Wedding Ceremony

I got a little picture happy, so I decided to include the mock wedding photos on a separate post. And yes, Max has road rash on his face. If you know Max, then this will not come as a surprise. 

Congratulations to the lovely couple and their union as husband and wife.
The newlyweds are registered at Target and Toys R Us.

Bringin' Home the Bacon

After three posts in a row about Lyla, I figured the blog needed a Max story to balance things out. My brain works in mysterious ways like that. I will take my blog readers back to December of 2016 for this recollection about when Max started his first job. It was tough times and we were in need of money from any sources of income we could salvage, even if that meant sending our three year old into the workforce. Hahaha okay, here is the real story...

It was a few months ago when Jeremy & Charli gifted a few 1488 Collision shirts to Maxwell. The shirts are almost identical to Kirk's daily uniform, including the same logo and even the name "Max" embroidered on the front. Max insisted on wearing this shirt to school every single day for several weeks in a row, which actually worked out fine because they purchased five for him. So yes, he wore a 1488 polo shirt every single day --- which is either really great advertising or just makes him the weird kid at school. Maybe both. Ha! 

Well. The excitement of wearing the work shirt started to fade and eventually it just wasn't cutting it anymore. Max kept wondering when he could start working at 1488 Collision and this quickly became a daily conversation. We tried explaining to him that school is his only job right now and he has many more years of school before he needs to start thinking about a job. I admired his enthusiasm to work...but HELLO...being three is awesome!!! Enjoy it, child. The constant asking turned into pleading and eventually he was begging to go to work. Persistence at its finest until one day Max's dream came true. Kirk finally asked me to drop him off after school one day. As you could imagine, Max was delighted.

Lyla and I decided a quick run to Starbucks would be adequate time for a three year old's first shift of work. We dropped him off and oh geez, he was so happy. I'll never forget him walking into that building with such confidence in his step. Kirk set him up with a phone on his belt clip and a notepad, then walked him throughout the shop to check out the status on all the jobs, just as a manager should do. Kirk's version of this story is much better than mine will be, but basically Kirk introduced Max to everyone as they walked through the shop and it sounds like all the employees were pretty entertained by Kirk's mini-me. They all went along with Max being their temporary boss pretty well. Kirk said one of the guys asked Max his age and Max proudly proclaimed "twenty-phree." Hahaha! Max concluded his shift by helping wash a car and I need Kirk to share that part of the story because, again, his version is way more hilarious. Max felt proud of his new supervisor duties and was upset when we returned to pick him up about thirty minutes later. That was about as much "help" Kirk could make time for, even though we were a little heartbroken as Max kept saying, "it's not over yet!" 

He returned to work for one additional shift since that time. It turns out Max prefers the "late shift" because then he gets to ride home with Kirk in the blue car. He is obsessed with the blue car. I keep telling Kirk he needs to write Max a real paycheck so we can put it in his keepsake box...but who am I kidding...he would probably cash it as soon as he figures out how. Ha! 

It's such a fun experience going to work as a kid, whether it be with parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents. I have such fond memories from my own childhood and feeling so grown up when I had the opportunity to go to work with an adult in my life. I'm grateful Max has that experience already and maybe one day working with dad will be his real first job. I mean...he already has some experience. However, I think he might require a larger polo at that point...

No pics of him at work, sadly, But here are the cutie pies in their matching shirts!

Photo Reel

It's Sumpthin

It was a few months ago when Max uttered the phrase "it's something" or "it's sump-thin" if you're speaking in Max dialect. I was getting him dressed one day when I noticed one of my favorite t-shirts of his was becoming too small. I said something along the lines of, "aw man, this shirt is getting too small." That's when he looked at me with the most puzzled look on his face and said, "it's sumpthin." Yep. He was right about that, it's sumpthin. 

He's continued to say this in different scenarios, including when we were out to eat recently. He ordered mac and cheese --- surprise surprise --- and they brought him out a fork instead of a spoon. Max typically manages a spoon easier than a fork, so Kirk told him he would request one when the waiter returned to our table. Max looked at Kirk and said, "it's sumpthin." Haha! It's turned into our family motto of sorts and we say it anytime life doesn't necessarily go our way, but it's still tolerable. The optimism is seriously appreciated, Max.

It's important to shrug your shoulders a little when saying it in order to get the full effect.

*half smile* "it's sumpthin" *shoulder shrug* 

Lyla & Max started playing school when we get home from school. <-- ironic. Lyla is typically the teacher and I was laughing as she started clapping her hands while announcing it was story time. Max followed her prompts and Lyla offered him a small snack as long as he promised to sit criss-cross-apple-sauce. It's a funny dynamic between them that I'm enjoying while it lasts. I can still remember playing school with my little brother and it was always so satisfying having him willingly obey my demands. I see the exact same behavior in my sweet Lyla girl. The big sister syndrome is fierce.

ALSO, Max's first soccer game was a success. We are so grateful of our good friend Kurt for coaching at last minute due to the YMCA slacking in the organizational department. Kurt did a great job of herding those little rascals in the right direction, not to mention the kiddos were so grateful of having a professional soccer player coach their game. :) If you haven't already viewed my amazing, academy nominated feature film, you can do so by clicking here -----> soccer video.

Max Hacks

There are often times I am puzzled by what goes on in the mind of a three year old. I've learned being three isn't always easy, sometimes people just don't understand you --- specifically, Max. This boy is a true bundle of joy in our lives, but that's not to say he can't be a complete pain the booty sometimes too. I'm grateful Lyla is past this phase of her adolescent development. Although the dramatics remain rampant, she is generally pretty rational and comprehends the logic in information presented to her. Then there are times with Max when I just have to laugh and remind myself that "this too shall pass." Let me enlighten you on some of his curious behavior.

As we were playing in the backyard this week, Lyla was making a wild creation using buckets of sand, water, and who knows what else. She was transporting a plastic cup full of water from the pool to the edge of the yard where the concrete meets the grass. She was minding her own business and seemingly enjoying herself. Suddenly, Max enters the scenario and insists this cup is in the way of his intended walking path. My initial response was the most obvious answer, just walk around the cup. He did not appreciate this response and I could tell a meltdown was brewing. It's moments like this when I just stare at him in disbelief for a few seconds. The insanity of throwing a fit over a cup being in your way is baffling. I gently explained the cup was there first and offered the second most reasonable option --- move the cup! I guess this made sense in his mind because he picked up the cup, moved it about a foot to the right, and continued walking. 

Max enjoys a ham and cheese sandwich a few times a week, usually cut into a shape with our dinosaur cookie cutter. However, there is a technique to follow if you wish to avoid any emotional distress. I make sure each layer of sandwich has adequate amounts of mayonnaise to ensure the layers do not fray apart as he takes bites. This is insane. My pre-parenting self would have thought someone to be completely out of their mind to be so accommodating to a three year old. But this is real life. There are some battles not worth fighting and these are the simple steps I take in order to avoid a meltdown over something as simple as a sandwich. He is similarly particular about a granola bar. If he is eating a granola bar and it breaks in half, either accidentally or intentionally, he melts into the ground over it. I've tried convincing him the bar tastes the same regardless, but he rejects that logic. At that point, I've been known to moisten the sugary fibers to "glue" the bar back together. Again, this is insane....but it's for my own protection!!!!

The last Max-ism that comes to mind is regarding his shoes, specifically shoes with laces. It took me many moons to realize Max requires the excess laces to be the same length and fall evenly over the center of the shoe. I have witnessed the walls closing in around him if his shoes are not just right. The day I finally realized what the problem was, my mind was blown. Insanity. You better believe his shoes get tied the correct [see: Max] way every single time. It's habit now. 

Maybe a three year old runs the show. Maybe we choose our battles. Maybe this is just life Max. He's lucky we love him so much!

My Name Is...

The Children's Museum has become one of our frequent daytime activities since moving to Texas. It's the perfect place for us to spend some time when the weather makes it difficult to play outside. I can remember taking Lyla there with just the two of us when she was still a wobbly walker. We couldn't spend more than five minutes in each station before she would wonder off to the next. And Maxwell started his museum adventures as a sleeping baby in a carrier and now he runs around like he owns the place. It is yet another example of how our dynamic has evolved and [for once] it isn't one I'm crying about. We have a lot of fun at the museum. They are at the prime age to enjoy all it has to offer!

The pictures below are from our most recent visit. I always enjoy watching Lyla as she makes friends wherever we go, whereas when she was younger it was nothing more than just playing alongside with other kids. This week I noticed she was connecting with a little girl very well as they bounced around from the grocery store to the fire station together. I've been talking to Lyla a lot lately about introducing herself and asking for a name upon meeting new friends. She's becoming quite familiar with that common exchange, but on that particular day as we were leaving she said "I didn't want to tell my new friend my name today." Puzzled, I asked her why. It totally was not what I was expecting when she said "because people always say why-wuh" --- which is because that is how Lyla pronounces her own name, including when she introduces herself to other people. Haha! It appeared her feelings were a combo of being bummed out and annoyed. It's a sad day when you don't want to share your name because you haven't quite mastered the 'L' sound yet. I almost feel guilty for still thinking it's so cute!

*Please note: This is our local Children's Museum and not the giant one located in Houston. 

It's Not Raining. It's Not Pouring.

There was once upon a time when Lyla was the leader of bedtime theatrics. I never thought she would ease up on the constant negotiating, but she has finally settled into the law of the land and passed the torch to little brother. Max learned his most frequent bedtime requests from big sister ---- thirsty, hungry, fan on/off, bathroom, nightlight placement issues, etc. But last night his creativity went above and beyond.

The difference with Max, compared to Lyla, is he isn't afraid of walking downstairs to approach us with his request. Lyla has always preferred the route of screaming at us from above until she gets a response. Anyway, shortly after a rather smooth bedtime routine we were greeted by Max at the bottom of the staircase. He approached us and exclaimed it was raining in his bedroom. "It way-nee-ing my bed-woom." Kirk had to take the lead with this conversation, as I was burying my head in my sweatshirt trying to hide my laughter. His little voice saying "raining" is so cute. And it was the most random complaint I've ever heard, especially considering it wasn't even raining outside. The conversation continued down the road of hilarity as Kirk asked him if his bedroom was wet. Max answered by saying "Yes" and Kirk asked if he needed an umbrella or perhaps a towel. We noticed a slight smirk, as he responded by confirming an umbrella would indeed solve the issue --- "need un-bwel-lah." His tone was so very serious, but it was still clear it he trying to pull one over on us. He pouted as Dad sent him back to his room. Kirk checked on him shortly after, reporting there was no moisture found in Max's bedroom and he cooperated in lying back down.

I guess Max will have to add that one to the list of excuses that do not work. Haha!

Interesting. Hilarious. 

How do they come up with this stuff? 

Charlie & Matilda

We recently introduced Lyla & Max to two new [old] movies and their initial interest has quickly transformed into an obsession. The past few weeks it has been the only thing they want to do following nap time. It's become our afternoon snuggle-session ritual, as they recover from the fog frequently caused by naps. We are generally able to hang out on the couch for half an hour before they become energizer bunnies again. Then it's not uncommon for them to make Kirk sit down for the remainder of the movie when he arrives home. The repetition of their movie choice can start feeling a little...blah. But if I've learned anything from being a parent, none of these phases last for long.

It all started with the original Charlie & the Chocolate Factory movie. Max was instantly infatuated with the main character, Charlie. He even insisted on wearing a red scarf, just as Charlie does in the movie. It was a bit confusing at first before I figured out he wanted the scarf to hang over the back of each shoulder, again, just as Charlie. Talk about attention to detail! He has also renamed the movie Golden Ticket. It's my favorite when he says it  --- "doh-den tih-tet." Lyla took interest in the character known as Varuca Salt, which has been just about as terrifying as you could imagine. Although she swears she is only pretending, I've still had to bring her back to reality a couple times.

I was able to find the movie Matilda at the library this week and it distracted them from the above mentioned movie. This was one of my childhood favorites and I've been thinking for awhile about how much they [especially Lyla] would enjoy it. Just as I thought, Lyla was captivated by the magic and intelligence portrayed by Matilda. Fortunately for me, Lyla forgot all about Varuca Salt and has since been acting as Matilda. This includes wearing a ribbon tied around her hair, bringing a stack of books to the dinner table, and focusing her vision on certain items very intently hoping to initiate some magic. 

It's been entertaining watching them act out scenes from each movie during their free time. I've enjoyed playing different roles as well, including Grandpa Joe and Principal Trunchbull. They are reluctant to stop playing pretend even when Mommy becomes bored of it, this includes continuing their games of fantasy in public places. The fun never stops for these two.