Let It Snow

Taking out the trash,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

I had the day off but the kids had school. Or so we thought.

And then there was snow.

Since the snow gear was still out we geared up and headed outside.

First thing. Time to take out the trash. Thank goodness I had an assistant.

Sledding ,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Once the chores were done it was time for fun, which translated into me pulling Parker and Piper down and up the road.

Soon, it was time to find something less exhausting for me.

Hair Club for Snowmen,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Time to build a snowman!

The kids started small but we soon went bigger...at least closer to Piper's size. The kids gathered the snow. Frankie (unwittingly) provided the arms and hair. And I assembled the final product.

The hardest part...keeping Frankie from running away with one of the arms.

Snowmen,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

The best part...the smile on Parker's face.

Dog Attack

Dog Attack,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

As we hang out around the ''sheds-in-progress'', Parker plays around with a bit of chalk. Unfortunately for Frankie, Parker creates an attack dow. However, even though the yellow dog growls at him, but Frankie's not fazed.

Stand Off

Stand Off,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Someone can't wait for someone to leave.

Not Again

Yes, it seems to be a sad annual ritual. Another wildfire. This time resulting in evacuation...our second since moving into hour house.

An enhancement since the Crown Fire evacuation...at about 4am this morning we got an automated call warning us of the impending danger and the need to prepare for evacuation. I guess this happens for anyone with a landline. (So my friends, any of you who have ditched the landline and rely solely on your cell service...you need to look into registering your cell phone so you will be included in any emergency announcements delivered via phone.)

Not sure if this is a bright side...but that Station fire actually started a few days ago and I had been preparing for this moment. I've been driving around with some stuff in the back of my and Chris' cars. Plus, I've had a bunch of other stuff stacked by the front door. Within an hour or so of the call, our cars were packed. Me and the kids were off to Thommy & Geoffrey's house while Chris and Frankie stayed behind to tend to any loose ends -- clearing any debris near the house that he never got to, moving equipment, etc.

Of course, all the while I'm fretting about Chris and Frankie's safety until I see this post on face book -- ''Frankie enjoys a steak and Stella on a smokey afternoon.'' Yeah, this fire is much different from the Crown Fire where I left the house with flames licking over the nearby hill tops.

So, knowing that Chris and Frankie were safe, it made it much easier for me to create a normal experience for the kids -- which means bathtime! But where? Yup, the bar sink makes a perfect bath for Piper. Talk about a multi-tasker.

The Creation of Frankie

The Creation of Frankie,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

At least Piper thinks she's had a hand in it.

Actually, Piper's probably just intrigued by Frankie. ''Why is this brother so hairy? What happened to this brother's fingers? Will this brother stop licking me?''

Pedicure

Pedicure,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Frankie and Dean love Piper. So much so that Dean is willing to give Piper a pedicure every now and then. Now that's dedication.

Unspeakable

Unspeakable,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

That's right. At the Trillo home we condone the unspeakable...dogs and cats co-habitating peacefully together. Yes, even sleeping together. And in Parker's bed nonetheless!

Stretching Piper, Snoozing Dog

Piper makes the most of her workout today -- arching her back, touching her toes. Just watching her wipes Frankie out.

Parker's POV

Give the boy a camera and this is what you get.

Not too bad if I do say so myself.

Let's see, you've got me with my coffee...classic. Piper lounging around -- what do you expect from a baby. Chris on the couch with his laptop...natural habitat. Snoozing Frankie. And the mystery pic...the inside of a bowl.

And here's the master photographer himself...GOTCHA!

Dig It

Parker and Frankie helped Chris with his sprinkler project today.

As Chris always does, he meticulously measured and plotted a series of flags, marking the trench he had to dig for the PVC pipe.

Some of you have probably guessed what Chris discovered when he got to the end of the line...Parker was right behind him. A large smile spread across his face having picked up all the flags Daddy had left behind.

Yes. Chris was pissed but I reminded him that he would be laughing at this later.

And you know what...I was right.

Mail Trail

So, we're off to the mail box again. This time, Parker gave up on the trike, which was a bit hard to ride back up hill -- even with me and Frankie towing him uphill. So now Piper and I just had to keep up with big brother who pretty much wanted to run the entire way to the mailbox.

Lucky for Frankie, Parker wore his mittens, which means he can play fetch with the pooch without the chucker and NOT get slobber all over his hands.

On the way back, Parker then decided to give up and lay down in the middle of the road and refuse to get up. Yeah, we were now stalled with home just a few minutes away. Time for mom to play hard ball and start up the hill to the house without her little man.

As you can probably guess, he then freaked out because I started up the hill without him.

Sure I felt bad, especially with him working the most pitiful expression. Of course, not so guilty that I didn't whip out the camera and take a few shots of him frowning.

Parker's POV

So the great thing about my camera is that it can ''supposedly'' be dropped from 5ft and submerged in 10ft of water without damage. With that in mind, I've let Parker take control of the shutter every now and then -- which came in handy when Piper was born. With the shaky hand control on, he comes up with some interesting pictures.

Now with the weather outside, today seemed like another good day to give Parker the photographic reins. That said, here are a few of his shots.

Day 3 -- Coming Home

And on the third day, we were released from the hospital and allowed to go home. The entire family -- Me, Chris, Parker, Piper, Frankie, and Dean -- are finally united. Frankie and Dean were curious about the newest Trillo but they seemed to take to her pretty well.

You've Gotta Smile

So, it's been a while but Frankie gave his ''big dog'' bark so I had to go to the window and check out what could have brought him out of his shell. At first I didn't see it and then there it was...a cow. Yes, my neighbor literally has a farm -- cow, chicken, donkey, etc. -- and it looked like their cow got loose forcing their son to try to herd it back home. Not an easy task -- that cow's pretty feisty! But he eventually did it. I guessing Frankie, deep down inside, want to do some of that shepherding.

2008, A look back

Well, it looks like I hit my resolution of out blogging 2007. With 163 entries, I even out blogged 2006! Currently, I also seem to be on track to out blog 2008. ROCK ON!

I did end 2008 heavier than I started it...but then I am pregnant. At a current weight of 188 , I guess the important thing is to end 2009 considerably lighter than how I started it.

I would say a few highlights from last year would include:

• Burns Night: Nothing better then having your baby rocking out in a bar!
• Pouring the Slab: The stalled shed project takes off again!
• The Road Ahead: New year, new job!
• What's Wrong With This Picture?: This maybe more of a lowlight but one can't forget the car accident Parker and I had last year that total the Saturn.
• Happy Birthday, Paarrrrker!: Parker turns 3!
• New Car: With the totaled car comes the new car.
• Death Valley Birthdaze: Parker's first camping trip and he loved it!
• Project Garden: Parker's garden was a total success -- providing pounds of delicious tomatoes, herbs (some of which are still hanging in there even after our recent bout of snow!), and even a couple of pumpkins!
• Welcome Dean: Dean joins the Trillo household. I can't believe how small he used to be!
• Go Baby, Go!: Official confirmation that Parker would soon have a little sibling!
• Baby's First Scan: Our first look at Piper!
• It's Time!: Parker ditches the diapers
• Morro Bay: Great family get-away to Morro Bay. Hopefully, it will become an annual tradition.
• Palin and Clinton on SNL: This isn't Trillo related but you've gotta love Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.
• Halloween 2008: How could Halloween NOT be a highlight, especially with Parker dressed as Woody.
• Yes We Can!: I was obsessed with the entire campaign but the most important thing is that the right man -- Barack Obama -- was elected as President.
• Snow Days: Everyone (at least hear in Acton) will be talking about the show of 2008 for years. It was totally awesome! Glad to have been stuck at home rather than stuck unable to get home (like Chris...but that worked to his advantage as he was able to NOT miss any work)
• Sledding: And of course, Tahoe is always a highlight.

Frankie Update

Back from the vet. Good news. Everything physically looks fine with Frankie -- no visible bites or scratches, no joints out of whack, no sniffles or sniffs. Most likely, he had the scare of his life and will need about a week to get back to his old self.

Actually, I had Frankie out in the yard while I went to the market and when I got back I noticed he wasn't stuck to the side of the house. He was actually laying out in the sun...not in his usual dirt pit on the far side of the yard but still, it's a start.

What's Up With Frankie?

So, ever since Frankie returned home, he hasn't been himself. He was skittish getting out of the neighbor's car when she brought him back. He hasn't been eating much. He doesn't seem to want to go outside (not even to pee). And, here's the clincher...he doesn't want to play fetch. He physically seems find but psychologically he seem under the weather.

Not sure what happened to him while he was out in the world on Friday but you know my mind...it can't help but think of every and all possiblilities...

• He finally came face-to-face with one our not-so-kind animal neighbors...like a bobcat or mountain lion and barely escaped by the skin of his teeth.
• He was chased by a pack of coyotes and barely escaped by the skin of his teeth.
• He got himself into to trouble with one of my neighbors -- maybe fooling around with their livestock -- and barely escaped by the skin of his teeth.
• He was captured by pirates and, after feigning loyalty, barely escaped by the skin of his teeth.

I guess we'll never know for sure. I did make an appointment today with Frankie's vet, just to make sure nothing's actually physically wrong with my oldest boy. Will keep you all updated with his progress.

Have You Seen Frankie?

I couldn't sleep all night. Aside from the prego issues causing hip pain and not to mention having to wake up ever couple hours to pee -- Frankie ran off yesterday morning and didn't return. Several times I went into the super cold wind and called for him -- walking around the area checking ravines and driving out to some of the more farther out neighbors (including Frankie's mom's house)...no luck. When Chris got home that night, he did the same...no luck.

All I could think of was him curled up under a juniper injured, surrounded by coyotes. Or his broken body under a debris pile at the bottom of a ravine with coyotes closing in.

My only hope is that we hadn't had a call returned from the neighbor where we got him (his mom's house).

Well, this morning, as I started to make a lost dog flyer, Chris say that he got a message from our neighbor. Frankie arrived at their house around midnight last night -- safe and sound -- and they would be bringing him down this morning.

Now what was he doing all day? I have no idea. I'm just glad to have him back.

Of course Frankie, you thought I was paranoid before with using the leash at the mailbox...you have no idea how obsessive I can become. Don't you ever put me through that again!

Caught in the Act

Caught in the Act,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Oh the humanity!

Home Sweet Home!

Home Sweet Home!,
originally uploaded by Car2nGrl.

Now that we're home, Frankie can finally partake in his Christmas gift!