Wrapping Up The Weekend

Just a couple shots more shots from our very nice weekend.


Though his face may say differently, I know he enjoyed that popsicle.


Drying off in the sun after playing with the hose.

Gotta Say It Was A Good Day

To quote Owen (and Ice Cube), "today was a good day." When I heard how beautiful this weekend was going to be, I didn't want to waste a single moment of it. Plus, the past few weekends either Ed or I have had to work. This was the first time in a while we were both free all weekend.


We started the day with some good old fashion coloring. This is how Owen draws people now. I love them. Ed calls them, Owen's California Raisins. The picture you see above is mommy, daddy, Owen and baby Grae (Niah's brother), along with a dinosaur and a squirrel in a nut. That's right. The squirrel is in the nut. Owen thought that was hilarious.


We ventured over the Singh Farms which has to be one of the best places in the Valley. We bought compost along with food goodies from the small market and wandered around the grounds. There was a fire pit tucked away in one part of the garden that we sat around for a while. Owen got to pet a horse and see some goats, chickens, roosters and turkeys. Seriously love, love, love that place and it's only 2 miles from our house.


Owen stated the other day that he wanted to start peddling a bike. We had bought him one for his birthday last year but he still can't reach the peddles (for 3-7 year olds, my butt), so we got him this trike.


He loves it. I have a feeling he's going to outgrow it quickly but he's happy and getting comfortable with peddling.

To top the day off, we met with Kristi and Miles at the park for a picnic playdate and then headed over to a nursery to pick up some vegetable plants for the garden. See? Pretty dang good day huh?

Here's to many more like these.

Greens and Beans*

Carrie and I started a "diet" on the 1st of the year. I put diet in quotes, because we're not really limiting the amount of food we're eating or counting calories; we've just started putting only healthy things into our body. And it's working out well for us because it goes that we can put as much raw veggies, cooked veggies, fruit and beans into our body as we want. It doesn't feel like a diet at all, other than we are eating things we never thought we'd be eating. In the initial six weeks, I lost 20 lbs and Carrie lost 15 lbs. It is funny, becasue it's going so well, I don't think we'll go back to our old ways, at least any time soon.


I like to file this one under "I ate that." We have a smoothie for breakfast almost every morning and, honestly with as many salads as we eat, it's the thing I look forward to most in the day. Did I mention your taste buds change a bit on this diet?


We've started composting because we go through so much plant waste. It's nice because we take the garbage out half as frequently as we used to. Owen likes it because there are a bunch of bugs in there.


This is how our refrigerator looks now. Especially on Sundays after we stock up for the week.


Owen has even gotten in on the action. He LOVES helping me make smoothies. He helps in any way he can, all the while professing "I'm a good helper." I seriously like that. Also, he'll just reach up while we're making a salad and grab a romaine lettuce leaf and start munching on it because he "loves salad." I seriously like that too.


We haven't got Owen on this diet 100%, mostly because he just doesn't eat that much, so he probably wouldn't be getting enough of the stuff he needs if was getting it from leafy greens and nothing else. It is nice to hear from Owen's teachers, however, that Owen always has the most healthy lunches in the class and they are proud of how well he eats.

Overall, changing the way we eat has done wonders for our health in a short amount of time. We have more energy, lost weight, and - per Carrie - I don't snore nearly as much anymore. If anyone is interested, we followed this book and highly recommend it:
http://www.drfuhrman.com/shop/ETLBook.aspx

*Name of the vegan restaurant Carrie wants to open. Next to the brewery she also wants to open which is next to her community garden. She dreams big.

Valentine's Day 2012

Happy Valentine's Day to all. Owen had a fun day at school and this is the first time he's gotten the shoe box full of cards. He felt quite loved by all his friends.


A huge mystery box of candy, what's not to love about Valentine's Day?


Carrie and I went to a black tie event the other night and had Dawn watch Owen. It was one of the few nights out we get so we weren't going to waste it. Since this is also one of the very few times we get dressed up, we had Dawn take some pictures.


Carrie was looking more beautiful than ever; Ed even less gooney than usual. A perfect evening.


This picture encapsulates our life right now. (Hint: the little reminder of why we rarely go out is never far away.)

News Worthy

Short story
Owen and I are leaving the house and he sees part of a newspaper on the ground. He picks it up and states he wants to bring it with him so he can read the newspaper in the car. As we're driving Owen exclaims:"Mama! Grandma and Grandpa are in the newspaper!"

Carrie: "Oh really? Which ones?"

Owen: "Grandma and Grandpa Cooper."

Carrie: "What are they doing?"

Owen: "They're huggin'. Why Grandma and Grandpa in the paper?"

Carrie (now very curious about this newspaper): "Can I see it buddy?"

Owen: "Sure! I'm going to bring it to school and show my teacher."



Carrie: "Huh. How about we just leave this paper in the car?"

Just Add Paint

We bought a new couch the other day from Costco and in true Costco style, the couch came in a gigantic box. It seemed a waste to just break it down and recycle it so we invited Miles over to help Owen paint a fort.


Started out in an orderly fashion using a paint brush and not mixing colors.


Moved to the inside to paint "furniture"; realized it's fun to fling paint.


Decided paint brushes were totally unnecessary when you have hands. Shortly after this shot, Owen decided his belly was an even better painting tool.


The artist in all his glory.