Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow (after we get to Wisconsin)...

Our Christmas tree (before Sinjin worked his magic on it...)

Sinjin and Oliver (worn out from terrorizing our home).

My first pie!

It's Christmas Eve and I have the day off. Unfortunately, Brian does not; however, he'll be home before 3pm and then our holiday officially begins. We will be opening presents here with Hannah before heading out to Brian's dad's home, where we'll have dinner and dessert with Jim, Carol, Sarah and Chris.

Speaking of dessert, I made my first pie ever - and I have to say, I'm pretty excited...that it didn't turn into a pile of mush. I actually took a picture of it, because the odds of it turning out well the next time I attempt it may not be so great. (It may look good - but how it tastes might be a whole other story. Time will tell...)

It's been really busy around here lately. Hannah had her Christmas recital last weekend and it was fantastic! I have to say, the churches out here are very different than the ones I went to back home. Our church in Wisconsin was over 100 years old and very solemn and...solemn. The churches out here have more high-tech gadgets than you can imagine! Big movie screens, Wii for the kid's areas... And they even had a tour bus outside that unloaded a 'recording artist' and her backup singers for the recital! All in all, it was fantastic. And Hannah...well, she did phenominal!! She's been running around here singing Feliz Navidad for weeks - and it paid off! As Andrea said, "She is the perfect picture of Christmas!" She had on a little plaid red and green dress and her Grandma Mimi had her hair all curled and cute. SOOO CUTE! (Pictures to come...) We had a great time there (after convincing Brian to stay for the whole thing). :)

Tomorrow morning we will get up very, very early to go watch Hannah open her gifts from Santa, and then we will head to Wisconson for my parents. I honestly can't wait... I love Christmas with my family. It's my favorite holiday! We will stay in Wisconsin for a few days. In fact, Brian's mom and Jim will be meeting/visiting with my parents and us on Saturday (on their way to Missouri). It will be great to all be together.

Happy Holidays!!!

Love,

Brian, Jen, Hannah, Oliver & Sinjin

The Star Award!

**Doting father alert** Hannah had the honor of receiving the "Star Award" from her teacher yesterday. She was chosen among two other students from her class for outstanding behavior! We are very proud of her!


Hannah with her teacher and the other 2 recipients from her class.

Thanksgiving...up north.

We hit the road for the 10 hour trek to mom and Jim's in Escanaba, Michigan for Thanksgiving and an early Christmas! We stopped at Jen's parents in Wisconsin for a few hours of sleep. When I say a few, I mean 2 or 3, we arrived at 11pm and left by 3:45am.


Here is a pic of the sunrise along Green Bay(not the city) in the Upper Peninsula. The pic does not do it justice...

Recuperating...

There's always snow in the U.P. Jim traded in the old 4-wheeler and got a new one...sweet ride!

Threw the kids in the wagon(nephews Aidan & Noah, Hannah), took them for a ride...

Even mom got in the spirit and took a ride in the wagon with Hannah, way to go mom!

Jen doing her best Vanna impersonation with Shaun's snowman...

Hannah and the grandparents making a gumdrop Christmas tree...


Time to open presents!!



and now time to leave...



We stopped in on the Borri family on our way home and spent another day with them. We even stopped in Milwaukee to see Curtis and Kelly. Here I am with some of the ladies...the grandma's, mom and sis are all mine!

Jen's dad watching TV with Sawyer. What was he watching you ask? An auction. A BULL auction.

We really had a great time. It was wonderful to visit both families in one trip! Mom and Jim always has everything perfect for our visits(especially Jen's first visit)...great food and lots of fun. Thank you very much!

Over a year ago, I was sitting in my parents living room with my 87 year-old grandmother as we watched the local news. Barack Obama was giving a speech and the Chicago news station was covering it. My grandmother, a life-long democrat, turned to me and said, "You don't think he'll win, do you?" and when I shrugged in response, she said quietly, "He's black..." It wasn't a snide comment or a racist comment - it was a sincere question and it was said with pure wonder.

I am sure that in my grandmother's lifetime, she never thought she would live to see a black president of the United States. I am also quite sure that, in all honesty, I didn't know if I would ever live to see a black president of the United States.

My decision this election was a tough one - believe it or not. I was undecided up until yesterday morning. I cannot vote for someone based purely on the inspiration factor - I have realized in my 'old age' of 34 that all factors need to be considered. But in the end, morale won out - and I truly do want 'change.' Not the packaged change that both candidates wanted to hand us with a pretty bow - but a change, in my own mind, that would at least give me hope. Some of you may disagree with that logic, but that is my decision to have and for you to respect, as I respect yours.

Coming away from this election though - I experienced some feelings this morning that I had no idea would erupt. Watching our future president's speech in Grant Park...well, I defy anyone to tell me it wasn't a testament to the greatness of this country. We can look at our children and honest to God tell them - with all certainty - that they can be anything they want to be. We can tell our daughters that this is their world to have - just as any other.

I am giddy with the thought of Hannah and my nieces and nephews seeing this at such a young age - so that by the time they are older, it will seem odd that race or gender was ever a barrier at all. I want all people on the ticket to be the 'norm.' I don't want them to ever have had a doubt that this country is certainly a land of opportunity for all.

How lucky we are to be here to see it - no matter what your political preference. And if the sadness of your candidate not winning brings you great trouble - please at least realize the privilege and honor we all have of seeing another unfair barrier dissolved.

A hairy situation.

Hey all. Oliver here. I know it's been a long time since I've written, but things have been a little hectic around these parts. I have to admit with all the traveling back and forth to Wisconsin, and mom starting her new job and getting settled into the new apartment with Brian, Hannah and....ugh, Sinjin...I've been a little stressed.

But last night... Last night was one of the best nights of my life. After enduring a morning and afternoon filled with that ratty hairball Sinjin attacking me from every angle, in every room, every ten minutes - sweet revenge was all mine when Mom came home and announced she was going to give the spastic terror, Sinjin himself, A BATH!!

I have never seen anything so funny in my life. It took two grown humans to hold that hairy devil down. I mean, I'm not completely evil - I do feel bad for the little guy. Apparently, we both have fleas. Yes. Fleas. But mine were taken care of the night before...and I don't mind so much having a bath now and again (especially if it makes Daddy Dearest Brian shutup for a few days about how I smell like dog all the time. What a genius that guy is. A dog smelling like a dog?! GO FIGURE!).

Anyway, back to the cat...

Yeah, so Mom and Dad gave him a bath and it was HI-LAR-IOUS! I mean, that poor thing looked like roadkill when they were done with him. Mom seemed pretty upset - I could tell she felt horrible, as the big baby whined the whole time. Dad just held him in a blanket as she used her good tweezers to get any remaining fleas off. Gross.

But that's not the best part... See, after his bath last night, he seemed to recover once he was dry. In fact, it kind of annoyed me because he smelled all fresh and clean and Mom and Dad were fawning over him like he was Bono or something. HOWEVER, after Mom spotted a flea on his face this morning, she got on the internet and read that shampooing the oversized rat in dish soap would kill them off for good.

Yes, that's right. I GOT TO WATCH IT ALL OVER AGAIN THIS MORNING!! And this time he was NOT happy at all! In fact, he hasn't come out from under the bed at all. It has been the most peaceful 24 hours of my life...

I'm thinking of finding an old flea and throwing it on his face before Mom comes home. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next....

Hannah Elizabeth

Last night I was out jogging in the neighborhood and my mind began wandering as usual. I began thinking about Hannah and how fast these 5+ years have flown. She's in school now but it feels like she was born just last week. I think back to how much has happened over these past five years, a lot has happened and Hannah has grown so much. It really is amazing to sit back and see how much she has grown and everything she has learned. So last night I'm jogging thinking about all this and realize I had just ran twice as far as I normally do! It's amazing when you're not focused on the running but thinking about something else and something positive. A little U2 and Guns n' Roses on the iPod helps as well. So I thought since I have nothing to do I'd post some pictures of Hannah-Bear from day one.

Enjoy the silence...while you can.

On Sunday, while still in Wisconsin, all of my siblings and their (many) children met at my parents house for pasta frittas (sooo bad for you, yet soooo good!). Between 7 adults, 8 children and 3 dogs...we had a good time!