Still more from Christmastime in Wheaton

Beautiful boy cousins! Timo: 2 months (born Oct 25) and David: 4 months (born Aug 17). This was their first visit together, and they seemed to get along pretty well. No wrestling matches yet. Instead they competed to see who could drool (David) and spit up (Timo) the most. It's sure going to be fun watching the two of them grow up together!

Granddad and Nonna gave the granddaughters this huge, amazing doll house for Christmas. It was a big hit. (so were the matching outfits) Can you spy Gemma? Yes, she is the one wearing pink dress-up shoes. She didn't know about dress-up shoes before...and now life will never be the same.

A trick picture...Elsie, Timo, David, and Gemma...with the siblings alternating.

what Gieser Christmas would be complete without Barone's pizza?!

We attempted a family picture on our last day together - no easy task with 6 kiddos. But wow, all the adults are dressed and showered and not looking too tired. And wow, Granddad looks particularly happy. What a moment!

Handsome father-son photo:

Our little guy is really smiling more and starting to interact and make the cutest noises. He turned 2 months old on Christmas Day, and celebrated by increasingly, consistently sleeping through the night (e.g. 9:30 PM - 6 AM, then wake up to nurse, and back to sleep until 8 AM). What a cutie.

The other event on our last day together was a trip over to Cosley Zoo. They have mostly local animals and farm animals; it's the perfect, small zoo for toddlers and pre-school kids. We spent a happy 30 minutes there and had the zoo to ourselves...then all skedaddled back home to warm up and get lunch. Phew it was cold that day.

Elsie and Noah

Gemma with Aunt Katie

checking out the great horned owl - an amazing bird!!

Twice during the week the men took the kids over to the gym on Wheaton's campus to run around and kick balls and stare in longingly at the swimming pool.

a sweet cousin moment

"Nonna, I wanna do I Spy Quilt!" What a very fun game, followed by cuddles and reading a book together.

We had the chance to see good friend Steve a bit on our last day in town. Congrats to Dr Ivester on successfully defending and finishing his PhD!!! It was good to hear more of his story of studies and be encouraged to keep on going.