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

The good, the bad, and the ugly.

Hello Friends and Family,

No cute photos today - just an update.

The good: More good news for Vinny. The mass cell tumor was nicely removed with a clean margin (for all you folk who know the meaning of that). And, it had a very low ???? grade. The one that references how quickly it spreads. Hey, give me a break, I am not a doctor.

The bad: Ivan has a torn ALC in his knee. As a result, he is having great difficulty walking. Surgery is the recommended repair option but...the combination of his age and other chronic health issues (including asthma, arthritis, and back issues), as well as, the extra scar tissue in his lungs are leaving us all with the feeling that he really would not handle another surgery very well. I don't think I need to spell out what this means for Ivan. He is on heavy pain meds for now.

The ugly: That darn lampshade on Vinnie's head is driving me crazy. Scratch, scratch, scratch, flap, flap, flap. Smash, crash, barge ahead. Wake up kids, wake up mom. Anyone on the stairs - LOOK OUT, cause I'm taking you out.

Stitches to come out next week. Looking forward to less oozing. Generally been nauseous for the last couple weeks. It would help if the pre-nurse was here to deal.

YUK!

I feel green even writing about it...Christa

Post - Operation

Hello Friends and Family,

Vince came out a little groggy but is now doing well. His incision is healing nicely. The needle biopsies from his lymph nodes were normal. Except for that darn lampshade on his head, and his activity confinement, he seems to be oblivious to his woes.

Thoughts for Vince

Hello Friends and Family,

This is a bad news delivery. Vince has a malignant tumor on his front leg. He is scheduled to have it surgically removed early next week. Results from the pathologist plus the extra blood work and x-rays should provide much more information than we have now. I will keep everyone posted as I learn more. Till then, send Vinnie some kind thoughts. I'll leave you tonight with a classic Vince moment.

http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=VcFe7JgaWFY

Grand Rapids Fair

Hello again friends and family,

We just returned from a fun weekend visiting Grandma Retto and Grandpa Jeff. Grandma Karen accompanied as well, making the road trip doable (but just barely)!

While in GR the boys and grandP's all went to the fair. Mom (me) stayed at the homestead and worked on her final paper. Due in just 2 days. Yiks! She'll have to celebrate when that one is done. (But not for long. The school season is about to get geared up once again.)

Also, while in GR, the boys spent hours playing with rocks - yes, rocks. Sawyer only dropped one on himself once. Tuck and Grandpa Jeff made numerous house rounds on the four-wheeler. Sawyer wasn't so sure of that thing. He stuck to the ground (and water) instead. Both got to stay up late at night and had loads of fun.

Bye-for-now,
Christa

Southern Comfort

Hello Friends and Family,

It's been southern comfort for my Florida kin. Our final days with Grandma Edie, Grandpa Bob, and aunt Kimmi have been wonderful. The days cooled off just a bit and a breeze came in.


Special thanks to Kimmi..apparently an old dog CAN learn a new trick.



Vince has made us proud. Check out his mad skills here or on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1uu0y6r0VU

(Vince fans, feel free to view his collection on You Tube).



Also, here are some final highlights of the last days with the Giambrone kin.

Kimmi rode with Tuck on the merry-go-round and amused Sawyer playing zoo keeper.



It was a fun day which wore us all out!











Finishing the day out, Kim and Sawyer push Tuck for a few rounds on the tricycle.










Matt, I know you miss him. Can you feel the love?

Bye for now. Love, C.

Southern Guests

Hello Friends and Family,

We've had a fun filled week with with Grandma Edie, Grandpa Bob and Aunt Kimmi.

So far we have shopped the farmers market. Observed wildlife, including turkeys and LOTS of frogs, on a hike at the Wildlife Refuge. Gotten separated in the Mall of America and spent a day sailing wild winds on Lake Pepin.

Sawyer has done his best to keep everyone on their toes.

And Tuck is not happy unless he has Kimmi's undivided attention at all times. We have all been informed that she is his "favorite".

Given that he even waits for Kim to wipe his bottom, were all OK with that.
Despite the sunny weather, the raspberries have been top notch this season. So good are the pickings that Vinnie has made himself an impressive bed in the berry patch. The hole (over 6 inches deep) is big enough to break an ankle in.

Not sure how this will affect the berries root system. However, they seem fine so far.

I'll add more pictures to this post when the Giambrone's return from up north (Kim always has great photos).

Till then...check out my the latest Sawyer video at You Tube or here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0ZxPFGqpZA



Bye for now :) Christa

Sawyer Pull-ups

Hello (again) Friends and Family,

What was originally an attempt to show-off Sawyer's new skill, simply turned into a kinda cute video. Be sure to make it to the end for Tuck's questions. Enjoy!



For those of you who can not view embeded video's, click on the following link to watch via You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6G7PgD3kfA

So what's the new skill?...Today Sawyer demonstrated his upper body strength with his first pull-up. However, as you saw in the video, he later discovered how to use is feet to step up on a ledge. In addition to the window sills, he also pulls-up on the kitchen counters. When in the kitchen his tip-toes use the micro ledge made by the cupboard trim. He is also experimenting with smearing and stemming.

Hmmm, do ya think he is is fathers son?

Bye-for-now, Love C.

PS - For the skype inclined...Both Matt and I have skype capabilities. Matt, just a mic. Me - a video feed - oooooooo! For those of you living in England (you know who you are)...hurry up and get on board!

PPS - Please comment on the postings. I love to hear your thoughts.

PPPS - Lastly, readers, let me know if you prefer video clips linked by YouTUBE or embedded. Any preferences?

Joys of July

Hello Friends and Family,

Bad news to report from Alaska. Matt and his crew spent 24 hours over the last 3 days repairing the net. Hang in there Matty!

Meanwhile...

Tuck, trains, and pure joy are the status quo back in Minnesota. Watch as Tuck guides his train ever so carefully under the bridge (Rody's tail).

Until...Sawyer appears, charging from across the room. Derailment is the only possible outcome. Followed, of course, by tears and wails all round.

But, there is nothing a little fresh air can't cure.

July has been a productive month for our garden this year. At least 3 pints of raspberries are being picked each day. And, We harvested the first eggplants and carrots out of what looks to be many more to come.

To enjoy that harvest...there is nothing that compares to a pile of grilled veg. Cooked with olive oil and garlic, the whole yard smelled deliciously edible. Yum!

Well...mom thought it was delicious.

Love, C.

PS - Favorite quote from Tuck after our trip to the zoo..."mom. Say, your neck is getting really long."

Where in the world is Matt?

It is a little outdated but...the photos from Matt's May trip to Denali represent the last images we have seen of him. You may think to yourself, "I don't see him". You're right. The images were not pretty. So I am posting a pretty picture of their tent instead. Sorry Matt.

:)



For those who don't know, Matt has been in Alaska since mid May. First couple weeks were spent goofing around on Denali. After leaving the mountain, Matt went straight to work running the Pamela Rae.

So far the fishermen have had quite the season. In addition to catching LOTS and LOTS of fish, Matt has replaced the skiff motor not once, but twice AND only ripped the net in half once.





But, lets give him some slack, its not bad for his first season as captain. There hasn't been a mutiny yet.



Keep up the good work. Love C.

Tuck and Sawyer go Hi-Tech

Hello Friends and Family,

It has become increasingly hard to stay in touch with everyone since life is so busy. To make certain all get a chance to see Tuck and Sawyer growing, we have started a blog for the boys. I'll update it as often as I can. Enjoy!

Love, Christa

So far the summer has been busy and fun! The boys take daily walks to explore the garden and go caterpillar hunting. We captured one to watch turn into a chrysalis and then a butterfly.

Tuck has been enjoying summer camp at Country Day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. They usually ride the horses once a week, but It was so hot last week that they decided to give them a break. Apparently, Ginger was "all sweaty".

Sawyer has been perfecting his use of the spoon and fork, as well as, adding many new words.

Check out his video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsFOWSSQnCk

He keeps us all running as he goes from one muddle to the next. Still always reaches for the Ban cock Peanut Sauce in the fridge. Now, he also goes for the fragrant sesame oil. As his reach continues to get longer, piles of off-limit stuff push up higher. I expect a catastrophic "stuff" failure at any moment.