Winter Wonderland and Santa!

This past weekend was crazy! We got 7 inches of snow! 2 years in a row that we got significant snow out here. Very unusual...

We all bundled up and played in the snow. A girl down the street (Grace, 4 yrs) threw snowballs at Taylor and they both had a blast. Devan watched Dustin and I shovel the driveway from his stroller.

Sunday, most of the roads had been plowed so we ventured out and did some errands- just to get out of the house. Also, it was the holiday party at the clubhouse of our subdivision. Cookies, punch, activities/crafts for kids, and of course... Santa! Devan was terrified of the man! Did not want to be on his lap at all! We got pics, but need to get them posted.... Amazing how some kids are terrified to sit on his lap, but don't care that he sneaks into their house in the middle of the night while they're sleeping....

Pics to come... Hopefully within the next couple days, since I have time off for Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Update Time!

Wow! I can't belive it's been almost a month since I've posted anything.... Life has been CRAZY!!!

Where to begin....

We just got back from our trip out west and we're all trying to adjust back to life by ourselves... Devan has been having his usual withdrawl tantrums and just wants to be held and talked to 24/7. Lots of crying, snot, and tears...

Our trip was awesome! It was so nice having the extra couple days in town so we didn't feel AS rushed as usual. Sorry to all those we didn't get a chance to visit with....

On the first day we jumped around to all the relatives, making quick visits with everyone. Then, later that evening, we all gathered for a GREAT football game! Too bad we lost by 4... Everyone was bummed, except for Annie. We'll convert her though! You can't be a duck in a beaver family... It just doesn't work! I have high hopes that we'll be able to lure her in though... it'll happen eventually Annie :)

Devan had a blast finding the perfect Christmas tree! Out here we have to go to Home Depot so I'm glad we could give him the true Oregonian experience! We all got bundled up and off we went to find the perfect one... First was with Grammy and Grampy and Uncle Derek and Annie. Dustin had the priviledge of finally getting his perfect tree- a big fat bush that's as wide as it is tall :) A couple days later it was my turn to find the perfect tree- a 20 ft noble with lots of room for ornaments. Nana, Papa, Aunt Steph and Michael all trekked through the woods in search for the perfect one. Didn't take long for us to agree (except for Dustin).

Devan also got 2 Christmas dinners! The first one at Grammy and Grampy's house with all of the relatives. It was so overwhelming that he had to take a nap! Played a fun game about how well you know each other. Then on to white elephant.... Always an ordeal, but this year there wasn't much stealing of gifts. I think everyone was pretty happy with what they got. There were some good gifts this year! Later in the week was dinner #2 at Nana and Papa's house. And Devan got to play with some boys a little closer to his age... And they got him a cool toy and showed him how to use it. He just couldn't take his eyes off those boys running and jumping around, soaking in all their movements and storing it for future use :)

I was able to go to Teal to check out my mom's stuff in the gallery. Very cool! And we went to the craft fair in the MU Ballroom as well. And another day we went to Albany to check out the hand-carved carousel that's in the works. We got to check out the current projects, talk to the carvers, watch them work, and watch them be painted. They are so detailed! And Devan got to sit on a completed one! He was more interested in the bow around the horses neck, but that's to be expected. At least we got a picture.

I also chopped off all my hair. 11 inches to be donated to Locks Of Love. And I'm loving my new style. So light and healthy :)

We also got to eat dinner with Erin and Scott in Wilsonville. So glad we finally got to catch up in person! Good convo, good food... and how can we forget the poop fiasco???? Always good for a laugh :)

Had a "girls day" in Eugene (plus Devan) and spent the day shopping. Devan was such a good sport that Nana bought him some clothes and we found the perfect "baby's 1st Christmas" ornament...

And Devan learned to crawl while we were there! Started out only taking a couple "crawls" to get his binkie, but now there's no stopping him! He's getting faster and will just crawl because he can :) Time to baby-proof the house.... (Had to stop at the store on the way home from work and pick up some outlet covers. He thinks those are neat.)

There were a couple days in there that weren't the best... Several of us got sick, including Devan (can't be a true trip home unless we all get sick, right?). This was Devan's first cold... He was a trooper though! Had a couple rough nights because of his stuffy nose, but we all survived.

I have TONS of pictures and video to share, but I'll have to post those later... After all, I am a single mom this week with Dustin back up in Wilmington, so I don't have much free time (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!)

Onsie... or Twosie?

We've been working really hard on a new tooth! The corner finally broke through! We've had a rough morning- very fussy.... Poor guy :(

We can see the tooth- just about ready to pop through all the way. And maybe a second one next door????

We shall see.... But until then, he is glued to his binkie. Whatever helps... :)

Video Time!

Before Dustin left on Sunday we went up to Babies R Us to get a highchair. They had a new one that was dark wood instead of the usual plastic. Perfect! It matches the rest of our furniture! The bumbo was just too small- pinched is thunder thighs and he hated it.

This is his first meal in his new highchair:

Get some food in him and he's very chatty! And LOVES blowing raspberries...

Tonight's dinner was a good one! He finished off the rest of his green beans left over from yesterday (2.5 oz) and then moved on to carrots. One down (2.5 oz) and opened another one. Ate another 1.5 oz out of that one. What a big eater!

As we all know.... what happens after you finish eating???? Find out at the end of this video ;)

If only the video hadn't cut off..... Good thing I'd already taken off his clothes! This one came out the top and all over his highchair... Very impressive :)

Merry Christmas... TSO style!

I am so pumped! TSO was bigger and better than ever!!!!! 5th row was AMAZING!! 25 feet from the stage... and you can see EVERYTHING! 3 straight hours of TSO....

Lets start with what's new and improved....

• A new stage- they had 3 lifts in the front and a "floating" stage in the back. All equiped with FIRE.
  
• New huge video screens that moved along the back wall- and cool "pictures" flashing on them.


• New pyrotechnics- More fire, more smoke, liquid nitrogen, and fireworks!


• Better showmanship- The drunk guy at the bar didn't just come out and sing his song like usual. He came out swaying and drinking from a "vodka" bottle. Took a long time to start the song because he was interacting with the guitarist and stopped during the song to drink from his bottle. Very funny.
  

And they played songs from their new album. (But I missed the keyboard "key-off" that they usually do- always entertaining)

There were some new people- the girl singers are always changing. But this year the lead electric violinist was a female. And there were some new singers that have songs on the new album. But overall the main people were the same.

We didn't get snowed on because we were too close. Never thought I would say that.... but it was worth it!

The lead electric guitar gal went running around the stadium during one song. And she stood on a chair less than 10 feet from us! How cool!

At the end of the show they threw out guitar picks and handed out drum sticks. So close to getting a pick! Darn it!

And as the lights dimmed down the stadium filled with chanting: TSO... TSO... TSO...

Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good night! Yes it was!

And now for the videos.... They're not the best quality because they're from our cellphone and I managed to drain the whole battery on these 5 clips. There's a lot of background interference, so for those of you who don't know the songs, you might not be able to hear them... but give it a shot :)

Holy Cow! ..... or fox???

Sitting on the couch this morning, drinking my coffee while Dustin's feeding Devan. All of a sudden Boo jumps on the table and almost runs into the window. What's gotten him so excited? Can't be the squirrels... He'll sit and watch them forever, but doesn't get very excited.

I look out the window and see.... A FOX!!! Just making his way through our backyard trees....

How cool is that?!?!? Wonder if he got lost...

1st Halloween

Devan had his first Halloween.... He was a lion. ROAR!! We put on his costume and colored his nose black. Such a cutie! And we took TONS of pictures... (to the left- in the PicasaWeb Gallery). Unfortunately, the top was too poofy so he couldn't sit very well- kept falling over backwards. So it didn't stay on for long. And it was pretty warm (80 and drizzly all day- very humid).

John and Linzy came over for the night. We had burgers and onion rings for dinner (with Dustin's special onion ring sauce). Devan showed off his costume to the neighbors and we oohhed and aawwed at their little one's costumes. Then we took his costume off for the night and settled in to the ringing doorbell and some good football.

Overall we had 42 little ones between 6 and 8pm. More than last year. A very good turnout. Devan fell asleep on Linzy around 7pm (he was tuckered out from the long day of errands and pumpkin carving and only a short nap). The boys played Wii for awhile while Linzy and I chatted. Devan woke up and we had brownies and ice cream for desert. I turned off the porch light at 8pm before the teenagers came by. Last year they came by and wanted candy- and weren't even dressed up! Not this year. They can go buy their own candy :P

We watched the U of O- USC game for the rest of the night. Unfortunately, we didn't get Fox Sports, which was airing the OSU game on tape delay. Too bad... But John kept us updated from his Blackberry.

They left around 9:30 as we were getting Devan ready for bed. We're hoping tonight he'll go to bed early because of the time change.... fingers crossed....

New subject...

In the gallery there are also pics of his first real food. We had to do peas because that's all we had (we got a bunch from our neighbor, but most of them were Stage 2 foods with mixtures). He definitely did NOT like peas. I agree... peas are nasty!

Tried peas again last night. Nope. Still doesn't like them. But it was hilarious to watch his face when he gagged on it! I know... we're terrible parents...

So tonight we tried carrots. It's runnier so he thought it would be funny to spray us with carrots each time I gave him some. But it went down a little (and I emphasize "little") easier than the peas. Still did a couple gagging faces and let it run out of his mouth. But he managed to eat a little more. We'll try again later tonight and see if we can get a little more in him. I'm not giving up. He's going to have to eat them sometime.... He can't always have milk... And I make him wait for a bottle after feeding him. Don't want him to think all he has to do is refuse the veggies and he'll get milk.

It's been 20 minutes now since his carrots and he's still hungry. Better wrap this up and attend to the little lion :)