Madd Max Spend A Day In RI

Morning games.

A very civilized game of UNO over milk and PB&Js.

New Year's Eve dinner - fish tacos in honor of Cali, where Uncle Derek and Auntie Kerri used to live.

Happy 2015!

Madd Max Head To Rhodey

While the Pages no longer live in this tiny state, the Ullucci-Michaels do.

Andre and Atticus immediately got a game of dodgeball going,

Maddie's restaurant dinner drawing.

And bedtime stories.

Madd Max Head To The East

Dunkin' Donuts with the fam.

Jess and Grandma, or as the kids call her, their really old Grandma.

On the 9 hour drive to Jersey, the kids realized that as well as playing games, they could hook up their music playlist.  Here they are rocking out. 

With the kids on headphones, this is what Jess and Sam did for the drive.

There was a happy dinner time arrival at Aunt Tara and Uncle Ant's house where there was a cousin balloon party.

Followed by a Tio Greg climbing party - if you look closely you can see Aiden underneath Tio as well.

Madd Max Have A Cleveland Day

Reading Gerald and Piggie to Grandma.

Uncle Rick brought all of Grandma's old games to his house.  Shown here, an original Shoots and Ladders.

Jeannie, Jess' 2nd cousin, and Rollie came over with Noelle and Margot in the afternoon.

Noelle and Maddie beautify.

Max and Margot hang.

Madd Max Head Out On Holiday Travels

Max was thrilled that we were in the same terminal as last year, as it had a train that circled the rotunda.

Upon arrival at Uncle Rick and Aunt Carole's house, the kids immediately headed to the cuckoo clock.  During Grandma's move from her house to Uncle Rick's, the clock had stopped working.  Knowing how much his great niece and nephew loved it, Uncle Rick took it to a clock maker to get that bird moving again.  It was well worth the time - the kids continued to dig it.

The Cleveland crew.

Madd Max Has A Merry Christmas

Maddie's happy Christmas dance, done while waiting for her grandparents to arrive for the opening of presents.  Also done the previous night before bed.

 Sam's homemade cinnamon rolls.

 Opening presents with Toby and Taisie.

 A lego break.  The following day - Maddie would assemble 5 lego packs because as she says, "too many legos is not enough."

Max finally got that skateboard from Tante.

Practicing balancing on the grass.  When asked if he wanted to open more presents, Max ran in with a sigh, opened one, and then ran back out.

Chinese lunch per NJ custom.

Madd sorting the last of the presents.

 Christmas dinner of chicken paprikash and homemade spaetzle per Sam custom.

Madd Max Have Happy Christmas Eve

 First, some gifting of Christmas cookies.  The cornflake wreaths and the chocolate chip meringue cookies were 2 cookies Jess' Grandma would make every year, and were Jess' favorites.  This was her first year making them.

 Then, over to the Leonhardts for an amazing stuffed pork.

 Snacks for Santa and his reindeer.

 Maddie did not to put out her original note for Santa because she decided that she would love whatever he got her.  Max still wanted that skateboard.

In the morning, the kids would be so excited that the stockings were so full that Santa had to put them on the ground with some presents behind.

Madd Max Continues To Celebrate Dad

 The second and third birthday cakes - the standard Page cake and a vanilla version shaped like a hockey stick and puck.

 Then the fam headed over to Sam's hockey game.  

 Max was insane with excitement, and spent most of the game cheering "Go Sam!" and standing on his tip-toes peering over the edge.

Sam on the ice.

Madd Max Celebrate Dad

Birthday breakfast (originally brought to Sam in bed, but relocated to the dining room).

Then it was over to the Findley's new house for lunch and the kiddos present exchange - exchanging for the holidays, not just kids exchanging Sam's presents, that would be weird.

A Happy Birthday lunch.

 Max participated in his favorite activity, holding Caroline.

 The present crew.

 The birthday crew.

 Back to the present crew.

 And the aftermath.

Madd Max Check Out The Lights

 There is one house in Burbank that draws a crowd.  The fam checked it out.  Later, Madd told Jess, she thought seeing the lights would "really boring, but it was so much fun!"

Jess' favorite house on that block - the Grinch stealing the lights.

Madd Max Have A Little More Family Time

 Max schooled Uncle Wills on how to game on the iPad.

The crew.