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We're a day away from Thanksgiving. Joe is in Maui, Ma is here taking care of the kids so I can focus on my transition back to work. This weekend the Chicago Matvias clan, the Cinci Furst family and cousin Emer from Ireland will all be here. Should be fun.

Caroline continues to be an amazing baby. She's smiley and happy and perhaps the most even tempered person I have ever met. I pray she continues with this -- for her own sake.

Brennan had his first parent-teacher conferences and it comes to no surprise that his teacher thinks "he's the funniest kid she's ever met." Because, well, he is hilarious. He's also friends with everyone and not afraid to play on his own.

Jack is suddenly 12 years old. We recently got Christmas card pictures taken and I did a double-take when I saw him in the shots.

...

We drove by Sparrow the other night after participating in the city parade. Brennan called out when he recognized the building. And then he asked ... "When are we going to pick up Lauren and Dylan?"

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Ever since Brennan has eaten real food, Jack has been more inclined to even try. We told Jack when he was four that at age five we would no longer make a special dinner for him. He had about six months to gear up for "adult food" ... and for the most part, he's been really good about it. The rule is you have to try it. You can hate it but not until you taste it. Sometimes it takes him an hour to try something and then usually the item is disgusting.

Brennan on the other hand is our little vulture. It's not that he's piggish, he just wants to eat/try whatever is on anyone else's plate. He's been known to eat an entire meal that belonged to someone else! It's gotten so that we've ordered food, pretended it was someone else's just so he'd be more interested in eating it.

And like with most kids, B-Boy has his favorite foods. But unlike most kids his are olives, pickles and cottage cheese. Today at the grocery store I enticed him to get in the cart with the promise of buying cottage cheese. Swear.

Joe and I took B and Little C to lunch today to meet our friend Ang who was in town from LA. We went to Bravo. And while it's not really a fancy place, it's not particularly kid-friendly either. But when we saw they had a kids pizza and olives were an option we knew we were golden. And that kid gobbled down half of that 10 inch pie. And made us promise he could have the other half for dinner.

Tonight Joe made grilled cheese. His beloved sandwiches are favorites of the boys so I wasn't sure if B would still want pizza. But one glance at the healthy portion of black olives and he was sold. The boys sat at the table each munching on favorites when I heard Brennan say ...

"Jack, you should try an olive."
"I don't like olives,'' he said, scrunching up his face.
"But you don't even know! Just try it. They are delicious. Just try one." As he was talking to his older brother he was holding a tiny black olive in the air. I could see Jack considering. But I kept quiet to see if his brother was able to convince him.
"Olives are the best! Daddy and I love olives -- and pickles. You should try it."
After a short time, Jack agreed. And with a crunched up face he timidly dropped it on his tongue.
"See Jackie! See! Olives are delicious! Do you like it?" he asked excitedly.
"Actually,'' Mr. Serious replied, "They are kind of good. I do like olives!"
We all cheered with delight at Jack for trying something new.
"Do you want another?'' B asked as he ripped an olive off his pizza.
"Nope, one was enough. Thanks.''