Promises, promises

I really promise this isn't becoming a food blog.

January has just been busy, but the kind of busy where I don't really know what we've been up to because my whole goal for the month was to not be busy. Anyway, I promise to be back soon with an update on what we haven't been doing.

And PS, Happy Birthday, Dad!

Vegan cooking: tomato-rice soup

As it turns out, the tomato-rice soup was another hit, even for me. It seemed more like risotto than soup - I don't know if this is because I let it simmer longer than the recipe indicated because I was multitasking or if it would have been thick anyway. Also, I used white wine instead of red because that's what I had open, and it seemed to be fine. I served the "soup" with southwestern scones (cornmeal with peppers and jalapeños), which were a nice complement. And even eating scones, it felt healthy and packed with good veggies. Plus, two nights of leftovers and we weren't sick of it!

Vegan cooking: spinach and chickpeas

This one was quite good and very easy. I botched it a bit by having my oil too hot when I put the garlic in so it got a little burned and because I was convinced I could make bread crumbs in the tiny top bowl of my food processor. I should have given up and switched to the big bowl but I was being stubborn (incidentally, that was word of the day on Sesame Street recently so Grace was wondering around the house saying “stubborn, stubborn – I’m stubborn and Daddy’s stubborn.” I’m not sure why she picked the two of them but It took all my grace not to say “right on!!!”). Anyway, I think I had too little spinach as well, oh and no sherry vinegar so I used red wine vinegar. Despite all my shortcuts and mistakes, it was still good and I would definitely make it again. It’s just so easy, quick, and healthy but good. It would also make really great weekday left overs. So – try it!

Next up, Steve has chosen tomato-rice soup. I'm generally not a soup eater and I'm plus/minus on tomatoes. But marriage is about compromise (and self-sacrifice and martyrdom).

Foodie inspiration

I quit eating meat when I was sixteen, and although I gradually started eating poultry again and i never gave up seafood, I haven't eaten a mammal since (except for once at a dinner party where I could not forgo the pork that was the main course). Except for occasional smell of barbecue, I have never missed it. I'm not ready to go vegan (ummm, cheese!), but I've been wanting to find some new sources of protein and just change things up a bit in the kitchen.

So, inspired by Megan and this article, I'm going to try to make each of these recipes (except the brussel sprouts - I I tried them again recently and I just can't get on board). I'm not setting a timeframe, but I'll try to do each one during 2012. I wouldn't go so far as saying that vegan cooking is a resolution, but they look yummy and seem way more doable than coding for an hour a day, everyday all year (I flirted with feeling guilty I couldn't do it, but then I closed my browser and snapped out of it). I will keep you posted!

Girls and babies

Last weekend Emily returned to SF for a visit. We made it a girls afternoon with Nat and Gavin (the xy representative) and headed over to Crissy Field to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. We were not alone as I believe 90% of the city and most of the suburbs were there as well.

Grace was super excited to see Baby Gavin, whom we really can't call Baby anymore. In the morning she had told me she was going to teach him how to make a sandcastle. She tried... at one point they were actually working together, with Grace shoveling and Gavin holding the bucket, though not while we were on the beach but in the pile of dirt next to the picnic table.

They had fun and ran around like the crazy goofballs they are. They could not, however, synchronize their eating or wanting to walk versus ride. I see why someone once told me that having two children does not double the chaos, but quadruples it. Nevertheless, it was a great afternoon and so nice to catch up with Emm and hear all about her new life (though admittedly I was a little resentful to hear that her Boston winter has yet to actually be cold).

I love these girls and it's so weird to realize that my college friends have known me almost half my life. I love that Grace knows them now, too. As she said on our way to the park "I love Emily."

Partners in crime/chaos.

The golden gate. I will never tire of that view (but you know that already if you read this blog with any regularity).

Moonrise over the East Bay (picture doesn't do it justice).

A day at at the park

Santa came to San Francisco while we were in Washington and left Grace a bike (yea, i'm not sure she really bought that). We took it out for a spin last weekend. I'm not sure if the bike or the helmet was the bigger hit...

Christmas vacation

For the first time in six years, we headed to Bellingham for Christmas. And, it was oh so great to be there!

We headed up on Christmas Eve and enjoyed a rag tag but quite entertaining Christmas "parade" at SeaTac during our layover. On the puddle jump up to Bellingham, I tried to teach Grace to sing "Bellingham, Bellingham, City of Subdued Excitement." It was hysterical and I wish I had a video of her singing "Bellin-Hahm, Bellin-Hahm! City-dude-citement!"

Christmas Eve we went to the church where I was baptized and had a quiet evening of gifts and Mom's amazing seafood lasagna. Sadly, we got no pictures of the three of us dressed up - we don't even have a proper one of Grace in her Christmas dress. She looked very cute but for some reason was not into the dress thing and wanted to put on her new PJs as soon as she opened them. Oh, well.

Christmas morning was quite the thrill. I think she actually got tired of opening gifts... but we all had fun. Having a kid in the house puts a different, and very fun, spin on Christmas morning. At one point, she asked my dad to hang her on the Christmas tree. We spent the rest of the day reading, playing video games (i'm not only the worst bowler in my office, but the worst forza player in my family; it's good to do things with distinction), taking a walk and eating, eating, eating. Such a lovely, low key day.

Monday we went to Seattle to visit Uncle Steve in the hospital. It was awfully good to see him, Aunt Andrea, Maddie and Jake, but I took no pictures. We stopped by MOHAI, which was quite fun (especially since it's our last visit to the old location) and furthered the gluttony with a stop at Five Guys, giving us a chance to reminisce about our DC days.

On Tuesday, Steve had to return to SF to work the New Year holidays (which included a marathon five nights of call straight, which is 120 hours if you're counting. He hasn't had a day off since the 28th, and is really looking forward to the long weekend. so am i), but not before we had a quick visit with Andrea, Pete and no longer brand new baby Lucy. She is adorable. We are all quite smitten with her. On the way to the airport, I said to Steve that even after all these years, I still hate to say goodbye. Grace piped up from the backseat "Don't cry, Mommy. I keep you company." Grace missed her dad desperately after he left and even tried to pack herself into a suitcase to accompany him. She sang about him and talked about him and when we talked to him via FaceTime she would hug the phone and kiss the screen.

The rest of the week was a lovely mishmash of spending time with family, dear old friends and their children, and vegging by the fire or tree to read while drinking copious amounts of coffee with cream and eating Christmas cookies. It's the stuff winter holidays are made of. We did parks, cafes, a couple of visits to the community pool, and further coffee/cookie eating. I'm starting making my way through Cutting for Stone(excellent, by the way). We went to Rocket Donuts and hit Woods Coffee and Village Books a few times. We had many a cozy evening enjoying GoGo's yummy cooking. It was a joy to see Rachel, her precious girls, and her parents and sister as well as have several more visits with Lucy and her parents.

We were very lucky because the weather was actually pretty warm - 40s and 50s so once I realized we couldn't wait for the rain to stop to go outside, we managed to enjoy that grey-green pacific northwest winter. The days, though, were so short. But, this meant we all slept well and long. The sun rose sometime around 8am I think, and it was pretty dark by 4:30pm. Grace was very confused. One day she asked me at 2:30 in the afternoon if she could put on her pajamas.

Oh, it was hard to come back to real life. We returned on New Year's Eve. Our flights must have changed since booking because I would never have planned a four and a half hour layover during nap time on purpose. Grace did not nap at SeaTac, but she did run away twice while I had our stuff spread out (toys, phone charging, etc.) I was so mad, but it's amazing what a little french fries bribe can do. She was desperately excited to see her dad. In fact, half way through the flight to SF she threw a tantrum because she wanted to land and get off to see her daddy. Fortunately and coincidentally, one of my cousins was on our flight, even our row, and ended up sitting with us. It was great to see her and she was helpful when Grace flipped. We finally made it and it was like a scene from a movie, watching Grace run down the sidewalk toward Steve.

I just couldn't choose my favorite pictures, so am just linking to all of them here.

Gratefulness

I don't think it's unusual, but sometimes I get so aggravated by the routine, mundane activities, especially when the frequently involve negotiation, cajoling and wrestling with a two and a half year old. This is particularly true when it comes to commuting. I take two buses - one to drop Grace off, then one to my office. It takes an hour each way and we're not talking about long distances. But, the bus schedules annoy me, the rushing Grace so we don't miss the buses we need, the carrying her lunch, my lunch, my oversized work laptop, and various other junk, and just what feels like a not quality use of time all get to me.

I probably read a dozen articles in 2011 about how the act of appreciating what you have, from small things like birds singing to major things, like an amazing kid, actually make you feel more gratitude, which has a host of other mental health benefits.

So, 2012, it's you, me and a little more gratitude. My commute is a chance to savor being outside, walking hand in hand with Grace or giving her lots of kisses when I'm carrying her. It's a chance to appreciate the friends we often run into en route. It's an opportunity to look around or take a few quiet moments to myself.

Last night I saw this along my walk (there was a line of commuters taking pictures, which gave me an extra smile; granted it's not a great photo but you get the idea):

What a reminder of being grateful for the regular stuff of life.