Meeting Santa

Last weekend we ventured out in to the crowds to meet Santa Claus! We lucked out and got a front row parking spot, and only had to wait for one family to visit before we had a turn. Unfortunately we had a bit of a "miscommunication" with Max about how the whole Santa "thing" works and he was mightily disappointed with the experience. We were trying to explain that he'd meet Santa who would ask him what gift he would like for Christmas. We practiced at home and Max was all set to ask Santa for a school bus. Well, it seems Max didn't understand that he would not be receiving a school bus right at that moment, and he ended up pouting and saying, "Where my school bus?" the whole time. Oh, well! At least he wasn't screaming and crying, right?  :-)

A quick family photo while we wait to see Santa!

Max's daycare had a "Polar Express Night" for the kids one evening with crafts, a drop-in showing of the movie "The Polar Express", and a visit with Santa. They did a fantastic job decorating and having fun activities for all the kids. It was sweet to see the teachers enjoying the kids "off the clock", too, and Max had fun showing his crafts to several different teachers.

During dinner before we went back to Crabapple for the festivities, we talked up how cool and nice Santa is and really tried to drive home that he wouldn't be getting a school bus right at that moment. We were just going to talk to him and take a picture. He seemed to understand, but when it came time to see Santa he got really nervous. Offers to take a picture with Ms. Cortney (his teacher) with Santa and Mommy with Santa weren't met with much enthusiasm either. It was just about Max's bedtime, so being tired could certainly have been a big factor in the sudden shyness.

A photo with Max's beloved teacher, Ms. Cortney! (Max was pretty distracted from all the hustle and bustle, but normally he's all hugs and smiles for her!)

P.S. For anyone wondering, Santa's elves have already gotten him a school bus as requested. ;-)

Max Says...

Pointing to a picture in a book of a baby possum.

Daddy: Max, what is that?

Max: A cucumber!

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Trying Mommy's cherry yogurt.

Mommy: Do you like it?

Max: Mmm! Tastes pink!

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Max: Mommy, I touch your sweater?

Pats mommy's arm

Max: Oooo! That's fluffy!

Fun Times!

 Pushing Granddaddy on the swing!

"Rock climbing"

Weekend hike!

One of the guys!

Walking his puppy (he said he was "practicing" to walk Lucy, Grandmommy and Granddaddy's new dog!).

 Max now gets regular haircuts, but this was hid first one in a booster seat instead of sitting on Mommy's lap!

Taking Grandmommy for a walk.  :-)

Snack break on the hike!

Family fun at the falls!

Teaching Saskia about his firetruck!

... and giving her a ride!

http://youtu.be/a2mMb5WFH90


More videos!




http://youtu.be/sBENo5mJV6I





http://youtu.be/9U8_z9G1mAE





http://youtu.be/NtnASMmctD4





http://youtu.be/WrZoAC7SYlg

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Teal's and Heinlein's! (Ben and Heather were on photographer and "get the baby's attention" duty!)

Thanksgiving with the Lilly's, Hedges', and Krueger's!

Trying his first toasted marshmallow!

Wearing his feathered hat he made at school!

The Hiawassee feast!

Mommy's little turkey!

It seems that photographing Max with the pilgrim hat has become a tradition. :-)

Rocket Man!

The most powerful two year old in the world...



http://youtu.be/GWLOv3xqC7M



First lollipop!



http://youtu.be/35ssrNmOzVk

We Got a Puppy!

We got a puppy! Just kidding... it's Max playing "puppy".   :-)

A romantic date with Saskia by the fire talking about numbers and drinking water from sippy cups.

Cutie pie...

This is a daily scene at our house. Max drive his cars and trucks all over the chairs and sofa and parks them all around the living room. He keeps himself occupied this way for 30 minutes (at least!) at a time!

Mommy tried to take an artsy photo of a beautiful tree in front of our house...

... and Max came over to see what the fuss was about. hahaha

Mommy and Max look forward to our now weekly Tuesday morning trip to the library for "Toddler Tales" storytime. This week Ms. Lorraine invited the kids to join her up front for the closing song! Clearly Max is his mother's son-- he hopped right up and got in line to be in the show! (While Ms. Lorriane looks like she's praying or something, she's actually mid-wave and singing "Goodbye Friends".)

Climbing on the rickety, rolling stool and making Mommy nervous. :-)

 Time to make cornbread!

"Mommy, zip it up!"

"Max, what are you doing?"

"I have a party!"

Max started laying out the bowls and naming people who were coming to his party, then asked me to put a hat on his head while he got out hats for everyone else! It's so fun that he's starting to pretend.

Happy Halloween!

This year was a pretty fun little Halloween! Max sort of "got" what was going on and had fun with all the festivities. He loved participating in the costume parade with his class (which really meant he and his two year old friends ran around the playground while parents snapped photos), and having a party during snack time after naps.

From left to right: Superman, Spider Girl, Cinderella, Mr. Potato Head, Mickey Mouse with a Captain America shield, Mickey Mouse, and Ms. Kitty Cat.

Also known as: Max, Zoey, Abby, Ethan, Edward, Dylan, and Ms. Cortney.   :-)

Going off-roading on the bikes with his pal, Ethan.

Max and his "girlfriend", Zoey, have played together since they were three months old. This is quite possibly one of my favorite photo series of these two love birds...

Ms. Cortney said that Max and his friends will swing like this then drop down and fly off the slide. Apparently they love it, but she said she has a mini-heart attack every time they do it. haha

After dinner it was time go to trick-or-treating for the first time!

... well, we tried to trick-or-treat anyway.  :-)  It turns out having not too many neighbors giving out candy and being on the early side weren't a good mix (rookie parents, here!). We played outside for 20 minutes or so and gave it another try!

Here is Max with our neighbors, Rich and Lisa! They were so sweet and got Max a few small toys to go with his candy. Not a bad first ever trick-or-treating stop!

Here's the spookiest house we saw!

http://youtu.be/TtIQkp4zNmY