Holidays in Saint Louis

We celebrated a belated Christmas w/the Olsen side of the family in St. Louis and stayed thru New Years! We had a great trip and the cousins had a ball getting to spend time together. This was also the first time that the Olsen clan got to meet our "little man", Benjamin. What a joyous time! Below is a collection of photos from various pieces of our trip. Enjoy!

OLSEN FAMILY PHOTOS (4 GENERATIONS)

Chris is the youngest of 3 boys...his immediate family makes the #7 around this picture (Chris and his two brothers in the back, and his parents are on the far right). The elder generation includes Chris's grandmothers, and the remainder are spouses/fiance and kiddos.

DoMom & DoDad (Chris's parents now go by these names exclusively for all the grandkids....they even have license plates to prove it!).

The cousins. (L to R: Andrea (2.5), Jamie (10 mo.), Abby (5), Benjamin (4 mo.), & Avery)

Our "buddy bear".....Benjamin Phillip (4mo.)

A COLLEGE FRIEND VISIT

Chris's buddy from college, Andy, lives in St. Charles w/his family (wife Gretchen and foster daughter, Anaya (8 wks), and this is their son, Hollis (4). Avery and Hollis had a great time together and we hope to see them on our next trip back to STL later this year.

PICS FROM DOMOM & DODAD'S HOUSE

The girls and ALL their play-doh. A kid favorite regardless of age.

The girls loved playing dress-up and these were dresses DoMom made special for her grand-daughters.

Quite the imaginations. The girls are re-inacting the "manger scene" and Avery's mouse, Henry, played baby Jesus.

Dressed and ready to go. All the girls are sporting their new hats made by our friend Rachel, back home.

Awww....cousin love.

Daddy and Benjamin.

Avery & DoMom

Our sweetheart.

Sibling love.

A VISIT W/JENN'S GREAT UNCLE BOB & AUNT KAY (Jenn's Mom's side of the family)

My great Uncle Bob, is my late grandfather's brother. He, like my grandfather, is a decorated WWII veteran, quite the jokester, and has the energy of an army to build as many planes as he has. He's 87 and is building his last plane in his garage, hoping to fly it later this year. My favorite line of the week came from him, as Chris and I commented on how "in awe" we were at his spirit and love for flying planes. "Well," he said, "it keeps me out of bars and from chasing women."

3 Generations. (L to R: Great Uncle Bob, Jenn & Avery)

The two sweethearts. How cute they were w/each other! Uncle Bob & Aunt Kay.

The Greats and our kiddos.