Andes Christmas

Sunday was Christmas with all the Andes. First order of business: get a cousin picture.

Then began the great opening of presents. Once all presents were unwrapped, the kids starting opening some. Here are the main Lego builders in the family.

Bill bought a few cans of Make Your Own Snow. The kids (minus Max who was asleep) enjoyed playing with it.

Paige decided her dolls would enjoy playing in the snow.

And then came the karaoke. Chris and Patti brought their new karaoke machine. Lucy and Paige definitely enjoyed it the most. Some members only watched or sang along in the background. (Lucy knows and sang most of the Taylor Swift album).

Bill chose Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.

The kids were happy to sing along even if they'd never heard the song before.

The adults put their names in a bowl and Bill and Patti were chosen to sing I Got You Babe (but not the Cher version :) )

Once we'd had enough karaoke, the kids used the microphones to tell jokes. (I think I got each of them on video telling one below. Some jokes were funny. Some made no sense.)

The girls

Me, Dad, and the boys

If these uploaded correctly, they are proof of some of the craziness that went on during karaoke and joke time!

Father's Day Weekend

Saturday night Rudy and I met Bill, Renee and Paige and our friends Jim, Marni, Matthew, Zachary, and Daniel at the Ocean City Boardwalk.

As we waited for Jim's family, we went on a few rides at the pier first, Paige picked the log flume for her first ride so Bill and I went with her.

Rudy chose the swings for his first,.

Then Bill took Paige and Rudy on the tilt-a-whirl.

We met up with everyone else and had dinner then the kids played min golf. I got some baby time with Daniel.

And some friend time with Jim.

After minigolf was more rides then treats. Once the ice cream and funnel cake were eaten, the kids had a lot of energy to run off, so they played red light green light, around Bill.

On Father's Day the whole family got together (plus Jim and his family). We tried to take a picture of Grandpa and the grandkids. These two girls were the easiest.

This was the best that included the boys.

And then with two extra boys...

Then we took a picture of the dads and kids...I'm not sure who made it harder the big or little kids! (Note: The big kids who caused the most trouble were the ones on the floor.)

Then we thought we'd take a nice Andes family picture- dad and his kids. Charlie photo bombed us.

Then if you look carefully his fingers made it in.
(Note to family, I thought I lightened these, but I have better versions of them all. Maybe I'll try to print some out but if your turned out better, let me know.)

Then since we had people to take our whole group picture, instead of relying on timers, we tried a few family pictures.

Archery and Legos and Cousins, Oh My!

I have been trying for a year or so to sign Rudy up for an archery class at the wildlife refuge but it always fills up quickly. This year we finally made the cut. Then we found out that parents could participate. Here are Rudy and Paul doing there thing. I missed the first class and assumed I wouldn't be participating, but shortly after taking these pictures was asked by one of the volunteers if I wanted to do it, too. So while there is currently no photographic evidence, I do know how to shoot a bow now.

Last weekend we went to the Lego Fest (again!). We had planned not to go this year but  a few months ago, Rudy started asking when it was and talking about how much he wanted to go. This year we dragged Charlie along with us.

Charlie loved the Lego trains. He spent several minutes watching them and then went back again several times.

Rudy being a patient big cousin as they watched the train again.

There were Star Wars characters walking around. Rudy immediately wanted his picture taken (and Charlie immediately said no way!)

Then Charlie saw this guy and wanted Rudy to take a picture with him. He still kind of looks terrified!

Taking Charlie was quite a different experience. He wanted to stand in line to build and race a car. (Rudy kept checking in with us and verifying that Charlie REALLY wanted to stand in such a long line- he did.)

The finished product.

Handing it over to be placed on the race track.

Charlie's vehicle was in the middle.

I think it ended up coming in third.

This was a moving Lego display like a Rube Goldberg machine.

A minifigure made entirely from balloons.

After the Lego fest, we met the rest of the cousins and Chris and Patti for dinner.

Here Rudy and Charlie were hiding behind the bench.

We took advantage of having all the cousins together and snapped some pictures. They actually turned out pretty well.

Max was being a tolerant big brother and carrying Charlie around on his back. I think Charlie requested a picture be taken.