Christmas in Kansas City and Chicago

We were excited to be able to travel again for Christmas--and since my brother and his wife JUST had their 4th baby, we got to go up to Chicago for my family's Christmas.  

We started by staying with my sister in Kansas City.  The kids loved camping out with her on the floor and watching movies, we visited Union Station (VERY cool trains!) and Legoland.  The kids LOVED it!!! 

 Joel and I even snuck in a date to Denny's! (We were hoping some really cool coffee shop would be open, but just couldn't find one!)

Then we left for Chicago to stay with my brother.  Actually, the awesome thing is, since my brother and his wife are in seminary housing (an apartment with 2 bedrooms and 4 kids) it worked out that we got our own apartment to borrow for two nights--which worked out really well!

We ventured out downtown on the El for some family pictures and fun.  

 Oliver and Addilyn loved the train!  

Lily and Grandpa J. bonded.  They're tight, yo.

And thankfully Brahm slept on the way home.  After screaming for the first 20 minutes of the adventure, we were glad to have him resting.

 Then, we had our party that night--Erin made a delicious meal, and then we opened gifts.  It was a wonderful time!!!!
 

 (My new nephew, Albert.  He was a week old and was eleven pounds at birth!  And such a cutie!!!)

 Aunt Courtney is one person that Brahm will tolerate--he even LIKES her!  :-)

 

 The pajama picture!!  All 7 of them now:  2 girls, 5 boys.  Wow.

Oh, and the highlight was quite possibly these funny blow-up alien heads that my Canadian cousin sent the kids!  They were HILARIOUS!!!