Posting On the Blog

Hi everyone. I've noticed that some of you have started to post comments which is great. I just wanted to let everyone know that in order to comment on a post you do have to create an account. It's free and easy to do, but you do have to do it to be able to comment. This is so that the site dosen't get spammed. The automated spam programs can't create accounts, and the ones that can, can't do the little word verification (you have to type in the letters from the squiggly picture) .

This will help keep the site clear of spam, advertisments, porn and all of the other little internet joys out there. Sorry for the extra hassle, but it's the only way to do it. If you ever have any questions about the site or how to do something, you can give me a call and I will help you the best I can.

Have a great holiday and Marisa will do the post from Christmas as soon as both boys stop screaming and crying, it's been a trying morning from what I've been able to gather. Sorry honey, hang in there! - Brian

What I am Thankful for this Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone! I have so much to be thankful for this year, wonderful home, good job, good health, but what I am most thankful for is in this picture. My family and my life bring me joy each and every day. I can only hope and wish that everyone is able to find the happiness that I have found in my life, at Christmas and everyday.

We had a great Christmas Eve today. Kim , Bill and Abby came over to our house. We played outside as it was a beautiful, clear day. We took our toys for tots gifts to the Pleasanton Fire House (the firemen were out helping people, so we didn't get to see them) and left the gifts at the door for the boys and girls who don't get presents this time of year. We had a nice lunch and introduced Kim & Bill to the fine dining of Nations Giant Burgers.

Everyone came back to our house for a nap (none succesful!) while Jake & I ran out and did some Christmas errands to give the house some quiet time. We visited with Shannon and stopped by Rich & Luree's house and did the grocery shopping (where we ran into Nikko) and had a very nice time singing Christmas Songs from the iPod. After we got back and everyone recovered from the no-nap fiasco, we walked downtown and had a very nice time at Peet's and the park where the City Christmas Tree is.

The lack of nap did finally catch up to all concerned as the little ones got a little frazzled and dinner plans were scrapped due to impending melt downs and bedtimes. We had some chips and dip, salad and pie for Christmas Eve dinner. We are really looking forward to Christmas breakfast at Auntie Sue's & Grandma Mary's tomorrow morning and dinner at Kim & Bill's tomorrow night.

In closing, I want to wish everyone a Merry Chistmas from our family to yours. I have to run as the elves and I have several things to assemble for Santa before bedtime. Love to all. - Brian

Merry Christmas Pete!!!

Sure to give Marisa's dad Pete acid indigestion for Christmas, I have gotten another tattoo. I added one for Tanner just after he was born at the Livermore Tattoo Parlor.

I am sure that this is ridiculed by most, but as I explained to Marisa, this is by me, for me, so they only person that needs to understand it (or like it) is me. In most cultures that have a history of tattooing, a tattoo is used to mark a transition or a special moment in a life journey. Well for me there have been no more special moments or transitions than when Marisa and I got married, or when the boys were born.

I can't say for sure that this will be the last tatoo that I get, but I am definitely beyond my rockstar "but they look so cool" frame of mind, and it is my understanding that we are not having another child, so this may be it. But of course there is still my mid-life crisis to look forward to. - Brian

Visits with Santa

Aren't we lucky? Santa lives right down the street from us!
Every year the couple on the corner decorates their house within an inch of its life, then Santa comes out to greet all the visitors with a candy cane.

We walked down last night for the annual tradition. Santa was walking around the corner as we arrived and Jake screamed, "Hi, Santa!". He went right to him and posed for this picture. No fear! (Of course, the candy cane may have helped!).

Despite Jake's attire, we are not a part of the local militia. I guess camo gear has been all the fashion for the under 3 set this year.

Jake is looking so forward to Christmas. He loves opening his advent calendar each day (more candy canes!) and playing with the toy train that runs around the base of our tree. He is a big fan of cookie baking and decorating- although not so into the eating part. He prefers to make the cookies into a long choo choo train instead. - Marisa

Tanner Jackson

For those of you who do not know yet, or have not seen the millions of photos (or annoying emails from Kodak) this is Tanner Jackson Alan. He joined the family on 11/21/05. He is a great baby so far, sleeping all day and awake sporadically at night. We tried to save time and headaches by combining the birth announcement with the Christmas cards (which you should all be getting very soon!). So the cards don't have just a picture of Tanner. Here he is in all his glory, asleep in the freezing cold stroller at the Livermore Christmas Parade.

We went to the parade while Cori was here staying with us. Jake has gone every year and just loves it, so it has become a family tradition. Nikko walked down with us and we met his wife Shannon down there as she was actually in the parade with the Livermore Wine Growers Association. We had a very good time. Marisa, Cori and Tanner headed home after the parade to get out of the cold, while Jake and I stayed for the tree lighting. He then wanted to be carried all the way home while yelling for his mother to, "bring back my stroller right now, okay?" cracking himself (and me) up. - Brian

Initial Post

I just wanted to see if this would be an easy way to update friends and family on the trials and tribulations on Tanner and Jake. If it works out, it will be a place for Marisa and I to update with photos and text and you all can come here and find out the latest when your curiosity strikes as opposed to us trying to keep you all updated. You can also comment back and let us know how you are doing as well.....more to come.