Merry Christmas!

Eli celebrated a very merry Christmas at his grandparents' house. Here are a few pictures of the Christmas fun...


Very focused cookie decorators


Dressed up for church


Everyone in their Christmas best for mass


All the kids on Christmas morning


Helping Dad open his present


Whew! Christmas morning is intense!


The box looks pretty cool


I love my jumperoo. Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!


Yum! Keep that rice cereal coming, Grandma.


Merry Christmas!

Early Christmas

Before celebrating with our extended family, we celebrated Eli's first Christmas a little early. Eli was excited to find some new toys in his stocking, and immediately had to taste them all (we're big on chewing things these days!). Even the cats had some new mice in their stockings!


Is this whole stocking for me?


Let's open our stocking!


This moose is tasty!

Meeting Santa

Eli visited Santa recently to tell him what a good little boy he's been this year. Eli thought Santa was amusing, although he was more interested in watching the people walking by in the mall (which did help Mom get a decent picture).


Ho, ho, ho!

Christmas Fun with Friends

Eli spent an afternoon baking Christmas cookies with the girls - well, he mostly watched the mess mom and her friends we making, slept in his swing, and played in his "gym" with his friend Devyn. The cookies are delicious, and it was fun to enjoy an afternoon of Christmas merriment with friends.


It is fun having friends over to play.


Devyn keeping an eye on Eli.


We're perfect little angels.


Outfit change for Eli and a pretty smile from Devyn

Yummy!

Eli tried his first bites of rice cereal over the weekend, and his reaction was, "yum?!" The soupy rice cereal consistency for these first attempts meant that he was pretty much just slurping a little off the spoon, but we think that some managed to get into his tummy. If nothing else, we all enjoyed a fun, messy little dinner together.


This spoon thing is intriguing...


Dad, have you tasted this stuff?!


Messy face = fun! (and cute!)


Clean plate club

All Dressed Up

Last weekend, we braved the snow to go to our friends' holiday gala. It was Wisconsin December black tie - fancy clothes and snow boots! Eli enjoyed meeting some friends and shared Christmasy smiles with everyone before his mom and dad bundled him back up to slip and slide through the winter wonderland to get home.


Family picture at the gala

Back at home, we took advantage of being all dressed up (in spit-up-free clothes!) and took some pictures by our Christmas tree.


With Daddy


With Mommy


Nothing better than sitting by a Christmas tree in comfy pjs


Ooohh, pretty lights!


They're so glow-y!


Enough pictures, Mom. Let's play!

Busy Little Elves

Jingle, jingle, jingle! Christmas preparation is in full swing at the Brasel house. Grandma G came to visit at the start of this week to spend time with Eli and to treat Mom and Dad to a much-appreciated date night out to see the latest Harry Potter film. In a real movie theater! Ah, the simple joys in life...

Grandma G, Mom, and Eli made serious progress on Christmas shopping. Eli enjoyed strolling through the mall and looking at all the other shoppers, and he was such a well-behaved little boy as the ladies shopped and lunched.

It's been chilly lately by us, hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying their own Christmas prep!


Eli's reminder for everyone in cold climates to bundle up!

Tis the Season

Eli participated in his first Brasel family Christmas tradition: going to Summers Tree Farm to cut down a Christmas tree. He was a good sport about the many layers of clothing that Mom required before he could venture out into the woods, and he picked out a great tree (well, okay, Mom and Dad weighed in pretty heavily on the tree selection, but Eli seemed to like it)!


We found the tree!


Looks good, Dad.


Ta-da!


Even Percy likes the tree.

So Much to Be Thankful For!

Eli celebrated his first Thanksgiving at his aunt and uncle's house. He slept the whole way there and back (which Mom and Dad were thankful for), and was a happy, peaceful baby during the holiday (which everyone was thankful for).


Grandmas are the best!


Sofie the giraffe likes Thanksgiving, too.


Not so sure about turkey, but this thumb tastes great!


We're thankful for family.


Mom loves overalls.

Babies and Bibs

Eli enjoyed an afternoon lunching with the ladies at his first baby shower (not counting his own!). Since Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle Alex went to the Badger game in Michigan, Eli was able to participate in shower games, eating, and watching present opening. He even got dressed up for the occasion.


Hmm...sideways, but still cute


Wearing jeans makes me look like such a little boy!


Dressed up for church


What's something to get excited about on an otherwise ho-hum weekday? Why, piggy overalls, of course! Mom had to snap a few pictures while I modeled my funky piggy overalls from Tia Erin's trip to Europe.


Oink!


This outfit even has a curly tail!

Reflections on Being Four Months Old

Being four months old is great (aside from those darn 4-month shots - ugh)!


I get to hang out with Grandpa - I think I'm warming up to his goatee



GG and G-Pa are always a lot of fun


I can sit up in my cool blue chair



Daddy and I play together



And when Daddy's at work monkey blanket and I hang out with Mom

Happy Birthday, GG!

This past weekend, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house to celebrate GG's birthday! What a wonderful blessing to have such a special woman in our lives. Eli enjoyed seeing his aunts and uncles, as well as grandparents and great-grandparents - it was a busy house! In addition to celebrating GG's birthday, Eli was glad to celebrate a Badger win and his first awake trip to brunch with the entire family. And we enjoyed having a lot of different sets of arms ready to hold Eli during brunch so his mom and dad could eat their food!


Grandma and Eli say, "Go Badgers!"



Hey Aunt C, look over there!



Fall family picture