Thanksgiving

We had a great time at Lake Erie for Thanksgiving. The weather was
great through Thursday but very cold for golf on Friday, the boys came
back after 9 holes! Got in a nice walk at Old Women's Creek but not
too many birds. Could be the crazy laughter from a little person who
loves to run:) Meanwhile, the oldest looks all grown-up with John.

Christmas and more

Happy New Year and all that! Christmas was a little different this
year as we went to grandma's and celebrated a little early. It was a
nice change and spread the festivities out over a week or so. Lillian
turned 8 in November and Margaret 4 in January. Grandma is coming up
on her 85th in March so I think we will have something to plan for
that big one! The girls are doing great in school, this being
Margaret's first year of preschool. Lillian continues to do well and
seems to like it for the most part. They both are very tired by Fridays!

Our big news, other than Liz's job and we really don't want to talk
about that, is our new little house at Lake Erie. It really has given
us something fun to do and dream about. We have managed two weekends
up there since we closed on it in December. One, Joe was by himself
and the other just this past weekend. We really have gotten alot done.
Joe has had the fun job of tearing out all the termite eaten wood(big
job, LOTS of damage) and the old insulation. YUCK! We aren't sure how
much damage the termites have done on the second floor, we haven't
gotten that far yet. The first floor is all concrete walls, very
interesting! Our plans to knock out the kitchen wall and widen the
kitchen are now on hold until we see which of the walls are supporting
ones. I tackled the ivy, poison and English, on the fireplace. I
managed to come away without too much damage. Hopefully, that
nasty creature will be dead by the time we are back up there in March!
The trunk was a good 2.5 to 3.0 inches thick at the main root, with 3
or 4, 1.0 inches of smaller roots lining the fireplace. The weather
was amazingly warm for Feb so it was a treat to be outside and air the
house out as well. We're hoping to have the house redone in three
years but anyone who has ever gutted a house knows, it will probably
take longer because of unforeseen issues. Or kids, they do take-up
some of any free time you might have...LOL! Here are some pics.

School days

Forgot to add the school pics to the last blog so here they are, my
girls:)

Summer

Well, it's been a long time since I updated the blog! Both girls went
to school, Lillian yesterday, and Margaret for the first time today.
These first days of school hit me pretty hard, I just don't want them
to ever be scared. Alot has happened since the last post, too much to
talk about, so I'll just post pictures and you'll get a good idea of
what we have been doing the last several months.

Christmas

Yes, I know I'm way behind but that's the holidays and the weather for
you. We had a wonderful Christmas this year! Both girls were very
excited, Margaret mostly because Lillian was so excited. They really
both enjoyed the tree trimming, pulling out all of those old ornaments
and listening to the stories that went along with them. My family came
down and spent Christmas Eve and Day with us and we went to the big
Brennan party later Christmas Day. Very busy couple of days! Lillian
went ice skating with her aunts and cousins(thanks Rosemarie), Joe and
I both don't ice skate for different reasons. Me, because being cold
and wet isn't my idea of fun (I'm not very athletic) and Joe, because
we don't need to fix that hip replacement this soon. Getting older,
isn't it just great:( But Joe will take them skiing when they get old
enough so they will have plenty of opportunity to be cold and wet!

Lillian is doing very well in first grade according to her grades. You
wouldn't know it to ask her though, she says they don't do anything
all day, when asked:) Margaret is ready to go except for that tiny
thing called potty training. She doesn't seem interested in separating
from her diaper, even when going to school with Illy is part of the
deal! Well, we have all summer to get her into big girl panties before
school starts in the Fall. I think we're going to need it!!

We are in the research stage of raising chickens for eggs, I'll get
back to you on what we decide. We heard about it on NPR, it looks like
there's alot of suburban people having fun with it.

Let's hope for an early and long Spring, I'm ready for some nice 60F
weather!

Halloween

We had a great time trick or treating last night. Lillian had a bit of
a hard time, her sister kept getting all of the attention! It was a
little hard on the oldest that she wasn't 'the cutest' anymore:) I had
to reassure her that she was past cute and into beautiful! Wow, this
stuff starts earlier and earlier.

School

The new school year has gotten off to a good start. Lillian has
homework for the first time and mom for the first time, in a long
time! They give her assignments a month in advance and that works well
with our work schedules, soccer, and the other after school
activities. Lillian had her first 'camping' experience with Brownies
last weekend. Dad was out of town, golfing with friends and Lillian
was suppose to spend Fri and Sat nights at a camp without plumbing,
bathrooms and on wood beds. Well, Joe and I thought that was a little
to early for that experience so I drove there early Sat morning and
picked her up Sat night. Margaret and I were invited to stay as well
any other families but we declined. Spending the weekend in those
conditions with a 21/2yr old who has night terrors wasn't my idea of a
good time! Besides, how old were you when you stayed away at camp? I
think I was at least in third grade and it had plumbing and bathrooms!
She had a great time and sang all the way home with another little
girl whose mom wasn't letting her stay, either.

Margaret is doing very well, talking more and more everyday. We can
understand more and more everyday, I should say. She's been talking
since we got her, just not always sure which language:) We had our one
year visit that China requires from our social worker. She noticed a
definite difference in all of us, we are much more relaxed. I think
our little family has settled down really well, it feels great! Can
you believe it's been almost a year since we came home with her?!
Margaret is really a hoot and cracks us up with her acrobatic antics.
You'll never know where she is climbing, hanging, opening doors,
undoing buckles, or standing(she creeps up on us all the time). Then
just laughs when you see her, it's a big game to her. Yes, I've aged
alot!

Work is work, not too much change. Joe will be working from home some
of the time, they are still working that out. The next four months
will be really busy with all the holidays and three of four birthdays.
It should be fun but crazy!

Vacation

Well, summer vacation is here and we've been pretty busy. Lillian's
last day of school was May 26 and we were off to the Lake for Memorial
Weekend. The water was surprising warm and everyone was in for
swimming. Margaret was right there with the rest of us which was fun.
The only problem is she gets cold pretty quickly because she doesn't
have any meat on her bones to keep her warm! Margaret has a new
nickname, goggle girl. She has had a pair of goggles on her head,
morning, noon, and night, since we were there. The first week of June
had us at Lillian's first piano recital. It didn't seem to phase her a
bit, she even sang her second song while she played, which was a
surprise to us! Lillian had a week of camp at the zoo, first time and
she really liked it. We were back at the Lake the second week of June. Mom came for a few days then friends at the end of our week. The weather was great and we even got the boat out with the help of Jerry. Joe is still practicing a bit before he takes any passengers. Have a great summer!

Spring

Well Spring finally made it and the winter is just a bad dream. We've
been up to the Lake for the first time since Labor Day. Lillian wanted
to swim but we told her maybe in May when it gets warmer. Margaret
liked the sand sifting between her fingers. We think she will like the
water as well, she wants to join her sister in the pool for Lillian's
swim lessons. The house looks beautiful with new siding and all of the
decorating that Joe's sisters have done in the last six months. We
can't wait for that first week up in June to enjoy the lake again.

Lillian has started her swim lesson again for the Spring. They are
once a week for six weeks and then once a day for two weeks in the
summer. We can't sign Margaret up until she's four but she'll get some
practice at the pool and lake this summer. Lillian will be performing
in a recital that her piano teacher has in June, a little nervous
about it, I think. Is she too young or is this a good way to build
confidence? We are having Margaret evaluated for her speech, not sure
if there is a problem or just an adjustment from Chinese to English.
The county offers free therapy up to 3yrs old if she needs it. It will
be nice to know one way or the other instead of worrying about it.
Margaret has just starting climbing out of her crib after she been put
down for a nap or nighttime.

We lost our cat, Amber, last month. Lillian took it pretty hard and Margaret keeps pointing to the grave and saying 'kitty cat'.

Work's crazy for Joe with the new procedures coming with the new bank. We find out later this month whether the flight attendants have voted for a strike at American. At least the weather has turned nice and we can get out and play:)

Spring anyone?!

I think we've finally climbed out of a deep, dark pit. I don't think
I've ever hated winter so much as this year. I actually started to
check out schools and housing in Tucson, AZ. Joe thought I was kidding
but I wasn't! It's better now but the idea is still there:)

We've turned the corner on our little family. Lillian has calmed down
regarding whether Margaret is going back or not. For a while, she was
ready to drive her to the airport and put her on a plane. We explained
that we are a family and no one 'goes back'. Pretty important I think,
for adopted kids to hear that and believe it. Now, it's just the
regular sibling rivalry, something less dramatic, mostly:) I've turned
the corner as far as having two kids instead of one. Starting to
realize the noise is just part of the deal. Joe seems to like the
chaos but he would, 10 sisters and all. Margaret is really starting to
bloom, becoming very silly and also singing all the time. She has the
cutest little voice, at least when she sings not screams. We had
Margaret's birthday and baptism all the same weekend. It was a fun
party.

Virginia A. Brennan

We lost Joe's mom on Thursday January 21 and we greatly miss her.

Visitation Sunday 3-7pm at Neidhard-Minges Funeral Home 3155 Harrison Ave., Westwood. Mass of Christian Burial 11am Monday at St. Martin of Tours Church, Cheviot. Burial St. Joseph Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Catholic Relief Services 228 W. Lexington St., Baltimore, MD 21201 or to Carmel Manor Nursing Home 100 Carmel Manor Rd., Ft. Thomas, KY 41075

Christmas

We had a great Christmas! Grandma Scott, Aunt Patty, John and us,
celebrated on Christmas Eve with church and dinner. We started the
night with a service in which Lillian played 'Away in a Manger' and
'Jingle Bells' on the piano for the children's service. She did a
great job in front of all of those people. Then we came home to a
lovely steak dinner that Joe and John prepared. Off to bed so that
Santa would come:) The next morning wasn't too early, 7ish, and
Lillian was up to check if Santa ate his cookies. Yeah, Santa did come
even though Joe had been giving out warnings of coal in a stocking:)
Margaret was along for the ride when it came to opening presents but
still seemed to have fun. She won't smile for that camera even though
Patty tries her hardest. The rest of Christmas day was quiet with
people playing with their new toys. On the 26th we had the big Brennan
get together. That is always a good time with lots of commotion and
excitement. Here are some pictures from the events.

Yard

Wow! Does this look good or what? Joe worked his hiney off before
Thanksgiving and T-day as well, laying all of the sod. I keep looking
out the back windows and wondering whose yard it is:) Back to work
today, the girls didn't see me cry but Lillian's teacher did:( It's so
hard to leave them especially when Margaret doesn't understand what is
happening and Lillian does! I still enjoy the job even though 911 and
the company do their best to ruin it. And in this economy, who can
complain about going to work. Think about Joe, he's going to need all
the good thoughts his way!

Thanksgiving

We had a big holiday and weekend. It was Margaret's first Thanksgiving
and she jumped right in there with her big Irish/German/English/Native
American and Chinese family! Had no problem running around with
cousins she's never met, eating all the goodies and shutting the doors
in Aunt Bernadette's house. All of the little ones at some point love
to play with the French doors:) We had a nice little party that Aunt
Patty put on in Columbus, thanks to all that made it. We did nicely on
the drive up and the drive home(same day), so we hope that's a good
indicator of the drive to the Lake. Here are some pics of both
parties. Some cousins, sisters, new additions and Grandma Brennan!