Tuck playing man of the house while daddy is out.

















The stow away.













Practicing one-arm push-ups!





The cousins are baking brownies together.

As daddy prepared to go climbing again, Tuck and Sawyer did all they could to help dad get into shape.





Here they are helping with push-ups.




Although they missed daddy while he was gone, we are all happy is safe and having fun. In the spirit of dad's trip (see his own trip blog at ... http://mgiambrone.blogspot.com/2009/03/field-bc.html ) the boys would "ice climb" up the stairs every time we headed up.


Here is Tuck playing Mr. Percy - the narrow gauge engine controller. Thanks to Grandma Edie's and Grandpa Bob's enlightened Christmas gift!

Christmas 2008

Hello Friends and Family,

Sorry it's been so long. Since Matt's return, it has been non-stop action around the Bren/Giambrone household.

Vinny recovered nicely from his surgery and has a clean bill of health. Ivan is now at the happy home for retired orange kitties. He enjoys food and petting on demand and is free of stairs and wild children at Grandma and Grandpa's house. They report he is very happy there.

The new kitties, Sir Edward and Sir Emily, are either racing around the house like mad or sleeping. Despite being recently neutered, they too are healthy and happy. Since getting them (in October - I think) they have about doubled in size. I predict the teenage kitties will double once more and be quite big their growing is all said and done.

Speaking of growing...Tuck and Sawyer continue to amaze us with tremendous growth spurts every so often. Sawyer, now 21 months, is already fitting 3T clothing! and Tuck too is a size ahead of his times in 5T.

Tucks 4th birthday was a fun and intimate affair with small gathering of friends and family. Special thanks to the Grandma's and Grandpa's for helping to organize and entertain (since mom was swamped with school work at the time)! Thanks to all who came - it was wonderful seeing you again! And, thanks to all who gave Tuck gifts. He remains utterly and completely in love with Thomas and Friends. In fact, he picks a different engine every night to sleep with him.
I don't know about santa, but to Tuck, Thomas is the real deal. I tuck's appreciative words, "thank you Thomas, whereever you are."

As for Matt, climbing in ON in Canada! Ice is fat this year and he is looking forward to several trips. When not traveling, he has enjoyed friends coming to our house to climb in "Matt's Garage" - the one and only indoor ice gym! Not sure what the neighbores think of all the banging and grunting that can be heard from the sidewalk, but...no complaints yet!

As for me? Busy as always working and attending school. I am having a blast in my second year as New Heights middle school math teacher (really)! My students know me, respect me, are learning, and seem to genuinly like me. I could not ask for more - it's been great so far.

My own school work presented a true challenge with Real Analysis (rigourus calculus proofs involving the Real numbers as opposed to the imaginary ones). But I made it - what a relief! Now for a relative cake walk with linear algebra!

Enjoy the snowy weather and stay safe. Christa

Tuck's 4th Birthday (Photos by Aimee)

Hello Family and Friends,

I stole the fabulous pictures that Aimee took to show to you all. Thanks Aimee!

Tucks finally gets the whole present thing, except ...he thinks the presents are always his. When a few presents are sitting around for Dads birthday, he thinks he should open those too!

His birthday party was a small but fun affair. Thanks to the grandma's for helping with food, decorations, cleaning (everything really)! And thanks to those who came and shared some joy on the evening.

As you can see, as the night wore on, eventually a few stole out to "Matt's Garage" for a climbing session.

The return!?

Hello all,

Well, rumor is that Matt may be returning around the 19th. Keep your fingers crossed.

Also, Vinnie is doing great! No more lampshades taking us out on the stairs. Ivan is hanging in there. Apparently happy in his drug dream daze.

I my self bounce around between playing Thomas and Friends with Tuck, carrying Ivan up the stairs, writing math proofs (reminiscent of Good Will Hunting, weird stuff), keeping Sawyer out from under the sink, keeping Vinnie out of Ivan's food, doing laundry, doing dishes, studying calculus, shopping for diapers, and convincing students that it is important to learn how to subtract.

Only thing missing is sleep.

Christa