Bounce Around the Room

I almost didn't join my moms group.  When I first found them, I looked at the ages of all the babies in the group.  They were all much older than Thatbaby, most of them born in April or May of last year.  But as I scanned, I noticed there was one babe who was born the exact week Thatbaby was.  And what's more, they lived in the same town we do.  That discovery sealed my fate with this group.  I honestly joined just to meet this mom and babe.

And I'm so glad I did.  First, as I've said before, I love my mom's group.  And I'm thankful for those older babies and moms who have been there, done that.  And the mom with a baby Thatbaby's age is great, and it's fantastic living nearby so that we can sometimes coordinate playtimes for our little ones.

We both live near one of those indoor kid-spaces and have been trying to get together with our boys there for a while.  We finally got the chance.  There are all sorts of cool things to play with - a trampoline, slides, climbing structures, mats and bean bags.  And my kid?  He finds the balls.  Similar to ones he has at home.

Reluctantly he let me lead him over to the trampoline.  As long as he could bring a ball or two with him.  Of course, once he got on, he was in love with bouncing.  The rest of the time there he spent crawling up and down the trampoline and bouncing his little heart out.

Superbaby was quick to join in on the trampolining action.  Thatbaby got a little worried about having to share his balls, but there were plenty to go around.

Making the decision to try something new can be based on one simple factor - like my decision to join this mom's group.  And like that decision, it can open up a world of happiness.  The first time I tried paella was similar.  Drawn to the chorizo in the very first paella I tried, it was a beautiful marriage of rice and meats.  Not too dissimilar from jambalaya, which was already a favorite.  It had the added benefit of a beautiful color of saffron.  Once I tasted it, I was hooked.  And when I visited Barcelona, it was easy to find on every menu - with a wide variety of what was included.  Back home, it was a little harder to find non-seafood paella.  So when I want one teaming with shrimp, sausage, and chicken (my favorite kind) I make my own!

 Paella
1 chicken breast
1 Tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper
1 link chorizo sausage, sliced
1 onion, sliced
2 garlic cloves, halved
3/4 cup green olives, chopped
3/4 cups arborio rice
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
pinch of saffron sprigs
1 bay leaves
1/4 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined

1. Preheat oven to 425.  Heat oil in an oven-proof saute pan over medium-high heat.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper.  Sear chicken on both sides and remove from heat.
2. Add sausage to pan and sear both sides and remove from heat.
3. Add onion to the pan and cook until translucent.
4. Add garlic and olives and saute for 7-8 minutes.  
5. Add rice and saute for 3-5 minutes.
6. Add chicken stock, cumin, saffron, bay leaf, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.
7.  Add chicken and sausage back to the pan. 
8. Cover and place in oven.  Cook for 45 minutes.
9. Add shrimp to pan and cook and additional 5 minutes.