In the Lane, Snow is Glistening

Auntie Kim with Cousin Aidan and Caleb, sledding Snake Hill on Christmas Eve.


Sam eats snow.


Cousin Aidan takes a run.


Caleb with a snowball.


Caleb. Ignore the runny nose.


Again with the snowball. Sil, of Sil's Doughnuts, prepares for calamity.


Brothers.


Sam at the bottom of the hill.


Caleb opens a gift from Santa. James the shiny red engine!


Sam got a drum machine.

From a Temple to a Robber's Den

Sam greets the lion at M&I Bank's holiday display.


Caleb wanders through the winter wonderland.


Caleb in Cathedral Square Park.


Sam on the go.

Cathedral Square Park, as photographed by Granny.


Sam makes a snow angel.


Inspecting the table-top Christmas Village at Granny and Poppa's 26th Floor Cottage.


Sam won't let Granny play any reindeer games.


Aidan and Sam flash gang signs...?


Caleb opens a present...


Poppa investigates it for crossword possiblities.


Uncle Eric and Sam.


Caleb and his Mommy.


Christmas at the Hinshaws always seems to include acts of carnality...


...obscene gestures...


...and gratuitous product endorsements.


Granny reads "The Night Before Christmas" to Sam, Auntie Kim, and Aidan.


Hallelujah, everybody say "cheese!"
Merry Christmas from the family.

The Light of the Stable

Caleb and Amelia, at her birthday party.

Caleb, Amelia, and Sam, enjoying cupcakes.

Mixing up some ginger cookies.

At the model train show at Discovery World, while Grandma Cathy holds all the coats.

Thankfully, the fire broke out just two doors down from the Plasticville Fire Station. Why Spider-Man (extreme left) isn't helping is a matter best taken up with J. Jonah Jameson.

Running a train of his own, at Granny & Poppa's 26th Floor Cottage.

Caleb and Uncle Eric take dinner very seriously.

Sam and Poppa don't.

'Tis The Season

Sam, Caleb, and Aidan at the UW-Milwaukee Multicultural Holiday Festival.

Olin offers you a bite.

Sam helps to decorate a gingerbread house...

...and makes a decoration for the tree.

Meanwhile, Caleb is beside himself in a sea of balloons.

Luckily, the ceiling was low enough that we were able to catch Caleb as he started to float away.

Aidan and Poppa.

Poppa and Sam wait in line to speak to S. Claus.

Sam was willing to sit on Santa's knee, but wouldn't look directly at him. He asked for a T-Rex. Caleb wasn't quite ready to enter into negotiations.

Kirsten and Aidan.

Caleb colors.

A toddler dance party breaks out after the official acts finish. Caleb is doing that tippy-toed Michael Jackson move from "Bad," while Sam is preparing to do a "Breakin'"-style headspin.

Thanks Given For Every Wrong Move

Enjoying frozen custard at Kopp's. Somehow, it's a November tradition.

Sam with Uncle Tony between the cow statues at Kopp's. Uncle Tony's visits always mean lots of cheeseburgers and custard.

Sam with Uncle Tim and Aunt Kathleen, leaving on a trek to the store for tortilla chips and whiskey.

Sam and Grampa Jim at the second of our three Thanksgivings.

On Letterman, they used to call these "Stupid Human Tricks."

Sam and Olin prepare to see Thomas the Tank Engine in the movie "Splish Splash Splosh." I gave it 2 1/2 stars. The performances were two-dimensional, although the plot chugged along.

Caleb enjoying some root beer. "Yum," he said, "delicious beer!"