It is 6:31 a.m. and I walk down the stairs from our bedroom and am greeted by Carly who is getting ready to leave for work. Ava, my 2 and 1/2 year-old is eating Cheerios, and Tenley is not sleeping or eating, so I assume she is doing the only other thing that 5 month-old babies do: unloading in her diaper.
When she sees me Ava opens the morning dialogue.
Ava: “Daddy, do you want to go to work with us?”
Me: “You are going to work today?”
Ava: “Uh-huh, I am.”
Me: “Oh I thought just mommy was going to work today. Maybe we can stay home and do something more fun.”
The questioning look that Ava shoots me seems to say: Seriously, dude?
Me: “…Or we could go somewhere else that is fun.”
Carly chimes in with, “Ava maybe daddy will take you to Little Monkey Busni….”
I quickly cut off Carly. While going to Little Monkey Business is a possibility today, I don’t want to make that promise and for some reson not be able to follow through. It’s too late though, Ava has already figured it out.
Ava: “Can we, Can we, Can we? Can we go to Little Monkey Biz today?”
Ava: ” I have to go potty! I have to go potty!”
Carly and Ava disappear upstairs. Carly returns downstairs after a few minutes and tells me about the conversation that transpired upstairs.
Carly: “Ok Ava, mommy has to go to work now.”
Ava: “I told you that I wanted to go to work with you.”
Ava starts crying…
Carly: “Sweetie mommy has to go to work, but you get to hang out with Daddy and Tenley.”
Ava: “But, I want to hang out with you.”
Carly: “I want to hang out with you, too. Mommy has to go to work though, so she can buy you nice things.”
Ava: “Oh, OK. Bye.”
I am sure I will be worn out from a busy day at Little Monkey Business, and also from trying to teach my toddler the importance of a dollar. For those of you that are not worn out tonight consider the following:
Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band
In Boulder, the Jax at 928 Pearl Street is offering a three-course menu with traditional New Orleans cuisine for $35; call 303-444-1811 or go to www.jaxfishhouseboulder.com.
Also in Boulder, the West End Tavern (926 Pearl Street, 303-444-3535, www.thewestendtavern.com) and Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace (950 Pearl Street, 303-442-7771, www.centrolatinkitchen.com), are marking Mardi Gras with food-and-drink specials.
It’s Mardi Gras. Have a happy Fat Tuesday!
Rammin' the Clam... 