Happy 4th birthday Sierra!

Well hello there. It's been (almost) 2 months since we've blogged. Lot's to talk about  (make excuses for why we haven't blogged) but I'll save that for another post.

The reason I came here to post today is because it's my daughter's FOURTH BIRTHDAY. She's four, it feels weird to even type that. Four sounds so much older than three. This time last year we were gearing up for her to go back to daycare and this year we're trying on school uniforms. YES school, Sierra starts K1 in September! I can't believe how fast she is growing and learning these days.

She astounds me every single day with the things she knows and does and I feel so lucky to be able to help her along the way. Before I start crying, I'll just say: Happy Birthday Sierra!

Love,
Dad

What a weekend a.k.a. WE GOT ENGAGED!

What a weekend!

Saturday morning Lauren's mother, Nana, came to get Sierra for an over night sleepover (first time ever!) and Lauren and I were going for a night away alone (first time ever!) to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We wanted to stay nearby so we went an hour or so North of Boston to Hampton, NH. Hampton is a small town with a long boardwalk full of restaurants, bars and arcades running along side a big beautiful beach. We had visited Hampton once before in the winter and have always wanted to see in it's summer season.

Packing

Leaving our lovely city.

We left Boston around noon and headed north for the night. We had a lovely drive listening to and singing along to the cheesiest music possible; Dashboard Confessional was in heavy rotation. Once arriving in New Hampshire we were both famished so we stopped at Good Karma Café, a delicious raw vegan gluten-free place in Exter. If you are heading through NH and have dietary restrictions (or even if you don't) I highly suggest you stop here - the food was wonderful!

Uplifting sign as you enter the restaurant. Thanks Good Karma Café!

After lunch we went to our hotel to drop off our things and take a quick dip in the pool and a nice relaxing lounge in the jacuzzi before heading up to our room to search for fun things to do (on our iPad. Thanks for the present Gramma!). Hampton is full of things to do, including tattoos and mini golf which is of course what we decided to do. We found a place that had great reviews and photos of their work just down the road from the hotel called Jim's Tattoos and decided to check it out. We both got quick little tattoos and love the way they came out! If you're ever in Hampton and in need of a tattoo i suggest Jim's HIGHLY! They do great work, it's affordable, friendly and FAST!

Our New Tattoos.

After that we went and played 16 holes of mini-golf and I kicked Lauren's ass (by two whole strokes). After my PGA quality game we rushed home, changed into fancier clothes and rushed out to dinner.

Dinner was amazing - seriously. Blue Moon Evolution is an awesome vegetarian & vegan friendly restaurant that is in situated in an old restored barn in Exeter, NH. It's dimly lit by candles and string lighting, has a great menu and the service was top notch. If you're vegan and in need of a good date spot in New Hampshire this is it - no contest. For an after dinner drink we went to 10 Water Street down the road on the river and Lauren even let me watch the 3rd period of the Hawks v. Kings game... THAT LATE GOAL RIGHT?! 

Blue Moon Evolution and 11 Water Street - both great spots!!

After our drink we headed to the Boardwalk back in Hampton and went for a lovely walk and even hit up an old school arcade to play skee ball. We grabbed one more drink nearby and headed to the beach to star gaze.

The arcade and our loot.

By this time it was nearing midnight, making it June 9th, officially our anniversary. I'll spare you the mushy details of my proposal but she said YES and thats all that matters!

We had a child first, then we moved in together and now we're getting married. Not the traditional order of events but it's worked for us. I feel incredibly lucky to be engaged to such a gorgeous, smart, caring and supportive woman who I have a beautiful daughter with and I couldn't be happier or be more lucky.

-Craig

Hipster Dad Approved Valentine's Day Cards

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

We made a Pinterest board of "Hipster Dad Approved Valentine's Day Cards". Will add more throughout the day so check back later too :-)

-Craig

Happy Thanksgiving 2012!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Not going to be a long post because I am too busy enjoying Thanksgiving festivities with the family but here are some photos from the day! Hope you all have an awesome holiday! -Craig

Getting started on the home made vegan stuffing!

Washing potatoes together.

Sierra is helping! Wash wash wash.

Mimosa Break!

Cutting fresh green beans for the casserole!

Mmmmmmmmmm.

Quinoa-Cranberry Salad in progress... YUM.

Vegan Green Bean Casserole!

No clothes. Don't Care.
 

Ta-Da!!!! Stuffing, Green Bean Caserole, Mashed Potatoes, Mashed Sweet Potatoes,
Rolls and Pecan Cranberry Quinoa!

 

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Apple Pie Spice & a little maple syrup.

Bottoms up!

Lauren did an awesome job! We are lucky!

Pecan Cranberry Quinoa Salad!

Dig in!

Digesting by watching some Netflix.

Happy 4th of July Post!

Happy (belated) 4th of July everyone! Ours was AWESOME! If you don't know already Don Naylor (Adeline's Daddy) and his adorable family moved to Massachusetts! They moved from Troy, NY to Marblehead, MA and invited us to spend a couple of days with them enjoying the holiday at their new home. Their home is beautiful and so is their new town. It's a classic american beach / vacation town and it was great way to spend the 4th.


p.s. Writing this post reminded me that we've been blogging for over a year at this point -- Check out 2011's "Happy 4th of July Post!" -- A whole year... thats crazy to me. Anyway enough nastolgia check out 35 or so adorable photos from our 2 day trip. -Craig

Don & Rachel practicing for if they ever have a second child. 

Addy cheesing for the camera.

Addy is a huge fan of fans.

BFFs in the making hanging down by the dock.

(vegan) Cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese.

family portrait.

Me teaching the girls the wonders of rolling down hills.

Sierra was quickly a fan.

Hey! Why you take picture of me?

Mama and Sierra rolling down the hill.

Sierras face is the best in this picture.

HIGHER DADDY HIGHER!!!

Yeah man..... nature.

Wait what do you mean theres no more chips???

FACEPLANT.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm crackers.

The beautiful harbor where we watched the fireworks.

Waiting for the show to start.

family portrait.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

oooooooooooooooh aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.

AMERICA!!!

Here we are the next day hanging in the shade at a nearby park.

Mmmmmm cream cheese.

PEEKA BOO!

Lauren and her cameo.

Tattooed Daddy club.

Organic Kids.

Waiting for Addy to come down the slide.

Facebook checking break.

AHHHH TOAST MONSTER!

GRUMPY.