Madd Max Sense Their Roots

As Jess spent the day in Jersey, cuddling one little girl.

And then another.

The afternoon was spent at the St. Anne's Italian Festival.

Arancini, followed by zeppolis. 

And a family meal on the steps.

Madd Max Send More of Their Love

To Cousin Aiden.

And Cousin Sonia.

Who also had their Grandma and Grandpa visiting.

Madd Max Send Their Love

With Jess, who went to meet new, sweet baby Valentina.

And spend time with her momma, Francoise and daughter #1, Lucia.

Along with Eddie and son #1, Mateo.

Even Grandma V was there - seen in the way background.

Valentina is introduced to the Kenders.

Madd Max Get Dinner

And then Sam made this for Jess.  A roasted garlic olive oil that started off a delicious meal.

The Scrapper Turns 5

 A bed present followed by breakfast presents.

 When given the choice of whatever he wanted for dinner, he chose "pizza, a cheese stick and strawberries on the coffee table while watching a movie."  We watched "The Princess Bride," and at the end of it Max proclaimed he had picked the wrong movie.  Maddie did say she did not like it; she loved it.

A pause in the movie for birthday cake.

Madd Max Welcome Valentina

On June 9, Francoise, Eddie, Mateo and Lucia welcomed Valentina to the family.  Maddie commemorated the event with this drawing.  That's her and Tante (Francoise) laying in the grass looking at the clouds which spell out the new baby girl's name.

Slappy Has A Water Breakthough

Today, marked the first day Maddie felt the confidence to jump into the deep end without a parent there to catch her.  While still cautious, this marked the end of pool-as-death-trap for one of the Page kiddos.  Cheers to that!

Kids seen here playing "Water Spirits."

Madd Max Get A Visitor

 Or at least Jess did.  Mel B - all the way from PA.

And also full of baby.

Madd Max Meets Fireworks

 For the first time, as they are legal in NH.

 All the kids dug it.

Simon being the most exuberant of all.

Who also accurately commented that the glow worms, "made poop."

Madd Max Celebrates

 Max's 5th birthday with the entire fam.

 Followed by lawn relaxing.

 A stomp rocket.

 Tree climbing.

And cousin princess/spirit playing.

Madd Max Heads Out On A Hike

To Heron Pond.

 Where Maddie found toads.

 Sam showed the kids an Indian Cucumber.

 Hundreds of tadpoles were found.

 And caught.

Pond-side relaxing.

Slappy + Art = Taisie

 From the minute the fam arrived at Chocorua, Maddie asked Taisie if they could do art, something she had been really missing since the Pages had headed to NH for the summer.  This morning, she finally got to.

Max, meanwhile, helped Simon with his latest obsession - blue tape - on everything.

Madd Max Arrive In Chocorua

 And it was right onto the swing.

 Then down to the lake.

 Smile.

 And now to plan how to catch fish - Max's new obsession.

 Cousin dinner,

And the first time ever, catching a firefly.

Madd Max See The Cockpit

 After being invited to check it out.

Madd Max Welcome Isaac

Born Wednesday, July 9 to Tim and Shanna and joining his 2 proud sisters, Edith and Jane.

Madd Max Heads To The Park

 For some plane flying.

And ice cream.

The Scrapper Has A Temper Tantrum

And did not want to go to camp.  After he was placed in the car, he tried a "passive" resistance method, which involved him saying, "Well then, if I have to go, I'm going to put both arms under the seatbelt and not be safe." While impressed by his methodolgy, Jess did not actually allow him to not be safe.

Slappy Has A Temper Tantrum

With the refined sensibilities of a 6 year old, and involved sayings such as the following:

- You are killing my life.

- You give Max all the luck.

And finally,

- I am going to draw a picture of you, and then I am going to draw an X over it.

Touche, Madeline, touche.

Madd Max Have Pool Time

 Some discussion with Izzy.

 Underwater tandem.

 A triple jump with Elizabeth.

Yeah!