Madd Max Head To The Rehab Center

It turned out that Toby had broken his hip in the fall the day after Thanksgiving.  After 2 days in the hospital, he was brought to a rehab center where the fam stopped by to visit.

Madd Max Heads To The Williams Sisters' Bday Party

Bowling themed.

As it was held at a bowling alley.

Where the kids sat at the bar and ate some pizza,

Birthday girl, Audrey bowled with some Dad help.

Birthday girl, Isse enjoyed some bowling and a lot of the claw arcade game.

Happy Birthday, Williamses!

Madd Max Remains In Palm Springs

Sadly, Taisie and Sam did not.  About an hour and half after arriving at the motel, Sam got a call saying that Toby had wandered from his nursing home and was being taken to the emergency room for a fall.  Sam and Taisie immediately headed back to Burbank, and Jess and the kids waited for Sam to return to pick them up the next day.  While upset about the news of their grandfather, the novelty of being at a motel with a pool continued to bring them enjoyment.

Madd Max Head To Palm Springs

To the Caliente Tropics Hotel, which is a tiki themed motel with a heated pool.

With drinks by the side of that pool.

A commitment to said theme.

Madd Max Is Thankful

Madd Max Thanksgiving Eats

The kid and adult tables.

Christmas salad gone wrong, as in the jello did not exactly set up.

The spread

The peeps.

The after dinner walk - a Holly Rose tradition, which was awesome and will be added in the Kender-Page wheelhouse from here on out.

An after dinner round of Apples to Apples.

Green Card: Dramatic /  Red Card: The Williams Sisters

End of the evening.

Madd Max Chills Pre-Dinner

Keith and Holly.

Audrey and John.

Erin and Jess.

Taisie and Isse, who is offering Taisie Pringles, a Williams tradition.

The kiddos.

In crazy pose.

Madd Max Have A Thanksgiving Morning

Watching the parade with friends.

Prep time with Taisie and Toby, seen here making a fruit turkey.

Charred lemons for a gin cocktail.

And Mimi's sausage stuffing - Jess' first go at this, although she did spend many years tearing bread for said stuffing in Jersey.

Madd Max Gets Thanksgiving Visitors

Maya and Dexter, who immediately began playing as if no time had passed.

And their folks, Kears and Todd, who immediately began playing - with Sam's new VR set up.

Madd Max Hits The Burbank Winter Wine Walk

 Or rather, their parents did.  

And it was a good time, as you can tell from that goofy grin.

Madd Max Have An End Of The World Party

Or a There Is Still Good In The World Party.

This election was very hard on the Kender-Page family as a whole - the kids cried at the outcome and worried their friend would be deported.  The adults feared and continue to fear for their friends and country.  After a very heavy week, it was decided a little respite was in order.

So a party was planned, with a theme.  

Click on the photos to make them bigger - you'll get the idea.

The miracle berries turn sour into sweet.  A very trepidacious Max, seen here happily sucking on a lemon after having a berry pill.

Orange.

Little.

Spicy.

The conversation was lively, angry, sad, confused but at least there, and with friends who can remind you that we are still a voice and can and need to be heard.

The kids also provided distraction by running from the tent in the backyard to the movie in the bedroom and back.

Thanks to all of you.  You helped things seem a little more ok.

Madd Max Is Schooled

In culling down their Halloween candy, Sam taught the kids about the ingredients and textures of each unfamiliar bar.

Madd Max Get An Escort

To school in the morning.

Madd Max Enjoys The Legoland Hotel

Taisie started off the ice cream-for-breakfast trend.

Some pool time.

Better with a sib.

Madd Max Heads To Legoland

The morning started with breakfast burritos from Mimi.  Max apparently equates Mimi visits with sprinkled donut holes, and when he asked where they were - Mimi ran out and grabbed them as well. Max declared that he was sure, "This is going to be one of the best days of my life."

Legoland!

The kiddos no longer want to ride with their parents.

So Sam rode with his.

And Jess rode with hers.

Max rode this ride 9 times in a row, while the ladies waited for a single go on one ride.

And then the return to a fully themed hotel room.

And an evening of Hero Training.