Family!

In January, Tori brought her boyfriend home to see the farm. We had all met him before, since he was at Cody and Amanda's wedding, but he had never been back east. So back they came. 

Clover and Evan brought them up and Cody and Amanda came too, so it was a lovely family weekend. Unfortunately, the weather was rather terrible, so meeting was just our family, since the roads were much too awful to get together with the others. 

(Interestingly, the weather was also terrible on Wednesday night. But we forged ahead and drove to meeting on the WORST roads I have ever seen. It was scary. But we survived.)

Tori showing Craigen pictures of something or other.

Tori and Craigen lost their luggage. Tori had spare clothes in her closet, and Craigen got to borrow Owen's clothes while his were in the laundry. 

Lincoln and Clover

Cody probably riling the kids up while talking to Mom

Lily and Rilla--twinsie friends.

Cody has a large list of books that Amanda must read. So she is making her way through them.

After some cold, blowy, snowy outside time, hot chocolate was doled out and Archie comics were read.

Homework kids. 

Dad has a pair of noise cancelling headphones and they always make their way out when we all get together. Cheyenne was focusing on her homework. 

Craigen and Elliot playing avalam

Blue shirt boys watching some football highlights.

Mancala

Goofy boy-o

And another one!

A wee cow with a large tulip

Orianna learned chess.

Mexican Train dominos

Things get a little crowded at Mom and Dad's when there is a big crowd. I always think of that book When the Relatives Come and the line "You'd have to go through at least four different hugs to get from the kitchen to the front room." 

True story.

Lincoln's water bottle car

Rilla reading to her littler cousins

It is so amazing to see these kids growing up.

The kids have been getting interested in games for awhile now, but this weekend, it really took off! We had three games going on the kitchen table here (chess, Progressive Rummy, and Dummy) while Mexican train dominos was happening in the living room. And there was always a kid asking if you wanted to play checkers/mancala/avalam/Uno with them. 

Orianna and Rilla playing chess while Abilene learns

Checkers game overseen by Uncle Cody

Chess was a surprising favorite with the kids and Orianna in particular.

Mancala

These two are big fans of each other

As are these two. 

Did you hear they are getting married? They are. In May. 

I love this colorful Abilene-y girl!

Afternoon sunlight and mint cookie crumble from Stewarts

And here is a random picture of Elsie in Gilbert's coonskin cap. No idea why. But there she is. And it made me laugh so I left it!