Aloo Methi Palak

For lunch today, Lindsey and I made Aloo Methi Palak, or potatoes and fennugreek leaves. In place of the fennugreek leaves, we used baby spinach leaves and fennugreek seeds. I think it did the trick.

I forgot to grab a photo before we ate, so you are going to have to use your imagination (or check out the link below).

Recipe from www.showmethecurry.com

The meals was fairly successful. However, next time we plan to cook the potatoes a little bit longer and use A LOT more spinach. Hopefully this will replicate the Aloo Methi Palak we had at Kababesh.

Also, it appears that Violet is still not a fan of onions, so we may exclude in the near term, if we decide to do this meal again. Oliver at fish sticks, so the jury's still out on his opinion.

Black Bean and Guacamole Fajitas on Whole Wheat Tortillas

Either these things were really good or we were all that hungry, because they were all gone before we could get a picture. Even Oliver ate pretty good, downing 2 fajitas (the same amount that both Lindsey and I had)! Oliver followed this up by eating an apple, which we did not slice for him.

Courtesy of Beth Finnegan...

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Ash Wednesday

Violet with her ashes.

Lent Begins with a Real Challenge

I will be sitting in two days of negotiations starting Wednesday, surrounded by cookies, brownies, and sodas, as well as other food items I have excluded from my diet for the next 40 days (not to mention the possible lack of anything proper for me to eat).

Baked Risotto With Grilled Veggies and Balsamic Reduction

Delicious.

This diet has got me eating artichoke and eggplant, and I like it. I sure did not see that coming! The best part, though: Oliver really seemed to enjoy it too. I was not sure the next 40 days were going to work after he took a pass on dinner last night; the seemingly inocous sweet potato. I don't think there are too many toddlers on the planet that would choose risotto with grilled artichoke and eggplant over a sweet potato. That's Oliver for ya!

Recipe at: VeganYumYum.com

Hasperat!

Great lunch item. I will definitely make this meal again. Lindsey really added a nice touch by topping it off with chipotle pepper sauce.

Recipe at: VeganYumYum.com

Sweet Potatoes with Warm Black Bean Salad

This meal was pretty tasty, but next time will likely include either some red or green onion (assuming Lindsey is eating onions again).

Recipe at: www.foodnetwork.com

No Sweets, Meats, or Dairy for 40 Days

Lindsey and I have decided to give up meat, all white sugar and white flour, and dairy, or essentially "go vegan", for Lent. I was pretty skeptical at first if it was even possible, but I think we have some pretty good meals (both tasty and nutritionally balanced) picked out for about the next 10 days. At that point, we will likely assess what works and what does not. Yesterday we started by "cleaning house": we unloaded our fridge and cabinets of anything that will not work with our diet and likely lead to temptation. We then took the whole family to Whole Foods, which was slightly overwhelming: a new store, new diet and upset kids. $299 later we were ready to start fresh. Since we already had made the mental commitment and also had the groceries, we started our Lent a few days early; there was no Fat Tuesday for us!

So, tonight was our first vegan meal: Wasabi Avocado Salad (recipe at VeganYumYum.com).


Wasabi Avocado Salad


Oliver and his dinner.


Oliver taking a big bite.

Dinner was a unanimous success; both tasty and meeting our daily nutritional requirements. I wholly anticipate this meal with be featured in regular rotation, not only for the next 40 days, but for a good while after.

I followed dinner up with a Chia Fresca. Yes chia, not chai. Like Cha-cha-cha-chia. It is a drink made from the same chia seeds used on the chia pets, added to water (where they semi-gelatanize), and with a splash of lime. This drink has been a staple of the diet of the Tarahumara, an indigenous people of northern Mexico known for their athletic prowess, particularly endurance sports. The Tarahumara are prominently featured in a book I just finished reading: Born to Run. I highly recommend the read, by the way.

I did not take any pictures of my Chia Fresca because, plainly, it looks absolutely nasty. Lindsey thought it looked like swamp water, and it about had the consistency of such. However, it tastes pretty good: sort of like lime water and grass.

Ryan's Reading for February 2010

Born to Run: a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen by Christopher McDougall

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann

The Looming Tower: Al Queda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright

Oliver is 2!!

Lindsey's First Triathlon

Lindsey has registered for The WIN for KC Women's Triathlon, which will take place Saturday July 31, 2010 at Sailboat Coave Park on Smithville Lake in Smithville, MO. The race course will cover a 500M swim, 10 Mi Bike and 10k run. Come out and cheer her on this July!

Find more race information at:

http://www.winforkctri.org/

Oliver's Trip to the Hospital

Yesterday Oliver had a trip to the Emergency Room at St. Joseph's Hospital. This is the second year in a row we spent some quality time with Oliver in the Emergency Room at St. Luke's South. Last year, it was for a 104 degree fever, the night before his first birthday party. Oliver turned out to be fine, probably just a bad combination of teething and too many blankets.

This year, Oliver got into Daddy's overnight bag and took a Zomig. Any dose under 5 mg is considered "safe," but Kansas Poison Control still recommended we bring him in to have his heart monitored. So for 3 hours Oliver and Daddy got to drink apple juice, eat crackers and watch TV, while engaging of an ongoing battle of whether or not to keep the electrodes attached to Oliver's chest. Again, Oliver turned out ok - and truth be told, probably enjoyed the the experience due to the recently lacking one-on-one attention.

Ryan's Reading for January 2010

Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson
Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman by John Krakauer
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
Roadie: The Misunderstood World of a Bike Racer by Jamie Smith

MapMyRide.com - Training Log for ryanfinnegan

MapMyRide.com - Training Log for ryanfinnegan

Oliver Loves Shoes.

Blue River Bicycle Club

Ryan will be racing with Blue River Bicycle Club this year. BRBC is a team sponsored by Molle Automotive (Audi, VW), Scott Bicycles, Leawood Bicycles, A.B. May Home and Commercial Specialists, Town and Country Medical, Bell Helmets, and Bontrager. Leawood Bicycles is our LBS (Local Bike Store) and where we purchased Lindsey's Trek 1.2 WSD, Ryan's Lemond Reno, and Oliver and Violet's Trek go Bug trailer. Ryan attended the first team meeting January 6, 2010. Lindsey's is also a member of the club, but not likely to focus on bicycle racing this year. Her foci will be the Fort Collins Half Marathon in May and WIN for KC Women's Triathlon at the end of July.

For more information, please visit:

www.brbcracing.com

Oliver showing off his bike.

Violet's First Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Thanks to Grandad for helping us get the lights up just hours before Violet was born!

     Oliver and his new bike.

Welcome Violet Kate!

Violet Kate and Mommy. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the beautiful flowers!

Violet Kate Finnegan

Oliver the Spider

Oliver Goes to the Pumpkin Patch

Oliver attempts to pick a pumpkin.

Ball(oon)

Birthday Cake!!

My Nike+ Profile

HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, OLIVER!!

It's hard to believe, but Oliver was born this day last year. Happy first birthday, Oliver! I'm looking forward to your birthday party this weekend!

Thank you to Nana and Granddad for clothes and books!

Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa Finnegan for the blocks, movie and table setting!

Kings of Leon in KC!!

Best Concert of the Year!! Lindsey and I were lucky enough to get out and see Kings of Leon at the Uptown on Friday night. I saw the band about two and a half years ago and made it a priority to see them again whenever they come through KC. I'm glad Lindsey got to finally go see them; I have been raving about the 2006 concert ever since I went. I was afraid I set the bar pretty high for these guys, but Lindsey and I were not disappointed. I can't wait to see them again! Thanks to David and Emily Evans for watching Oliver! Oliver, I promise to take you next time!

Setlist: Closer; Crawl; Taper Jean Girl; My Party; Molly's Chambers; Slow Night, So Long; Fans; Revelry; Milk; Four Kicks; Wasted Time; Sex on Fire; The Bucket; On Call; Use Somebody; Cold Desert; Trani. Encore: Knocked Up; Charmer; Black Thumbnail

Oliver's First Steps

Oliver took his first unaided steps last night. I was sitting on the love seat and Lindsey was on the couch. Typically when Oliver is done visiting with me, he'll crouch down, turn and stand up to span the short distance between Lindsey and I. Last night, however, Oliver waddled for a couple steps to reach Lindsey.

Happy New Year!

None of us made it to midnight CST this year...

Oliver and the Bar Stool

Oliver Standing

Oliver Making Car Noises

Oliver Attacks Daddy

Oliver Climbs on Daddy

Oliver Wants the Camera

PIB Does Not Approve

Oliver is a Dale Jr. Fan

That Car Moves By Itself

Thank You Aunt Katie and Aunt Laura!

Oliver Plays With His Cousins

Oliver and The Wood Truck

Oliver's First Christmas

Oliver had a great, first Christmas yesterday. His Nana, Granddad and Great-Grandmother came in town from Larned, KS. Also, his cousins, Logan and Rhett, and Aunt Katie and Uncle David were visiting from Topeka, KS. Finally, his Aunt Kelly was here from Manhattan, KS. It was a full house, with a couple blow-up mattresses, some sleeping bags and David on the couch.

Oliver really enjoyed tearing up the wrapping paper on his presents. For once we allowed him to embrace his destructive urges. He really seemed to get a kick out of finding toys underneath the paper and soon was more interested in the presents than the wrapping.

Thank you to Nana and Granddad for Fisher Price interactive play table, the Sesame Street tub toys, the foam books, lullaby music CD, and the lullaby night-light.

Thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for the Little People Farm, the Tonka cars and trucks, and WALL-E DVD.

Thank you to Great-Grandmother for the stuffed animals and train.

Thank you to Great-Grandma for the Peanuts ornament.

Thank you to Aunt Katie and Uncle David for wood block trailer truck and Elmo cell phone.

Thank you to Aunt Kelly for push mower and Dr. Seuss book.

Thank you to Aunt Katie and to Aunt Laura for Dale Jr. car, the Florida Gators outfit and T-Shirt, and for the Sesame Street steering wheel.

Thank you to Aunt Suz for the Thomas the Train set.

Oliver's New Lawnmower

Oliver's Play Table

Oliver Opens His Light and Learn Play Table

Oliver Opens His Cars from Grandma and Grandpa

Oliver Tries out the New Lawnmower

The Power of The Ting Tings

Oliver and the Hippo