Happy last day of January!

January has been a wild ride for our family--but I still can't dislike the month. It's like a nice clean slate. I don't fill up my slate with resolutions, but I like the feeling of everything being cleared away (e.g. a simple house after all the beloved Christmas decor).

New things start peeking their heads out that will characterize the year, like the daffodils in the pic.

So that's my philosophical thought to keep my blog alive. More about what's going to be big for us this year when I figure out how to blog it.

See you in February!

Christmas day play

Papa's co-ed ;)

Who's having more fun???

Simon and great-grandpa discussing wing flaps. I like that kind of thing :)

The Ringing in of the presents

Here they are, in all their pajama-clad, goofy-eyed, sore-eared, fat-lipped and spiky-haired glory.

(Simon got an earache Christmas eve--poor bud--thanks to Mark and Nanna for going out at midnight and driving an hour to get him medicine. Mark and Papa gave him a priesthood blessing and after about ten minutes he was able to lay down and sleep, though he'd been crying for an hour before.)

gorilla--thanks catherine ;)

his own X-wing

Announcing the newest member of our family!!!

Bliss Darling Nolte

10 January 2008

36" long

~85 lbs

we've been waiting our whole marriage for her and can't wait to see what the adjustment to life with her will be like.

she's warm, she fluffs, she has no delicate cycle, and she stays quietly in the dark all night.

Christmas Eve . . . better late than never!

If this isn't enough ancient history for you, don't worry, I'm still planning on posting Christmas Day and other various holiday etcetera--start getting giddy with anticipation!

Simon on great grandpa's lap--they became fast friends over airplanes

Papa telling his traditional "Teach the Children" poem. It consists of Santa visiting the dad and explaining the true meaning of all the symbols of Christmas. My kids got to be front-row helpers, being the only ones from the 10-and-under set that night.

Alli getting really jazzed about something in the Gospel Principles manual that she's sure goes with what Papa's telling.

My dad's side's tradition is to open all the presents on Christmas eve. Our generation got to do one, and I let my kids do that too. Here's Simon with his cherished poison dart frog--from Aunt Catherine (my sis has good taste!).

I made both of the kids a sock monkey; and even with all of their assymetry (legs different lengths, skeewompus ear sizes) I say they look way better than the ones the stores are selling (thanks nanna for your last-minute rescuing, and grandma for your long-distance coaching throughout)!

Foreground: She likes it!!!

Background: Yes, the holiday treats did wonders for my pregnancy. I'm 7 months looking like "Now Showing: The 9 months along Spectacle!!!"

A puppet show? a parade? prouder of their new animals than their own faces? one of those.

In Grandpa's hanger

Looking at the mechanisms inside the Piper Tripacer (am I remembering the name right, Dad?) Soo cool. Wish my dad could've been there.

This is a close up for my dad. ;)

Happy in MO!

We spent a week for Christmas in Missouri at Mark's grandparents' farm.

Here's Simon with "his best friend Brittany".

Don't you wish you could walk on this path forever? I do.