Swirling down the drain the noodles

Me!

We're missing a colander. Strainer. Drainer. You know - the bowl with the holes in it. Whatever you want to call it, the most necessary tool for creating any sort of noodle-focused masterpiece is - quite suddenly - missing from our kitchen.
Hello! Ken here - reminding you that, yes, the life of this Minnesota family is trundling along, and we've officially survived the month of January. Anyone else feel that the first month of the year is also the longest? Oy.
Aside from the dark and cold of the outside, life's pretty sweet. We managed to stay healthy for the entire month, Dad started a pair of new classes, Mom started a new job, and our friend Chris finally convinced us to buy a new colander. Happy new year!

Georgia

Georgia has teeth. Two on the bottom to be exact, and she reveals this fact through a wide, toothy grin about once every two or three minutes. Lately, it seems, there is much to smile about. She rolls in any direction, grabs anything within reach, and babbles to anyone who's ready to pay attention. I finally figured out how to make her laugh, and am proud to say that no one gets Georgia to giggle like I do.
We have snow this year! Lots of it. Recently, the temperatures have ranged from negative 9 to positive 4. (Yes, Fahrenheit ..), so our trips beyond the back door have been fairly limited. The good news is that we'll be basking in balmy by Sunday: a plus 30 degrees and sunny. Have I become so boring as to speak of the weather for so long? Apologies. What's really got me jazzed, though, is the dampness of the snow and my sweet, sweet snow pants. It's high time to build our own snowman. Watch out, neighbors.Sam, Dad and I are ready. It's on.

 

Sam/Santa

Sam! He's such a ham. And he talks. And talks. And talks. And talks. Last week, he found a birthday card from this past October. (It was in the bottom of the book bin, in case you were wondering.) Upon plucking his own birthday card from the pits of obscurity, he says, "Ken! It's your birthday! How fun is this?" Yesterday he pointed to the Quaker Oats container and asked Mom, "Who's the pretty lady?"
Santa was a hit this year - for all of us. We hung at Grandma and Grandpa Corrigan's house for the Christmas festivities, and the guy showed up at the doorstep. What service! Although we weren't quite sure what to say to the rote "What would you like for Christmas?" question, I am proud of Georgia, Sam and myself for gracefully alighting his lap tear-free. Quite the milestone, really. And quite the beard.
Here's hoping that winter is treating you as well as it's treating me. Now that Mom's getting the hang of this new job thing, she and I promise to grace the blogosphere a bit more regularly. Until next time, enjoy the fluffy white stuff, and never under-appreciate the goodness of a properly drained bowl of noodles.
Ken