Christmas with Massachusetts folks

Gram, Papa and Uncle Dan visited us after Christmas, and we had fun with them as usual with a trek to the Art Institute, lots of building, and Dad (with sous chef Dan) cooking fancy schmancy lunches. Unfortunately, Mom was working each day and couldn't join us in most of the merriment.

At the art museum, we paired up to make animals out of paper, tape and pipe cleaners. Gram and Lincoln made an elephant. Dad and Levynn made a horse.

And Papa and Dan worked for a long time on the piece de resistance, a blue whale.

After they finally emerged from that project, Dan built with Lincoln in the family play area.

Back at home, those two also built a Lego tower, stacking brick upon brick until it was ready to topple.

And the boys built a wacky railroad with some of the cool new pieces Lincoln received to add to his collection.

Speaking of gifts, we just have to show you what we got for Dan, who is a wannabe chef like Dad.

In case you can't see it clearly, it has a photo of our kids and cousin Chloe, huddled together in excitement, and reads, "Uncle Dan is cooking!" Is that cute or what?

And Dan proudly donned the apron as he assisted in making Dad's signature dish, Salmon Mole, which we (the adults, at least) are eating here.

Oh, speaking of cute...


Thanks for coming!

But their visit was all too brief, for we had to pay some folks a visit of our own.