11 things.

I was called out for answers to these questions so here it goes. Pfau, this one's for you <3 1. Name one thing that drives you absolutely MAD! Potty Training. It's the single most frustrating, horrible undertaking in the known world. On a serious tip, I'd have to say ill-timed and ill-intentioned sarcasm. 2. Do you believe in regrets or do you think everything happens for a reason? I believe we have free will to make our own choices, whether they please God or not is a different story so I would have to say I think regrets happen, but you absolutely do not have to live under them. 3. Name a physical feature that you love about yourself. It's hard to top Pfau's answer of: liver. So I'll keep it simple, my eyes. 4. What “group” were you part of in high school? Do you still see yourself like that now? hmm, this is a hard one for me. Do I consider myself still a part of the friends I made in high school? OF COURSE. Burned into who I am are those people. As far as "group" I would have to say that I was a floater; I had one main girl group and guys but I also had lots of different friends in different groups and ages. P.s. that's the secret to becoming prom queen;) I would say yes, I'm still a floater with a core group of loved ones. 5. What’s your take on politics? Another hard one. I'd say I want to be in the world, not of it. Should I participate, absolutely. Stand up for what's right? Of course. Endorse one person to fix it all? Nope. I'm worried the way it is now leaves no room for those who are moderates, which is what I'd consider myself. I totally agree with Pfau on the welfare system; regulation that fosters motivation! 6. Are you a see it: black & white or grey person? On faith issues like belief in Christ I'd say I'm totally black and white. As far as politics, interpersonal relationships, etc. I would say I'm mostly a grey thinker. I normally see both sides. I'm a grey thinker who makes fast decisions and sometimes that can be viewed from the outside as black and white through and through. p.s. I also agree with Pfau on this one, we absolutely should have the chance to change our outlook; wonderfully put. How else do people get second chances, which I firmly advocate. 7. Favorite place to eat – what do you get? Pizzeria Pulcinella, the Giovanni pizza. It's in a random house on Rainer Ave so kind of sketch; so cheap, so perfect! 8. Pro-Life / Pro-Choice? Pro-Life. Except in the cases of incest or rape. I know a lot of people say that. I know there are many cases that warrant help far BEFORE an abortion comes into play. I'm sensitive to that. There are horrors and abuse that happens as much as we'd love to turn away from it. However, in MOST cases a thousand tiny decisions are thoughtlessness made that directly lead to an unplanned pregnancy and we should all be more aware and responsible. Ultimately I think it goes back to the fact that we have free will and our choices are meaningful; they have consequences. 9. What’s your morning routine look like? Right now: being attacked in my bed by a 10 pound monster, getting breakfast for my girls, packing lunches if we're going out, getting them ready, getting myself ready, mapping out the day, letting the monster out and on and on. The life of a cruise director mom. 10. Dogs / Cats? Even in the certainty of poop in my carpets: dogs. 11. Favorite ice cream flavor? I'm a fro-yo gal too!! I like it all, but the fruit flavors too:) However, if it's my MOST favorite; spumoni.

Et tu, Brute?

Meet Brutus.

The newest and smallest member of this Bell clan. He is quite the charmer; warming hearts and moving mountains with his wrinkly little face. He's a Stafford Shire Bull Terrier. He is deliciously cute. He is also my own personal Ides of March. This week he arrived from a different state with his brother Jet. Bru is Pea's early 5th birthday present and she's over the moon with him. However, I'm having a harder time. We all know I love a good metaphor. In this one I am Julius Caesar assuming all of Rome bends to my every wish. Power is the great destroyer, is it not? On March 15th 44 BC, Caesar was attacked in his place of leadership by all his senators. Even his BFF Brutus. Whom, it is foretold, cracked Caesar's cool exterior and he broke in to pieces accepting his fate. Don't think any of that is lost on me. It's not. My Brutus is peeing and pooping on my carpets, chewing on strung out barbies, and currently whining right now downstairs. Men. Really, it's not all that bad, in truth we're starting to have success with peeing outside and he seems to have taken to me, which I find ironic in the highest order since I'm the MOST annoyed with his potty mishaps. In my last metaphor I was Jafar. Why am I always the fascist male dictator? I might need a therapist. That being said, I am learning that, at times, control needs to be ripped away from you to realize what a strong grip it actually has ON you. And so. Brutus, as you sleep on my lap (I couldn't stand the whining a minute longer) I accept you and change, and your immense cuteness into my life (and carpets). Welcome home, little guy.

This is happening...

Mildly freaked out by it, but happy for her new adventure!

Wide World of Sports

I attempted to come up with a retro feeling video circa the black and white 50's idea using all the pictures you'll see below, but I learned one important thing: I was not made to make movies. That being said, I came up with a vintage poster mock up:

We've been active these days. Pea is in swim lessons, Harper discovered a true and immediate love affair with gymnastics, and Ty and I have been doing the crossfit games. Whether or not we're good enough to actually compete (when I say that the, "not" is referring to me...) it's been fun to try. Here are scenes from our recent adventures into the wide wide world of sports...

Week in Review: Late February 12

I've been MIA this week, but thought I'd update us all (when I type "all" I mean for me to remember later as well). What have we been up to? Glad you asked though it's only a figment of my overactive imagination. It was mid-winter break and we had something going on every day...

We've been getting tatted up.

Doing vintage crafts...do any of you remember these? I burned the first two before I got the hang of it.

Many many library visits...

Bike rides with Daddy...

And generally goofing around... Also, time with Gamma Polly, fro-yo stops, shopping for Pea's upcoming trip to Arizona (sans Momi, sort of sad about this), and lots of ipad playing (here's hoping the weather turns nice soon...).

The old college try

Honestly, we have been trying to venture up to visit Aunt Chandler at SPU for a month now; we've just been too busy or sick or busted to get our act together. The last time we came to see her was so fun and such a perfectly beautiful day I didn't imagine we would get a repeat in February, but we did. Andi and her girls came to visit Chani too and see her "department" at college. Hilarious. When we walked in to her dorm, we immediately felt old for two reasons...the first thing we see is a poster on an event to, "Celebrate the Nineties." Excuse me, didn't they just happen? Oh, wait. Chandler's "90's" are my "80's." Realization: Time is marching on and fast. Secondly, there was a row of telephone booths constructed in the dorm for something, I'm not sure what. Then Andi had to EXPLAIN what a phone booth was to Kyla since they know nothing of their function. They didn't get it. I'm not sure I did either. Then we got to go to lunch on Queen Anne...such a fun and sobering day...

Confessions (new year, new admissions).

I wear my dollar store sunglasses more than my expensive ones. My 22 month old knows how to say "boobs." I will watch any movie with Collin Firth in it. I'm highly concerned I have gingivitis. Pea just told me her nightmares involve scary robots. Someone flipped me the bird for throwing a banana peel out of my car window. It's biodegradable right? I hope that's right. My husband wrote me a love letter that changed the way I see him and myself. After 10 years. Amazing. Cadbury eggs are back; I won't be giving up chocolate for lent. Many of my confessions involve Easter candy, the dollar store, and littering. I'm desperately hoarding ideas to keep my little ladies busy for the summer. Facebook is getting on my last nerve these days yet I'm on it more with this iPhone. Considering just taking it off said phone, but I've forgotten my apple password. One time in college I took NyQuil at 6 pm and then changed my computer password. I then had my genius brother reconfigure the whole thing. I love my hair. As Pea says, "It's easy "pea"sy.

And for my fifteenth and final admission: right now it does NOT look like the above...most days it doesn't. At the moment it looks like a dirty emo boy's mop.