Madd Max Bounces

After a stop in Griffith Park for a DHH Game Day, it was time to bounce.

Over to Aidan's 7th Birthday Party. ELF and Maddie amazed their parents by loving the bounce house, even when it became filled with older kids. Both of them desperately wanted to spend the entire party in there, and would lean on the bounce house from the outside when it got too rowdy inside for them. For Jess, it was the first time that Maddie seemed like a little girl and not a toddler.

The bounce house became even more awesome when the Dads came in - that's Brian, Aidan's Dad, to the left and Aidan flying above him.

The taller ladies remained on the outside.

Inside, Aidan blew out the candles on this Super Mario cupcake cake made by Alison.

Madd Max Learns A New Game

After watching Emma do this a few times, Maddie came over to join as it was awesome. First, pick up 2 handfuls of sand.

Next, turn and dump them on the rubber ground. Repeat until bored.

Max Page, PI kept an eye on the rest of the park while the girls were otherwise engaged.

Back at home, an evening of couch time with Dad.

Slappy Enjoys A BF

ELF came by for a play date, their parallel play now becoming closer to prependicular. Maddie now spends her time following behind Ellie on tip-toes wherever she goes, one step behind her every action. Here ELF decided she wanted a snack on a big girl chair.

The Scrapper Babbles

Max figured out today how to make babble sounds, specifically "mamama" and "bababa." He practiced all day, thrilling Jess whenever the "mamama" came out, as Maddie has yet to call her mama. In an interesting turn of events, every time Jess praised Max for "mamama," Maddie would repeat it in the background. She stood her ground however when specifically asked to say it - her response being a smile and a "dada."

Madd Max Has A Toy Fort

Max had been playing on the floor with two toys, when Maddie walked over and gave him another. After being praised by Mom, she got excited, and brought him over TOYS. Clearly, Max was overcome by his sister's generosity, and distraught over the fact he could not reciprocate. (And she had squished his head with that last toy drop.)

Slappy Jumps On The Bed

Actually there were 3 little monkeys jumping on the bed.

The Scrapper Is Longer

At Max's 6-month check-up, he came in at:

Weight: 16lb. 0oz (25th percentile)
Height: 27 in. (55th percentile)
Head Circumference: 17.25cm (45th percentile)

He's getting long and lean, just like his sis (who cried whenever the doctor or nurses came near him, even though he did not).

Madd Max Has A Firsts Day

It began with Max's first solid food - oatmeal and breast milk. It blew his mind.

He got so excited that he grabbed onto Jess' hand with one hand and tried to grab the spoon with the other to keep it in his mouth. He also hummed after every bite.Eating is amazing.Then it was time for a Maddie first. After climbing out of her crib during nap 3 days in a row, it was time for a big girl bed, ie a conversion to her toddler bed. Sam and Jess were not sure if it would be a traumatic event to see your bed being torn apart, but brought Maddie in to see what was happening.She was fascinated and tried to get in on the action.

Once the bed was set up, her mind was blown. She climbed in and out over and over, laying down, standing up, clapping, repeat, repeat.

A big girl bed is amazing.
(Whenever Jess looks at this picture, she sees Taisie smiling away. For visual proof, look here.)

Madd Max Gets Locked In

Every other year, the same crew head up to Big Bear for a weekend in. This year with the new wee ones, that didn't happen, so the Kender-Page Lock-In was put into play. A day where from 11am to 12am, the crew would be in the house, cooking, gaming, chatting. It began with french toast, quiche, and coffee. Jess was pleased.While brunch was being enjoyed, Alison began to get her dinner cassoulet ready.Erin made Chex Mix for munching.John tried to enjoy a refreshing drink, but could not figure out where the straw went in. (For those of you unfamiliar with pumping, that is a bag of frozen breast milk that looks surprisingly like Capri Sun).Jess made a mid-afternoon poverty casserole under Steve's watchful eye.With some calories being burnt off by badminton.And dancing.And double-kid wrangling.It was also Marissa's birthday.Lilly placed the candles.Next, time for Jess, Holly and Jamie to toast the rental hot tub.Followed by experiencing it, along with Liza and Alison.

The evening wrapped up with wine and Suzanne and Greg testing the new Chadwick pizza.

Yes, that is a pickled lemon pizza.

Which goes perfectly with a long game of Mille Bornes.

Slappy Gets Gotten

ELF in the lead, followed by Lilly, and Maddie bringing up the rear.

Madd Max Has A Happy Last Day

On Aiden's last day of the visit, we headed to Julienne for breakfast where he and Dad took breakfast very seriously.

Especially the creme brulee french toast, which Aunt Tara had been hearing about for months. Please note the stickers that are now a staple in getting Maddie through a meal in peace.

Next, a stop at Kidspace for storytime, which was the place to be in the rain.

Then Aunt Tara's brilliant game of ball toss, which blew the minds of the boys. You may notice that Max seems a little different, perhaps a little more mature. This is because today he turned 6 months old, and his first tooth popped through. (Honestly, it may have popped through a few days earlier, but Aunt Tara pointed it out today - good looking out).

After a day of quality time, Aiden managed to stay up at the hotel to give Jess a smiley goodbye.

Madd Max Has Fun Inside

With the rain beating down outside, Aunt Tara got down in the trenches with the boys to have some indoor playroom fun.

After some observation, Uncle Ant and Maddie decided they had the right idea for the day.

Madd Max Has No Dining Room Table

It was given up in order to have a good playroom. Luckily, Marissa and Nico did not seem to mind dinner around the coffee table.

And Max enjoyed the adult conversation from below it.

Madd Max Has Mexican

But first some play time with Tio Greg.

After a taste of Señor Fish, Aiden demanded more with a little Don Cuco's. His demand was clear as he furiously hand waved and intensly stared at his mama's food.

Max demanded a little more cuddle time with Dzedo, as he and Tio Greg were heading back to the east coast in an hour.

Madd Max Meets LA Rain

Uncle Wills and Mimi headed home early in the morning, just as the rains began to fall. The rest of the fam headed out for lunch. After being rained out of their first location, they headed down the block to a fully indoor restaurant.

Aiden watched with amazement, all of the downed power lines and flooding.

Maddie took a more direct observation approach.

Once inside, the boy cousins enjoyed each others company. Every time they would come across each other, they would smile and reach out to touch one another.

During a rain break, a walk to the post office involved some hiding from the paparazzi.

Followed by a warm, one pot dinner from Dzedo.

Which Maddie enjoyed feeding to Tio Greg.