12.29.2009

In the Lane, Snow is Glistening

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

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Sam eats snow.

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Cousin Aidan takes a run.

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Caleb with a snowball.

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Caleb. Ignore the runny nose.

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

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Brothers.

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Sam at the bottom of the hill.

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

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Sam got a drum machine.

12.28.2009

From a Temple to a Robber's Den

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

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Caleb wanders through the winter wonderland.

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Caleb in Cathedral Square Park.

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Sam on the go.

Cathedral Square Park, as photographed by Granny.

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Sam makes a snow angel.

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

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Sam won't let Granny play any reindeer games.

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Aidan and Sam flash gang signs...?

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Caleb opens a present...

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Poppa investigates it for crossword possiblities.

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Uncle Eric and Sam.

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Caleb and his Mommy.

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

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...obscene gestures...

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...and gratuitous product endorsements.

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

Xmas 2009
Hallelujah, everybody say "cheese!"
Merry Christmas from the family.

12.27.2009

The Light of the Stable

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Caleb and Amelia, at her birthday party.

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Caleb, Amelia, and Sam, enjoying cupcakes.

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Mixing up some ginger cookies.

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

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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.

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

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Caleb and Uncle Eric take dinner very seriously.

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Sam and Poppa don't.

12.06.2009

'Tis The Season

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

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Olin offers you a bite.

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Sam helps to decorate a gingerbread house...

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...and makes a decoration for the tree.

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

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

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Aidan and Poppa.

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

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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.

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Kirsten and Aidan.

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Caleb colors.

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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.

12.05.2009

Thanks Given For Every Wrong Move

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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