Denver...like a handprint on my heart

I'm a planner.  I NEED to plan ahead for trips and outings and whatnot.  It's just a part of my personality...like list making.  I had this trip planned for months because I had purchased WICKED tickets for Calvin's birthday.  I got an email from Denver Center Attractions about the tickets and the next day the Bronco Schedule was coming out so I was able to coordinate both activities!  I love when a plan comes together!

So Thursday, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off getting packed and ready because I waited until the last minute...so unlike me.  In the middle of all of this, the yard guy showed up to winterize our yard.  I told him about Bobbi's dog's staying with us and they barked at him from the window.  He left and I let the doggies outside to play.  Several hours go by, the kids are taking a much needed nap and I open the garage door to pack the car and there is TAYLOR.  Crap.  The yard guy left the gate open and BUCK is gone.  I'm freaking out because we are leaving in ONE HOUR.  And I'm scared to call BOBBI. Luckily...Buck has been picked up by the NOPD and Calvin bailed him out of jail on his way home.  YAY!


Our trips to Denver normally include many of our favorite restaurants.  But this time we decided to try some new places.  Friday night we went to Pasquini's Pizza in Highlands.  If you are ever driving through Denver on your way to somewhere else....you have to stop here! It is easy to get to from I-25.  I'm going to try to put this in a nutshell since I will be posting more about it (and the other great food we had) on my food blog this week.  Awesome Sangria, they bring the kids pizza dough to play with, Awesome Pizza! Great prices and fabulous desserts!

Saturday we woke to ice and snow.  We ran a bunch of little errands (office max and Michael's).  I waited in line so long at the crap store that the woman standing in front of me in line started knitting with the yarn she wanted to buy.  We walked around our favorite neighborhood...Belmar.  We stopped into mark and isabella's for lunch.  Such a fabulous meal!  The best chicken strips for the kids and I was in love with my Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with a glass of Merlot.

We rushed home to drop off the kids and we went to see WICKED!  We've seen WICKED before...but we can't agree on when.  I think it was 3 years ago...Calvin thinks it was 4 or more.  The good news for me is that it's been long enough that I don't remember everything from the show and there's an excellent chance I was tipsy when I saw it, so it's like seeing it for the first time.  Except that I own the soundtrack and know all of the songs!


It was cold in Denver.  Real cold and I don't like to walk around much when I'm freezing my tush off but walked we did.  We love downtown Denver so much that I soon forgot that I was cold and just enjoyed being with my favorite guy, in my favorite town.  We found ourselves standing outside of our favorite little russian restaurant which is responsible for both of our children being conceived.  I've told you that story right?  It was not open yet...so we walked a few feet further and found a gem that we'd never seen before.

The sign outside of Crepes N Crepes said that it was happy hour and wine and crepes were $4.  SOLD! We walked into this darling little restaurant with yellow walls and little wooden tables.  There was french music playing and soon the wonderful smell of crepes cooking and cheese melting would fill the air. We had a couple glasses of wine and tried three different crepes that were all so wonderful.  If you live in Denver you MUST try this place.  They have happy hour Wednesday- Saturday, 3-6pm.

The Red Square Bistro was finally open so we stopped in for a drink, the cheese and fruit plate and to see my boyfriend. All of the years that we've been coming here (and conceiving babies when we get home) Pascha has always been there.  He is the sweetest older man and remembers us every time.  This time I got a hug from him!

Then we went back to my in-laws to tuck in the kids and slip into a food coma!

Sunday, I went to the giant Whole Foods store in Belmar...all by myself.  I try not to visit this store every time because it makes me mad at Utah.  I get upset seeing all of this amazing food and ingredients that I can't get back home.  Walking past the seafood counter sends me over the edge...I avoid the back of the store completely.  This time...I got some forbidden rice (it's black), hazelnuts (I want to make biscotti), a delicata squash, baba ghanoush and pita chips!


The Bronco Game was awesome!  They won in overtime...and Calvin had a great time with Alan.  We are so excited that they are 5-0!  WOOT!  Did you see the old style uniforms from 50 years ago?  Those socks were crazy!  Mallory had her finger's crossed that they would get the field goal.

I took complete advantage of STARBUCKS being 3 blocks away.

 EDITED: Calvin just sent me a text...he said that the first US tour of WICKED was in 2005. He's right....dang it.