FBI!

So Tuesday at work we had an extra exciting day. The company located in the office space right next to us got raided by the FBI!! The FBI busted in, questioned employees one by one in an empty office space, confiscated computers and documents, and looked totally awesome while they did it. I kept trying to find the Jack Bauer of the team. They were all wearing bullet proof vests with FBI on the back. We have to walk through the lobby (and past their office) to get to the bathrooms...I'm pretty sure everyone in our office went to the bathroom 15 times that day. The news showed up eventually and were taking pictures from the outside. After much Googling by the CPA's in our office (yes, we know it's busy season...sometimes we need a break too), we learned that they are an investment company and have had several complaints against them for taking peoples' money but then never investing it...and never returning it. Apparently they've been under investigation for awhile. So if any one out there is thinking of investing with Remington Financial Group...I'd think twice. Of course they are innocent till proven guilty, but I think I'd go with a firm that's not been raided by the FBI...just saying.

Anyway - most exciting thing I've witnessed this week. Anyone able to top an FBI raid?

Announcement!

I just posted this on Facebook so I guess it is national news by now, but I am four months pregnant! We had our ultrasound yesterday. Everything looks healthy and we found out it is a baby girl. Karl and I are excited but we both kind of went "Are you sure?" I was in shock yesterday and just kept thinking about all the girl things we are going to need to get. I realized I'm going to have to start buying dresses and accessories...headbands and clips! Looks like Carson's Rubbermaid bins of clothes can go back into storage...I got some shopping to do!

Oh - I am due July 31st (the most wonderful time of the year to be 9 months pregnant in Arizona).

Bed Time

There is a vicious circle regarding bedtime. The later he stays up, the more tired he gets, the more drama bedtime becomes. Last night was one of these nights. I admit that as a working mom, sometimes I let Carson stay up a "little" later than normal just so I can spend some time with him. His normal bedtime is 7:30...and when I tried to get him to go to bed last night, it was 8:30. Anyway, it resulted in a total meltdown. I was trying to talk to him about going to bed and he would just yell "NO!" after everything I said. I couldn't resist...I began just saying random words and he still followed each thing I said with a "NO!". Karl joined in a little too. It went something like this...

Me: We need to get your jammies on. It is really late. (There were several things I said like this that were followed with a...see below).

Carson: NO!

Me: I love you (I was trying to switch it up to see if he'd still yell no).

Carson: NO!

Karl: Penguins.

Carson: NO! I'm not a penguin!

Me: Peanut Butter sandwich.

Carson: NO!

Karl: Shellfish.

Carson: NO!

At this point I was laughing so hard I had to leave the room. Kids can be so determined.

Fruits & Veggies

I asked Carson what his favorite vegetable was. His response? Chicken Nuggets. Apparently we need to go over the food groups a little better. It made me laugh though.

I picked up my bountiful basket on Saturday. In it was a large bag of...ginger? Nope, they are Jerusalem Artichokes. Also known as sunchokes. As we were getting our basket, I said "What are we going to do with this much ginger?" A lady nearby told me it wasn't ginger and that it was a type of artichoke. I hid my skepticism and thanked her. After a quick sniff though it was obviously not ginger. So after a few Google searches, I confirmed that the lady was correct and my skepticism was uncalled for. They are artichokes...now what to do with them? I found a few recipes. We'll see how this goes.

I also got the extra of 8 lbs of strawberries. I've already got some in the freezer. Some ready to be dehydrated. And some going into jam tonight. Oh, and two pounds we've already eaten...is that gross? We had them for breakfast and dessert on Saturday and as snacks in our lunches today. This will be my first time canning anything though...should be interesting.

I would also like to add that Karl and I visited the Yogurtland that opened up by our house. I ALWAYS get my yogurt topped with strawberries. It's the best ever. So when they just had an empty container labeled "Strawberries", I felt a little disappointed. Upon further inquiry, they told me they don't have any strawberries because they are "out of season." Oh - because pineapple and all the other crazy fruits you have there are in season? Also, I just bought 8 beautiful pounds of strawberries. C'mon! Needless to say, we left without purchasing.

Big Boy Bed

So Karl and I finally got around to switching Carson from a toddler bed to a regular twin. It's quite an expensive endeavor so we were dragging our feet. Luckily, we had a bed frame lying around, but we did not have a twin mattress, box, sheets, quilt, etc. So, after spending a couple hundred (yeah!) Carson got his "Big Boy Bed." He was very excited while we were setting it up. As I was putting him to bed that night, he got this excited look on his face and said "Now you can sleep with me Mommy!" When I told him I would probably still sleep in my own bed, he just looked confused. Pointing to the bed he said "But there's room." Oh so sweet. Carson also has a habit of coming into our bed in the early morning (around 5 or 6). He'll crawl under the sheets in the middle and fall back asleep. We usually just let it slide because we are all going to get up half an hour later. But as I was putting him to bed in his new big boy bed, he asked "Does this mean I can't come into your bed anymore?" I quickly replied yes, hoping that it would magically put an end to his morning visits. He thought for a minute and then said "I want my little bed back." He makes me smile. To be honest, I kind of like his morning visits. I get 20 minutes of cuddle time before I have to get up and face the day.

One more sweet thought - the other day it was time for his "quiet time". Sometimes he doesn't mind, sometimes he throws a fit about it. He started to object to quiet time - then he stopped and sweetly looked up at me and asked "Do you want to have quiet time with me Mommy?" I just smiled as I tried to come up with a reason as to why that wouldn't work. He sweetly rubbed my leg, looked up at me with his big blue, hopeful eyes, and said "Do ya?" I came up with something about how quiet time is a time to be alone and blah blah - but it was pretty hard to not crumble when faced with his sweetness powers.

Blurg

For those of you that love Liz Lemon as much as I do...you'll know just what I mean when I say blurg. I still haven't blogged about Thanksgiving...which means I probably never will.

First - one of my favorite new Carson sayings. Every time I ask if he wants a "piece of toast", he gets all frustrated with me and says "No, mom, I want a whole toast." It always takes me a minute to figure out what I said wrong because a "piece of toast" rolls of the tongue without thinking. It never gets old though...still makes me laugh.

Carson and I made a trip to CA in December for my Grandma's 90th birthday. While there, we got to enjoy the jelly belly factory, San Francisco, and see extended family. My grandma looks amazing for 90. I can't believe it. We got to spend a lot of time at my Aunt and Uncles house...this is not a sacrifice. They literally have their own vineyard and orchard out front. The kids all took rides on the tractor.

Carson at the Jelly Belly Factory

The view from my Aunt & Uncles house

And my Grandma

I love this picture of Carson running across a bridge in San Francisco.

So we headed to Disneyland for Christmas this year. Karl's whole family went. Unfortunately, Carson got sick right before we left and was sick the whole time we were there. Karl and I tried to take it easy and just spend a little bit of time at the park each day, but Carson was just wiped. Every time we went to the park, Carson spent the whole time asking if we could go back to the hotel. Every ride he went on was forced. He would have fun once on them, but he just didn't want to do it. We'd finish a ride and he would say "That was fun." I would say "Let's go do another one." He would say "No, let's go back to the hotel." It was also super crowded - which you know that I don't love from my 4th of July post. It just is a personality thing - I get insta-grumpy. Hopefully we can take Carson back another time when he can enjoy it more. That said, it was fun to be with the whole family out on a vacation. And it was Christmas...so 'nough said.

I started signing up for bountiful baskets. You sign up for your location and pay $15. Then you show up early Saturday morning and pick up a basket of fresh fruits and veggies. You never know what you're going to get though. So with this, I have gotten very adventurous with my fruits and veggies. The first basket I picked up had several items in it that I didn't even know the names of. I like it though. And it does some seasonal bulks for extra too. For example, right now you can get a 36 lb box of apples, all the veggies you need for bulk guacamole, etc.

I had to look this one up (you are all probably rolling your eyes and saying "Oh, Kasey, you don't know what a persimmon is?").

Shredded brussel sprouts with bacon and pine nuts

Acorn squash. Baked with butter, cinnamon, nutmeg...yum.

And while I've been doing more...I can't make this a crazy long blog or else I'll just keep putting it off.

Quick Thought

I know I need to do a full blown blog...but sometimes I have a quick thought and I don't want to ever forget it.

We've been decorating for Christmas: lights...check, advent calendar...check, Christmas tree...close enough (it's the three foot fake Karl and I bought in college) check. Carson has been loving it. He's picking up on all the songs. I caught him shaking his hips to Mariah Carey "All I Want for Christmas" in his room the other day. We drove past a nativity in some one's yard and Carson shouted "Look, it's baby Jesus...asleep on the hay."

My absolute favorite this past week is Carson's impression of Santa Clause. Apparently Santa has been spending a little too much time at sea and not at the North Pole because he now says "Yo Ho Ho." (but still with a Santa voice).

When I hear Carson say "Yo Ho Ho" in his best Santa voice...I can't bring myself to tell him it's "Ho Ho Ho." He'll probably figure it out by next Christmas...and then the Santa pirate will be gone forever. Anyway - that's why I have to blog sometimes...I want to remember him saying it forever and I know it will be gone too soon.