Where waiting for them were cousins, Spencer and Nika, and Great Aunt LuLu.
Nothing like a meal with a great view and family to match.
Both Sam and Spencer showed off their parental prowess by ordering for the girls way before drink orders were even taken, keeping them "full of french fries," which is parent code for "quiet in the restaurant."
This is the view of the mountains to the east of us from the corner of our block, and the pyrocumulus clouds caused by the fires burning on the opposite side.
The same mountain range at night. Very eerie.
At 1-year-old ELF's party.
It was a 100+ degree day in the Valley, but that didn't deter ELF's dedicated admirers.
Not only did they come to celebrate, but they had also been promised pooltime.
With appropriate shade for the big and the small.
There was food.
For the big and small (think falafel and hummus aside chicken fingers and french fries).
The smallest of all, BYOB'd - boob, not beer.
Many an adult was heard wishing that they too had brought a swimsuit for the pool. Jess ended up adhered to that chair.
And then it was cake time, which ELF thoroughly enjoyed, all over her face.
Max was excited to find out we had another party to head to later that evening.
We headed out to the mountains of Acton, where the smoke layer from all of the fires was clear across the horizon.
Where we ended at TV's Jerry Knight's birthday party - the cowboy in the middle. 
The sunset was gorgeous - full of color from all of the ash in the air.
Mom and Maddie danced to the band.
And spent time with some old friends, the Maloofs and Ballew, to name a few.
For the first time at lunch.
Marissa and Sam enjoyed some one handed dining.
And Max finally got a chance to get closer to Elizabeth, a lady friend his own age. Playa!
With Edith and Tim. They brought a quiche and banana bread. We made waffles and coffee.
5 month-old Edith learned that being on the kitchen floor with a toddler is much like being on the floor with an excited Mack truck.
His Great Aunt Renee, who stopped by after dropping cousin, Sebastian, off at USC.
As of mid-September, Great Aunt Renee will have both of her boys at college, and the house back to her and Great Uncle Chris. As of mid-September, Sam and Jess will have about 17 years and 10 months until that same event.
At his advanced age, Max now spends his time nursing, sleeping, looking wide-eyed at the paintings behind the couch, and flashing the occasional smile at his parents. He is proving to be a chill, sweet addition to our family.
We love you and are so proud of you, little man!
With Taisie, which started with brunch at Julienne.
It was the perfect temperature for an outdoor brunch, and Sam sat out with the kids while Jess and Taisie ogled the baked goods in the market next door.
Back at home, Taisie made her own baked goods - a lemon cake - so that the family could slowly wean off of their sugar dependency that had been encouraged by a month of 2 grandmothers.
It was exhausting to try to keep up with all of the kitchen activity.
She also stocked the family up with a bowl of chicken curry.
We will be very sad to see her go, but she leaves behind one well fed family. We love you!!
Taisie took the family out to a children's museum in Pasadena that had a lot of water play.
And tricycles. This was Maddie's first time on one. Her legs weren't quite long enough to reach the pedals, so she came up with her own propulsion.
But not out by the swimming pool, although his sister thought it was hilarious that he was being bounced on the side of it.
Maddie also cracked up on the bed, during their bonding time.
Which consisted primarily of her trying to roll on top of him with her love - you can see the slightly terrified look in his eyes.
With her Taisie, in the Penzeys Spices Harvest 2009 Catalog. Remember that blueberry pie Taisie made for the dinner at Alison's? Her recipe was published in their catalog along with a picture of Maddie and Taisie cooking together. The story that accompanies it is about Maddie's cousin, Gwen Wren, which as far as Jess knows, is also Gwen's first time being published.
Nothing quite like a peanut butter and jelly with garnish.
That was Maddie's dinner. Alison and Brian fed the rest of us grilled chicken, salad, quinoa, and asparagus. (Taisie made blueberry pie for dessert).
Delicious.
Max spent some time getting to know Brian.
Maddie spent some time terrifying her parents by proving she could climb, stand on, and jump on Alison's Adirondack chairs, which were just high enough off the concrete to be possibly, but not definitely, dangerous.
And no coffee is better than that shared with another Jess.
And no milk is better than that from yo momma. It was time for Max's first bottle. This proved to be a somewhat traumatic process, not so much for Max, but for his sister and mom. Jess began pumping, and Maddie became somewhat horrified and concerned, at the entire contraption, and later, jealous over Max's bottle. Max managed to get all 2.5oz down, no problem. Then when Jess lifted him up burp, all 2.5 came immediately back out and down Jess' front and back. Next time, a mid-bottle burp will be in order.
