Sleepy, Dopey, & Grumpy

Title change since this morning marks the second morning in a ROW that Pearson has slept past 8:30 AM in over a year's time. I honestly thought something was wrong with her yesterday so I ventured into her room to check on her and she didn't wake up! This is literally unheard of in the Bell household. I actually was able to sleep in...make coffee, eat my breakfast, watch my DVR'd BONES (sidenote: if you are not watching Bones, you need to hop on that train; it's my FAVORITE show in years, years...) and chat on the phone ALL before she woke up.
It's a Christmas miracle!
Update: What's actually not a Christmas miracle and more like a Christmas nightmare is that I literally washed my cell phone in with my clothes today and lost ALL of my numbers so if you want to get a hold of me or we talk from time to time: text me your number? Thank you!

Babes in Toyland (Santa Success Story)

Today we went to Bellesquare to visit Santa at his workshop with Andrea, Kyla, and Heidi. All three girls did amazingly well although we should have brought a stroller because they were crazy running everywhere and Pea had a few moments where she did NOT want to be near Santa, his sleigh, or his peppermint suckers. The picture we ended up getting was hilarious! Kyla is smiling JUST like Casey; Pea and Heidi look like they've just had their mug shots taken, BUT no one is crying! So to us, that's a great success!

posing with Roofoff in the background...

"reading" Kyla's letter to Santa...Pea looks quite confused

seeing how Santa makes toys...

THE picture...

Babes in Toyland...

Rock Around the Christmas Tree(s)

It was our first annual Christmas Progressive Dinner was on Saturday night. As a family, we've decided to do it each year from now on and next year there will be a theme! It was wonderful to see the various houses all decked out for Christmas and enjoy time with those we LOVE! First up, Shannon & Tim's for cocktails and an AMAZING array of yummy munchies, then on to Blake & Tiff's for the best soup course I've had in forever, then on to our Joe & Taryn's for the main course...mmm mm...and lastly Andrea & Casey's for dessert. Oh. wow. good. (Shout out to Andi's friend Sara who makes these cakes that she replicated-they were DELISH!) Chocolate, a kiss under the mistletoe, and laughs-a wonderful way to start the season!

Progressive Ladies minus Shan and Tiff!

We wanted to pose under B & T's tree instead of our sad one :(

Christmas kiss, mmm-wa!

Mama's Birthday

Happy Birthday, Mom! One year older and you look younger than ever:) You're the best mom and grandma in the world, we LOVE you!!

The Armpit of New York

This is what is going on at Joey's two doors down from me as I type. That's right: a Jersey Shore party...everyone in attendance is dressed up like a tool from the Garden State. A thug, another too tan (i.e. Tyler, who is most definitely wearing my liquid bronzer and necklace), colored shades, skin-tight T-shirts, and fist pumps. I LOVE how Tim just isn't even wearing a shirt in December (so Jersey chic). Upon interrupting to take said picture below I was asked in a practiced Jersey Boy accent if I had brought any Jager Bombs. Enough said, hope you're having fun honey...sure looks like it:)

LOVE.

This is my 100th post! And to celebrate my journey of blogging over the past 6 months, I've decided to write down a few of the things I love in my life:

• Jesus
• Prayer
• Pea's kisses at bedtime
• Hearing my hub sing the Little Mermaid in perfect pitch to Pea
• Feeling Harper (and Pea when she was in there) kick
• Seeing old friends
• My parents' willingness and love
• Living close to family
• Coffee
• Baths
• Painting
• Reading a good book
• Christmas time this year because Pea is so excited
• How Pea calls Rudolph, "Roof-off"
• The smell of Ty's shirts and his ink
• Tyler's patience and kindness

And lastly, since we're reflecting on the past 6 months: the power of the Holy Spirit. It has been a comfort and guide this past year and I'm grateful for the gift of it and for all the gifts Christ has given me: see the above...
What do you love?

Our Roots

The rumors are true: Ty and I have a reputation for acquiring the worst Christmas trees known to mankind every year. Why? I don't know. That's just how we roll. This year, Casey and Andrea and their girls went out into the great Washington wilderness and snagged us a tree along with theirs. Thanks to their Griswold efforts we have the best tree we've ever had. Frankly, that's not saying too much. Here's Andi's blog post about their adventure so you'll know the true origins of our tree.
I LOVE how she says that this tree is the WORST they've ever had, sadly we cannot say the same. I do also LOVE how you can see our monogram THROUGH the tree...