Max and the Dirt Devil

No photos this time, but there will be a photo or video of this at some point. Sometimes the stories are just too funny. For Christmas I got a little handheld Dirt Devil vacuum to help in cleaning up all of the crumbs, that Max does not find in a timely manner. Max likes the sound of the little vacuum or any vacuum. Last weekend we used it and he wanted to push it around so we gave it to him and then he was pushing the button to turn it on, so he was vacuuming the carpet for us. When we turned it off and took it away it was like we were taking away one of his best friends. Then last night he heard me use it down the hallway and Scott said that he got up, looked around listened and followed the sound until he found his friend. By the time he got there I was done so I was able to sneak it out, but he looked around for it still. Tonight he found his friend on the floor and pulled it out and of course wanted it turned on, so he did a little sweeping by the table and in the kitchen and once again when it was turned off and taken away he cried like his best friend was gone.
So we have the vacuuming taken care of by Max, he just has to grow a little more, and Zoe will be taking care of the mopping and dusting.

Science Project - Snow and Ice

We finally got some snow worthy of playing in, and it also means that one part of the roof gets icicles, and I mean some major icicles. Scott and Zoe went outside to remove from the house. Zoe supervised since they were so big. She had one to play with and marched around with it, one of the big ones was given to the neighbor boys and we don't know what happened to it, but there were no screams. And then the rest were put into a sculpture in the yard so they are now pointing up just to see what happens to them over a few days. The tallest one was about 4'. You can see the size with Zoe standing next to them.

And Zoe also decided after the first big snow that the inch worm wanted to go out in the yard. He didn't do so good in the snow, but she did have fun. She also has the odd desire to stick her head in the snow. Only a 4 year old.

Max Walks

Our little guy is getting pretty good at walking barefoot.

One minute he is there and the next well, take a peek.


He likes walking down the hallway to and from his sisters room. He gets a little faster everytime and he likes daddy's camera.

Next he has to work on walking better with shoes on.

Leaf Jumping 2009

Yeah this a couple months old, but it will make you smile. Zoe mastered doing somersaults in the leaves. Some of them went sideways, and only at 4 would you take a flying leap head first into the leaves.

New Years 2010

We rang in the New Year at midnight Paris time. So at 6:00pm Columbus, Ohio time we were blowing our horns. It was a great idea to do it this way, then everyone got to ring in the new year, and it actually was somewhere.

Uncle Steve and Zoe have horn blowing sword fights.
Uncle Jeff was in Paris recently and brought little gifts for everyone. Max is sharing the keychain that Papa received.
And Max was the little frenchman with his berret. It was not on long, but long enough to get a picture.
The crew blowing horns at midnight, Mommy, Gramma, Zoe, Uncle Jeff, Uncle Steve.
And then old man time 2009 and baby new year 2010 made their appearance.

Christmas 2009

We had an exciting Christmas this year.
First Zoe and I made cookies and decorated and Max looked on longingly to get his hand on one of those cookies. He would not have helped decorating.
This was Max's second Christmas, but the first that he was able to do some, or destruct some. He helped decorate Gramma and Papa's christmas tree.
And of course Zoe did too, but she didn't need help with the ornaments. She is reaching higher and higher on the tree.
Opening presents at Gramma and Papa's on Christmas Eve. Yes, Max is wearing Santa pants, we tried the top, but it was too small to wear a second time.
Uncle Dave made for a wonderful seat to check out a new calendar that had pictures of food.
Uncle Steve, Zoe and Max having some play time in the front hallway to release some of that extra energy that always seems to come around Christmas.
Zoe got to play the piano on Christmas with her Aunt Stephanie at Grandma and Grandpa Lytle's. Max joined some as well.
The perusal of all the stuff under the tree. Where to begin?
I think I need to make happy faces and show mommy and Grandma my new spikey ball. Mommy will be keeping a close eye on me with this one since I have a ball like this at Gramma's. We'll just say that Mommy found a surprise in my diaper one day.
And the two little ones, just happy.

Scootering

One of Zoe's new favorite Christmas gifts. She has been scootering around in the house( good thing you can go in a circle in our house) for practice, but we where able to go outside for a little bit the other day so she could open it up...