Z loves his fruit!

Zack is all about fruit and has been for a while now. It is funny because when we go to grocery store, farmers market etc., he points, signs and says all the fruit words he knows to get me or farmer to give him a piece. I end up getting the funniest looks at the grocery check out when I ask to pay for an extra half eaten avocado, pear, plum, well you get the point.

Here is he with a apricot, at Sunflower market

Home with fresh whole peach...

He also insists in doing things for him self. I cut the first one into pieces but he would have none of it. So decided that I guess it was time he gave all those new teeth a test run.

Here is older pictures of him doing some damage to his first nectarine.

I guess there are worse things he could beg for at the store!

Test drive

Last weekend I went with Albert and Zack to the bike store. This is one of those "Dad and Zack" things they do with their time together. Albert has been telling me that Z loves the this tricycle's they have for little guys. When we got there, Zack immediately ran to the little bikes to show me what he could do.

First he demonstrated how I should push him around the store...so fast the picture is blurred...
Then after a safety check of the handle bars, kicking the tires, and playing with seat belt...
He was ready to show me how good he is on the open road, well the open store.


He is very serious when he rides bikes, and was doing laps for at least 30 minutes. We decided that with winter coming he wouldn't get much use in the near future so it would be a great birthday present next June.
Of course, it is the most expensive tricycle I have ever seen, so we will accept gift cards for his birthday if anyone is at a loss for what to get him :)

Ketchup

I am a huge fan of In-N-Out burgers back in CA and always searching for a close substitute. While running errands the other day Zack and I found a new burger place right by the house. I have yet to find one that makes yummy cheese burgers like my double, double with cheese, but I have to say, this place, Five guys burgers and fries, is about as close as you can get. This simple place that only makes burgers, (any way you want, no extra charge for topping) fries and grilled cheese on hamburger bun. Maybe a coincidence, but the colors for both restaurants are red and white. A bonus was that Zack loves their grilled cheese. So we went again this week to take dad!!

Waiting for burgers wasn't to bad because we always have a truck, this time a fire truck...

That doubles as a peanut transporter. (They serve peanuts in shells.)

I am not a fan of ketchup, so I have never had it around but Dad got some and let Zack have a messy try.

First we had to just try it on our fingers, but finally he understood the dippin' of the fries. Next we dipped the truck but I was to busy cleaning that mess to get picture...Next time.

And I am not surprised he seemed to like it...just like most kids.

Chillin' at the Zoo

Zack, Landon, Kari and I had a little impromptu trip to the Zoo yesterday. Of course, Zack doesn't go anywhere without a car, truck or train...

Today was the little camping dune buggy.

Landon seemed happy just playing it cool in stroller with his sunglasses.

We decided to take the little train that makes a short circle around the flamingo area. Luckily, both the boys are still young enough that they are still willing to sit with their mom's...and even take pictures! The hat team on the left, sunglasses team on right.



This is the second time Z's has ridden the train but was just as serious as the first.

This was LT's first time on the Zoo train and he seemed pretty serious himself. They both smiled a couple of times but I missed it with the camera.

Avacado Kisses

Today Zack, Kari, Landon and I had a quick picnic while at the Zoo. It was our typical smorgasbord, where Zack eats LT's food and LT eats Zack's.
Both of the boys were enjoying blackberries and avocado when...

Landon just had to give Kari a BIG KISS and HUG.

Kari didn't seem to mind the avocado in her eyebrows, hair, neck or shirt.
What mom could resist such yummy kisses?!

Doesn't LT look handsome in his avocado / blackberry outfit? Unfortunately for LT, all good things must come to an end and mom won the face washing wrestling match.
I didn't get any pictures of Z eating this time, but Kari got a few last time we picnicked at Zoo.

Little Shark!

We bought Zack his very own big boy bed today!

He helped mommy put it together...and even tried to read the directions.

Putting the screws into the little holes was the perfect game.

Very serious game...Here is Z's concentration face.

The giant styrofoam pieces were also fun until I found out he was biting it!! Most people would get the hebegeebees from biting it but it didn't phase him and he took several bites. He wasn't to pleased when I held him down and pulled the pieces out of his mouth but he was soon happy again and went back playing with the screws.

When I saw the bites out of the styrofoam I was reminded of surfboards after a shark attack.

Sidewalk chalk

Joss gave Zack some sidewalk chalk for his birthday and I finally broke it out for Z to play with. It's been a few years since I have drawn pictures on concrete but I thought I did ok making suns, flowers etc.

Zack didn't seem to really like my pictures...

He did decide to draw a few scribbles on the walkway in front of the house...

Genius or had a little help from mom? It didn't last long before he was trying to eat them so we will be waiting a bit before we have another chalk coloring session.

When pigs attack

Zack loved the petting zoo so much last week that we decided to go again. This time we invited LT and his mom.


All was going well, Zack showed Landon the cows, chickens, goats and turkey, and finally the pigs.

At first I thought he was just licking Zack because he was laughing, (as usual for Z) but then I noticed he was biting his cloths!! Little bugger was trying to eat Zack for breakfast.

Here is what happens when pig's attack...

While I was picking up Z he made his move on LT...

He was fine and didn't cry or anything but you can tell by look on face he wasn't to pleased!!
We decided to ditch the crazy pig and check out the other "safe" animals.

Later Landon and Zack had fun pushing each other around in LT's stroller!

Cyclin' widows

Last year when Albert got his road bike he made a vow to ride in the MS150. A fund raising event for Multiple Sclerosis that is a two day 150 mile ride to Fort Collins and back. Since it's been about 10 years since Albert has done more than ride to work and back, he knew this was going to require a lot of training.

Fortunately early in the training process Albert convinced our neighbor Bret to ride the MS150 as well.
Since then Lynda and I have been biking widows.

(at Bull and Bush after the first long ride of the year, only 42 miles)

Zack and I spend many weekends and evenings
waiting for dad to get back from bike rides,
but at least we have Lynda and Nixie to play with.

Zack loves to watch dad take off for rides and is even more elated when he returns.
Shadow always lets us know dad has arrived
so Zack can see him out front window.
Zack is aways super excited to greet dad when he returns from a ride.
Lately he even seems to associate all bike riders and bikes with dad!!

Sometimes just for fun (Albert says doesn't count towards training) Zack gets to ride behind dad in the trailer.


Bret and Dad after completing 65 mile Elephant Rock "practice" ride in Castle Rock

If you want to follow Albert's last week of training progress ,
see cute picture of Zack or to donate, please check out his ride site.
We are so very proud of his training and fund raising efforts
and can't wait for race day to cheer him on!!
Albert is the one that has to do the hard riding but it is defiantly a family effort.

First Shoes

Zack and I went shopping for his first pair of big boy shoes today!! Of course it was a big day, and you know mommy loves shoes, especially, if you consider my past profession, how much I love children's shoes. I wouldn't take Zack anywhere but Little Feet and More right here in Cherry Creek North. They are the most knowledgeable, offer the best service and are previous customers of mine. Husband and wife team, Beth and Buddy, (owners) are awesome and the kids love them.

Anyway, there were a couple other first walkers getting shoes too and Zack had a great time making friends. I was so excited watching Zack picking and trying on shoes that I forgot to take a picture at the store. I only remembered when Zack was in car seat and ready to got to next errand.




He was so upset when we had to get going...but the shoes look good!


Later that day we met Dad at REI to get some camping gear. What better place to try out his new "hikin" shoes?!?!

At this point he was like, "Um, I walked better before these silly things". But soon he was back to running around just fine!