Christmas Music

Christmas 2010.

Christmas 2011:

Love you Grandpa & Grandma Kole.

Happy Christmas Morning!

NRK and I did a little spontaneous crafting the other night.

SO.MUCH.FUN!

Since we will be in Iowa on Christmas Day, and MK and I already exchanged gifts, 

we decided today we would have our Christmas morning for NRK.  

Yes, all of those presents are for NRK.

Norah woke up earlier than usual this morning due to some nasty coughing.  Once I calmed the coughing a bit, NRK asked to use the potty.  Her potty currently sits right outside our bathroom, with a direct view of our Christmas tree.  In mid-peeing, NRK noticed the (large) presents and exclaimed,

"Oooo, what is that?!"

Norah chose to open some of the smaller gifts first.  Then we opened our stockings.

The $1.00 hair clips were a huge hit.  

AND BUBBLES!

 AND PUZZLES!

AND BOOKS!

"Mama, it's too big."

NRK's very first dollhouse!  

Our doctor's office has a similar one that Norah enjoys, so we knew this would get a lot of use.  

Norah played with the dollhouse today for HOURS!

Ginger Papa = cute.  Yellow haired Mama = stay away from my man.

And yes, NRK made me put a clip in my hair, too.

The biggest package was sent to us by NRK's Grandpa Kole & Grandma Jody.

This is me in a plastic mess pile.

Which (an hour and a half later) turned into this:

Norah's a fan, but there must be an issue with the oven.  

NRK kept saying, "Oh no! There is smoke!"  HA!

By the way... just so you are well informed:

Car slippers!

The last gift NRK opened today - an art easel.  I hope this gets lots of use!

Smiling for Papa.                               So over smiling for Papa.

The Packers lost today.  So did the Broncos.  

But MK made pancakes for breakfast, and let me take a 2 hour nap. 

Overall, I think we had a pretty good day.  

God, I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family, to have all of our needs met (and then some), and to be living this life for you.

Thank you.

Love you all.  Iowa, we will be seeing you in 4 days!

SLK

Friday Photos

Waiting for Christmas.

Fun in the bath.

Love Wins.

Life is full of pain and brokenness.  Suicide is not the answer.  God calls us to live a life of faith.
Love wins.

An UNH acquaintance is related to this young man.
Please take a few moments and watch this video.  

Friends and Family, I love you.
SLK

34 Years!

Nick Filth

A day late, but I still wanted to post a tribute.  My parents have now been married for 34 years (and one day).

WOW.

Ma & Pops, thank you for every day and every minute you have fought for your marriage.  Thank you for having faith in God, and therefore, having faith in your love for each other.  As our Pastor has been saying a lot lately, faith is trusting.  Trusting no matter what.  Trusting even in pain.  

Thank you for trusting in all seasons of life.

I love you both!

Five Pictures

We bought a new camera. The Canon EOS Rebel T3. It takes some pretty awesome pictures, even though we're still figuring out everything it's really capable of and how to maximize the camera for what it can do.

We've clearly stopped trying to groom or style Norah's hair lately, though.

Ma Wiley

Happy Birthday to my beautiful and loving, MA!

What a story you have to tell about the seasons of life.

You inspire me to be a godly woman, wife, friend, and most of all...mother.

I love you!

New England-ish List: Last updated 2/20/12

A start...

1. Family trip to the New England Aquarium in Boston.
2. Family trip to York's Wild Kingdom in York, ME.
3. See a Broadway Show in NYC.
4. Family vacation in the Cape.
5. Family Alaskan Cruise.
6. Take Norah up in a small plane or helicopter.
7. Take Norah to the Boston-Portsmouth Air Show at Pease Int. Airport.
8. Go ziplining. 
9. Visit Isles of Shoals.
10. Climb a mountain as a family.
11. Family trip to Burlington, VT.
12. Save up and buy a really nice camera.
13. MK & SK trip to Ireland.
14. Family mission trip.
15. Go kayaking.
16. MK & SK date to see NFL Football game.
17. MK & SK date to see the Packers play at Lambeau.
18. Go on a whale watch (see whales!).
19. Buy and/or make NRK a play kitchen.
20. MK & SK date night to the Cheesecake Factory (we both have never been).
21. Get a tattoo for NRK.
22. See BANE play in their hometown, Worcester, MA.
23. Take a honeymoon.
24. Eventually own a home.
25. Live in a place that allows dogs and/or cats.
26. Go horseback riding.
27. Run the Seacoast Half Marathon.
28. Run Wallis Sands Half Marathon.
29. Buy a real couch -  a couch that allows MK & SK cuddles.
30. Walk the ENTIRE Freedom Trail.
31. MK & SK date night to a Bruins game.
32. Pay off our car.
33. Pay off our school loans.
34. Go to a UNH Football game.
35. Take a mini family vacay to Canada.
36. Take a family trip to Washington, DC.
37. Visit the WTC Memorial.
38. Take NRK snow tubing.
39. Write/illustrate a children's book.
40. Visit the (famous) Hampton Beach at least once.
41. Go to a Red Sox game.
42. Buy and fly a kite with NRK at Wagon Hill.
43. Go tidepooling. 
44. Go to a NASCAR race.
45. Take NRK to the horse barn.
46. Go apple picking.
47. Purchase a crop share.
48. See a new england moose.
49. DO NOT SEE A LAMPREY IN REAL LIFE!
50. Love.
51. Take NK to the Boston Children's Museum
52. Museum of Science, Boston (MK & SK date)

Just another Wednesday

Sock puppets. Cup beard.                                       Pretty (normal) girl.

Did you know that dinosaurs had their own road system back in the day? True story.

Norah actually took these pictures.  True love.

Awesome face, Norah.

Love you.

Happy Hallowsnow Weekend

Our church services this morning were cancelled due to this:

The original forecast predicted 6"-12" of snow, but I'm guessing we only got 4".  However, the snow was super wet and heavy so many people in the Durham area are without power.  Our power flickered a few times, but fortunately, we never lost campus power.  One benefit of living on a college campus!

Norah and I took advantage of the snow this morning, as I'm guessing it will all be gone by this evening.

Norah was adding some hair to our snow person.

Papa Dino and a spoon make the perfect snow toys.  Snowballs are fun.

Eating snow is fun, too.

Good times.

Lord, give me patience for the rest of this day as Norah is abnormally bratty.

Love to you, all.

SLK

The Post Wherein We Destroy Something Entirely Edible and Good Simply to Be Festive

Check it out... Norah's first time carving a pumpkin.

Robots are People, Too

One time, in Grad School, my boss' boss was in a meeting with all of the graduate hall directors and was talking about the departmental administration being accessible and approachable for all members of the department, regardless of their title. In explaining her accessibility, she said "it's not like we're robots or anything!"

But... Isn't that exactly what a robot would say? "Hey guys, don't worry... I'm not going to crush you with my ultra grip-tastic metal pinchers or anything. I'm not a robot or anything. Just be cool and come hang out with me."

And then, next thing you know, you're being enveloped in an icy metallic grasp. Robots are tricky like that.

NYC!

I went to NYC  this weekend to visit a friend I've known since middle school.

This started our weekend:

Jealous? No?  You should be.  If you ever get the chance to see this show - take it!  

You will have no regrets!

And pictures!

Strawberry Fields, Central Park

A cute spot by the water we found...

Central Park is probably my favorite part of New York - so beautiful!

I LOVE willow trees!

NY Public Library - Stephen A. Schwarzman Building

We were able to walk through the "Celebrating 100 Years" exhibition.  

Noteworthy sights: Malcom X diary entries from his Hajj, a real KKK uniform (creepy!), 

and an original letter from George Washington.  

MK is way better with history, but this exhibition was pretty rad.

Flatiron Building!

 K, what square was this?!

Washington Square - AMAZING!

Street Artist - all done by hand with sand.

We also were able to walk through parts of NYU.

The World Trade Center : Freedom Tower.  

MASSIVE.

I won't say much about our walk by Ground Zero...that's not so zero anymore.  We didn't go into the Memorial (you have to reserve a pass ahead of time, etc), but I still got an eerie feeling.  I don't know how else to describe it.  I hope to one day go to the Memorial, too.

Battery Park : The Sphere.

Statue of Liberty.

A huge THANK YOU to my lovely friend, K.

So glad we had the opportunity to reconnect and just have fun!

Who knew a couple of Iowa girls could enjoy a big city so much?!

Much love, SLK.