Trike-A-Thon.

Cruz's school held it's 2nd annual Trike-A-Thon. The kids were sponsored to trike circles around a lap in the school's parking lot. All the money collected will be donated to St. Jude's Cancer Research Foundation. Cruz make it around 3 times!

Cruz Turns 2!

For Cruz's 2nd Birthday we took him to visit a local mini pony farm, Tiny Trotters. For the super cheap price of $10 we were able to visit the farm with tons of farm animals, pick out our pony (Montey), brush him, saddle him and go for a half hour ride. Cruz absolutely loved it. Check out the photos.

WE3 Graphic Design Studio Office.

Office front window.

My desk.

Keiko and I .

Working on Dat & Lan's 50th Wedding Anniversary Invitation.

Back in March I subleased an office with a local Landscape Architect. I now have an intern, a former CalPoly student, Keiko, who has be a tremendous help in the past two months. She is off to San Francisco at the end of summer. I'm really enjoying the creative environment at the office and having a renewed energy focused on my business. Now I just need a website!

Growing Up.

We're in the process of changing Cruz's room to a big boy room... here's a video of his new reading corner just a few minutes after I set it up, he just sat himself down and started reading. Too Cute!

Camping at Montana De Oro.

Breakfast in the sun.

Hi Olivia! (We-da as Cruz pronounces it)

Lake, Cruz, Olivia, Makena

Bug discovery (it's on Lani's finger... really).

We packed up the car and drove 7 miles down the street to the wonderous Montana De Oro. A total of 4 families with 4 toddlers, and 2 dogs spent a sun filled weekend relaxing by the beach. Cruz had a blast with his buddies, Olivia, Makena and Lake, he was the only boy. He loves the beach, bike rides and looking at bugs (he never touches). He's talking quite a bit and pretty much copies the last word that you say, so just make sure the last word of your sentence is clean. As you may or may not know I'm not a very experienced camper and realized the importance of tin foil, we cooked all our meals on the grill with it and a sleeping bag, it was freezing at night. Can wait for the next adventure with the little bug... having fun!

Bounce House!

Cruz had his first romp in a bounce house! We were at the SLO farmers market and he demanded that I buy him a ticket. I'm not sure he's ever seen a bounce house and was surprised that he wanted to go in with out me. He loved it! As you can see he could barely stand up and was laughing the whole time.

C-O-O-K-I-E-S

Cruz and I made ranger cookies today. I gave him his own bowl and he measured ingredients and mixed his very own special batch. He's been at school three days a week and on Friday's all the kids make pancakes, that's how I got the idea to let him help me cook. I would have never though a toddler would be interested, but the measuring and dumping is what had him hooked.

Exploratorium.

Cruz and I recently attended the Monarch Elementary School annual Exploratorium here in Los Osos. The event is an annual PTA fundraiser where the school turns into a mini children's museum. The local fire station was there and Cruz meet Spot the station mascot, he also meet the local firemen who work at the station and even got to spray a fire hose. The San Luis Obispo Symphony displayed their collection on instruments for the kids to make music and Cruz gravitated towards the noisiest ones. We made garden art and painted a rock for Nana and learned about water safety. The 4H club also had a mini petting zoo where Cruz got to pet a bunny and goat. Can't wait for next year when we can explore even more.

Under Our Feet.

Nick is having an artist closing reception this Saturday, March 6th at Deer Run in Cambria from 3 to 7 pm. If your in town please stop by to see his latest work!

Santa.

We managed to catch Santa during his busiest time of the year. Cruz wasn't impressed! He was interested in the workshop, the Christmas tree and lights but when I sat him on Santa's lap he was very, very worried. We managed to get both Leslie (nana) and I in a shot with out a total meltdown. Merry Christmas friends and family!

Say Cheese.

Curz is having new adventures every day! He has started daycare two days a week and I've noticed his ability to communicate has exploded since he's been enrolled. He says "bop" which means "up" when he wants up on the couch or to be picked up. He can sign the word "more" and "all done", which are helpful when he's eating. His favorite books are picture books that his aunt Sam bought him, he's most intrigued by the animals and grandma T taught him to make the sound of a snake "ssssss" and point his fingers mimicking a snake head. He also makes a scrunch face when you take a picture of him and say "cheese". Were having so much fun and can't wait to see his reaction to Christmas morning.

It's Uncanny!

Found some old photos of me as a toddler and I now see where Cruz gets his stunning looks! Haha.

CHOW!

Lots of exciting things happening here at the Wilkinson household. Nick just created an interior landscape for a new local San Luis Obispo restaurant, CHOW. The restaurant will feature Asian fare with a California twist focusing on Chinese and Vietnamese flavors, set to open on November 17th! Can't wait to celebrate my 35th birthday there! Good job Nick!

Hippie by day... Elephant by night.

Halloween was so much fun this year, we carved pumpkins, trick-or-treated and accidentally ate part of a Milky Way bar. I let him suck the wrapper and he actually got into the package and sucked most of the candy out... his first candy. Grandma Suzuki made this Hippie costume that Cruz wore to school and the elephant was courtesy of g'ma and g'pa Wilkinson.

Monterey Bay Aquarium!

Artistic photo of the aquarium sign.

Nap on the drive up north.

This fish kept swimming up to Cruz at the Kelp Forest exhibit.

Jellies!

Nick, Cruz and I took a 2 hour drive north on beautiful HWY 1 to Monterey Bay Aquarium to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. The aquarium has many new exhibits since I visited over 10 years ago. We enjoyed "The Secret Lives of Seahorses" exhibit and really loved the new "Jellies" exhibit. And of course the otters were the highlight of the day, Cruz left with a blowfish and stingray toy memento and fun was had by all.

Pumpkin Patch.

We made our yearly trip to La Familia Ranch Pumpkin Patch, a local family run ranch here in Los Osos. Cruz picked out a mini pumpkin, sat on a giant pumpkin, kissed a goat and hee-hawed with a donkey! Though I'd post a picture from last year... wow has he grown so much. Can't wait for Halloween to dress him up and parade him around the neighborhood!

like father like son!

Last night was a rough one! Great hanging with you last night Uncle Jay and Aunt Anna.

Yard Work.

We're visiting my parents in OC and Cruz spent the afternoon yesterday helping grandpa Suzuki clean the yard; he edged, raked, mowed the lawn and at the end of all that manual labor grandpa pulled out the sprinkler for some water fun.

Oldies But Goodies!

Hello ladies!

Bath time fun with Mimi!

Go Chargers... you can't see Cruz's hat but it has a Chargers bolt on it (thanks grandpa)!

I recently got a hold of some of Grandpa and Grandma Eady's photos and though I'd post some of when Cruz was about 4 months old... he was so fat!