We.Are.Family

My sister and her 2 boys, Chase and Brady, were in town last weekend to visit and be here for Ben's 2nd birthday party. What a treat to have them here (and how brave of Lori to travel with 2 by herself!). Ben and Chase have so much fun together these days - of course they have their fights and don't quite love to share yet, but for the most part they play together, make each other laugh and even take turns on Grandma and Papa's swing outside. And when they are both in crazy moods, look out - they feed off of each other and just get wild! It was also so good to see baby Brady again - he has grown so much in 4 short weeks since we saw him in Colorado. He is such a mellow baby - hardly ever crying and just wanting to be held most of the time. Such a cutie.

I took a 1/2 day on Thursday and had Friday off, so Ben and I headed up to OC to spend time with Lori, Chase, Brady and of course Grandma and Papa. Then they all came down to San Diego on Saturday for Ben's big party (post to follow!) and Jim, Ben and I headed up there one more time on Sunday to get in as much time with family as we could. It was a great weekend (though Craig was definitely missed).

Ben and Chase laying under the ocean mat

Hey guys - that's for Brady!
Riding the "horsey" with Aunt Lori

Grandma with Brady

We brought the picnic table inside for dinner

Enjoying some hot dog and mac n cheese

Lori with the 2 boys the next morning

Aren't they adorable together?

Make that trouble makers!

Love this picture of Chase, wish Ben was looking at me

Again, that is for Brady!

Being silly - pretending to go "night night"

On Friday we took the boys to Pretend City Childen's Museum. What a wonderful "pretend city" for kids - there is a grocery store, a garden, a gas station, a miniature house, a construction site, the beach, a pizza place, an art studio and a big stage with lights and music for the kids to explore. Ben definitely liked the gas station, the ATM machine, and the garden the most. Both boys were running around, taking it all in. Brady slept most of the time! :)

Ben riding one of the tractors

Lori and Chase washing dishes in the kid-size house

Ben found the vacuum!

Doing some construction work

Ben checking out the electrical

Grandma and Ben at the cash register

Chase filling up the gas tank

The 2 boys taking a snack break

Ben showing off his boo-boo (fell at the gas station)

Chase using the crosswalk - OK, GO!

Lori and Ben having a little conversation

Ben LOVED the ATM machine - it really spit out money!

Grandma helping the boys in the gardenWe would hide vegetables in the dirt for them to find

Back home- making cupcakes for Ben's party

Ben took out all of the plastic bags and we decided to let them go crazy

They had a blast running through them and falling all over the place

Papa with Brady (and Chase!)

Sunday the boys were back it

Rough-housing with Papa - look at those smiles about to attack him!

Here comes Ben

Most of Sunday looked just like this. :)

Grandma and Brady - he loves being on his stomach

Little angel passed out

Jim getting some Brady-time

Grandma and Papa with their 3 grandsons

So blessed