Christmas Card

We sent out our Christmas Cards out this past week and a few people have received them. The picture is of both kids very happy screaming and laughing looking through Max's barn that he got from his sister for his birthday. Instead of including highlights of the whole year in our card this blog is the best place to look. Some of you have already checked it out and do so regularly, and you get e-mails automatically sent to you when we make an update. If you want you can become a follower of our blog or just check-in periodically. We try to be regular about our postings

We've all had a good year and are healthy. We wish all of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Zoo Lights

We went to the Columbus Zoo lights last Friday. It was a little nippy, but we had fun. Zoe had a green lollipop on the way to the zoo and ended up with green lips and tongue.
This was one of Max's happier moments.

When we got to Santa, well, Max christened the evening with the first wailing child. He never stopped. Zoe was a little worried for her brother.

And we also got to enjoy some really cool lights. We learned when a good time to go is and I'm not telling because I'm selfish like that. We were actually able to enjoy the lights as we walked from the back of the zoo to the entrance, instead of watching for the people who like to walk in front of strollers. 60+ pounds of kid in a double stroller does not stop on a dime.

Max's First Birthday

Our little guy turned 1 on November 12th. The family was over a couple days later for his birthday party. Some observations from his party. He didn't really care about the gifts he just like all the people because it meant that if wanted "bup" he would get it. He liked the boxes most, they were good for climbing on. The wrapping paper and tissue paper were nice, but the boxes were better.
My sister Zoe gave me this really cool farm. It has lots of animals and buttons to push that make the animal noises and doors to open and close. It is the best thing ever.
He really does love it and it is the one gift that he is still playing with all the time. Others get there time as well, but this one has ranked number 1. He knows which ones are the sheep, or as they are called in our house, the baabaa sheep. He knows the black and white one and has been known to do an army crawl holding 1 or both of them.

My papa carried me around some. You can see the streamers and the balloon that I got also. I probably chased him down so he would carry me.

And then my mommy gave me this little cake with a candle on top. Zoe and mommy blew it out for me and then she just gave it to me. I smeared it all over my face, put some icing in my hair, and they just let me do it. So I kept doing it.

It was the best day ever

Halloween

Yes it is the christmas season, but we've been pretty busy the past month with work, Jen has been slammed, Max's birthday, and Thanksgiving. So we are finally getting caught up on some photos.
Zoe was Malicent for Halloween. And for those of you who don't know who she is, we didn't either, she is the witch Malificent from Sleeping Beauty, but made nice. She lives at Gramma's house in the bathroom behind the towels. Zoe created the whole costume and she made her staff with help from Mommy, and Steve.
Max was a puppy dog. This was Zoe's first costume, for her second halloween. It was very appropriate for him since he started pointing at all of the puppy dog's on walks shortly before this, and said "oof off" We did get him to bark once with the puppy outfit on.

Gramma and Papa came over for the beginning of Trick or Treat. Gramma dressed up also, and Papa, is the chauffeur.

Zoe counting all of her loot from the night.

And finally a montage that Scott put together. Really this picture was not set-up. Zoe was standing there and happened to do this when Scott took the picture. It just set itself up for the phrase "I'll get you my pretty".

I'm One

I've had a very exciting past couple weeks so that is why I didn't post after my last doctor's appointment. In case you didn't know I turned 1 on the 12th and I had a party just a couple days later with my family. My daddy got sick at the beginning of the week and he gave it to me and Zoe. Zoe didn't get it too bad, but I was not good. I had a fever and coughing and runny nose. Mommy and Daddy called the on-call doctor one night because it got higher, but they gave me Tylenol and a bath and it went down. I liked the bath part they can do that more often. My mommy got the cold after my birthday party on saturday and she ended up staying home from work after she took me to the doctor on Monday. I was feeling better so I stayed with Gramma and Papa and let Mommy have some rest.
For my birthday there were lots of people, some gifts. I just crawled around the room and put my snotty nose on everyone, climbed on a couple of boxes and was just generally cute. I then got a cupcake with a candle on top. Mommy and Zoe blew it out for me and then they gave it to me. All for me and I was allowed to do whatever I wanted with it. I stuck my finger in the icing and then my hair. Eventually I figured out how to eat it and it was all over my face. I had to take another bath before I went to bed.
And finally I had to go to the doctor. I got measured, weighed and poked. I now weigh 23 pounds 5 ounces, I'm 30-1/2" long (still not tall yet), and my head is 19" around. The doctor checked me out and he got to see me standing some too. I had to show off some. I was well enough to get some shots. Yippee. And since I was already getting shots my mommy added in a regular flu shot for me as well. So I got 2 in one leg, 1 in the other, 1 in each arm and my toe got stuck for two tests.
I now say some words that only mommy and daddy can understand, but I have some words in my vocabulary that everyone can understand
Doggies say - "oof oof"
"bye bye"
"Bup" (for up)
I'll have some more pictures to share soon and I hear that Thanksgiving is coming soon. I'm looking forward to that. You know all the food. All is well in my life if there is food and my blankie.

Leaves leaving

We had to rake leaves this weekend so we could find the grass and patio again. This was Max's first experience with large piles of leaves. We figured some would go into his mouth since practically everything does go in there anyways. He did have fun digging in them.
And crawling in them. I laid in them and it wouldn't have been a bad place to nap in the sun, if Zoe and Max decided it would be more fun to crawl on me and cover me in leaves.

Zoe looked forward to the jumping in the piles of leaves. There were several piles so she could jump in different piles of leaves.

And Max cried when he saw Zoe in the sheet of leaves and finally he got to ride also. He loved it and he cried when the ride was over.

And the next day you couldn't even tell that we even raked so we'll have to do it all again and Max and Zoe will get to ride again.

And as Daddy says: "5 pounds of leaves 60 pounds of kid".

Pumpkin & Apple Picking

Last weekend we drove out to Lynds Fruit Farm to go pumpkin and apple picking. Jen and I had Friday off and aunt Stephanie came up to go on our little adventure with us. So we loaded up both cars, a girl car and a boy car and headed out Friday morning. The farm was muddy but at least it didn't rain and we all had fun hunting for our pumpkins. Zoe thought it was a giant maze and Max was just happy to be carried. We even had enough apples for GrandMa - the apples where huge by the way.

All we have to do now is a bit of pumpkin carving and we'll be ready for Halloween.