Out and About

Last Friday we were in L.A. and decided to go check out the Griffith Observatory!

The building had some beautiful murals. The displays were very educational and innovative. I thought it was cool that we got to touch a piece of the Moon and Mars!Last night we decided to go to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach with the Brown family!

Jack and his buddy Gavin had a great time together. They are 4 months apart, though we have been asked if they are twins. The crabs were as big as Jack!

The jelly fish were my favorite.

The play area had this boat. Gavin and Jack were super excited about the wheel.

I don't know why, but this is my favorite picture. Things can get a little crazy when Jack is on Dan's shoulders!

So close to touching those fish, yet so far. The boys and their daddy's.

Healthy Snacks

I don't consider myself some kind of crazed health freak. However I just don't see the point of feeding my child unnecessary high fuctose corn syrup, preservatives, and high sodium snacks. Jack is not a picky eater in the least so we eat lots of fruits and veggies, but you have to have a snack every once in awhile right? I have been trying new recipes and this is what I baked today. Homemade granola bars and graham crackers!

Jack loved them :)

Here is the recipe for granola bars (thanks Liz!) and you can go here to see the recipe for the graham crackers.

GRANOLA BARS

2 cups rolled oats

1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1/2 cup wheat germ

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 cup wheat flour

3/4 cup raisins

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup honey

1 egg beaten

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla

Combine oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins, and salt in medium bowl. Make a well in center. In small glass measuring cup, combine remaining ingredients. Blend well. Pour into dry mixture; mix well. Consistency will be crumbly. Press in greased 13x9 inch baking dish. Bake 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes or until edges are just browning. Do not over bake. Allow to cool 10 minutes, then cut into 18 bars. Do not all to cool completely or bars will be extremely difficult to cut. However after you cut them you can let them harden in the baking dish. Store in sealed container. You can also freeze them for later :)

A strangers junk became our treasure

Jack and I enjoy a 3 mile walk every morning. Well, a couple of weeks ago while on our walk we found this bike parked out by someones garbage can awaiting the weekly garbage pick up. I thought that Jack was a little too small for it, however who could pass up this free vintage-esk trike! It even has the old fashion turn style bell! For now Jack rides on the back bench with the seat as his handle!

Train Ride

We decided it would be fun to ride the Metrolink train to San Clemente beach today, since the train drops you off right next to the pier. Jack and I were really excited for our first train rides.This little adventure was all the funner with our friends the Rowleys! Jack and his friend Lincoln had lots of fun on the train.

Jack had fun burying Lincoln and...decided it would be fun to be burried also!

Jack had been awake from 7am to 4:30pm without any nap (new record) and in the middle of eating a graham cracker he zonked out! Our boys were very tired from our awesome day of adventure!

Twenty Four

Yesterday was my twenty fourth birthday. I love to open my birthday presents first thing in the morning, like a child on Christmas I just can't wait! Dan has always been a thoughtful present giver. My favs this year were tickets to the Muse concert in September and our new favorite game, Ticket to Ride!

Dan took the day off and we played Ticket to Ride a lot, however we did take a break and went to see the movie Dinner for Schmucks!
For dinner we went to Jason's Deli. We enjoy the complementary ice cream :)
After dinner we went home and not long after my neighbor called up asking to borrow an egg. When I took it over to her I walked into a surprise party put on by my girl friends! We spent the night giggling and eating cake. A perfect end to my twenty fourth birthday.