Melmo, Relmo, and Elmo

Today our family went to see Sesame Street Live!!: Elmo Grows Up! We have had limited success with Casey, Gavin, and Liam watching Sesame Street on TV. They watch maybe five minutes and then decide they'd rather play with their toys. They love Elmo, however, because they each have their own Elmo chair. We arrived early for a photo op with Abby Cadabby and Cookie Monster.

Casey, Gavin, and Liam enjoyed meeting their new cuddly friends.



They also enjoyed climbing up the stairs during intermission.

Gavin needs a nap

When we were cleaning up our computer files, we stumbled upon this little clip of the boys during a walk this past summer. We happened to have our camera with us to capture Gavin's headbanging tendencies.

Foster's bitter

We also were able to visit our great friend Josh, his bride-to-be Lauren, and his family on our way home. We enjoyed delicious Indian takeout as well as some lush cupcakes baked by Josh's mom, Connie. Here Gavin, Liam, and Casey enjoy naan as they sit at a big table.
David and Connie, Josh's parents, had this special exersaucer that can be formed into an S shape as well as a circle. After playing a long time with it in the kitchen, the boys decided they wanted it in the family room.
Little by little, they pushed and pulled until...
...they moved it all the way inside. Great teamwork!
Time for a group pic. From left: Lauren, Josh, Connie with Liam, Brian with Gavin, Chrissy with Casey, David.

Winter visits

We also stayed with Brian's parents on our holiday trip. Here Grandpa David and Grandma Fran play with the boys.
Grandpa David plays with Liam and Gavin.
Grandpa David hands Casey his Bunny.Gavin and Grandpa David pause from play to smile for a picture.Liam is excited to join Grandpa David and Grandma Fran for a dinner out.
Clearly, Brian is very excited to go out to eat.
Up or down? Liam and Casey had a ball climbing up and down the stairs as Grandma Fran looked on.

We were home for Christmas

On Christmas, we visited Chrissy's sister Liz and husband Jamie and their children Meghan, Erin and Laura. Liam takes a break from opening/playing with presents.

Here Meghan opens an American girl doll accessory.
Erin, Laura, and Jamie figure out how to assemble a new toy.
Laura discovers Grover...
...yet she is way more excited about Ernie!
Here Gavin opens a present.
Casey tries his hand at unwrapping a gift.
Now it's Liam's turn to open a present.
Cousins at the breakfast table. Clockwise from left: Meghan, Erin, Laura, Liam, Gavin, Casey
Erin gave her cousins a special present. Here Casey plays with the tissue paper inside the bag.
We hoped Gavin would get past the tissue paper, but he just loved the bag.
Leave it to Liam to go Chippendale on us as he cuts to the chase. He reached in the bag and grabbed a really cool school bus. Thanks, Erin!One of the favorite parts of the day was pushing the kid sized grocery carriages. Here Liam takes Tiger for a ride.
Meanwhile Casey pushes Bunny in a stroller and Gavin does the same with Bear.
Family portrait! Clockwise from left: Grandma Marcia with Erin, Grandpa Terry, Chrissy with Liam, Brian with Casey and Gavin, Uncle Mike, Meghan, Liz with Laura, Jamie

The three stooges

Okay, say what you will, but our sons have captured the look of the three stooges. Gavin stars as Moe, while Liam plays Larry, and Casey of course embodies Curly.

Little Boy Boogie

Bedtime is a fun time in our house. Everyone has to run and giggle off their extra energy. This is how we roll.