Hanging Out in Chilli

We are spending the weekend up with Grandma Dee, Papa Johnie, Aunt Natalie, Uncle Daniel, David, and all West's cousins celebrating Christmas.  Getting all 5 boys together is always so fun (and exhausting!).  Here are some pics from playing Friday night.  Their basement is set up with lots of different stations for the boys (and grown-ups!) to play - craft table, work bench, ping pong table, pop-a-shot, foosball, play kitchen area, music area with keyboard, microphone, and guitar, and lots of other little toys and blocks and such.  It's awesome to take the little ones down there and just let them get energy out!

Titus at the craft table

 Mace and West playing at keyboard

 Atticus as the lead singer while Mace and West play keyboard in the background

 People everywhere!

 Daniel, Dee, David, and Brad playing Dodge-Pong

 Aunt Natalie and West at the craft table with Titus

 Brad, David, Titus, and Mace hanging out upstairs - those boys are a hoot!

Birthday Lunch with Uncle Cody

We did a little Christmas shopping with Uncle Cody earlier this week and took him to lunch to celebrate his turning the big 3-0.  West loved hanging out with Cody on his side of the booth and showing him all his new tricks until the food came. :) 

Happy birthday, Uncle Cody!  We love you!

Snow Day

We were so glad Brad got to work from home today instead of having to get out on those treacherous roads.  He did get some work in, but there were breaks every so often to watch Elf (this is the second time West has seen and it he seriously loves watching it - his eyes will be glued to the TV, but only for a 15-20 mins and then he's off to play) and play.    

 After his nap we went outside for just a few minutes so he could play in the snow.  We had hoped the wind would be calmer but it was still terrible, so we didn't stay out long.  

Sand Table!!

Papa Johnie made West his very own sand table and Grandma Dee stocked it with lots of different toys for him to pour and bury and and drive in the sand.  He LOVES it!!  He'll grow into it perfectly but it's a bit big for him now so we set it up with a little platform on one side so he can stand and play and then a little bench on the other side where he can sit and play in it.  He did surprisingly well with keeping the sand in the table.  I imagine we'll spend many a winter day in there with the garage doors closed when we need a change of scenery!!

Yep, here's that funny face again.  Silly guy.

He's really into screaming lately.  Funny and cute when we're hanging out at home.  Not so funny or cute when we're, say, eating at a restaurant.  ;)

And yet again with that face.  

Thanks so much Papa Johnie and Grandma Dee!!!!!!!!

Baking Cookies

We baked some s'mores cookies (used this recipe here) on Sunday for a cookie exchange and West got to help us out.  :) 

I always give Brad a hard time for wearing a towel on his shoulder when he's working in the kitchen (only because when I go to dry my hands I can't find it hanging on the oven!) so he had to put a little one on West's shoulder while he was helping us out.  :)

He makes this face all the time lately - it cracks us up every time.

Something about his grin here just makes my heart smile!  I'm out of focus on these next couple but I don't even care because his face is just too cute.