Tag Archives: g-ma

A Weekend Away from Baby + Foodie Fun Facts #6: Avocado

Yes! Going Mom and I will be free for two whole days to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary this weekend! All the places we can go, sights we can see, things we can do…..FREE! Thanks to G-Ma, my awesome mom, for agreeing to stay at our house and watch Avery! I wonder if this will be the first and last time…hmmmm.

So, where are we going? Just the Embassy Suites in Downtown Fort Worth which is only 20 minutes from our home. Okay, so it’s nothing that exciting, but that’s what we want; low key and relaxing. Plus, we need a room with a fridge since Kelley still needs to pump, and a microwave since we’ll bring most of our own food.

I know, we should be going out and living it up, not cooking food in the microwave from our hotel room, but that suits us just fine. Ideally, we’d have a full season of hit TV show to watch back to back just like we used to, but I’m sure we’ll actually get out too. I’d like to go to the movies at least once as well. I’m all for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle movie (obviously), but understand if my lovely bride wants to see something else. Any suggestions?

Simply walking over to a nearby coffee shop will be luxury to us, and won’t break the bank. I’ll be sure to fill you in with all of our shenanigans early next week, but I still have some prep-work to tend to, so on to the Friday Foodie Fun Facts!

I dedicate these avocado fun facts to my mom since every time she comes over (usually once a week), she’ll have one or two avocados that are beyond ripe. Seriously, they feel like balloons filled with water since the skin will give so easily. But, I don’t mind as I love have avocado chunks in my giant nightly salad.

Here are 5 things to think of as you enjoy your hard-as-a-rock or soft-as-a-pillow avocado; it seems you never have them just right, huh? I think this picture says it all…

  • Avocados mature on the tree, but they only ripen once they are picked. Even more amazing is the fact that avocados can stay on a tree for as long as 18 months. It’s as if the tree preserves them until you’re ready to use them.
  • They are one of the most inexpensive anti-aging tools for your skin! Rough outer covering aside, the inner smoothness and creaminess has what we need for youthful skin. With all of the nutrients, healthy fat and vitamins, an avocado tree could be the next fountain (tree) of youth!
  • Avocado trees do not self-pollinate; they need another avocado tree close by to bear fruit. The avocado is an Aztec symbol of love and fertility, and they also grow in pairs on trees
  • Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable. They have the highest fiber content of any fruit and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and folate.
  • The avocado is also called an Alligator Pear because of its pear-like shape and it’s bumpy green skin.

I’m beginning to like avocados more and more, and even add them to sweet things like dessert dips and smoothies. They add a pleasant creaminess, and being a fruit, I think go perfectly with dessert.

Happy Friday!!

Do you like avocados? If so, do you prefer them alone or mashed into something like guacamole?

Have you ever enjoyed a weekend away from your kid or kids? What did you do?

Happy Birthday to the Best G-Ma Ever!

Today is G-Ma’s (my Mom’s) birthday, and although we can’t celebrate with her today, we will soon enough!

My mom has been through so much and always forges on. She’s always been by my side even when I’m not the best son (sorry about that), and she continues to be there now that we have a +1. I’m referring to our daughter, Avery, just to be clear. 🙂

Mom, G-Ma, thank you for being you and making life so much better. We all hope you have a wonderful birthday and can’t wait to see you to celebrate!

I’ve gathered several pictures of G-Ma and Avery from birth to present (Ha ha, get it, present? As in a gift? Ahhh, never mind.) day. Just like you were there for me, you’ve always been there for Avery in her whole 8 1/2 months of life and her love for you shows with each visit you make.

G-Ma and Avery; just 2 days old!
G-Ma and Avery; just 2 days old!
Not sure what's happening, but G-Ma is keeping me warm! 11/26/13
Not sure what’s happening, but G-Ma is keeping me warm! 11/26/13
Keeping cozy. 12/29/13
Keeping cozy. 12/29/13
Happy to be with G-ma!
Happy to be with G-ma! 02/20/14
Practicing her poker face.  03/12/14
Practicing her poker face. 03/12/14
Happy to be at G-Ma's! 04/13/14
Happy to be at G-Ma’s! 04/13/14
Meeting Tash with Dad and G-Ma. 05/18/14
Meeting Tash with Dad and G-Ma. 05/18/14
Cheering Daddy on at a Labor Day 10k! 05/26/14
Cheering Daddy on at a Labor Day 10k! 05/26/14
Hanging with the best group for my 30th. 06/07/14
Hanging with the best group for my 30th. 06/07/14
Fourth of July 2014
Fourth of July 2014
Playing the recorder for Avery. 07/08/14
Playing the recorder for Avery. 07/08/14

 

At the rate we take pictures, I know there will be many more to come! We love you, Mom/G-Ma, have an awesome birthday!

Doesn’t she look to young to be a grandma? I think so.

BYOB with Jellyfish on Date Night

Remember my Foodie Facts post on Friday? I mentioned how Going Mom and I went on a much needed date night while G-Ma watched Avery.

Our date took us to a BYOB paint class called Texas U Can Paint where you can drink and snack as an instructor leads the class in painting their own picture. Everyone has the same type of picture depending on what time and day you choose to go.

This is one of the gifts I gave to Kelley on Mother’s Day, and it turned out to be a fun time with my lovely bride! We chose to go when a Jellyfish was the image to paint. For the BYOB part, Kelley brought red wine and I had Zevia Ginger Ale with bourbon.

Yep, drinking from a straw. I know how to keep things classy! What I do not know, is how to pour slowly. I enjoy a good whiskey, but hardly every that much, and I still haven’t had dinner! So, I was feeling pretty “artsy” as we painted our jellyfish. Too bad that feeling didn’t transfer onto my painting….

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Kelley told me we can still hang mine though. YAY! Buuuutttttt,………….only in the closet. BOO! Meh, guess it’s hard to argue; I just enjoyed the time with my love. And hey, her painting turned out pretty good.

DSC_0115

Here’s a side by side comparison just so you can laugh at mine a little more.

DSC_0120

Kelley’s Dad, Papa, said mine kind of looks like an octopus, and I’d have to agree. What do you think?

At one point the instructor started to explain the shape of the jellyfish head but paused and said “Oh, there are kids here.” (This was a 12 & up class). Then she just said it’s sort of like a mushroom.

With the help of bourbon, I blurted across the classroom asking her what she was going to say to describe the jellyfish head at first, and she just laughed. After a group of women caught on to my question, they started laughing and said I was bad. Turns out, that’s how I felt afterward.

A young girl who was sitting next to us looked at the woman who had brought her and said “What, I don’t get it?”

Oh man, I could feel the red flush over my face. I later apologized to the woman, but she didn’t mind and just laughed. Phew, dummy me!

Going Mom and I really enjoyed ourselves and the time spent together. It’s not often we get to be alone, so we’re learning to make the most it each time get!

RC and Kelley_Jellyfish Paintings

We are extremely thankful to my mom, G-Ma, for coming over on a work night to watch our dear daughter. Avery wasn’t the easiest for G-Ma that night, but my mom still said she enjoyed the time with her. From watching how much she loves watching, playing, and holding Avery, I know this is true, and I love that she’s able to be there for her…..and for us!

Have you ever attended a BYOB paint class? We saw a similar place that does pottery and might have to try that next, but I see another paint class in our future too!