THIRD post in one day . . . SNOWED IN videos

We are in the grips of serious cabin fever!! Here are some videos of the last few days.

First, video of the fam picking out Nana's new puppy. Even a litter of puppies wasn't enough to keep 2.5 year old Carson busy. So he entertained himself.



Next up, snowed in!

Up to his armpits in snow!


And then . . . Carson has three winter hats yet we couldn't find any of them. Seeing as it was only 22 degrees, we had to put one of my hats on him. It didn't work out so great.



Last but not least, the snow is over 2 feet deep. There is a thick layer of ice over the top. Carson is so light that he can stay on top of the ice for quite awhile until he breaks through. But once he does, it's too deep for a two year old!

Nana's New Puppy

Sadly Nana had to put 15 year old Whitney to sleep last Saturday. Nana lasted all of 7 days without a lap dog.

In spite of record breaking snow, we all piled into Poppa's truck and drove all the way to Newberg to pick up a new miniature schnauzer puppy.

Five sweet darlings to pick from.

This little guy wouldn't leave Nana alone. "He picked me" is all we heard the whole way home.Apparently crates aren't just for puppies!Hmm . . . this might be a good time out spot!
Couldn't think of a name for the little guy until the way home. He was all tuckered out . . . and became Tucker!

Arctic Blast Day 8

Made it out yesterday with Nana & Poppa to help Nana pick out her new puppy, Tucker. Will blog on that next.

Also made it out at 1 pm to get a massage in Hillsboro with Liza. Slow going and in 4WD the whole day. Saw trucks in ditches the whole way there and back.

Aunt Liza & Uncle Ga chained up to visit and meet the new puppy and say hi to Carson. But then it got ugly.

We have two feet of snow with drifts over 3 feet high. There is a thick layer of ice over the snow. My Nissan is completely sealed in a coat of ice and we can't get into it!

Daddy's TL

Seriously deep snow on our back patio!

Buried patio set

How did this snow get INSIDE our barn?

Back patio

Cat house on back deck

BBQ & Heat pump! We cleared the glass top table off at 6 pm last night so that's the snow just from last night.

View from our master bedroom out the doors.

27 inches!

Deep!

Arctic Blast 2008

That is what the weather coined our current snow storm system. It has been snowing since Sunday night and because we live at 1000 ft, we are in a winter wonderland with a LOT of snow.

Monday, stuck at home.

Tuesday, we carpooled. Daddy to work, Carson to school, and me shopping and errand-running like mad to get it all done before the next storm hit that night.

Wednesday, Daddy worked from home. Carson to school and me finishing up the shopping and errand running. Went to SIX major stores in search of snow boots and a snow bib for Carson. Finally struck gold at the Columbia Sportswear employee store. I am fortunate enough to be on the "in" list because of one of my super sweet clients. Unfortunately I just found out that tomorrow is her last day so I got really lucky to get there in time.

I wrapped up the boots, little tiny ski socks, a new jacket, and snow bibs for Carson. He thought he got Christmas early as he quickly unwrapped his "presents".

But first, a little multi-tasking!

First snow day, making cookies!And even better, eating cookies!An early Christmas present!

New boots! New snowpants! However Carson thought he was getting beer for Christmas! It was hilarious when he shouted "BEER" as he was unwrapping.A fancy new jacket! A real ski socks!Socks?! Who needs socks?!Put it all together and you've got "cool"A super short snowman due to very dry snow that didn't pack well!
Look closely and you'll see he is really a beer snowman! Bottlecaps came in handy! And the next morning! He was completely covered in next another round of snow!Front of the house

Side yard of sorts! Backyard

Our sitting stone

The car!

The walnut tree

The orchard

Sweet Jackson

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Two year olds are quite entertaining. A few highlights.

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Carson eating an almond:

Daddy- What kind of nut are you eating? Is it a peanut?
C- No
Daddy- Walnut?
C- No
Daddy-Cashew nut?
C- Doughnut!

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My dad's company party Friday night. 25+ adults eating dinner and enjoying cocktails. Carson heard yelling at the top of his lungs throughout the entire house, "DADDY ME DIARRHEA!!!"

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Daddy helping Carson finish up a poopy on the potty. Daddy overheard saying, "Grab my ankles Carson." The rest of us eating dinner hearing this, and dying laughing thinking of the bathroom scene in Austin Powers.

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Carson carrying the cat through the living room, upside down. Furry tail and puckered kitty butt right in Carson's face. Cat's ears dragging on the ground and looking humiliated but happy that he was finally getting attention. Beggars can't be chooosers.

Carson carrying the cat through the living room again. This time right side up but the cat was too tall and heavy. Kitty's back legs walking along the ground with his head on Carson's shoulder.

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Carson wanting to cut paper. I grabbed the closest thing and handed it to him. As he was cutting, he yells, STARBUCKS! Low and behold it was an envelope with the Starbucks logo on it. Wow!

Most children his age know the golden arches of McDonald's or the smiling rat face of Chuck E Cheese. Mine knows the coffee place with the most drive-thrus.

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Carson carefully observing me getting dressed. Looking quite confused and then, "Mommy, you penis broken?"

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We are currently snowed in and bored to tears. We've baked and frosted cookies. We've watched "Arctic Blast 2008" news coverage. We've made 18 tunnels (really the same couch/blanket tunnel over and over and over). We've now used up all our batteries on flashlight games. Let's just hope we don't lose power and need flashlights.

When Mommy Doesn't Pay Attention

Carson and Ian get along well 85% of the time. Okay, maybe 75% but for the most part, as they've gotten older, they entertain each very well. I am able to do other things and simply listen for naughty sounds.

So yesterday when I just heard laughing and a strange whirring noise, I really didn't pay much attention. But curiosity got to me after awhile. I popped my head in the kitchen to see what was keeping them occupied so well and for so long.

This is what I found:

Family Christmas Tradition

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

When You're Slidin' Into First . . .

Only poo can make me blog twice in a day! One last gross disgusting poo story. We finally got everything in the #2 department under control with daily Mirilax. Unfortunately everyone has a stomach issue once in awhile.

Carson made it to the potty twice with liquid hot magma. The third time he did not make it. We heard the "Me poopy" call and then heard "uh oh".

Poo everywhere. Drips and smears on the floor. It had overflowed the underpants, leaked out the leg holes of his sweats and right onto his BRAND NEW shoes. Purchased only 4 hours before.

It was horrible. I called for back up. We cleaned the best we could. I accidentally grabbed a poo caked shin. My arm brushed up against his tush and my practically new jacket was fouled.

Carson now knows song, "When you're slidin' into first and you feel something burst, diarrhea, diarrhea."

Squeezes for Santa

The line for Santa stretched all the way to the elevator this year and my gait grew less and less cheerful as we passed by each child dressed in their Sunday finest. I've never seen so much red, black, & green argyle, plaid, and paisley.

I remember how long I hunted for Carson's first Christmas vest. Even last year I searched store after store for the perfect Christmas sweater. Clearly I have lost my "new mom" glow and energy.

Carson was dressed this morning in the 2nd to last clean outfit. Today is laundry day so Carson was limited to a snazzy black and white Addias track suit. I was actually okay with it.

Then we had to put him in his room for a time out. ONE whole week of no accidents!! But today broke the streak. Carson took a break from crying (screaming blood murder) to call out "PEE PEE". I sent Daddy in quickly but not quickly enough.

Back up outfit was literally the "back up" outfit. The pants and shirt I keep in the diaper bag for mall emergencies. No Sunday finest for Santa today. I suppose since I am addicted to anything camo, it is only appropriate that Carson was wearing his camo shoes and camo hoodie.

Carson and I made many trips by Santa to acclimate him to the bearded one. Last year was a major meltdown but I had high hopes for this year. Carson waved so hard each time we'd walk by and would yell, "HI SANTA!!" He clung to the fence and would shout out "BIG TRUCKS!!

At one point during our long wait in line, Carson declared that he was going to ask Santa for "guns". This caused a 5 minute practice session of "what are you going to ask Santa for?" until we made sure guns was out of his vocabulary.

45 minutes later it was finally his turn. He danced and pranced waiting for the green light and ran as fast as he could over to the big jolly dude in red. Arms outstretched and gave Santa a HUGE hug! We were thrilled to tears! The pictures speak for themselves.

But now I have to do some detective work to find out where he is learning about guns. He has been pointing things at us lately and making shooting noises. We're just not ready for that yet.

The past three Christmases:

2006

20072008

25 Reasons NOT to Potty Train your child

That is the title of the book I am working on.

This story needs an explanation of Carson and his monkey walk. Monkey walk is when Carson gets on all fours and flies around the house. Only his arms and legs are straight so his little bottom sticks straight up in the air. Similar to, say, a chimpanzee.

Reason #18 NOT to potty train your child:

Call it role modeling, call it multi-tasking, call it what you will, but on more than one occasion I will use the "big potty" while Carson sits across from me on his "little potty". Never a problem until last night.

Carson had a slight head start and finished his business while I was in the middle of mine (#1 if case you're getting a horrible image, sorry). Only his was #2 and quite reminiscent of soft serve ice cream.

He shouted "All done pooping Mommy!!", flew off his little potty, and shot across the bathroom, MONKEY WALKING!!!!!!!! Buns straight up in the air, cheeking flapping, with no pants or underpants on!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was an indescribable feeling of awe, horror, disgust, can't look away but need to look away!! It felt like a bad dream, as I moved in slow motion trying to pull up my pants and chase this impish, naked monkey across the room.

By the time I caught him he was rolling around on the dog bed, Sorry Jackson!! It was the stuff legends are made of.

Reason #19 (true story):

Picture this. You've already loaded up the car (3 trips in all). The car is running. It's taken 15 minutes but the 2 year old's jacket is finally on.

The sippy cup and snack bag are in tiny hands. The dog is looking forlornly out the window as you depart for the day. You're already 10 minutes later than you should be.

Said 2 year old plays the ha-ha (not so funny) chase me to get me in the car game. You're sweating, frustrated, and trying not to lose it.

You catch and wrestle the wild monster into his car seat, trying not to get mud on your pants as you strain to tighten the buckles.

Then, "Mommy, me have to peepee."

You're torn. Is this for real? Is it a ploy? (see Poop Dupe for further reference)

But you decide a seat full of pee is not a good choice and unbuckle the smiling (or quite possibly smirking) monster. But in a last ditch effort to save time, you carry peepee head over to the edge of the driveway, unzip him, and command, "aim for the azeala".

But alas, suddenly pee-pee head thinks he has to poop so the azeala is safe for another day.

Now you have to turn off the car to unlock the house, disarm the alarm, and carry pee-pee-poo-poo head with his pants around his ankles to the nearest potty.

"No Mommy, your potty" - this is no longer charming. This is borderline insanity. This is what drives parents to drink or post their children on Craig's List.

Pick up potty-picky child, run to the next bathroom. Plop him down and pray that there isn't a line at Starbucks.

Then your praying is interrupted by a loud, reverberating toot.

And as suddenly as the chaos began, it is over. False freaking alarm. No poo, no pee. Just flatulence.

Tell the barista to make it a venti and pop a vanilla Prozac in please!