Christmas in Naperville

Johns family Christmas this year, so we flew to Chicago and spent over a week at Tim's house. 

And we're off on our Christmas day flight to Chicago!!

We managed a really great house exchange. Tim's next door neighbors had moved from San Diego and were going back for Christmas. So we agreed to let them use our condo in exchange for their nice large house. Deirdre's family and our family stayed over there for a full week. I think his neighbors ended up spending just 1 night at our small condo. We definitely got the better end of the deal. 

Picture of the toy room with tons of new stuff to play with! And took a picture in an attempt to get things back the way they were...I'm sure we didn't succeed in that. 

Snuggling with Uncle Tim, Aunt Monica, and Megan. Ada immediately warmed up to everyone. She's old enough that when we talk about everyone she gets excited and then recognizes people. 

Everyone loves the dancing and singing snowmen!

Seth trying to get the snowman to sing for Claire. I think Claire figured out how to push the button, but Seth didn't yet.

Seth actually was a great baby on this trip (other than his usual not sleeping) and wasn't really scared of strangers yet. He still prefers Mama but was great with others. Here Seth is wearing a sweater that a friend of Mormor's knitted for Tim when he was a baby. Great that it fit Seth this Christmas with Uncle Tim!

Bundled up to go outside.

Posing again with the fuzzy train sweater

Thanks Mormor and Morfar for the Christmas outfit, I look pretty handsome

Pretty girls in Christmas dresses

Opening presents. As usual, the boxes were the best parts of the gifts.

Thank you Amazon for the Christmas gifts.

Seth almost escaped but we got all the cousins together!

Babies in pajamas trying to hide from bedtime.

Claire's pillow diving shenanigans. Both babies were almost but not quite walking.

White Christmas! Or day after maybe, but we did get snow and managed to make a snowman. 

Post-snow hot chocolate was pretty tasty and cozy

Ada's first taste of Star Wars (episode IV) was pretty enjoyable and snuggly

Trying to get a picture with GG Norma Mae and Ada Mae but Ada was definitely not cooperative. 

Baking a very blue Claire's first birthday cake!

Seth reading with GG.

Rockin' around the Christmas Tree

Awww, reading to the babies. 

It stayed cute for about 20 seconds. 

We started Seth on forehead bonks as a sign of affection. 

He likes Morfar a lot. 

We met Iwona, one of my friends from Marina, for lunch. We got sushi and then went to her beautiful apartment for dessert and coffee. 

We didn't totally succeed but this one of Seth giving Iwona a smooch was super cute. 

We tried to get a nice picture before leaving. 

This morning, Seth and I came over to Tim's and Morfar was starting the coffee. Seth wanted to be held, and wouldn't be put down or handed off to Mama. Morfar did a great job making coffee one handed. 

Post-bath snuggles

Chutes and ladders and blankets! Fun that the older girls can play some board games now.

(Cheesy) cookie decorating! And another gingerbread house. Megan, Kira, and Ada are fans of the sprinkles.

Cookie decorating (frosting licking)

Big kids' table at Christmas dinner

Bigger kids and babies table

More visitors. We got to see Great Grandma and a lot of the Beavers, plus here we have Aunt Mary and cousin Grace. 

Brownies! one of the many treats this holiday for the girls. 

Seth says Happy First Birthday Claire! She did very well with her first piece of cake. 

Seth was starting to eat some solids by Christmas. Of course I wouldn't feed him yummy yummy cinnamon rolls...

Bundled up to go out in the snow or look at the Christmas lights. The girls liked making snowmen, snow angels, and looking at the candy cane lane lights.