My house is a mess.

And on some kind of mental level it is AWESOME because this is the first time in the last two months that my house, (in Spokane or Kuna) has been messy just because we live here. It's not messy because there are boxes (those are hiding in the office and don't count) it's just messy because we live here. It's messy because we did peanut butter play dough and Gideon thinks all the candy canes on the tree are his, and we had a birthday party and it's laundry day...

I love that kind of mess.

I will pick up before Cori gets home because he does not love that kind of mess, it makes him feel crazy. But for right now this second, I am leaving it alone and making chili instead, because it's snowing outside and I have a big loaf of sourdough sitting in my "pantry" (tiny cupboard) that is just screaming for some sweet chili to go with it.

Happy Wednesday to you!!

By the way, if you are doing at 12 days of Christmas thing tomorrow is the first night- so don't forget. I only write that because I always do, and this year I remembered. (or tonight if you don't want to deliver on Christmas Eve)

Six

Tomorrow my first baby is 6 (I typed 5 and 4 before I got it right... tells you how prepared I am for this). She lost her first top tooth yesterday.
She goes to school full days 5 days a week.
She rides a two wheeler... (she's done that for a while now.)
She can read and write.
She is funny.
She is nervous and shy sometimes.
She is a fast runner.
She is an artist.

Tonight while Gideon slept on my lap by the Christmas tree, we talked about the confused feelings mom's have. I told her how excited I am she is going to be six tomorrow, but how sometimes I wish she was 3 or 2 or 1 or brand new... (I never wish she was 4... ever ever...) I told her how I want to have a great time with her while she is six, but how sometimes I imagine what she will be like when she is 8 or 15 or 20 or a mom... and how we will be great friends when she is a grown up and how excited I am for that time. Such funny mixed up feelings. 

Havah, someday when you are older and you read this, know how grateful Dad and I are that you are ours. Know how awesome you are. Know how everyday you have been ours we have marveled at your mind and your spirit and your body as you grow and grow. Know how we love you. Know how you've changed us and streched us (me quite litterally, haha). You came to us so good. Know that you are a daughter of God who makes our love look entirely inconsequential, and that He sent you to parents that want nothing more that you fill your heart and your head with the joy of doing good, serving others and doing what is right no matter what. 

We love you Havah J. So dearly there are not words. Happy Birthday.

So, life in Spokane.

It is late. We had a great night visiting with family... hopefully Havah won't be totally beat in the morning.

Here are a few things that are going on here in Spokane:

We got a washer and dryer in our 'Laundry room'... I am sorry I EVER complained about the size of my laundry room in Kuna... Do you see the dryer door? Do you see the wall? Do you see the sink... I repent I repent I repent... How ungrateful I was... And how grateful after two weeks going to the laundry mat that I have these in my home, however squishy it is...

We got our CHRISTMAS TREE!!! He is a little guy, different than the trees we've had the last few years, but he fits our cozy room perfectly. And since I don't live close to friends with huge ladders (or at least I haven't met new ones yet) the fact he is just a couple inches taller than me is perfect. I am grateful for a home that smells like the forest.

We went to church this morning and it was clear... left to an inch of snow. How fun! First snow of the season! It is so cold here... wow! Lilly and I had a good time 'shoveling'  the snow (read scraping the walks).

 Here is a big one! Havah lost her first TOP tooth... Now she has an awesome lisp. She is so excited! 

Gid has also started calling her, 'Fav J', totally adorable (I call her Havah J a lot).

Lilly, Gid and I have been having a blast at home during the day while Havah and Cori are gone.

Sept for all the times the last two weeks we've been in the car at nap time... we did better on week two, but I think there is still some room for improvement. We need our down time.

We found a couch for $20 on craigslist. It's nothing special, but it works well in our little front room. 

This awesome little park is right behind Havah's school. We went there twice, but it's really cold now... we need to do better at getting out there even though everyone is freezing.

End of the Second First Day of school. She loves her teacher and is making friends. All day every day school is pretty exhausting though, by Fridays she is pooped! We are going to work on a better after school routine this week to see if we can help her unwind and recoup. 

I am excited to live in this place. I am really enjoying living in the city, something I never though I would enjoy, but I love being close to everything. We have found a lot of fun spots to eat and met new people and there are so many cool parks here. I am excited to see what else this place holds for us.