Madd Max Celebrate Max's 9th

With Page Birthday Cake, whose candles kept blowing out on the walk to the table.

A paper plate shield was erected.

Soon, present opening success.

Followed by Bey Blade Battles.

And snakes.

To end the evening - a little piano.  Taisie put musical note stickers onto the keys  so that the kids could begin playing actual songs.  They loved it, and the adults loved hearing something other than finger mashing on the piano.

Madd Max Heads To The Theater

In matching-ish dresses from Taisie.  

Please note, the girls are trying to emulate a photo taken from the day, shown below, that hangs in Taisie's bathroom.  Both girls were in matching dresses and looking blankly off as babies are apt to do.

The matching day from 9 years ago.

Kid smiles.

Then it was dinner at Dale's.

Where the kids behaved very well and felt very adult.

Then it was over to see We Have Always Lived In The Castle. The highpoint for Jess was when the stuffed animal dog (that was representing a taxidermied one) got stabbed with a knife.  (The show is not meant to be perceived as a comedy and yet...)

Madd Max Hits The Water Holes

But first, the tree swing.

Heron Pond was stop #1.

Where the water was teeming with tadpoles.

Like really teeming - all of those black spots are tadpoles.

The kids brought a bucket of tadpoles back to the house, and by the 2nd day, some of them were developing legs.

Tadpole audience.

Then it was back to Chocorua Lake for some canoeing.

And swimming, fully clothed.

Madd Max Celebrates

A succesful hike with some ice cream from The Other Store.

After which, time was spent knocking over the cairns in the Swift River.

Along with building new rock piles.

Followed by a porch dinner with Super Nachos and fresh corn.

The evening culminating in sparklers.

And hugs.

Madd Max Hikes The Mount Willard Trail

 Which started by a train station in Crawford Notch State Park.

 Crossing a stream.

 Sass.

The trail was thru the woods, until you emerged to this view at the very top.

 Chillin'.

 Not a bad spot for lunch.

Madd Max Head To Another Barn

It was a rainy day when Jess arrived, so she and the kids headed to the local Pizza Barn, where Sam fondly remembered root beer served in frosty mugs.  Root beer was had, but sadly, in normal glasses.  It appeared that Pizza Barn now only serves actual beer in frosty mugs, the younger generation never to know those joys of the past.

Madd Max Head To Monkey Trunks

For the annual visit.

To the Black Course!

 Which this time, Max finished as well (the girls finished it twice).

 Free bird.

Hot much?

After completion, the sweaty crew decided it was necessary to make an ice cream stop at the local Friendlys.

Madd Max Get Back Into The Swing Of Things

Breakfast with the cousins.

Screens with the cousins.

 Art with the cousins.

A little canoe.

 And, of course.

 Eggs!

Madd Max Heads To Chocorua

Excited kiddos en route to LAX.

Arrival in Boston, where they were met by Aunt Rachel.

The Scrapper Is Camper Of The Week

His face in this picture belies his excitement at the honor.

Madd Max Love The Barn

For swinging.

 And for Barn Shows - presented daily by Gwen and Maddie.

To an audience.

Slappy Has A Sleepover

 With Margarita and Samantha.

Followed by swimming in Samantha's pool, while the adults sipped adult lemonade and munched.