Thursday

I am thankful that I don't have a lot to be worried about.
My wife makes me a better husband than I want to be most days.
My kid is, like, super stoked to run across the room to give me a hug when I ask for one.
My job comes naturally to me and feels productive.
We have some money in the bank.
It's football season.
I feel at home in New England.
I feel like God is moving out of my head (most days) and into my heart/gut.

I hope you've got something to be feeling good about right now, too.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Stay Gold!

MMK

WWMXD?

A good sort of advice for all people. Just something to think about...

"Now I hope you'll forgive me for just speaking so informally tonight, but I frankly think it's always better to be informal. As far as I am concerned, I can speak to people better in an informal way than I can with all of this stiff formality that ends up meaning nothing. Plus, when people are informal, they're relaxed. When they're relaxed, their mind is more open, and they can weigh things more objectively. Whenever you and I are discussing our problems we need to be very objective, very cool, calm, collected. But that doesn't mean we should always be. There's a time to be cool and a time to be hot. See, you got messed up into thinking that there's only one time for everything. There's a time to love and a time to hate. Even Solomon said that, and he was in that Book too. You're just taking something out of the Book that fits your cowardly nature. And when you don't want to fight, you say, "Well, Jesus said don't fight." But I don't even believe Jesus said that.

Also I am very pleased to see so many who have come out to always see for yourself, where you can hear for yourself, and then think for yourself. Then you'll be in a better position to make an intelligent judgment for yourself. But if you form the habit of listening to what others say about something or some one or reading what someone else has written about someone, somebody can confuse you and misuse you. So as Afro-Americans or Black people here in the Western Hemisphere, you and I have to learn to weigh things for ourselves. No matter what the [white] man says, you better look into it."

- Malcolm X, 1965

Hey Everyone! Come See How Good We Look!

Our friend Beth took our pictures back in September. She posted some of them on her blog, but we didn't post any here. We wanted to wait to post them until we figured out which of the photos we'd end up using for our Christmas card this year. Having ordered our cards today, I figured I'd share the rest with y'all here.

Sarah Art (well, and Norah stats)

Yep! I can do art, too!

I made the above picture for Kate. Kate is one of my best friends here in New Hampshire. The wording you see in the middle is the "Lord's Prayer". Kate and her husband are expecting their first baby, due the middle of December. Another friend and I succeeded in surprising her (which is not easy to do) with a baby shower on Sunday. It was lovely.

We all are SO EXCITED for baby to make his/her grand appearance!!!

In other news - this is the best ponytail yet for Norah!

Norah, can you say "milestone"?

Norah has been talking up a storm. Learning to speak at least 1 - 2 words per day. Her most recent words have been help, butt, what, and cracker. However, her understanding is outstanding. She LOVES to read and has quite a few vocab books (books = Christmas gift idea. hint. hint.). When asked "Where is the ___________?" Norah almost always points to said object. Norah has also become better at performing short commands and will now throw her own diaper away. Hooray! She is also starting to understand the concept of timeout which is more of a bittersweet hooray.

Norah also had her 18 month old check up yesterday. She is 33" tall (95th percentile), weighs 24 lbs (50th percentile), and has a head circumference of 19 (95th percentile).

To sum it up - Norah is tall, lean, and has a HUGE head good for learning.

Doctor says she is normal.

And I'll leave you with a few of pictures to sum up the afternoon I had with Norah:

Sticker ART! Kisses? More like fish face. Sassy Pants.

And this is normal?

I love being Mama, especially since God gave me a kid like Norah.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU.

You do have good plans for me.

Love you all.

One Art

I stayed up late finishing this line drawing last night. It's going to end up going on the back of my staff t-shirt this year. Our theme is "Love It or Leave It" because the Upper quad is awesome just like America.

GLUTEN FREE YUM ALERT!

Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

(Picture Shown = Gluten Free Style)

As you can see, these were a HUGE hit. I originally had planned to make them for MK's staff. They turned out SUPER moist and delicious - but were a bit messy to try to get out of the pan in time for the staff meeting. So we gave some to our good friend, Beth, and mostly ate the rest of the pan ourselves. Not the best idea for someone who is training for a half marathon and for someone else who is aiming to loose a little weight.

So it goes.

Rumor has it, these brownies are an excellent breakfast option.

RECIPE HERE.

To make the recipe gluten free friendly,

all I did was buy the Betty Crocker Gluten Free Brownie mix.

SO EASY!!!

For Grace : Kole Christmas

The Kole/Wiley Christmas Guidelines:

(a response to my sister-in-law's recent blog post)

1. Halloween sucks. Just added this year - White Christmas lights may be put up INSIDE the day after Halloween to put everyone in a cheerful mood and create a cozy atmosphere. If the Kole Family ever buys a house, white lights will also be displayed OUTSIDE!

2. The rest of the Christmas decorations should be put up on Thanksgiving Day. Just added this year - if one family member will be away on Thanksgiving Day, it should be permissible to at least put up the Christmas tree prior to the family member leaving.

3. Christmas music is permissible on Thanksgiving Day and after until January 1st.

4. O Holy Night (all versions) must be played at least once a day, if not numerous times a day, during the Christmas music allowance time.

5. Santa is not real. Christ is real. Norah will know both of these facts, and as a result, will know the holy reason for the season. :o) Yes, yes...this probably means Norah will ruin "the joy of Santa" for other kids - you have been warned.

6. Giving should not be limited to Christmas time. Therefore, the family must give to those in need throughout the whole year.

7. Stockings are to be filled mostly with useful and needed items (socks, deodorant, soap, etc.) and a few fun items.

8. An ornament must be made/bought each Christmas and labeled with the year.

9. Snowflake and snow people decorations are a must.

10. One gift can be opened by each family member on Christmas Eve.

11. Church shall be attended on Christmas Eve (whether in-person or via internet due to a little one's bedtime).

11. Stockings can be opened once each family member is awake (non-showered).

12. Presents are to be opened after everyone is showered and ready for the day.

13. The gift of a tattoo session will be given each year to husband and wife.

14. Football must be on for the entire showing.

15. Excessive baking and sweet consumption is unavoidable; increased workout sessions are strongly encouraged.

16. Christmas decorations must come down the first week of January, but snowflake decorations may remain for another month or so.

Talking about all of this makes me realize how very excited I am to once again be spending the precious holiday with my husband and baby.

Love you all.

Dancing. Newspapers. Family Time.

In that order...