Madd Max Has A BBQ

While also enjoying the 90 degree Findley pool.  

Oh. Yeah.

Madd Max Celebrates Elizabeth

Complete with leopard cake by Marissa.

Which had leopard spots on the inside as well.

Birthday girl skating.

Madd Max Goes To The Circus

Maddie has been interested in Cirque Du Soleil and has been begging to go to the circus, so the fam headed to Ventura for Circus Vargas.  It was awesome.

Beach time, post-circus.

The adults did not enter the water.

And to finish the night - a stop for dessert at a restaurant that served Bananas Foster.  A first for the kiddos who jumped back at the 3' flame.

Madd Max Has Peace

While The Countess is known to run and jump on Oscar's arthritic back when he enters from outside - Oscar running in hopes of missing said jump, there are also moments like this.

Madd Max Goes To The Aquarium

On the first day of summer, where Taisie signed them up for a program where they got to feed otters after the otters gave "paw."  Jess was a little jealous, otters being her favorite animal at the Bronx Zoo.

They also fed the birds.

Madd Max Has Home Cooked Food

Not bad to find this in the fridge on weeknight.

"Food from a batch I made"

"More food"

Everyone should have a Taisie.

Slappy Heads To The Ballet

Jess was gifted 3 tickets to the Ahmanson where the Scottish Ballet was performing, "A Streetcar named Desire."  It was Jess and Taisie's first time at the Ahmanson, but as the fam walked up Maddie was all, "Oh, I've been here before!"  (She came with camp to see a play).

Being very grownup, reading her program.  

We had been warned that the content was recommended for 15 and up.  At the end of the first act, her synopsis was, "Her whole family dies and they have sex."  She wasn't wrong, but did enjoy the entire thing.  It was a really great ballet.

Fountain time in Grand Park, post ballet.

The Scrapper Has A Pinewood Derby

Max requested a pickup truck hauling a tree.

And done, complete with Den 9 branding.

They received the award for Best Scout Theme.

Then it was over to go-kart racing for a father-son finish to the day.

Which was awesome until Max slammed into the wall and the day was called to a premature close.

Madd Max Heads To Grayson's Pool Party

Grayson and Pete, a friend of Jess' from work.

The incredible pool and pool floaties.

The Scrapper Is Officially A Wolf

Another Wolf ceremony.

Also complete with dabs.

Slappy Becomes A Junior Girl Scout

In her bridging ceremony from Brownies to Juniors, complete with dabs.

Madd Max Has Happy Food

Courtesy of mold by Taisie; eggs by Sam.

Madd Max Christens The New Dining Table

 In the backyard.

Followed by some Erin birthday cake.

Madd Max Hula Hoops

 While eating In-n-Out.  

Now that's skillz.

Max handling his own.

Madd Max Has A Happy Mother's Day

 Jess woke up to presents and kitties at the end of her bed.

 Breakfast in a bag, to be had in bed.

And Max's portrait of Jess, complete with Dexter shirt and descriptions of how the parts of the body were used - "heart that is filled with love", etc.  He added in, "2 rows of teeth, top and bottom, to bite my butt" (something Jess says to get the kids into bed:)

The Scrapper Decides It's Time

Max does everything at his own pace.  Tonight, he decided he would bike to dinner without training wheels after having them on for years.  He's getting it!

Madd Max Has The Spring Dance

 Max front and center.

 Tearing it up.

 Maddie - 2nd row back, all the way to the right,

Boom.

Slappy Gets Some Love

Sometimes Maddie likes to have Max in the same room at bedtime. They split the time between rooms, sometimes Max on the mattress on the floor in hers, sometimes the opposite.  When she in Max's room, she gets a little extra love.

Madd Max Celebrate Toby's 77th

With some candles and some eclairs.

The Scrapper Has A Zoo Overnight

With the Boy Scouts, waiting to go in.

The bunking quarters.

Sam said the best part of the night was seeing all of the crepuscular animals out.  This snow leopard hid and pounced at the boys.

The evening's itinerary.

Night googles for the stuffed animal hunt.

And the overcast exit the next morning.

Slappy Has A Girl Scouts Overnight

Her first big sleepover.

She's living it up on the left.

Slappy Goes Big

Hair brushed after overnight braids.

Madd Max Has An Open House

Madd at her desk.

Her self-description.

Her ode to Aunt Rachel.

Max at his desk.

His self-description.

And explaining 2nd grade to a group of 1st graders who came by to look at the class.

Madd Max Pays Homage To The 80s

Or rather Jess' painters did.  Anyone remember Yo! MTV Raps?