Madd Max Celebrate Steve's Ladies

 

At Lilly and Elizabeth's 6 and 3 year-old birthday party.

 Which was attended by Rapunzel, hugging Elizabeth, and Cinderella.

 

There were crafts.

 And tandem babies-on-the-inside.

The best face painting Jess has yet to see at an event.

Double birthday = lot o' people.

Appropriately themed cupcakes.

As the party wrapped up, Max and ELF began to create what they called "cat food" - a mix of all the colored sand and every candy they could find.

Madd Max Checkout The Edison Fair

 Where Maddie and Emma took their horse racing seriously.

 

As did Mina, who was able to look on with the help of Mom, Val.

Maddie also got her first go at mini-golf.

The Scrapper Has A Special Day

 

At Thomas the Train Day in Fillmore.

 There was a ride on Thomas.

 Look at that face.

 Thomas train sets everywhere.

 And like his sister, ice cream after nap.

Slappy's Garden Grows

 

After about 11 days in the closet, her seeds look like this.  Her and Dad repotted them - in dirt, not gel.

Madd Max Play Dates

 First with Annie, Maggie and Aeryn.

 Aeryn being the first person in Max's peer group to actually play hockey with him.  Paint smocks and helmets, their idea.

And then at the Leonhardts for the first swim of the season.

Slappy Has A Special Day

 With Jess going back to work soon, it was decided that each kid would get a special one-on-one day with their parents.  Maddie chose lunch at Chuck E Cheese.

 Then it was over to see The Lorax.

And after nap, a little bubblegum ice cream.

Madd Max Stay With Dad

While Jess high-rolled with Auntie Jamie at the House Series Finale Wrap Party (complete with red carpet).

Madd Max Meets The Art Gallery

 At MOCA at the Geffen, an exhibit curated by The Beastie Boys, Mike D.

 There was an outdoor bar with adult and non-adult beverages and the Kogi truck, giving out free siracha candy bars.

 The highly anticipated arrival of the Stucker boys, whose Mom, Kille, did the lighting for the outdoor space.

 Inside, there were interactive pieces that the kids loved.

 Including this room which had digital projections on all sides, creating a feeling of moving down a surreal highway.

Back outside, the kids got down to some old school hip hop DJing.

Slappy Gardens

 But after all, it is the 21st century.

Those little capsules hold seeds.  That colored gel is what they grow in.  As of now, they reside in her closet, where she checks on their progress every morning.

Madd Max Return

Taisie and Toby joined the fam for the first leg of the trip.Where the kids were introduced to The Plane Present from Taisie.
While that was awesome, most of the trip felt like this. After a 5am (3am LA time) pickup, delays at the airport, over an hour on the jetway, running through the next airport after customs, another 3+ hour flight, lost luggage, and a total of 17 hours of travel, Jess quoted Uncle David, "And it's just that easy." Still, totally worth it, and the bags were returned the next day.

Madd Max Have A Hot Morning

 While the adults packed, the kiddos kept themselves happily entertained playing "Mommy Animal."

 A last swim.

 By early afternoon, it was so hot and humid, Max was able to be styled into a new do.

And Maddie had Jess cracking up on the walk up the hill for gelato.  After begging to be picked up and begin rebuffed repeatedly, Maddie stopped walking, and moaned, "But Moooommm, I'm dyyyingggg."  The first, but surely not the last time that phrase will come out of her mouth.

Madd Max Have Cute Genes

The Grandparents.
The Grandchildren.

Goodbye, Pearl Islands.

Madd Max Have Another Beach Day

Morning spent with Taisie and books.
Self applied suntan lotion.Water fun.
Clear and warm.
The sand set.
Adult drinks while the grandchildren remain at the house.Evening wading.