Slappy Drinks Sour Cream

The sour cream sauce that they serve at Señor Fish. Why dip when you can get so much more from straight downing it?

Slappy Shares

Dad's lap after dinner.

Slappy Makes Mom Proud

Maddie has not been the type of kid to sit down and do art projects, but this week things began to change. Here's one of her first paintings, which we are displaying on the cabinet because when we display anything of hers on the fridge, she removes it immediately. PS You don't need to say it, we already know she's gifted.

Slappy Has Friends Who Get It

This was something Lilly did all on her own accord. Later when asked why the dog had a hearing aid, she replied,"Because if it doesn't a hearing aid on, it doesn't hear." And this is why great friends are the chocolate chips in the cookie of life (except for Dzedo, who is allergic to chocolate, then they might be raisins).

Slappy Doesn't Need No Nap

And with no crib walls to constrain her, the room is her oyster. Please note, even the picture is out of the picture frame.

Madd Max Visits Dad At Work

After stopping by Sam's office, we headed over for lunch at The Water Garden. Lunch for Maddie and Sam consisted of a lot of running after ducks.

And a constant battle over whether or not getting in the water was a good idea (it was about 90 degrees - you decide).

Madd Max Has A Happy Meal

Their first one, although it was nothing like what Sam and Jess had promised. There was no big, red box - just a choice between a boy or girl themed bag (we think - we were asked if it was for a boy or a girl and the toy was a fighter plane, the bag, Dora).

Maddie finished the juice box and promptly moved on. Max enjoyed the fries.

Slappy Eats Pho

With some help from Auntie Jamie.

Madd Max Has A Family Meal

But first, a tired Max spent a little cuddle time with Julie.

A very awake Maddie spent some roll around on the floor time with Jack the Dog.

Once home, Taisie cooked a last delicious dinner (her and Toby head back to RI tomorrow), which we were all able to enjoy around the new, bigger kitchen table.

Madd Max Celebrates Edith

Who is such a big girl at 1 year - she's the one in the pink with the balloon.

K-Dub was there to celebrate as well.

Parents, Shanna and Tim, gave Edith her very own cake to go crazy on. It's a ladybug, and Edith demolished the head all by herself.

Madd Max Finds Comfort

A few weeks ago, Jess was driving with the kids in the back seat. Maddie had her usual handful of sticks in the back with her, and Max was fussing away. Suddenly Max became quiet, and Jess quickly pulled over assuming that he was now chewing on a stick from his sister (yes - this has happened before). After pulling over, she looked in the backseat, and saw this.

Madd Max Relaxes

At the Woodwards with a cozy brunch.

Followed by some exciting pot and pan removal. So cliche and yet so fun. Later, as we drove away from breakfast, leaving her grandparents behind, there were plaintive cries of "Taisie, Taisie."

Madd Max Gardens

Well, mostly Taisie as she is apt to do on her visits west.

Maddie did her part by picking flowers off of a bush, removing their leaves, and then handing them to Max. To see her thought process in greater depth - head here.

Toby supervised.

Then it was time for Jess to ditch the kids to head out to the Bon Jovi concert with Aarin.

While not a huge Bon Jovi fan, Jess is a Jersey girl, and Aarin had scored backstage passes and amazing seats from Drew (who worked on the show). How could you turn that down? As it turns out, Bon Jovi does a hell-uva amazing performance.

Slappy Still Digs Balloons

She also digs her grandparents, as shown by the fact that she kept running between them with the balloon. Each one got to hold it for a few seconds before she headed back to the other one.

Madd Max Shows Off Their Posse

At Taisie's request, the crew was invited over for dinner.

Taisie and Toby got to enjoy the high energy friendship of the 5, and Aarin and Marissa got a home cooked meal of corn soup, pizza and salad with a chocolaty goodness of a dessert.

Madd Max Makes Music

With their grandparents at Village Circle Time.

That's right - everyone gets an instrument.

Madd Max Munches With Maya

At Paty's for breakfast, ie fries and sweet potatoes.

Maya, awaiting the pleasure that is a stack of Paty's pancakes.

Next, a little park time with Todd doing double duty at the top of the slide.

And the back of the swing.

Kearsley manned son #1, and in this pix also looked oddly related to him.

And when it was time to go home, some big girl love.

Slappy Is Reunited

With BFF Maya who borrowed Taisie for some story time.

She came to LA in the company of her folks, Todd and Kearsley who were also meeting Max for the first time.

Although it had been awhile, their friendship is just like riding a bike, or maybe running down a hall over and over again.

Madd Max Zoos Again

But this time with Grandpa Toby, who had flown in last night.
PS Ducks still rock.

Flamingos, a close second.

There was a new exhibit that Maddie was also fascinated by - an empty habitat being swept by a zoo employee. She complained when we made her leave.

Grandparents make the zoo just that much better.
Please note, Max was also at the zoo, but attached to Jess in the Bjorn - he is not under that pile of discarded jackets.

Madd Max Has A Day With Taisie

The morning started early, Max thrilled that he had finally found someone who would walk him everywhere.

Even in preschool class while his sister blew bubbles.

He practiced standing alone, balancing while his sister bounced.

Once removed, Maddie was able to impress Taisie by her continuous and constant spinning.

And after Taisie offered up her hands as sticker holders, Maddie decided she had earned a title, and added "Taisie" into her personal nouns, along with Rocky, Oscar, Dada, Ellie, and Mama.

Once Dad got home, Max found something new and exciting to grab onto.

Oh yes, it's Dad's spiky hair.