the blackmons in chicago

Christmas & New Years in NC

Sorry it took me a few weeks to get this up.  We traveled to NC the week after Christmas to celebrate the holidays and New Years with my family.  We hadn't seen them since April so it was due time.  Baker LOVES his cousins so we knew he would have a blast with them...he definitely did, as you'll see in the pics.  Just wish we could see them more often, as with all of our family.  

At the airport, Brad's Aunt Sherrie, Uncle Buster and cousin Brian met us there so they could see Baker for a few minutes and to give him his Christmas present, a little laptop.  Baker loved seeing them and definitely loved his gift!

Playing the Wii later that night with Ben and Seth.

Wrestling with the boys, his favorite thing to do as of recent months.

Silly boys - small to large

Having breakfast together.

Swinging from Ben's bunk bed - little monkey

When I asked what they were doing, they said "They were working out", hence the shirts off.  Lol.  Of course, they were not supposed to be hanging from the bed but I thought it was too funny not to take a pic.

Having my favorite chicken pastry dinner with the family.

Silly faces...

And Baker's silly face

On New Year's Eve, we opened up gifts.

Baker with our cute niece and nephews

He was playing the roll of elf here and taking a present to Aunt Shannon.  

Opening his firetruck!!  He was so excited about this!

Ben loves his remote control car!

Baker with some of his gifts and Lindsey loving her Stella & Dot friendship bracelets.  She's such a teenager now...sigh.

He's very serious about opening presents.  Takes much concentration.

The boys opening up their Hex Bug kit from us.

With our iPhone dock...so happy about this!

 

He was so sweetly playing at the table alone with the Hex Bugs.

He thought these things were just the coolest and spent so much time playing with these things.  Good thing we got him a little bug for Christmas.

Drew and Ben with Papa Troy and Mamaw Joyce

My brother, Brian, Lindsey and daddy having a laugh at the stand-up comedian that we were watching.

Happy New Year!  We all stayed up to watch the ball drop then had a little toast with grape juice!

Hanging out with cousins at the Daniels' family Christmas.

He loves Aunt Juanita's horse and rides it every time we're there.

We wanted a family picture but as you can see, Baker was not interested.

My daddy with his brothers and sisters.

Just being daddy and kissing his younger brother, David.  They always get mistaken for each other when they are out in public.

All the kiddos together - Amazing that we were able to get them together to take a picture.

Ha!  They are the cutest.  It goes without saying that Baker absolutely adores these boys.

:)

He desperately wanted to play basketball with the big boys.  He really thought that he was "on the team", as he kept saying.  And look how big he looks climbing their little rock wall!

Baker and I with my sweet daddy.  One thing is missing, my mom.  This January made 8 years that she passed away from cancer.  Can't believe it's been that long because it feels like yesterday.

With his Papa Troy and "cousin" Avery.  She's not really his cousin but might as well be.  It's my SIL's sister's daughter but they are like cousins.

Loving on his Aunt Shannon, doing the cuddle test.  

He's also doing some sort of break dancing move here.  :)

Brad had to fly back to Chicago a few days early for work, which is why he is not in this picture.  :(

As soon as we arrived back in Chicago, the car service that Brad arranged to pick us up came with a white stretch limo!  I wanted to die of embarrassment but Baker was so excited!!  He thought it was so fun and kept asking me if we could get some water to drink from the bar.  

I buckled him in (no, he's not in a car seat...cabs/car services don't provide those for insurance purposes) and within 10-15 minutes, he was out.  I've never seen him go to sleep that fast, esp after being so excited.  Poor thing was wiped out after a big day of traveling.