Clara's Blog

Well, no big trips this weekend. Not for me at least. Mommy went for a long run along the river with Joanna yesterday and Daddy and Scout went up to Mt Hood for a snowshoe run today but I stayed mostly at home. That isn't such a bad thing, though, I didn't have to stay strapped in my carseat much either! That's a good thing.

This week was good. I met Beckham and his mommy at the playground. It was fun. Beck's mom carried me around and pushed me on the swing while Mommy tried to keep Beck from falling to his death. He's much more into the playground than me. I like to visit before I play....and then Mommy is ready to leave just when I start climbing up the slide the "wrong" way.

I also got my first balloon. I love balloons. Until this week, though, no one gave me one to check out! It was soooooo cool. I was having a blast - down and uppie and down and uppie and down and uppie. Very neat! I ran around with it and danced with it and got all wound up. It was the perfect thing to do just before bedtime. I was a good girl and didn't pop it but I went to bed and then it was gone in the morning. I wonder what happened to it?

Like I said, this weekend was boring. So, when I found my Halloween costume in the laundry, I begged Mommy to put it on me! It was great. I ran around dressed up like Spot and we went to the coffee shop and to the playground. Everyone was really impressed with me. I totally understand it - I would be impressed with anyone in a dog suit.

Well, Mom and Dad had quite the surprise for me! This weekend we dropped Scout off at daycare and we drove FOREVER (Mom says about 3 hours) to Seattle. What's Seattle? Well, it is kind of a noisy hilly place with lots of people and otters and fish and stuff. There are also really pretty mountains and nice ladies at restaurants.

Anyway, we went there to see Dad's friend Jesse who he hasn't seen forever (Mom says way more than 3 hours this time). After we got there, I couldn't sleep so Mommy plopped me in the carrier and we all went walking up Queen Anne (not a lady, a neighborhood) and I konked out. After my nap, Mommy went for a run and Daddy, Jesse and I met up to visit. There was a man with stuffed lions and bears playing the saxophone - I thought he was so cool but Daddy didn't let me visit. I tried to run over to see the lions and the bears as often as I could. When Daddy wasn't letting me visit with the lions and the bears, I ran around near the bottom of the space needle - that's a really tall, weird building. Later we went for yummy pizza but I was pretty cranky and tired. Everyone was really nice to me, though, so I made it through. And, after dinner, guess what? Another walk up the hill for me because I couldn't fall asleep after dinner!

The next day Mommy and Daddy promised me that we'd see some otters. As far as I was concerned, otters were the whole reason for going to Seattle. Jesse decided that he shouldn't miss out on the otters either so he said he'd come along. Sunday morning, we FINALLY got to see the otters and they were really cool. I also liked all the seals and I like to call them otters. The fish were okay too but mostly I was enjoying running around the aquarium. I think my favorite part (after the otters) was playing with felt fish. That was great. There was a bossy older girl but I don't mind her bossing me around - I like girls.

When we got home, Mommy finally finished my backpack so I can carry my friends around the house. It is really fun! I can do all sorts of things and my doggie can get a ride and see what's happening. Scout really likes my new backpack too. I wish I could carry Scout and Tux in there but Mommy won't let me. I guess that's one of the drawbacks of being a baby.

I wonder what we're going to do next?!?!

Wow, we've been having fun. Last weekend, we got a package from a friend named Joyce. It had an "Imagination Chest" for me. It was full of costumes and hats for dress up. Mommy opened it up for me and I knew what to do right away! I had so much fun!! I tried on the most girly stuff I could find and then I danced my special dance. It was great. (Movie coming soon!)

Then, the next day was Mommy's birthday! She had presents to open and people brought her flowers. We also had pizza for dinner. Yummm. The best part is that Uncle Todd, John, Marjon and Sadie came over. Did I mention how much I love Sadie? I also love all the grown-ups but Sadie has a special something.

After all that fun and only a couple days to rest, we woke up this morning to SNOW! Right here in our very own yard!! It was so exciting. Mommy and I went to the park with the sled but I didn't feel like sledding. I went on the swings and watched everyone else sledding. The best part (aside from the snow) was the dogs! They were all excited and crazy. It was so much fun. I hope everyone else enjoyed the snow day as much as we did!

I thought you guys might be wondering what I've been up to.

Last things first! We went up to Trillium Lake and went snowshoeing. I got to see snow! I haven't seen snow in so long - I only remember it from pictures. It was snowing on the drive up so we had to stop and Daddy put these things called "chains" on the car. Mommy and I had a snack while he did that.

When we got to the parking lot, it was blowing snow! It was pretty crazy. Then Mommy and Daddy reminded me that we had to walk on snowshoes to get to the cabin. Well, I hated to tell them but I'm not ready for that! Anyway, Daddy carried me in the "high" backpack and Mommy pulled a sled full of clothes and food. When we got to the cabin, we were all snowy but I giggled most of the way there because Scout is so funny. After we got the cabin all warmed up, Marjon and John and Ryan showed up after a long ski. We all had some lasagna and I ran around in just a diaper for a few minutes before I went to sleep. You've got to keep your friends entertained - that's what I always say.

The next day we went for a short hike in the snow again. Thankfully, the snow was mostly on the ground and in the trees and not blowing in my face again! It was really pretty. We went back to the cabin, warmed up with lunch and headed back out to the car. John was nice enough to dig our car out so we just had to open up the frozen doors and warm up the car. We let Ryan and Marjon use our snow brushes and scrapers because they only had Ryan's student ID to scrape. Guess what Marjon got as a late Christmas present?

Anyway, I don't want to forget Daddy's birthday hike (before the cabin adveture). We went on a new trail at Cape Horn. There was no snow there but it was windy and cold. I had fun for about half the time and then I was ready to go home. There weren't as many birds as Mom and Dad promised! Thankfully, it was really pretty. Happy Birthday, Daddy! Sorry I fussed.