East Coast Trip: A visit to Massachusetts

We headed up to Massachusetts for some cousin fun for a few days.  The kids loved spending some time with Jaqueline and Frederick.  Highlights included:

The Yankee Candle Factory

Basement play time turned Bounce House Disco (courtesy of Uncle James' DJ skills, disco ball, and plethora of strobe-light flashlights). 

Cousin Love

We tried. We really tried to take a "good" picture of the cousins all together. It didn't work. Well, not really. Then again, this is how they were ... and that's good enough for me.

I love that these photos tell the story of their day together. I love how they so accurately depict the friendship between Luke and Jacqueline.

When I look at these my heart hurts that they don't live closer, but makes me that much more grateful for the precious times when they are together.

Love them all.

Chaos


Laughter

Boys

Chatting

Sweet cousins

Fall in New England

We traveled east last week

It was a long trip - Luke was so excited to fly on an airplane, but said after the first leg of our trip that he didn't like flying (it was "too high and too loud"), and that he really prefers riding in firetrucks to airplanes!

First stop - SacEast in Western Massachusetts, which was absolutely gorgeous in early October (and so much fun to spend some time with our cousins).

Pizza making (for those who are wondering, no, Luke did NOT eat his)

Mia and her Aunt Kate

Apple picking fun with cousins

The reception after Frederick's baptism

Frederick, his godparents, and his truck cake!

Next stop: New Jersey to spend a few days with Grandma and Grandpa

Grandpa took Luke for a ride on the train ... and then we all met them when they got off for breakfast at one of the old stations.

Cousins Jonathan, Stephanie, Courtney, Kelsey, Aunt Michele, Uncle Ernie, and Aunt Chris all stopped by to see us while we were in town - what fun to have so much attention and love!

The babies love Uncle Ernie

And this cute picture of Stephanie and Luke is very reminiscent of another from long ago of Michael and Jonathan - I'll have to post it one of these days.