Slappy Unpacks

After every grocery store trip, Maddie insists on helping unpack. It is both endearing and very time consuming.

The reward, a California roll. (She ate the rice off the outside - the imitation crab came right back out).

Madd Max Has A Happy Father's Day - Twice Over

It began with Dad being left at home to enjoy his very quiet, calm house, while Mom and Madd Max met Marissa (how's that alliteration?), Lilly and Elizabeth for brunch.

Followed by dancing.

Then the two, very lucky kiddos spent a little swing time with their amazingly, awesome Dad.

Madd Max Has A New Routine

If one can't see their BFFs during the week, one makes it happen on the weekends.

"Bells make music in my mouth."

The more mature Elizabeth blew Jess' mind when instead of shoving the chalk into her mouth, she used it as it was intended.

Slappy Defeats Gravity

Maddie loves a good tower of blocks.

The Scrapper Is A Gentleman

The afternoon began with a little ball tossing at ELF's.

While Maddie and ELF drew with chalk on the available palettes.

It ended with Max pushing Elizabeth around the back patio, both of them thrilled at the fact that they could accomplish this.

Madd Max Watches Game 5 - 2010

While eating grilled artichokes and baked ziti with John, Feldie, Hunvey and Alex.

And of course ELF, who brought her mom. All 3 kids played in their bedroom by themselves, letting the adults enjoy some game time. Amazing.

Madd Max Pets A Goat

At the zoo, where Max smiled and bounced at every animal he noticed.

Maddie brushed a goat, which Max got to pat-pat with Jess' help (the bouncing became even more vigorous).

Slappy Has A Fashion Sense

Another outfit by herself. Jess provided the dress. Maddie chose the sock monkey hat, monkey bib, plastic bib, and previous to this picture, rain boots.

Madd Max Appreciates Good Art

And makes Dad draw it over and over again. It being Foofa, Muno and Plex.

Madd Max Is Reunited

And it feels so good.
Lilly, Elizabeth and ELF have all been traveling the East Coast for the past 3 weeks. This was the first day they were all back.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, John and Sam listened to Dr. Seuss on the iPad. Really.

The Scrapper Meets More Cuzs

Jess' first cousin, Kristin, and her fiance, Brandon came through on a whirlwind tour of SoCal, and met us for lunch.

Max liked them immediately.

Especially when, back at home, they pulled out some animal crackers, a cat book, and for Max, a paper bag.

Next up, August! (The month of their wedding)

Slappy And The Pea

She's actually the opposite of the Princess. Instead of asking for multiple mattresses, Maddie has taken to gathering all of the available blankets in the house. She then says, "Night, night", and requests to be covered with all of them. She watched an entire episode of Yo Gabba Gabba under 5 blankets.

Madd Max Continues The Weekend

With a brunch with Edith, Shanna, Tim, Kathleen and Eric.

And then a play date with Emma who was very good at sharing goldfish.

All of which ended with some dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba.

Madd Max Has A Three Day Weekend

Which began with Maddie's new hat from Liza Mae. What you can't see is the floppy bunny ears on the back of it. She wore this from 6:30am until we left the house.

Next we headed to ELF's house to pay some attention to the cats, since she's out of town. Talking Elmo was memorizing.

Followed by some Japanese soul food. Max dug the edamame.

Madd Max Has Good Care Part II

And here's an example of what the kiddos and Karol, the daughter of Morena, do. On Friday it was rainy, so they headed over to Chuck E. Cheese - a first for both Maddie and Max. Maddie loved the pizza, and feared the giant mouse. (Jess got this picture texted to her during the middle of the work day. That was equally as awesome as the pizza).

Madd Max Has Good Care

Now that Jess is back at work, the kiddos have 2 new nannies - a mother/daughter team - whom they thoroughly enjoy. Pictured here is Morena, who took them on a trip to the zoo. As you can see they are well fed (and have no problems when Jess says goodbye in the morning).

Madd Max Goes On A Merry-Go-Round

This morning the fam and Mimi headed to the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round - a first for both kiddos.

Maddie was very cautious at first, so Dad and Max hopped on for the first ride. As soon as Maddie saw them on there, she attempted to climb under the fence to get to them. Max found the ride slightly dull.

The next go round, Maddie and Mom hopped on to join Dad and the slightly bored Max.

When the ride ended, Maddie asked to go on again, even rattling the gate to get in.

This time Mimi came along to show Maddie how to ride the horses. Maddie was too nervous to ride but loved watching Mimi in front of her and saying "Hi!" to Dad every rotation.

Slappy Is Ready For The Scout

Hat on. Badge on. Where's the van?
This outfit chosen by the little miss who is getting big into accessorizing.

Madd Max Meets The Jalapeño

Mimi came out for a weekend visit, and we all headed out to some Vietnamese Diner food - bring on the french fry mixed with cilantro, garlic, and jalapeño. Sam, Jess and Mimi were all commenting about the deliciousness of the fries when both Maddie and Max began to have horrified looks on their faces. Then the wailing with confused pauses began. Once Sam and Jess stopped laughing and the kiddos mouths cooled down, some plain fries were ordered up with ketchup - that Maddie proceeded to down with a spoon.

Madd Max Shops Awesomely

Since Max is no longer being carried in the Baby Bjorn, some adjustments for supermarket shopping were needed. Maddie now manned the front, and LOVED it.

Max got the seat, and took our shopping list way more seriously.