A Week in the Life of...

We had this past week off of school for mid-winter break and so decided to do a couple of fun activities that normally we wouldn't be able to do. I haven't really realized how closely the public school schedule ties us to times and locations until just recently. I loved having both my girls home in the mornings and sometimes it was challenging, but overall wonderful. Our next week off is spring break and for that we are blowing this popsicle stand and heading south to Arizona to stay and Grandma and Papa's HOT pad. That said, here are some pictures from our week to just be us: roller skating (both P & H need some practice; yikes. But the tiny skates were adorable), open swim (although H was terrified of an impending shark attack), Tacoma Children's Museum (girls LOVED this place), Raegan's weight lifting competition (WA state American Record for 9 year olds!), and crafts (lots and lots of these). Not pictured: super fun play dates with our younger (than Pea) friends...

Terms of Endearment

Want to know a secret?
One of the reasons I named this girl Pearson was just so I could call her "sweet pea" and have it be simply: true. A twist on the old term of endearment. And how true it has turned out to be. She's my shy girl. Often she needs to be properly introduced to others (even other little girls) before she speaks and I find this ironic, because I'm rarely ever proper. That's sort of my charm, right? I'll keep telling myself that;)
Sometimes, Pea worries others will laugh at her or think she's in the way so she never cuts in line at the bus stop. Also: so NOT me. But I love that I have a daughter who is different than me, who will challenge me to develop much needed weaknesses in my own spirit just by being who God created her to be. She's SUCH a helper (with a happy heart), a good sister & friend, and an animal lover (she makes drawings and songs for Brutus that she tapes to his kennel and feeds him every day adding a treat to his bowl beneath his food). She writes me songs and honestly has such an AMAZING eye for color and design. She's generous like her daddy. She's my:
Sweet Pea...

And by funny, I mean:

This girl. She's so funny. And by funny I mean: weird. Just kidding. Really I mean: a little off beat, sweet, and heart warming. I mean, come on; this picture? It's just so her. This picture was the exact moment that she jumped on me as I sat on the couch trying to catch up on American Idol as she called Brutus a "Munacorn" (a unicorn) and tried to ride him. She also got up this morning fully dressed in one of Pea's old dresses, which she found at the top of her closet (don't ask me how) at 5:30 AM. I am loving this age. I want to bottle her sweet little spirit up and savor it...thousands of kisses will have to tide me over:

Almost Famous

Hey guess what? I'm like famous. Not really, but hey just go with it. Together we'll lovingly call it: quasi-famous. And by quasi I mean resolutely: not. I do, however, have a degree of separation from an infamous and fabulous writer friend who continually HOOKS A SISTER UP.
Kyk, next drink's on me.
First, she hooked me up with this:

A grocery shopping challenge wherein my groceries were completely paid for even though I had to buy tampons in front of a male producer, but that's neither here nor there. It was such a fun challenge. The rules: it all had to be under 250 and only forty items and we were warned not to stock your particular cart with like 5 hair straighteners and a bottle of expensive anti-wrinkle cream or ye shall suffer the impending rath of a certain big box chain rep who was about 4 feet tall and in a word: scary. Seriously. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up as I recount her words through my finger tips.
And now, the great and powerful Kyk has done it again here.
I DO love perks. But really, I love knowing a smart, semi-sassy, incredibly thoughtful friend.
P.s. And you'll appreciate this: I'm now signing off to leave bound for Target. I'll tell her not to be so bitchy come spring...

Be Mine...

Some of my favorite shots from Valentine's (or as both my girls call it: Valentime's; I mean what kid doesn't call it that?) Day. Love my family so much. What a lucky girl am I? Going out Saturday with my man...

31.

This boy turns 31 today. He didn't appreciate this picture. In fact he hates to get his picture taken. And that's annoying because I like to take his picture. A word picture will have to do...
I sure do love him. He continues to grow in self improvement both inside and out, takes criticism like no man I've met, and has the courage to diffuse fights and apologize first when I can't seem to be the bigger person.  He's someone whom I respect a great deal. I get to call him my husband and I am grateful for that. I never want to take for granted him OR that word, "get." Because it's truth. When you live with one person you see all their "crazy" their hard moments, their struggles, their quirks, joy, and true love. He surely has all the former. But I suppose what's most impressive is the man he's become from the boy I dated 10 years ago. He makes me want to be a better girl (the official cutoff to self-referential "girl" is 30 so I still have 6 more months). I still have much to improve upon, working on some hard things right now. So for now, I'll let him be a source of inspiration to spur me on and if that isn't a good marriage I'm not sure I know what that means.
I love you, Tyler. Happy 31.

The Green Purse.

Remember this drama??? And this? And this super awesome gem? In my defense I was a touch hormonal, but as I re-read that...dude. DUDE. That was so hard. When Belle number two comes along; I just wait. And wait. And wait. Until it's apparent I can't wait any longer and she is now REALLY ready. And yet, the memories of bending down on pregnant knee mopping up pee and crying because I can NOT entice my toddler to even go near the potty come rushing right back. And after I shake off those horrid memories I start to mull over how I repeatedly waited in the FREEZING cold heatedly begging Brutus to just PEE already outside in our front yard. I just couldn't face it again. Potty training, ugh. What an absolute and total nightmare. And so, during Christmas break, I just pulled the trigger and decided to take the proverbial bullet. To my complete and utter shock: Harper took to it like a bird to flight. The girl got it. And she got it in like 2 days. Even poop! Even washing her tiny hands. Wiping like a professional. I literally and figuratively had to pinch myself. Could it be? It can actually be THIS easy? Before Harp, I thought Moms were just making up these easy potty training myths to make us all feel bad. But here I am, passing on the potty shame. Sorry for this realized irony...I then said a quick prayer of pure thanks to God. What if Harp had been my first? I'll tell you what, I say with total confidence: I'd be typing this particular post from the nearest state-run mental facility. That's what! Save for an accident here and there, we have been diaper FREE for a month now and let me tell you: It's weird. I like it. And it's weird...One very fashionable silver lining is this amazing little green number I bought to carry about. It can't hold a diaper and wipes, because it DOESN'T have to! Ahhh...a weird and fun moment and hope for the potty challenged. Here's to you, Harp! Go littlest lady...