Madd Max Wish Jess A Happy Birthday

Birthday apple crisp.

Birthday presents.

Birthday card.  

Maddie made a point to show Jess, she drew all 42 candles.  She also explained the reason she wouldn't want her phone anymore is because technology is scary to old people.

Madd Max Enjoy A Last Day

With their cousins and ice cream after school.

They begged for just one more communal iPad round.

The last dinner before the Page-Bethels headed back to Panama.

And one more round of Apples to Apples. 

Madd Max Take Down Christmas

But first, a walk home from school in the rain.

Removing the candy from the gingerbread house.

De-trimming the tree.

And the rainbow when it was all done.

Madd Max Continues 2nd Christmas

A Christmas lunch at Señor Fish, where the fam was joined by Spencer.

The girls sat at their own table in their matching outfits.

 And seemed very grown up.

 Back at home - some football under the pergola.

And some Christmas crackers with the traditional chicken paprikash and spaetzle.

Madd Max Has A 2nd Christmas

 Enjoying Sam's cinnamon buns.

 Delish.

 Stockings.

 Husbands.

 Max got a Slinky as a stocking stuffer.  Since the house is relatively devoid of stairs, he decided to build some to test it out.

And what 2nd Christmas would be complete without swordplay.

Madd Max Has A 2nd Christmas Eve

First, a stop at Toby's where Simon was re-introduced to the joy of dominoes.  So much so, that the boys wanted to stay longer then Sam and Jess had planned.

The boys then came home and played war games on the flip-sequin pillows - for over an hour.

Then it was over to Taisie's for a dinner party - you'll have to imagine the other guests.

 Who are on Jess' side of the couch.

 Another letter to Santa.

Who came out one more time for the kiddos.

Madd Max Have Gymnastics Camp

 With their cousins.

 Jump!

Madd Max Heads To Universal

To show Uncle David, Taisie, Gwen and Simon a good time.

Kids pretending to be beer.  Perfection.

The studio tour.

From both sides.

Followed by a tired crew watching the first Harry Potter movie, so they could compare it to the ride.

Madd Max Is Reunited

With their cousins, who laid over in CA en route from New Zealand to Panama.

The girls quickly got back to drawing comics.

While the boys got into all the backyard sports.

A fine turkey dinner followed at Taisie's, where the adults were also reunited.

Madd Max Heads To The Rose Parade Floats

Maddie in front of her favorite float.

The floats have all sorts of cool details - like these banana chips used for the suckers on the octopus tentacles.

And tons of flower sprays.

In front of the Burbank float.

Kettle corn - something the kids enjoyed many years ago, the last time the fam visited the floats.

It was packed.

Jess' favorite float.  The darkest lines in the plaid were blueberries.  Neat.

Madd Max Goes Selling

The gift Maddie was wishing for the most at Christmas was a wagon and 2 yard sticks.  To make the above.

Back in NZ, Gwen and she drew a bunch of comics with the plan to sell them in Burbank.

Once Madd told Ellie, Ellie and Fiona wanted in.  As they searched for customers, Fiona yelled, "Comics!  Comics for sale!" followed by Ellie's, "All originals!"

Luckily, they found a very interested customer, and were also able to sell to a Dad on the bike path and their babysitter, Natalie - selling out of their stock.