our recent experience at the elementary school, the VLPs are here to stay. But I'll continue to glare, loudly express my disapproval and give the cold shoulder as best I can.

Oh, and of course, pray for them.

Fredericksburg Fun

On Mother's Day weekend we went to Fredericksburg to celebrate my mom's ??th birthday. We had great weather, great food and a great location in the little house we rented. Here are some pics: 

Grandmother and Leo in front of the house. It was one block off Main Street, an easy walk to restaurants, shops and a playground. 

The coolest feature of the house was this outdoor patio, complete with a bar, tables and TV

Leo called this "Leo's restaurant" and he served us sticks and leaves.

Grandpa Ron called it the coolest thing ever and spent lots of time out here.

Grandpa Ron and Gus playing at the MarketPlatz park on Main Street. 

Leo and Gus on the tire swing at the park. 

Gus and Leo (and some other little friends) loved climbing in the trees at Hondo's, a fun restaurant with live music right behind our house.

In typical kid-vacation-form, Gus went to bed late and woke up super early. I had to get him out of the house (still in his pjs) for a walk so he didn't wake the others. Luckily there was a cute coffee shop close by.

We climbed Enchanted Rock…well, not all of us made it to the top. But Leo was our star climber, leading the way. 

Grandpa Ron, Gus, Grandmother (and me, taking the pic) decided this was high enough. 

My mom and sister and I also got in some shopping on Saturday. We all walked to a pizza place for dinner and those of us in our 30s and 40s (Frank, Kristin and me), went to a brewery later that night. Oh, and of course we had kolaches and birthday cake.


Leo and Gus say, "Grandmother should turn ?? all the time! This is fun!"