Brendan visits his cousins ~ with Uncle Dylan and Aunt Kelly

Emma, Chris and Matthew were elated that Uncle Dylan and baby Brendan were coming for a visit! Aunt Kelly had been working hard all week with her birthing clients and had a bunch of errands to run, but she was finally able to come over and join us for lunch!

Even though it was quite cold and very windy Saturday, Christopher talked his Uncle Dylan into tossing the football around in front of the house. I don't have an official football. This is only a Nerf ball, but it serves its purpose I think.

I would have stayed outdoors longer, because it was so much fun to watch these guys ... but I was too cold ... and went back inside. 

Christopher hopes to join the Comstock Park football team when he reaches middle school. Chris has a lot of natural athletic ability. I think he will make a very good player.

Baby Brendan was up to his usual shenanigans ... pushing every button he could find that either made a light go on and off . . . or some such magical reward for his effort.  

 Chris got out the beach ball. He and Brendan used MY room as their field of play. Brendan was so overjoyed! And I was so pleased to see how good Christopher was with Brendan! They truly enjoyed each other.

Dylan was able to squeeze in a song or two ...
always beautiful to hear him play.

 Aunt Kelly arrived just barely in time to catch some lunch with us ... and then the kiddos asked if she could help us understand some of the Origami book we had checked out from the library. Kelly is ... amazingly mechanical. And she is very wonderful with children too. 

Matthew and Emma had tried to make the Origami sailboat earlier in the morning. I was (thankfully) busy in the kitchen and couldn't be of much "help." However, Matthew constructed the FROG (not pictured) all by himself, and Emma made several CUPS (that you can actually drink from!)  After lunch, Kelly sat down with the children and helped them make the SAILBOAT and the WATER BOMB, which was quite difficult to construct! Emma quickly memorized how to do it, and even taught me how! 

Our BEAUTIFUL Kelly with her pink sailboat!

 Meanwhile, Dylan played the piano!

Brendan found his way back to the playroom and DE-constructed the city and zoo the children had made earlier in the day. But nobody was offended by his behavior one single bit!  

 I super LOVE this picture of Matthew and Brendan. They were on my reading chair in the bedroom for the longest time just visiting together.

Emma, Chris and Matthew are used to babies! I have observed them being very kind and helpful with their baby sister (little Kaity-girl). Perhaps it just comes naturally to them to enjoy babies ... they certainly played well with Brendan, and there was obvious affection between them. 

 Happy sounds were all over my Beach House Saturday ... laughter that made my heart sing for JOY!