Madd Max Makes The Walk Home

The morning started with prep for Maddie's Marie Curie presentation.

And ended with the first walk home from school all by themselves.

Madd Max Walks Partially Home

Jess has been thinking for awhile that the kids are old enough to walk the three-and-a-half blocks home by themselves.  Max was all in.  Maddie was more trepidatious, so a deal was made.  Jess would meet the kids one-and-a-half blocks up the alley so when they turned the corner, they would see her.  They were quite pleased by the entire thing.

Slappy Has A Girl Scout Meeting

In the park.  Where they're all getting so big.

Slappy Likes A Long Straw

This brought great joy during dinner.

Madd Max Has A Day In Orange

Which began with breakfast.

Eventhough it was a Boy Scouts Family Camp, Maddie had three of her Girl Scouts there, who had also come with their families.

A mining expedition offered by the Irvine Ranch Outdoor Education Center.

Panning for gold.

Cracking geodes.

Geode.

Mining for coal.

Followed by a swim in the solar panel heated pool, where there was even a water slide.

And some Apples to Apples.

Madd Max Goes Camping

Sam had to arrive later due to work, but this time, Jess and the kids got the tent up all by themselves.

Maddie was Jess' powerhouse for most of the set up.

Tent up just in time for sunset.

Beautiful.

Slappy Begins Piano Lessons

And is super excited about it.

Madd Max Starts A New Endeavor

This 2000 piece puzzle.

Perhaps we are in a little over our heads.

Slappy Has A Reading Spot

It's quite cozy.

Madd Max Has Some Huntington Beach Pool Time

 Water slides.

And a swim.

Madd Max Continues The Staycation

Hot tubbing with Jess.

 S'mores by the pool.

 Movies in the hotel room.

Madd Max Heads To Huntington Beach

 For a mini-staycation as you can see by the bed jumping.

 Beach time.

 Which involved a lot of this.

 And this.

And this.

Madd Max Hits Pump It Up

 For Caroline's birthday party, which felt like a blast from the past.

 The birthday girl and her sisters.

Sam gets in on the action.

Slappy Sees A Favorite Teacher

Mr. Colt, who retired last year and was the guest of honor at a Labor Day BBQ.  

Madd Max Celebrates Taisie

Cake assembly continued.
On Monday, the Reese's Pieces covered straw.  Tonight - marshmallow frosting and decorating.

The birthday girl.

Happy 76!  We love you!

The gravity defying cake right before birthday eating.

Slappy Gets Cake Inspired

After watching the Kids Baking Championship, Maddie was inspired for Taisie's birthday.  So much so, that she began the stages of the cake 2 days before the actual day.  Here's the making of the cake itself.

Slappy Gets A Pencil Case

During back to school shopping, Maddie told Jess that she wasn't happy with any of the pencil cases, as what she really wanted was a "Nevertheless, she persisted" one.  With fifth grade feminism not to be ignored, Jess knew etsy could help.

Then Auntie Jamie heard about the pencil case and added some swag to her backpack as well.  

We can do it!

Madd Max Celebrate Caroline

With a weekend BBQ and cake at the Findleys.

Madd Max Get A Fur-ever Friend

Upon arriving at the kitten fair at the Burbank Animal Shelter, Jess made clear to the kids that she wanted a baby kitten - like 10 weeks old - since she wouldn't be a able to have another kitten in the house for another 15ish years.  As it turns out - to adopt a 10 week old kitten, you must arrive at right when the fair begins.  After waiting on line for what seemed like kid forever, Jess did think it was only fair to let the kids at least look at some of the kittens.

Tony was 14 weeks old.  And Jess was on the fence until Max pointed out, "Mom, isn't a Tony an award also."  

With kismet on his side, and Jess one step closer to an EGOT (The Countess Emeline, Oscar and now Tony), Tony joined the family.

First hour at his new home.

Second hour at his new home.

And then notoriety.

On the local news channel 4.