Girls' Night!

In our family, dinnertime is the only time we can count on each day for focused family time. It's not always pleasant, nor is it always painful. It just is what it is, and some days are down right amazing! It is the time that we---well the taller two of the group---have decided that we will be together as a family. So, when I came across this blog from Crystal B, who made the earings I bought on etsy, I was really touched that someone else felt that connection to dinnertime that I do. However, I do believe that a family can have other "forced" gatherings that are just as meaningful. I just think that if we leave it up to happenchance, our lives are too fast and furious to give us enough of these moments. 

Now, I'm not saying that every member of our family is present at every dinner, just that everyone sits down at least 6 times a week together. For example, yesterday didn't go according to my plan. The plan is to do groceries on Wednesday. Check (even got $25 off in coupons and another $35 off in sales). The other part of the plan is to clear out any food that is already in the fridge to use for dinner. I pulled out the mushrooms, wonton wrappers, cauliflower, and Parmesan cheese. Check. Ambitious, huh? The most difficult part of the plan is to include my 4 year old in the plan (which means I have to double the amount of time it takes me to put food on the table). This day: check. The other tall member of my family has already asked permission to be absent for dinner, but this has completely slipped my mind. No check. 

Sooo, we had Plan B. Girls' night! It just so happens that I had texted our Vegetarian Neighbor Lady to come to dinner before I found out about the absence, and she said Yes! So, it made for a great girls' night, since her hubby is out of town for work and we cooked a vegetarian meal! Here's what we ate: Mushroom Ravioli with Cauliflower Sauce. Elise chopped mushrooms with a butter knife, and she brushed the egg whites on the wonton wrappers before I loaded them up. Even though I was nervous to serve something I pulled out of my a$$---well, not literally!!!---everyone, I mean EVERYONE (including the 1 year old and the 4 year old), ate all of it. I really could not believe my eyes. My jaw was about on the table. 

It turned out to be a great evening even though it was minus one to start with. We ate, laughed, watched the Black Stallion, and just had some plain ol' fun girl time! :)