Ballet

Our Carmen James started ballet class.  She was so excited for her tights, leotard and pink shoes.  She looked darn cute.  She was twirling, spinning, pointing her toes when at home.  When at class, it's been a slightly different story.  Her enthusiasm waned a bit with 13 other 3 year-olds.  But, she did it.  No fussing, just reluctant participation.  That's certainly progress. Some things she did with enthusiasm, other things she just did not want to do.  True Carmen style.  Regardless, we are proud of girl for giving it a go.  We're only two classes in.  We'll see how it goes. 

Celebrating Max

We did lots of celebrating this past weekend for Maxy's birthday. 

 

His special day started with hot chocolate and Mickey Mouse pancakes.  There was some play time and then it was time for more eating; Dick's burgers and shakes!  It was a picnic of sorts in the back of the car. 

 

After naptime, we were off to Elevated Sportz for some running, climbing and jumping.  Just enough exercise to work back up an appetite for dinner out with an ice cream sundae to complete the meal.  A couple of gifts were opened, with sister's help--a new backpack, Husky hat, ball and mitt--to round out the fun-filled day.   

 

 

Then...it was time for robots. 

 

 

I was up early and captured the sun-rise. I knew it was going to be a good day. I had been keeping my fingers crossed and begging and pleading with the weather gods that it wouldn't rain.  To my delight, not a drop in-sight and it turned out to be sunny, blue skies for the entire day.  Good thing, since the party was at the park. 

 

Max was surrounded by his good friends to help celebrate in robot style. 

There was treat bag decorating

Piñata pandemonium

Feeding hungry tummies

 

Cupcakes and candles

Thanks everyone for making my birthday a great one!

Two

You are two today.  No longer are you our little baby boy. You do big boy things. You talk (a lot), run, explore, question, play.  You are always busy and rarely sit still.  You are on the move.  Always.  Full of life and full of energy.  You are a chatter box.  You use the word 'actually' all of the time. Question after question, observation after observation.  It doesn't stop.  You are enamored with what's around you and you want to know everything there is to know.  At daycare when we get your daily sheet, the adjectives 'busy' and 'chatty' are always circled. Every, single, day. 

You finally are in love with books.  It took you a long time to turn this corner and now you want to read, read, read. Your favorite right now is Go, Dog, Go. You often grab the book out of our hands and insist on doing it yourself.  Yes, you are independent (with a capital I).  You are head strong and determined.  "I do it MYSELF!" is the phrase of the day.  "I do it, I do it!"  We usually give in.  You are adamant that you get your way, but you are learning patience.  Ever so slightly.  You are passionate about just about everything. 

You are quite the little athlete. You can't get enough of soccer and golf or any ball for that matter.  You love to throw and hit and kick.  Sometime these actions are directed to a ball and sometimes to your sister.  You are learning.  You love to run, you rarely walk and then you bolt and start sprinting.  I've lost track of how many times I've had to bolt after you.  You apparently are eager to explore something new as not too much holds your attention. You love animals and the zoo. 

 

Your laugh lights up the world.  I can't get enough.  You crack up at the smallest, most random things.  It is priceless.  You have funny routines and things you like to do.  Like climbing up on the bathroom sink so you can put your feet in the water.  You like to make a mess.  It's universal.  Water out of the tub, crayons and markers on the wall, food in lots and lots of places around the house.  It keeps things interesting and certainly keeps us alert and on our toes.  You like to build and cook in your kitchen.  What you like even better is to cook in ours.  You constantly want to be held so you can help measure and stir.  Dinner time is a circus in our house. 

 

Life with you is nothing short of entertaining.  And we love that.  We love that you love us and want to be held and give us hugs.  I love how you say "Mommy, I hold you" which really means you want me to hold you. "Mommy, I need you!"  I will remind you of that years down the line.  We love that you love your sister, are thoughtful, creative and loud.  You certainly have personality.  You make us happy and make our lives complete.  You are our one and only Maxwell Jackson and we are so proud of you, so lucky you are ours. You have an amazing life ahead and we can't wait to see what comes next.

 A very happy 2nd birthday to our boy!

Pretty, Pretty, Princess(es)

Carmen couldn't wait to show daddy her Cinderella costume. 

She was waiting until he got home from work so she could have a dance with her prince.  Very cute. As for Maxy, he couldn't get his Snow White costume off fast enough.

Mommy-Daughter Day

Today Carmen and I had a special girl's only, mommy-daughter outing.  She's been looking forward to it all week.  Is it mommy-Carmen day?  Not yet, two more sleeps.  But, today was the day.  She was so excited.  It started off with a trip to the coffee store for her absolutely favorite thing right now, a ham breakfast sandwich.  You would have thought she has just won the lottery.  So. Happy.  Who know a sandwich could be so powerful.  Then, off to a movie.  Planes Fire & Rescue.  Of course, since it's been out for so long, the only theatre showing it was 45 minutes away.  Apparently, just the right amount of time to consume almost an entire breakfast sandwich. To the movie we went.  Oh yes, couldn't forget the popcorn.  Just enough room left in her tummy for popcorn after her sandwich.  Covered ears during the trailers, but all smiles during the movie.  She loved it.  After consuming 75% of a bag of popcorn, there was only room in her tummy for a sucker (no lunch).  So of course, on mommy-daughter day, she got her sucker and then promptly passed out in the car after 5 minutes and slept the entire way home.

It was a fun, fun day and I look forward to many, many more mommy-daughter days!