Justin would have been 25 today.
I'd write more, but I'm exhausted...and frankly, just not in the mood.
May Justin's soul be with God. And may God be with Justin's friends and family.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
- Proverbs 3:5-6
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, October 10, 2009
For the Early Birds..
This is for those of you who have starting thinking about, already begun (or maybe finished!)Christmas shopping. I usually send an e-mail to family and close friends around this time of year. I've decided to post it as a blog.
Top Reasons Why the Kole Family Does NOT Need Anything for Christmas:
1. We are already blessed beyond what we deserve. We have God, family, jobs, health care (good health), savings, shelter, food, and love!
2. Most of you know, we love our apartment but it is SMALL and provides very little storage space. I should take a picture of our ONE storage closet. MK and I would win an award for "Most Talented Packers"! Now that Norah is here and apart of our family...we can slowly feel our apartment walls closing in. Our life has enough clutter and we are trying to keep it to a minimum.
3. Norah has an entire dresser full of clothes. Plus, two bags full of clothes that no longer fit her. Please do not buy new clothes for Norah. But, if you do have some great hand-me-downs for winter...I think we could make an exception to the No Gift Giving Rule. :o)
4. After reading 1 - 3, if any family/friends still would like to spend money on us, we hope the money is put towards a visit. We love (LOVE) and value quality time with our family and closest friends.
Which reminds me...Black Friday is coming all too quickly. I'm pretty sure I'll be scheduled to work. We open at 5:00 am. I still think the act of getting up just to shop before the sun rises is completely disgusting. Go America.
Have I mentioned the idea of being a stay-at-home mom is becoming more appealing as each day passes? I giddily watch Norah and Hayden on Fridays (well, when Norah isn't being Super Brat). Maybe some day we'll be financially stable enough for me to be a professional mom. We'll see. Until then, I'll suck it up...savor my days off...and beam every time my paycheck is added to our savings account.
Marshall (and Norah!) met my aunt and uncle from Alabama. They've been up in New England visiting friends, enjoying the foliage and just happened to be staying close to Durham tonight before heading back South. We had a delicious dinner in Portsmouth (minus my initial outburst of emotions to a semi-rude hostess...but that's another story), some light conversation, and lots of smiles in response to Norah's happy-go-lucky attitude. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to meet up, and I'm thinking MK, Norah, and I might just need to make our way South for a visit in the near future!
Recent pictures:
A little blurry, but still a favorite. 5 months old and one day!
(BTW Julia, this is the sweater your mom made for Norah!)
Norah loves Spot. Picture of me using Spot to make Norah smile for the camera.
Norah now sports the Bumbo and Tray! This makes sitting up and playing so fun!
What's also fun? Playing with Hayden!
Great Aunt Mary Susan
Great Uncle Myron (resemble my dad much? hehe.)
Love you all.
Top Reasons Why the Kole Family Does NOT Need Anything for Christmas:
1. We are already blessed beyond what we deserve. We have God, family, jobs, health care (good health), savings, shelter, food, and love!
2. Most of you know, we love our apartment but it is SMALL and provides very little storage space. I should take a picture of our ONE storage closet. MK and I would win an award for "Most Talented Packers"! Now that Norah is here and apart of our family...we can slowly feel our apartment walls closing in. Our life has enough clutter and we are trying to keep it to a minimum.
3. Norah has an entire dresser full of clothes. Plus, two bags full of clothes that no longer fit her. Please do not buy new clothes for Norah. But, if you do have some great hand-me-downs for winter...I think we could make an exception to the No Gift Giving Rule. :o)
4. After reading 1 - 3, if any family/friends still would like to spend money on us, we hope the money is put towards a visit. We love (LOVE) and value quality time with our family and closest friends.
Which reminds me...Black Friday is coming all too quickly. I'm pretty sure I'll be scheduled to work. We open at 5:00 am. I still think the act of getting up just to shop before the sun rises is completely disgusting. Go America.
Have I mentioned the idea of being a stay-at-home mom is becoming more appealing as each day passes? I giddily watch Norah and Hayden on Fridays (well, when Norah isn't being Super Brat). Maybe some day we'll be financially stable enough for me to be a professional mom. We'll see. Until then, I'll suck it up...savor my days off...and beam every time my paycheck is added to our savings account.
Marshall (and Norah!) met my aunt and uncle from Alabama. They've been up in New England visiting friends, enjoying the foliage and just happened to be staying close to Durham tonight before heading back South. We had a delicious dinner in Portsmouth (minus my initial outburst of emotions to a semi-rude hostess...but that's another story), some light conversation, and lots of smiles in response to Norah's happy-go-lucky attitude. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to meet up, and I'm thinking MK, Norah, and I might just need to make our way South for a visit in the near future!
Recent pictures:
A little blurry, but still a favorite. 5 months old and one day!
(BTW Julia, this is the sweater your mom made for Norah!)
Norah loves Spot. Picture of me using Spot to make Norah smile for the camera.
Norah now sports the Bumbo and Tray! This makes sitting up and playing so fun!
What's also fun? Playing with Hayden!
Great Aunt Mary Susan
Great Uncle Myron (resemble my dad much? hehe.)
Love you all.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Interview with Norah
I asked Norah to comment on the fact that Creed has released a new album and is currently on tour in support of the release. She seemed pretty upset about the whole affair considering the fact that she's a baby and has only recently begun to suffer the music of Creed. Imagine how upset the rest of us (who have all lived through the release of multiple Creed albums in the past decade) have the right to be.
Man... I really hate Scott Stapp and everything this band has ever done.
Stay Gold!
MMK
Man... I really hate Scott Stapp and everything this band has ever done.
Stay Gold!
MMK
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Copycat
Sarah taught Norah this trick a few weeks ago. I just happened to take a picture of it today while I was messing around with our webcam.
(Oh yeah, we have a webcam. Anyone out there have Skype/Gmail/whatever and want to video chat sometime? Hook us up with your info... mmkole@gmail.com)
In other news (as Sarah's already announced), I have a new wedding ring. Our friend Amy recently began making jewelry at a silversmithing shop in Ames and graciously agreed to make me a ring to replace the one I lost after only 1.5 years of being married. It's sterling silver, with a rough band running through the middle of it. Ain't anything fancy, but it's pretty meaningful. Sarah's rather pleased that I'm now "married" again. I guess I am, too.
Stay Gold!
MMK
(Oh yeah, we have a webcam. Anyone out there have Skype/Gmail/whatever and want to video chat sometime? Hook us up with your info... mmkole@gmail.com)
In other news (as Sarah's already announced), I have a new wedding ring. Our friend Amy recently began making jewelry at a silversmithing shop in Ames and graciously agreed to make me a ring to replace the one I lost after only 1.5 years of being married. It's sterling silver, with a rough band running through the middle of it. Ain't anything fancy, but it's pretty meaningful. Sarah's rather pleased that I'm now "married" again. I guess I am, too.
Stay Gold!
MMK
Monday, October 5, 2009
5 Things Norah LOVES...
1. Making the bed.
Marshall hates...HATES...to make the bed. Wait. Let me rephrase that sentence. Marshall hates to do housework of any kind. But thankfully Norah loves to help me make the bed. MK caught her enjoyment on camera:
2. IOWA!
3. Her new(ish) bouncer.
4. Bath time!...well, and hanging out with daddy before bed!
5. And of course, Norah loves her Papa and Mama! This picture is from Kevin & Sarah's wedding back in Iowa.
Wedding ring status update! My best friend Amy, also the mutual friend who introduced Marshall and I, made MK a new wedding ring. HOORAY! Amy did such a great job - I love it! One of us will definitely post a picture of the ring soon.
Hope you all are well. MK and I are gearing up for the big game tonight. Packers play the Vikings tonight on Monday Night Football. We plan to have a few people over to watch the game. I'm excited. GO PACK GO!
SLK
Marshall hates...HATES...to make the bed. Wait. Let me rephrase that sentence. Marshall hates to do housework of any kind. But thankfully Norah loves to help me make the bed. MK caught her enjoyment on camera:
2. IOWA!
3. Her new(ish) bouncer.
4. Bath time!...well, and hanging out with daddy before bed!
5. And of course, Norah loves her Papa and Mama! This picture is from Kevin & Sarah's wedding back in Iowa.
Wedding ring status update! My best friend Amy, also the mutual friend who introduced Marshall and I, made MK a new wedding ring. HOORAY! Amy did such a great job - I love it! One of us will definitely post a picture of the ring soon.
Hope you all are well. MK and I are gearing up for the big game tonight. Packers play the Vikings tonight on Monday Night Football. We plan to have a few people over to watch the game. I'm excited. GO PACK GO!
SLK
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