Madd Max Digs Some Women's March Signs

Madd Max Protests At The LA Women's March

The morning began with a picture from Mimi who was at the DC March.  Taisie marched there as well.

Then there were these socks from Kathleen (at the March in DC as well).

The fam in the Metro station.  Erin made this awesome sign for us to carry.

The crowds were so large that it took 2 hours and 45 minutes to get Downtown.  It was inspiring. 

Leaving the station at Pershing Square.

So many people.

Powerful.

The feeling after the march was one of solidarity and positivity.  Enough so that there was even singing on the packed Metro on the way home.

That sign is now in the front window, reminding Jess that this is marathon, not a sprint.

The Scrapper Loves Him Some Puddles

As Dozee pointed out, "Mud luscious and puddle wonderful" - e e cummings.

That's a wet and happy boy.

Madd Max Enjoy Some STEM Lab

A gift from Aunt Tara and Uncle Ant.  

Madd Max Packs It Up

In an amazing turn of events - all the kids chilled in front of the TV while the adults packed.

During clean up - Jess found these Deth Trap Blueprints.

They involved the mud, a bed, the pool table and the couch.  Good thing we found them before we left.

The crew - minus Sam, Kathleen and Eric who all took off the day before.  Imagine them smiling with us.

Madd Max Heads Out To The Slopes

While the driving looks easy here, it was actually quite difficult to get out onto the main road.  Enough so, that for awhile there was a fear we would not be able to leave for the day - luckily, there was enough food to tide us over.

Once out in town, the Kender-Page hit the inner tube slopes.

The kids were thrilled that they both got to tube on their own.

Whee!

Back at home, men in their layers (Eric is the only one of the group who actually hit the real slopes on his snowboard).

Madd Max Settles In

Some Pictionary.

Some homemade pasta.

Some time on the climbing wall in one of the bedrooms.

Kid dinner.

Adult dinner.  What's not to love in all these faces.

A birthday cake for Jess.

And some fine game playing.

Madd Max Head To Big Bear Take 2

But first some breakfast to prep for all the traffic.

What we did see upon arrival was pretty amazing.  Snow everywhere, and a few snowmen already standing.

The kids loved shoveling the deck off.  In bare feet.  With no pants.  And some plumber's crack.

John explains daylight savings to K-Dub.

Thankfully upon arrival drinks and food were plentiful.

And the hot tub was warm.

So relaxing with 7 kids.

And inside birthday celebrations were just beginning with more apps.  Aarin seen here playing sous chef to Sam.

Madd Max Head To Big Bear

At 3:30pm, Jess and the kids headed out in the pouring rain.  At 8:00pm, Jess put on snow chains in said rain all by herself.  At 8:10pm, the car got stuck in the snow and began to slide towards the edge of the mountain.  At 8:20pm, Jess took off the chains in the pouring rain and headed to a local restaurant.

And then a local-ish hotel.

Madd Max Take Down Christmas

 And got to open their tree presents once everything was down.

Which revealed Lego sets, which kept the kids busy for 2 1/2 hours while Taisie wrote out Christmas cards.  Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Madd Max Bring In The Year

At Great Uncle Rick's with the addition of Uncle Wills and Aunt Ally.

Happy 2017, Great Grandma!

On the flight home, Max got to pick out his meal.  He choose Lunchables, something he has never had before.  It was bliss.

Back in LA.

Where we got to baggage claim and got another surprise - the Page-Bethels were on there way to New Zealand and stopped by for an in-person goodbye.

It was wonderful.

Cousin-love.  Which later led to Maddie sobbing because she did not want them to leave, but it was still worth it.