It's Christmas time in the city

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Our Christmas baby!
City sidewalk, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air there's
A feeling of Christmas.

Children laughing, people passing,
Meeting smile after smile,
And on every street corner you'll hear:

Silver bells, silver bells,
It's Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
Soon it will be Christmas day.

 We spent the week of Christmas in Chicago this year. We had an action packed week that started with a surprise visit by Uncle Drew from Hawaii! We hadn't seen him since our wedding in Costa Rica nearly five years ago! Hopefully we'll get to visit him in Honolulu some day soon.

Long lost brothers - Bob and Andrew

Then we had a big party for Marit's first birthday on Sunday (see prior blog post). On Monday, we headed to Downtown Chicago to Grandma and Grandpa's condo and went to the Shedd Aquarium and then out to dinner for Maya's sweet 16th birthday. Tuesday Theo and Mommy got to go see "The Good Dinosaur," Theo's first movie on the big screen. He had to cover his eyes a few times and devoured the whole bag of popcorn and Skittles. At the end he asked if we could stay and watch 20 more movies. Wednesday, we went to the Chicago Botanical Gardens to see the Holiday Express train exhibit with all the famous Chicago buildings made of plant parts. Theo LOVED the many Lionel trains and we were amazed by the beautiful architecture on the model historic buildings that were all made of plants (and plant parts, like seeds and leaves). They even made it snow INSIDE using oil and water!
Grandma and Marit at the Chicago Botanical Garden watching the Thomas Lionel train
Thursday we celebrated Grandpa's 29th birthday (again) and had some of Grandma and Grandpa's friends over for yummy homemade desserts. I think we ate more cookies and desserts this week than we do in a whole year but boy was it worth it!

The shark tank at the Shedd
Theo watching the Beluga whales from below

Friday we spent time with family and opened Santa presents then headed to the Benziger house in Aurora, IL for amazing food (caviar, steak tartare, honey baked ham and other delicious treats) and opened more presents. 

Opening presents on Christmas Day
The Benziger boys - Seth, Bob and Keith
Saturday we woke up early and headed back home to see Uncle Dan who was waiting with more presents! Our house is officially exploding with toys but we loved all the quality time we were able to spend with friends and family. Thank you Benzigers!
Benziger grandkids - Danika, Maya, Marit, Theo and Zachary

More pictures from the week:
Theo and Daddy listening to the carolers

Nicole and Evie listening to the carolers

Grandpa and Grandma Pastorius with Theo and Marit

Grandma and Marit
Walking to the French Market in downtown Chicago in the rain with Daddy and Uncle Keith and the cousins

Cousin Dani and Theo outside the Shedd Aquarium 
Very cool shark tank

Hello shark

Hello Nemo

Hi pretty fishy

How many frogs can you see?

Downtown Chicago

Old train bridge on the river

Downtown Chicago

Old railroad bridge 
Talking to the train conductor at the Chicago Botanical Gardens

Grandma and baby Marit
Watching the trains

Train coming overhead!

Downtown skyline made of all plants at the Chicago Botanical Garden

Watching the Lionel trains at the Chicago Botanical Gardens

Theo decorated his first gingerbread cookie

Theo and Grandpa Benziger playing memory game
Theo helps open Grandpa's birthday presents (lots of chocolate and alcohol)


Maya, Nicole and Danika at dinner.

Grandpa's birthday dinner - started off with poppers and silly jokes

Checking out the surprise in the poppers
Theo and Uncle Keith

Cousins!

Little cousins

Marit and Maya (youngest and oldest cousin)

Theo opening his Christmas stocking

Opening Santa presents

Marit opening presents

Playing with the new Lego duplo train
Helping Grandma open her new PJs!

Theo helping Grandpa open his new monopod

Maya reading Marit her new book

Cousins playing with the new presents


Marit opening presents

Mommy and baby Marit

Benziger family

Our Benziger family 
Theo got more Lego duplo trains when we got home to Seattle!


Theo was pumped about his new trains!




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