Max turns double digits!

This year, during the coven 19 pandemic, max turn 10. Max is my early bird. He was born at 7:30 in the morning. His birthday comes in each year with a bang. He is up and full of excitement and ready to go. He planned his celebration day at home. He knew we weren’t having a party. But we were able to have some fun with neighborhood friends in the afternoon, and he was able to go play soccer with a group of guys in the evening. I also made him a cake he was very happy with and he got a lot of presents. Finally Gramma joined us in the afternoon while he opened presents, and Granny and Miller joined virtually as well. So while we didn’t have a big party for him, we had a lot of little events throughout the day to celebrate. I even took half a day of vacation to try to make sure I could make this special for him.

 He is a handsome fellow. He is sweet and kind. He is emotional. He’s quick to anger and quicker to forgive. He’s quick to step in and try to make somebody feel better. He’s the first one to offer to help and solve a problem if he thinks he can. He loves to joke. He loves to just have a good time. He loves to snuggle and he loves all things soft. He says his prayers each night and he believes in God. He is a good friend to anyone who gives him a chance. He enjoys soccer, and enjoys hanging out with Henry. He plays so well with his sisters.

This past year was a lot for him. He had to deal with a couple surgeries as we sought to try to help sort out his digestive problems. He learn to adapt to life without like this. He learned better habits to help his digestive system. I hope he’s taking these things forward and that 10 will be the easier year for him.

Here are a couple pictures throughout the day:

Basketball season 3

Max has decided to play basketball again. This is his third year. It makes me happy to see him play basketball. He is trying hard and on most days I think he enjoys himself at practice and his games. 

This year we tried a new league and I’m quite pleased with the way it’s going so far. One of the coaches seems to have taken to Max and really encourages him. 

He has to work in understanding the plays and strategies. He’s working hard on his ball handling and shooting. He is a great teammate and has awesome sportsmanship. 

He was playing some great defense. He’s fast and hustles. He even tried for a shot and got to take two foul shoots in his first game. 

Night time kisses

 Max enjoys me singing him a song and scratching his back after prayers before he falls asleep. I realized that he doesn’t really give me kisses. I always give him kisses good night and he always says oooo mommy.

Recently I started asking him for a kiss on my cheek good night before his back scratch and song. It’s become a bit of a joke in terms of how many different things he does to pass the time before giving me a gentle kiss on the cheek to say good night. He likes to sniff a lot and be silly of course because he’s Max. It’s really cute.

I’m quite thankful for my one kiss a day, good night.

Here he is below with a proud gingerbread cookie that he decorated when we made grandma sugar cookies this weekend.

Max’s kind heart

Tonight Ellie was really upset. She was getting her shower and just crying her sadness of life out. 

Max doesn’t like his sisters upset. He especially looks up to Ellie and wants to help her. So he tried to go in to cheer her up. She wasn’t having it and he walked away solemn. 

I love that he tried to cheer her up. He has such a big heart. 

I had a little chat with him at bedtime. I told him that sometimes teenage girls can be very emotional and hard to help. I told him I love that he tried to cheer her up. I asked him to not take it personally. 

He thanked me for telling him this and how much I love his kind heart. What a boy. 

Max starts 3rd - the best part of me

I absolutely love this writing and photo Max worked with his teacher to create on his first week back to school for third grade.

Max is an awesome team player

I’m sitting at Max’s game alone cheering him on. He hasn’t scored. He’s made a few good kicks. He tries hard. He is fast. 

The thing I love the most is watching him high tide ever one of his teammates as they score or something good. He is forever there to support his teammates, try hard, smile and hustle. What a delight. 

A new business in the house

They worked together for hours secretly in Ellie’s bedroom. They wouldn’t tell any of us what it was about other then that they were writing a news article to tell us more about their project. Then, this is delivered to the dinning room table. 

Love them!

Max and his little friends

Two weekends ago we took a family trip to North Carolina to see Shawn and his family. A couple years ago Max enjoyed a similar trip with just me. He got to know Justin and they enjoyed each other’s company. This trip was nothing different. They instantly reconnected and had a blast all weekend. Justin didn’t want to separate from Max and mostly Max was game. There is a big age difference of 4 years but that did not stop them from having a blast together playing sports, swimming, hunting lizzards, watching a movie and just enjoying each other’s company. 

I love the smiles!

I enjoyed hanging out with them all and really liked having our families spend time together. 

When Max is 100 years old

Max wrote this in school. He’s been working hard on good writing this year. He’s really coming along. This prediction also is fun for me to read. The photos a bit strange. But he will always be my handsome little man. 

Take your kids to work day

Today was Max first opportunity to go to work with me for this yearly event. They were both excited; what kid isn’t excited at the chance to miss a day of school while healthy.

Work had a couple different things going on and I don’t really have a team in Gaithersburg anymore. So it was a bit of a different day then the previous experience Ellie had. They did one teleconference with me and drew on the board during that time. 

After that I checked them into the kids event to make slime. Parents were supposed to leave. The kids didn’t want to do it alone they were hoping I’d be with them. After slime I decided to check them out and take them to lunch myself. The cafe was crazy. There must have been 1000 kids there today. 

After lunch we visited the game room and saw Venkat and his daughter. They visited the game room. This might have been there favorite part of the day. After that we tried to learn about animals in the lab. That was a little rocky. We finished the day by spending their gift card at the store and having some candy. This probably made them the most happy. I’m not convinced they learned much. Oh well. It was nice spending the day with them. 

Max bedtime routine

Max has a routine. He’s very good about getting his shower. Each night he comes out and can barely get his underwear on before he must start playing legos. This is my view every night when I go in to start getting him settled. 

He always has a story or three to tell me at this point. Recent months it’s been about the legos or Pokémon cards. He is a creative sole. 

Every night must end with prayers, a math discussion, songs, a back scratch and a call for me to return so he can tell me or ask me one more thing. This happens at least once but often more times. The final request is always to send Daddy in to say good night. 

I love my boy!

Lunch time drama

Max and Ellie are repeatedly unhappy with their lunches. There are 3 or 4 things david rotates for them and he’s not interested in having to think about deviating. After another morning of being upset (first picture) the pie decided to take action. 

For the past 30 minutes they’ve been brainstorming a week of lunch ideas. Ellie has typed up a menu to give to David. 

Let’s see how this plays out :)

Max is playing basketball again

Max is playing on his first structures team this winter. He’s on a team of second and third graders trying to learn the skills and rules of basketball. I am helping the couch out when he asks. I do like coaching I’ve figured out. I probably enjoy this more then Max on most days. 

He has a team of 9. He goes along for the ride. I am not convinced he loves it. We do want him to find something he enjoys. He may try karate or soccer in the spring. He really enjoyed playing soccer at the kids museum last week. 

Reflections from a quiet house

Yesterday morning we dropped Ellie, Max and Clair off at Gramma's for a sleepover. David and I met up with Rachelle and Donnie to enjoy some Maryland wineries. We proceeded to enjoy a nice relaxing evening locally. The kids were so excited for their sleepover and seemed to have a great time when I spoke with them. We were happy for the quiet time and the day out.

By bedtime though, I really missed them in this big quiet house. I wasn't quite sure what to do with myself. Before I went to bed, I really missed kissing their little faces. David admitted missing them too. This big house is too quiet without them.

The morning was more shock of a quiet house. No one came in to tell me what time it was (Max) or called me from their bed claiming they needed Mommy or they needed to go potty (Clair.) It was strange as I pulled myself up and wondered downstairs still in my PJs and turned on the Today Show for the first time in I'm not sure how long.

I enjoyed getting to focus on making myself a nice healthy breakfast. When I sat down to eat it at the table alone, I realized how much the chaos of the busy breakfast has become my norm. Of course it is nice to focus on myself for a day, but I am so grateful for the many years ahead of me where they will sit and eat with me. They will laugh, giggle, fight, make messes, and tell me how much they love me all in one big noisy morning routine.

I cleaned the kitchen and have generally felt an overwhelming amount of free time on my hands for a Monday morning at this point. I'm looking forward to the returning chaos later this morning. I'm sure they enjoyed their time with Gramma. I'm glad that they had it. I love that they spend time with my Mom. I appreciate that missing them allows me to appreciate them even more.

This afternoon we will attempt to appreciate the eclipse without the viewing glasses. I didn't manage to pay attention to this all soon enough to purchase the proper viewing glasses. David made viewing boxes with the kids this weekend. We will use them and watch the NASA video. Stumbling through their childhood, I hope they can appreciate the ups and downs of the success and failures we have had as parents raising them. I guess it's not failures, but sometimes we get it righter then others. Always, they are loved and appreciated. Looking forward to having them back tonight and tomorrow morning for many years of chaos to come!

There's a fine line between creativity and mess

I often can't determine the difference between mess versus childhood creativity. I would prefer a magazine perfect house all the time. But I have 3 kids, and a husband, and let's face it, myself that live here. So this isn't possible. I must accept something less. The struggle is real and daily, as to what's a mess and what's allowed as part of growing up for my kiddos.

Sunday night I usually walk around the main floor and try to ready it for the week. I try to have it someone cleaned up for when Sarah arrives on Monday mornings. Usually, there is something to clean up, but sometimes it's worse then others. As I stood in the living room aka playroom last night, I glared at this structure thinking what a mess.

Then, I remembered Max's tour he gave me earlier in the day. He was so proud of this fort. "This is a multi floor fort Mommy, it has a basement Look!" Clair has a bedroom in the basement of the fort. Max has his own room on the main floor, and Ellie has her own room, separately as well. Max was so proud. He built this. He tried to urge his sisters to hangout and play with him in this latest and greatest masterpiece. He would give them anything to play in his space with him.

Max is physical. He is creative. This fort is his kind of thing!

Is it a mess or creativity? Last night I decided it was more creativity then mess, and I left it up for another day. Each incident is a struggle, sometimes the kids lose and I make them "Clean Up this Mess!" Last night, I was able to step back and enjoy it. I imagine in about 15 years, I'll be longing for the days of forts to clean up in the living room.

Growing and growing, it's good, I know

Clair turns 4 in a month and a half, she comfortably wears size 5/6 clothes at this point. That size is really not little girl clothes anymore. She is starting to get into big girl stuff. I find myself having to retire favorites that have been a part of the clothes rotation between Ellie and Clair, and even Max sometimes for 5 years.

This morning I dressed Clair in these little brown corduroy pants that I knew were too small, but they have been so cute on her for about 2 years. She complained, "These are the ones that make my underwear push into my bottom Mommy."  Okay, darling, I guess it really is time they go into the donate box, and on they go. She is comfortable, and I tuck those cute little pants into a box in the closet, a very big and full box of things that show the baby stage and toddler stage of my life and my children's life is really something of the past.

I have 3 big kids. I have one who borderlines a teenager sometimes. Max, he's happy being a little boy still, and also has his preferences for clothes. And the baby, she's really not much of a baby anymore.

This morning Facebook showed me a picture of Max's Baptism Day 6 years ago. He was such a handsome little fellow, and he still looks the same today. They are growing, as they should. I love them so much. I do know I will long for the days they were little cuddly babies in my arms, where we snuggled with blankies, bottles, pacifiers and books. That was the stage I always wanted growing up. I sure did enjoy it. It's sad admitting they are in the past. But, I wouldn't want it any other way. I am grateful for the journey being their Mom!

Be Like Max

Every morning Max is the first one awake and he comes to find me with a smile on his face to say Good morning.

I love the positive energy he brings to our house. Often he wants to share some cuddles with me and sometimes he just needs to be silly and make me laugh.  Today he told me he "woke up on the silly side of the bed."

The other morning the kids are sitting around watching a few minutes of TV as a reward for being ready. Clair is cuddling blanky, Ellie's eyes are glued to the TV, and Max has a few moments in his latest favorite costume. It's just a regular morning at our house while they prepare themselves for the day, each in their own ways.

Last night I had a box of clothes arrive and spent time getting the kids to try things on. The girls put theirs on and they admire themselves and their pretty clothes. Max, puts his clothes on and takes on different poses that could be straight out of wrestling movies! He's a fun boy.

I have a little belief that I'd like to live life like a Tigger! I feel Max is my Tigger most days, especially the mornings after a good nights sleep!

A day with Max

This Friday Max was supposed to go on his first field trip with his class to the Baltimore zoo. The forecast was 100% rain and cold in May. This is really unfortunate as Max can not stand getting wet, unless in the tub, and then barely. Clair and I were going to go with them because I had a hard time with the idea of him being there without me to keep an eye on him. 

As the weather became clear I was more and more dreadful. Max was excited. 

Friday morning when he got up I jokingly asked him if he wasn't sure he'd prefer to stay home for he day because it was going to be so wet and miserable all day. He thought for a second and said okay, we can go another time as a family. He decided to get excited about the opportunity I just presented him. I was so relieved and excited. After a few minutes I decided we would spend the day together since I had already taken it off work. 

We dropped Ellie at school. We started with sitting at Starbucks and enjoying some lovely beverages, online shopping for his friends birthday present, and then reading a couple bible stories. Next we decided to go see Disneys new Jungle Book Movie. We shared a popcorn and truly enjoyed the movie and each other's company. We had the whole theater to ourselves and Max was thrilled to get to have what he thinks are the best seat in the house - top center! He likes to be high up. 

We watched the movie and I let Max enjoy a LOT of popcorn. He was pretty brave. He only got scared a couple times, during which we snuggles. He is the sweetest boy!  

After the movie we had grabbed a pizza and soda, a couple groceries and headed home before Ms Sarah left. 

After putting Clair to bed, we finished an art project, built some Legos, read a couple stories and generally had a relaxing afternoon together. 

Max is really amazing company! I loved this time together. Thankful for his sweet nature, energy, and love!

Proud Momma, my boy

Today when I picked Max up from Sunday school Sunday school teacher looked at me and said, "you should be really proud of the wonderful boy you are raising." I thanked her for her kind words and smiled at Max. Then I asked her what happened. She told me that Max knew when to stand up to a friend and tell them to stop doing something that wasn't right. Apparently one of his friends was using bad language and Max corrected him. I was proud of Max. He was still playing with that friend, so no doubt he did it in a subtle way. Luckily he has the subtle influence from others in the family besides me. I love that boy and I think he has the most perfect heart and wonderful loving friendly personality. He is going to be a great friend to those that welcomed him into their world.

This afternoon, much to maxes dismay really, we had an opportunity to snuggle together for a little snack. It was sweet watching his little body lay there snuggled up holding his Blankey there, taking deep breath's and being still. He is still such a little boy. I love his energy, his enthusiasm, his heart, and his smile

I took this picture of Max at the staff basketball game Friday night. He was so excited to find his teacher and sit with her. He was a perfect little angel during the second half of the game sitting safely beside her. 

My sweet boy

Clair hurt her lip the other day. It was a pretty bad hit and it was bleeding. It puffed up nicely. 

Max is so kind hearted. He spent a good deal of time drawing this lovely personal card for Clair. He is so thoughtful. 

The boy loves his Grannie too. He was gone for about two hours to the library and when he got back he was inseparable for about 30 minutes!