February 2018

February was a fun month! 

First up, a visit to Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga and celebrating Grammie's birthday.

Celebrating Saskia's birthday, too! The kids got to see animals and paint a figurine (Max chose a dinosaur).

We have a bookworm on our hands! Here's a shot of Saturday morning bedhead, pajamas, and a good "Magic Treehouse" book.

Yet another birthday party! This one was for his friend Pravara (in the pink shirt) at a trampoline park.

 Sweet and silly friends!

Checking out Pravara's new watch.

Puddles are for splashing!

We "raised" some butterflies! They came as tiny caterpillars in a jar, and we were able to watch them grow in to larger caterpillars, form cocoons, and emerge as butterflies! After living in the netted container for a couple weeks, we decided to release them in the backyard. It was a really fun project!

ROAR!!

More reading! Max didn't want to get out of the car until he finished his chapter, so he sat in the garage all buckled in for a little while.

A Visit from Miss Lucy

Several weeks ago Miss Lucy came to visit for 10 days while Grandmommy and Granddaddy went on vacation. We loved having a furry friend around!

Helping Laura work...

VERY excited when Max came home from school!

Smelling smells out the window on a beautiful day.

Relaxing in the sun while the guys played chess.

Sleeping on the couch with her head on a pillow - silly puppy!

Snuggles!

Belly rub!

Keeping an eye on activity in the cul de sac.

Terrible photo, but Lucy LOVED carrying this snake everywhere. It was bigger than her and she still managed to bring it all over the house, up and down stairs, etc.!

Laundry helper!

Snuggling in her bed while we work.

Max "helping" with the dog.

Buddies...

January 2018

Lego time!

A little girl in the neighborhood went door-to-door taking orders for homemade slime. We bought a $2 batch (her biggest item! haha) and Max had a blast!

Max went to his old daycare for the last week of winter break, and had a great time playing with old friends!

Birthday party at an arcade! (Birthday boy, Riaan, is in the white jacket)

 First time going to Hibachi lunch! Max enjoyed it, but was a little nervous about the big fire.

 Max and Riaan working together at school! I think this is the eight long chain (a math lesson: http://a-montessori-classroom.blogspot.com/2009/01/every-day-counts-bead-chains.html)

Max was able to leave out his unfinished work and was excited to show me at after school care pick-up. This is an introductory grammar lesson (http://www.blog.montessoriforeveryone.com/grammar.html).

A fun visit to the children's museum in Chattanooga for Grammie's birthday!

December (including Christmas!)

Here is a mega mix of December fun and CHRISTMAS 2017!! The photos are super out of order... just the order that they were saved, so please excuse the jumble. :-)

Kids table at our Christmas party with friends! 

We ran in to one of Max's teachers, Ms. Rubbina, at the grocery store! (Max was much more excited about this experience than he appears in the photo!)

Natalia's headband didn't quite fit ;-)  (Also, note that all the children received gifts and Natalia is playing with.... a calculator. Ha!)

Silly boys at Hudson's birthday party!

Annual gingerbread house making party with the Harris family

Max got to bring home "Monte the Moose" (school mascot) one weekend. We happened to visit the lower elementary class at Max's school for an open house. Here is Max and Monte with some work!

I noticed Max's class picture when I picked him up one day and took a photo of the photo! Not too hard to spot our little blondie. ;-)

Snow day in Georgia! Max LOVED playing in the snow. I think we stayed outside two or three hours until we were soaking wet and couldn't feel our fingers.

First real snow angel!

Our neighbor Sophie (in red) and her friend Jayden came over for a snowball fight and other adventures. Max loved having some big kids to play with in the snow.

Snowy house!

Pajama day at school!

Cutest reindeer on the planet!

Max got to sleep at John and Lisa's house while Mommy and Daddy went to a dinner with Mommy's work colleagues. He got to sleep under the Christmas tree until we picked him up to go home!

Annual Christmas Eve cookie baking for Santa!

This is what happens when you have one cookie and lots of decorations left.

Christmas Eve service at church followed by Chinese food (not pictured).

Getting some carrots for Rudolf

Apples and carrots for the reindeer, and cookies and milk for Santa (cookies are behind the carrots).

Santa came!!

Birthday party for Baby Jesus!

On Day 2 of the snow, Daddy built Max a chair and ottoman!

Talking to one of Santa's Elves while waiting in line.

Holiday performance (we were on the back row of a big high school auditorium, so unfortunately no great photos).

On our way to a holiday dinner with Laura's work colleagues!

 Santa came and left a balloon and note in Max's bedroom!

Excited and grateful for his gifts from Santa, Mommy and Daddy, and everyone else!

Daddy taught Max how to play a song on the keyboard!

Max and I were listening to Christmas music while baking cookies. "Feliz Navidad" came on and Max suddenly jumped down from his chair and ran to the living room to start dancing. Crazy kid! :-)

Santa called on Christmas Eve! They talked for a few minutes and then Max exclaimed, "I have a book about you!" and proceeded to read "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" in its entirety. So sweet!

Christmas morning!!

Max had a last minute request for Santa and he came through!

Small clip of the holiday performance (this is two classes combined). Max is toward the center of the second row wearing a red sweater.