The Scrapper Looses His First Tooth

Sam brushed it out while helping.  Apparently Uncle Ant also helped one of Aiden's teeth make it's way out by aggressively wiping Aiden's face, although to hear Aiden tell it - his Dad punched his tooth out.

Madd Max Celebrates Marissa's Bday

 With sushi and sake.  Homemade crispy rice, spicy tuna rolls.

 3 of the 4 families discuss their home construction work.

 Babies and sake.

 Chilling and sake.

And birthday carmelitas with a lot of blowing out the candles help.

Madd Max Enjoy A Rainy Morning

Happy Maddie with a not-too-happy Oscar.

And a fine breakfast from Sam - cinnamon rolls, eggs and bacon and hash browns.

Slappy Heads To World Thinking Day

 Where her troop educated the other scouts about France.

And Jess learned and retained that marshmallows were first created in Egypt.

Slappy Gets Her Green Belt

Testing.

 

More testing.

The belt.

Madd Max Enjoy The Life

i.e. room service.

Madd Max Heads To Vegas

 Technically, just Sam and Jess did, to finish up the celebration of Jess' 40th - the parents first time away from the kids for 2 nights in a row.  Here's the view from the sweet suite.

 Champagne in a wine glass in the suite.

Ready for dinner and a show.

Madd Max Make Jess So Happy

Their choice of activity.  And the chest swells with pride, even though this sight is like a double rainbow in the Kender-Page.

Madd Max Has More Visitors

Kears and Todd, who had also come down for Jess' birthday party - and brought their kiddos!

Not at all posed puzzling and cheese eating.

Madd Max Throws A Surprise 40th Birthday Party

 At this place.

 With these people.

 All planned by Sam.

 40 selfie.

 40 cocktails.

40 cake.

And what else 40 means - friends from all of the ages.  At this table alone (and there were 2 other tables), Jess' childhood, high school, college and first design job are all represented.  It was pretty amazing, and such a good time.

Madd Max Has A Visitor

 Tante!  Who came out for Jess' 40th birthday party and then played some hoops.

And chess.

Madd Max Has Nibbles

That start of the beginning of a great weekend - both Sam and Francoise coming home.

Madd Max Celebrates 40

A very down Jess arrived at her office to find this.  Not a bad way to start the new decade.

This picture sums up turning 40.  A backwards mirror selfie, track suit (because only elastic pants from now on), and the executive bathroom.

And there were cupcakes.

And cake.

Upon returning home from work, Jess found this, set up by Taisie, who made a blueberry pie and a birthday celebration.

The kids helped with the presents.  

 A very good day, all in all.

Slappy Gets Retainers

She was so excited to get them that she had her grandparents take her to the orthodontist  rather than reschedule, when Dad got sent out of town on work.

Slappy Has Holiday Homework Too

 Grim holiday homework.

Madd Max Has A Throwback

Auntie Kerry, Mimi, Heather (friend), Terry (Kerry's Dad), Uncle Ant, Alex (Kerry's bro), Jess, Tio Greg and Teddy (friend).  Also of course, Jess' earrings... and hair.

Madd Max Heads To Hoboken

First, Jess grabbed breakfast with Francoise, stopping by to pick up Valentina and Mateo after piano practice.

Then some brief edible chemistry experiments before the kids joined up with the Vielot-Gonzalezs in Hoboken.

Valentina and some pizza.

Lucia and her prettiest smile.

Max in heaven watching Mateo play Minecraft.

And doing his absolute favorite thing - holding a baby.

They actually stayed like that for a remarkably long time considering neither looks particularly comfy.

Madd Max Sees Noises Off

Or at least Jess did with Leon in the city.

The Scrapper Wrestles

One of his favorite things to do with Aiden.

He's down.

They're both down.

The closest Jess could get to showing what a height difference 20 days makes (clearly Aiden is older).