Saturday lunch out - !

Weekends are always wonderful because we get to be together and have a change of pace from the weekly routine - and slowly we are exploring all the interesting places that Colorado Springs has to offer. This is a big town (not a big city but a big, spread-out town with a lot of variety) and it is a slow venture for us at this stage of life for the boys and working around their naps. So Saturday lunches are a good time to get out. Last weekend we went to Ivywild School: A Community Marketplace. It was an elementary school built in 1916 but closed in 2009. Last year it reopened and houses a coffeeshop, restaurant, bakery, brewery, small local grocery and community garden, art gallery and venue space, bicycle shop and offices. Very interesting use of space, and the most interesting part is that the owners have maintained some of the school's architecture and interior design. For example, the bathroom walls still are covered with murals made by school children, of dinosaurs and planets and nature scenes. The coffee bar is called "The Principle's Office".

Timo was very proud to sit on the old tractor out front. And yes, I gave him a haircut later that afternoon. It grows so fast now!

We had a nice lunch (veggie sandwich, roasted veggies & french bread with eggplant/olive spread -somehow we resisted the huge cinnamon rolls and almond croissants). I've been here a couple of times before but it was Jim's first time. The photo below makes it look empty, but it was actually quite busy.

Of course we didn't end up taking many photos because we were too busy looking around and keeping up with Timo, who was running everywhere, so excited about all the artwork and the big globe and the basketball gym (now used for concerts/bands).


And.... back at the house... another day - I just couldn't help but snap a photo of handsome Mattias, happily playing with his crinkly cat-tails book.