Life with the Lilly's

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Christmas!

Christmas sure was fun this year! It was the first year he really "got" what was going on, and was excited about all the festivities!

On Christmas Eve we went to a children's service and then out to dinner. The church did a great job catering to kids... lots of music, quick pace (I think the whole thing lasted 35 minutes), and the minister read a children's version of the Christmas story, and passed out copies afterward. Instead of lighting candles when we sang "Silent Night" at the end of the service, they gave glow sticks to all the kids! Great idea.

Once we got home, we changed Max in to his Christmas pajamas and started to try to get him excited about Santa's impending visit! We'd baked cookies earlier that day and Max put a few on a plate for Santa, and decided the reindeer would like an apple (versus a carrot).

Time to check out the tree one last time!

Family photo! (Excuse Mommy's crazy eyes... haha)

After Max was in bed we had a blast filling his stocking, putting gifts from our New England relatives under the tree, and setting up for Jesus' breakfast birthday party. We decided that being a parent on Christmas is almost as fun as being a kid on Christmas!

Pretty sunrise on Christmas morning!

On Christmas morning we got up early and got ourselves ready before greeting Max. We heard him starting to stir and crept in his room in the dark. As we hugged "good morning" and he started waking up more fully, we explained something special had happened! He had big eyes wanting to see evidence of Santa's visit; and also asked if Jesus was at our house after we told him it was Jesus' birthday. haha

(At the beginning of this video we think he is saying "Uh-oh!" because the stockings were on the floor and no longer hanging from the mantle.)

Excited that Santa left a school bus in his stocking!

Time for the party! Max LOVES birthday parties, and thought he'd get a kick out of having a birthday party for Jesus. Fun times!

"Cheeeeeese!"

We took down all the Christmas decorations one evening after Max went to bed. When he got up the next day and saw that everything was gone he seemed genuinely sad! All day he kept asking about very specific decorations, and even asks where Santa is a few times a day.

It's so sweet that he enjoyed Christmas so much, and we're excited to see how much he remembers when we celebrate Christmas 2015!

Monday, December 22, 2014

Fun Photos and Max Says....

Daddy: Max, where are you going to live when you grow up?

Max: I live in my car.

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Daddy: What will your job be when you grow up?

Max: I be a dentist like Hermey! (As in Hermey the Elf from the "Rudolph" movie)

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Upon getting dressed to go to Christmas Sunday at church...

Max: Wow! I wear my fancy sweatshirt!

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Apparently we have a little model on our hands, showing off his "fancy sweatshirt"...

The casual glace with hands on his hips look....

Laughing and looking off in the distance with hands in his pockets look....

... and CHEEEEEESE!!!

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Look! Mommy and Daddy are wearing something other than jeans and a sweatshirt. :-)

I was cooking and heard Max rummaging through the craft drawer. There was the sound of crinkling plastic, then I heard him start walking around and singing. When he rounded the corner I saw he'd made a new "hat". :-)

Max decided that Daddy's sweatpants needed a little something extra...

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Max's First Movie!

Max watched his first movie! Last Friday we changed Max in to his pajamas after dinner, hooked the laptop up to the television, and snuggled up on the couch to watch the Rankin and Bass version of "Rudolph". We made him a special snack (toddler "trail mix"... cereal, craisins, chocolate chips, mini-marshmallows, etc.) which was just as exciting as the movie.

Eating the "smash-smellows" was his favorite part (and he stole Mommy's once his were all gone!).

Let the magic begin!

http://youtu.be/HGysFT1aQM0

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

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. ;-)

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

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!