Archive for the “archimedes” Category

Sara’s friend Erica came over for brunch this Sunday, and I surprised them with Raw Almond Hummus. I had no idea if the hummus would turn out, but I figured I’d give it a try. I looked all over the internet for a recipe that would work. They all seemed to call for the same basic things, so I improvised the amounts of ingredients into something that sounded good to me.

It was delicious, which is great considering how easily it could have become raw almond diaper cream. Two very different flavors, with very similar textures.

I modified a recipe from GoDairyFree.com (going dairy free, is something I am very opposed to. I advocate for Raw Milk instead.) The only thing this recipe is missing is a splash of  raw milk! In fact, I felt it was missing a certain kind of splash of milk. A  splash, like the ones you get when you’re best friend’s obnoxious ex-girlfriend is at the party, drinking herself to embarrassment , and she splashes vodka down her front and all over your new shoes… That’s the kind of splash of milk I put into the hummus… Yeah that kind.

Anyway the food was fabulous, especially the smoothies, which were made with Kefir. Kefir which I have kept alive for several years. Here are some photos of the process:

Here is the kefir/kefir grains in a mason jar. They have spent 24 hours in the jar awaiting this moment.

Kefir before, or "Kefore"

The Strainer keeps the kefir grains up top, while the snotty milk stuffs goes to the bottom.

You have to be careful not to break the grains

Now the grains go back in the jar.

And some go into Archimedes mouth.

Fresh raw milk goes over the grains.

This is the finished Kefir, this is what we eat. It goes into the smoothie. Along with a couple raw eggs!

Kefir is sour, so it needs lots of berries, and bananas.

Yummy Smoothies Horray!

The look of indignity. You’d think Archimedes was upset when we gave him the cookie beater.

Maybe he was just upset that I took the picture.

Maybe he’s upset, because he knows that when he’s twenty five, and I’m showing his other half these photos, it’ll be extra apparent that having a stay at home dad is way more embarrassing than having a stay at home mom.

We try not to feed Archimedes any processed sugar, so these cookies were only sweetened with honey and molasses.

The look on his face; you’d think he just came to some great realization about this batter. It reminds me of the time, when I convinced him, that the chocolate ice cream i’d just given him really came out of  the dogs rearend.

He struggled with that one, but then finished the ice cream anyway exclaiming “more chokit poo? Medes want more chokit poo, daddy!”

I’m so glad I have this blog, so I never forget these tender moments.

Archimedes is getting ready for his first rave. This is him posing in his little outfit.

As you can see Archimedes is indulging in his creative side, with matching yellow shirt and moon boots.

He made sure to select a white diaper so that it would glow under the black lights, and later we will be putting glitter in his hair.

Archimedes roughed up his hair to give himself that fresh out of bed look. Isn’t he adorable?

He was tempted to wear a white shirt for the black light effect, but then decided that the white trim on his boots and tug boat shirt would stand out and make his seem really put together.

I suggested he put his pacifier on a necklace, but he insists he’s a big boy now, and pacifiers have no place out side of nap time.

I tried to tell him that I didn’t want him raving until he was at least three years old, but ever since he got a glow stick on the 4th of July, he’s been begging to go. I guess two and a half is okay, I think he’s more responsible than most raver kids anyway.

Most parent wake their kids up to a steaming hot bowl of oatmeal, or a nice bowl of Cocoa Puffs; not me though. Only the best for my boy.

Cherries and Orange juice. All part of a nutritious morning meal. The Metamucil I slipped him earlier is just out of frame.

Fruit and fiber, yes sirree.

The only thing this balanced breakfast is missing, is a 4 pack of TP and a mad dash for the potty, no time for reading THIS morning.

I never realized that having a child would slow me down so much.

People warned me, but I just figured it would be things like diaper changes and dressing an extra person.

Nobody warned me that we’d have to make extra sauce. He’s supposed to be helping spread the sauce not eat the sauce.

It’s like this with every unimportant thing I do. He’s like a cat. When you’re reading a good book, he’ll come and do seven circles, before laying down on your chest in front of the words.

What ever will I do with this adorable little guy?

Well it’s spring, and Archimedes has no interest in being inside. Luckily we live in Salt Lake City, so we are surrounded by the great outdoor. We decided to go to Memory Grove (City Creek Canyon) and throw rocks in the creak. Archimedes especially likes it when the water splashes Daddy in the face!

Lately, Archimedes has shown some serious improvement in his throwing arm. His aim has improved tremendously, in fact he can already out throw his dad. My fear is that he’ll grow up to be some million dollar baseball playing cash cow, but he’ll resent me for having his mother play catch with him. All I can offer him is how to make wise-ass comments and get away with it.

I suppose I should go buy a couple baseball gloves and learn how to play sports. The things we do for our kids.

Every month or so, I get a wild hair that I could be a healthier person and increase my chances of living forever, by doing some wildly healthy new thing. The latest such idea included a gym membership.

Now, I realize that to most people, going to gym is the first and most obvious move toward a healthier lifestyle. For Sara and I, we figured a little time away from Sr. Cranky Pants would do wonders for our newly wrinkled faces and graying hair.

Our gym membership comes with free babysitting, which gives us an opportunity to play board games or just read books.

Gyms must make a fortune off of new parents.

It’s the most wonderful thing ever, to just be able to drop off our child on unsuspecting drop in day care attendants. They have to pretend that it’s their pleasure too!

Oh, all those times I sat at home bored to tears, trapped, listening to Sara talk about her knitting. Now I can go to the gym, and sit in the lobby… Trapped… listening to Sara talk about her knitting… PLAYING PARCHEESI

Parcheesi, possibly the best bored came ever invented (not to mention way more fun without Archimedes trying to drop the play pieces through the heat register.

Happy Joy Joy!

I love living in Utah. I love the scenery, and I love the weather. We get the best of every season! Beautiful springs, with flowers budding, and bees buzzing. Our local honey is to die for!  We are the beehive state! (although I think that has more to do with the crappy wages that our Mormon work force is willing to work for.)

We get hot summer days (perfect for swimming.) Cool summer nights (perfect for camping and sitting around the firepit.) If you are an outdoor enthusiast Utah is quite possibly the most desirable place in the country. (as long as we can keep the republicans from raping everything.)

Fall in Utah can hold it’s weight against any other state in the union, have you ever seen an entire forest of quaking aspen as the trees bundle up for winter?  It’s beautiful with it’s golden yellows, surrounded by the red underbrush. Soon the leaves will fall,  the homeless will migrate to Santa Monica, and everyone starts bundling up in designer scarfs and hats. (here is Jeremiah sporting one of Sara’s hand knitted Viking helmets.)

… and yes I love winter too. When the snow falls, even my horrible landscape looks like a fairy land. The movie stars visit in January, and the cities overcompensate with lights and merriment. Ice skating, and cross country skiing. It’s wonderful!

The only thing missing, is an irresponsible Gay night life… Sorry Jose, guess you’ll have to start dating women.

We’ve been remodeling our house for two years now, and it’s really starting to come together. While I was working on a wall I discovered an old chimney shaft that was for a wood burning stove. The chimney was up on stilts, and Sara begged me to build a sculpture cubby in between the stilts. In the photo, you can see the cubby roughed in next to the brick wall.

After completing the cubby, we’ve had all sorts of debates about what would best fill in the space. Well, I just found the thing:

Archimedes on Display! Take that Martha Stewart!

Archimedes new favorite word is “NO!”

And not some little sissy no, everytime he says it, its the full “smackaroo in the face,” sirens blaring “NO!” or maybe he’ll add a little variation like “NO, NO, NO!” However it is that he says it, it always conveys the same spirit. No.

It’s also his favorite verb.

For instance I say “What would you like to do today?” and he says “NO!”

Now, I know that the word “no” cannot be used as a verb, but Archimedes doesn’t know that, and he’s two years old, so it doesn’t matter. He’ll use it as a verb whether his female and male parental units like it or not.

The only thing he hasn’t said “no” to, is when I asked if he’d like to say “no”. Then he just sort of sits there all blank like, his jaw all slack, like he’s stuck in some kind of computer feedback loop.

He has also gotten very creative with his adjectives.

For instance I say “would you like some cheese?” and he says “NO CHEESE!”

You might be thinking to yourself  “Zach, no cheese would actually be two nouns,” but he’s not using “no” as tow nouns, he’s using “no” as a describing word like Swiss Cheese or Cheddar Cheese.

Perhaps I can explain better, when he asks for cheese, and I offer some brie, he’ll say “NO CHEESE!” This doesn’t literally mean he wants “no cheese,” but in fact might means that he wants “Gouda Cheese, and NO Brie.” He’s so smart. Data couldn’t even do contractions, my son is contracting whole sentences!

It’s so dang adorable that I can’t take it anymore! Seriously, I’m at my wits end, on this topic. I don’t know what to do about this obnoxious behavior.

Mostly I’m an expert in dog behavior, but every time I get out the squirt bottle Sara yells “NO!”

Oh the humanity! Now my whole existence is in a feedback loop.