3 1/2!

Today you are 3 and 1/2 Miss Pearson! Almost 4, unbelievable. Right now you're favorite thing is Rapunzel, dancing, playing Candyland, playing band, and the impending excitement of your first trip to Disneyland. We love your beautiful brown eyes and your unexpected comments and the fact that you're ours!
Two things of note: I love how she's holding up four fingers in these pictures; wasn't planned & that happens to say "cat people" on our door because she wanted to see how those words were spelled. Ironic, no?

For Kicks

Surprise package on my door step from Mr. B today. He's dazzling...

It's Always Sunny in...

Maple Valley.
I am peppy beyond reason today! It's been sunny (and mind you, freezing cold) all week my spirits are buoyed by the fact that I get to wear new sunglasses in winter.
It's the little things, am I right?
In addition, I can't help but to be excited for the next few months. Wonderful things are on the horizon and it's such a stark contrast to last year that I'm consciously sitting in the good feeling. Here's a look at what January, February, and March bring!
January: The RETURN of preschool, Dinner with friends, Andi's Sprinkle, and Harper's baby dedication.
February: Ty's 29th birthday, Friends visiting, Valentines Day, Chicago trip with my dad, and the hopeful arrival of our new niece!
March: Repeat of the last (said neice may arrive this month too), Spring, and the kicker: Disneyland with Pea. We cannot wait to take her, she will love love love it.
What's on the horizon for you?

"Mom, she's like freaking out."

I LOVE how you can hear Pea say the above in the background of this mini video and I LOVE that this is Harp's new thing...simply funny. The mini joys of parenthood!

Nancy Drew

At your service. I love love love mysteries. They are definitely a vice of mine. Digging into a good mystery (or even a bad one, let's be honest) can entertain me for hours.
Hours.
Like Nancy, part of my job as mom is to play detective; which as I've alluded to earlier is basically my entire role as mom to the tight-lipped Miss Pea. I've already enlisted my personal George Fayne in the form of my niece Heidi who is at the moment an excellent source of pertinent information. I intent to shamelessly exploit this gold mine until she catches on, which I might add may be soon since she's a clever one.
I don't go around solving significant socially sensitive crimes of national importance; I normally solve crimes against domesticity like the following:
The Curious Case of the Missing Pants.
The Secret Hiding Spot.
The Phantom Tooth Brush.
You get the point. Anyone hot on a domestic case of right now? Would love to hear them...
Yours peering through a looking glass,

Zoolights

Despite fighting a cold and hyped up on cough medicine, we had a fun time with my family at Zoolights. Pea absolutely loves animals did not understand that since it was dark most of them were "sleeping." However, she did get to see the meerkats and a jaguar (her favs) so we were in luck there! There were amazing lights and music which Babe H "danced" to. Folks, it's time to retire the famed Snuggie. Harp is too heavy as I discovered last night whilst hiking with her strapped to my body at low breathing capacity (see first sentence). Kind of makes me sad, but such is life...
Both my girls are getting quality face time with their Uncle Chase who will have to be leaving us bound for his home in San Diego Sunday. Sort of sad because Pea is having a fun time with her namesake (i.e. super fun stroller rides and laughing at all her antics). However, he's told us he'll meet us in Disneyland when we go this spring so she can have that to look forward to!

Bemusings: On Turning Corners

As a family, we've had some major accomplishments this year. We've closed some chapters and started new ones. Not necessarily in order, but the following has been achieved/happened:
Complete potty training.
Having our last baby.
Becoming a mom of two.
Losing baby weight.
Crossfit. End of story.
Organizing our home to accomadate said baby.
Starting preschool.
Birthdays.
Hawaii trip.
5th Anniversary.
Family ups and downs.
Financial ups and downs.
Hard work.
Hope.
And many many more revealations, decisions, breaking points, and proud moments. As we go into the new year I find I'm on the fence. Not specifically about one particular issue, but about the general direction we're headed in as a family and for myself personally. The theme of last year seems to have been learning. Being schooled. Day in, day out training literally and methaphorically. I am wondering what theme I'll be reflecting on next year, but I can't help but think I've been training for something. What specifically I couldn't tell you, but I've had that feeling for a while now.
Which can be exciting or scary depending on my mood.
This next year: our baby will turn one, our oldest will turn FOUR, my 10 year high school reunion will happen, Tyler will be in his last year of the 20's, and things will happen I cannot yet predict.
But. I'm curious and hopeful and ready...