Spaztastic

Lexi doesn't really love Dora THIS much. But she has recently fallen in love with her own reflection in the trash can and oven door.

Gonzo Grill

Tonight, the poker group had a date with the Gonzo Grill. It's basically a restaurant operated out of a local chef's house. He takes reservations for 10 to 16 people, only on Friday and Saturday nights.

Part of our purpose was to persuade the guy to let us do a story on him. We failed, but I'm only sorta sorry. A story in the Eagle would destroy what he's doing (which TECHNICALLY is not on the up-and-up.) And what he's doing is pretty amazing.

This is the house. It's in Indian Hills. Doesn't look like a restaurant, does it?

This is the chef. He's a pretty interesting guy. He's remodeled his kitchen into a professional-grade workspace. Behind Joe's left shoulder is an eight-range gas pro-quality stove. 

Here's our first course -- Diver sea scallop ceviche, which was friggin awesome.

The main course was a churrasco ribeye with chimichurri sauce. My flash doesn't do it justice. I'm sorry I won't be doing this story, but not sorry that I'll be going back soon.

He says he's done special weeknight parties for book clubs. Ladies??????

Woman of the Year

Sorry for the blog absense this week. The Mac is broken, but being fixed. Plus, in other news, Nick got a fancy new Mac today. So soon, I will have one that is mine all mine. Yeah!

Tonight, I got away with Carrie, Jaime and Robin to go support Sierra in her bid to become "Woman of the Year."


I'm not sure what this is all about, exactly, except that Sierra has to throw a crapload of parties, find a crapload of cute outfits to wear, and raise a crapload of money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.


Tonight's event was a wine tasting at Joe Self BMW. I didn't realize until we arrived, by my dentist is also running for Man of the Year, and he and Sierra were sharing this event. My hygenist, Sandy was there. I love Sandy! We have so much in common but, sadly, we never get to talk because my mouth is full of floss and pokey tools and fluoride.

One of the items being auctioned off was this adorable puppy. But no one was bidding. This made me uncomfortable, plus Carrie was hot, we all were hungry, and Robin knew too many people at the party. We took the opportunity to scram.

Shortly after this was taken, I was dining on Bang Bang shrimp at Bonefish Grill with these women of the year.

Birthday Part III

I'm pretty sure that Lexi's birthday week is finally over.


It started Friday night, when we drove to Derby after school to play with Kyle, collect Lexi's present from Kyle (a My First Leap Pad!!!), run around like a nut with Kyle and say goodbye to Kyle's sold house.


Saturday morning, we headed to Joe's house in Jo.Co. so Lexi and her cousin could celebrate their shared birthday. (She was born the morning of his 1st birthday party.) They also shared a cake. Four candles on one side, three on the other.

Grammy and Grandpa were there, so there was yet another round of presents.


Lexi loves this disembodied Barbie head Joe and Jack gave her. The blue headband, though, has been on Lexi's head since this picture was taken.

She's 3!

I'm pretty sure Lexi had a great 3rd birthday. I only wish she could remember it past next week. Who knows? Maybe she will. I think my memories begin somewhere around age 3.


It started out this morning when I took her to school, armed with 15 sprinkle-covered cupcakes and some slinkie toys to pass out to her friends, who include the wonderful if a little bitey Emma and the earnestly charming Braden.


After school, we went out to dinner. Lexi got to pick, and she picked cheeseburgers.


Since it was her birthday, she got fries instead of veggies. Lucky.


When we got home, there were a few more presents. She got an awesome dance ribbon (which she LOVED) and some Play-Doh from Jack and Hannah, who were kept away from the party by a stubborn flu bug.

We got her a Moon Sand set. This stuff is a messy, awful invention, but she loves it.

And I love her. Happy birthday, sweet girl.

Kirstie's table

Today, we took Nick's parents Wendy and Fred...


... and Lexi's new bunny, Bunny, out to brunch at the Eaton Steakhouse, where there's so much natural light it's nearly impossible to take a bad picture.


Last week, when Diane and Lori and I were lunching at the Eaton, the maitre d' pointed out what he said was Kirstie Alley's table. We were seated at that table today, and halfway through brunch, that same maitre d' came over, grinning widely, and whispered to me that Kirstie was there and was none too happy that we had her table. She got stuck in the corner. That's her with the long hair, back to us.


The food was so good. I had the eggs Benedict, although I forced myself to only eat one of those mounds of heaven on accounta I had to meet the girls for a Zumba class at Genesis an hour later.


Nick ordered this mascarpone cheese-stuffed crepe, which was definitely more dessert than breakfast.


Speaking of dessert, the Eaton has a pastry chef who is quite skilled with a frosting tip. Pictured above are not roses but rows of cupcakes.

How the hell...

...does she do that?????

Birthday, Part I

Lexi is turning 3 this week, and the string of festivities officially began today with a party with all her tiny friends. (Well, except the ones whose mommies and daddies had to buy a new house.)

Lexi dictated many of the details of the party, including the dessert. She wanted these particular strawberry cupcakes, which we'd eaten this summer at her friend Alexa's party.


There's Alexa, with the little blond ponytail. And there are Lexi's other 3 gajillion friends, enjoying a lunch of macaroni and cheese, fruit salad and tiny little hot dogs.


Lexi also decided exactly what she wanted to wear. Sadly, the dress she chose was from a wedding we attended this fall and is now about a size and a half too small. Oh well.


Lexi's friends SWARMED her during present opening, but she handled it pretty well. She was most upset that I wouldn't let her stop and play with the contents of each present for an hour before moving on to the next.


Blake and Coop gave Lexi a new baby, and Alexa gave her another one. Then Rachel joined in for a little QT with the plastic newborns.


It was a great party. Next up: Cupcakes at school.