Haven turns FOUR!

Haven celebrated her 4th Birthday this last Saturday. I learned from last year and decided to take the party OUT OF THE HOUSE! We went to our local gymnastics center and had a group of her friends run around, play, jump and eat cupcakes. It was the perfect party... for all of us.

We also had Nate's sister, Bekah, and her new fiance, Mike, here to visit. It was really fun for the girls to hang out with Auntie Bekah. We had an early Christmas together and loved sharing all of it with family.

Finally, I just had to add a picture of my friend Jody and I with our ugly Christmas sweatshirts on as we participated at our MOPS Ugly Christmas sweater contest! Don't be too jealous of how hot we look. =0)

Crazy moment of the week: This last week all of us girls were struck with the 24 hour stomach flu. I left MOPS early yesterday because I was feeling nauseated and knew I needed to get home. I grabbed Haven from Preschool and was driving home when I began to feel my mouth water. I threw out some items that were in a plastic TJMaxx bag in the driver's seat and fortunately, one with no holes in the bottom. I ralphed in the bag while driving my kids home down Reserve Street. I like to think I just accomplished a whole new level of multitasking. I managed to keep the vehicle in the middle of the lane and we did make it safely home.

December Madness

I haven't posted a blog for a while. Mainly, because I use Facebook more and more now as my main resource of communication and connection, and partly because the demands of "mom" get the best of my time. Or, I just am lazy. If it is alright with you, I am just going to skip over Halloween and Thanksgiving and jump right into December.

I am going to call this month December Madness. Mainly because of all that happens in this month for us! I really enjoy all the festivities and love the lights, the baking, the decorations around the house, the advent calendar on the wall counting down the days... it all makes me feel cozy and assured that this is the time to share love, joy and peace with the ones we love. So far, December has been a lot of fun... but it does feel like madness at times! At the beginning of the month, I hosted and help decorate a table for our church's women's Christmas tea. It is so fun to have Heidi and her husband, Justin here in Missoula. She had the most darling Kate Spade china (with pok-a-dots) and I contributed the centerpiece and favors. It was our first time hosting for the event, so we did arrive later than we should have, forgot that we needed candles (I took a few tea lights from the kitchen so we wouldn't be the only ones no shimmering with light), and were the last table to tear down.

Haven and I attended the Christmas Teddy Bear Tea together. She loved meeting Santa and Mrs. Clause, make a craft (her jingle necklace), sip her tea and listen to a story read by Mrs. Clause. It was fun to hang out together (minus our cute, but crazy 17 month old) and feel like Christmas has truly come!