One of "those" . . .

. . . can be filled many ways now.  We had a very excitement filled Sunday and not in a way that we want to repeat, ever.  The punchline is I got home on Monday at 8:30 am.  Why did I get home at that time, because I spent the night at Children's Hospital with Max.  It all started with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for lunch.  That was the first and last PB & J that Max will ever have. 
The long and short of it we ended up at Riverside ED at about 3pm and then transferred to Children's at about 5:00.  And then finally to the Observation unit around 6:30.
Max flirted with all of the nurses, asked them for juice and played peek-a-boo. 
Zoe was a great big sister through it all.  She did her best to cheer him up.  She was really sad when she had to leave, but she was also really tired.   
So now I'll be one of "those" mom's, who has to make sure there isn't anything peanut in what her son eats, and actually will no longer mock those "peanut-free" classrooms.  I'll understand why much better and want those rooms.  So now we are "those" parents and Max is one of "those" kids. 
I never thought I would be one of "those" mom's, but now I have to embrace it and make it part of my life. 
Now the research is to begin.

Easter

We had a good Easter Weekend and the weather was perfect for the whole weekend.  Very welcome since so many things at Easter are usually best outside.  And also for the old wives tale about the following 7 weeks having the same weather after Easter.  It better be true.

We started off with a candy hunt, ie how fast can you run and pick up candy that is laying in the grass.  Max would have rather kept playing than go looking for candy, but he did anyways.  Zoe got a loot.  She also got her picture taken with 3 of the Easter Bunny's "helpers".

On Easter morning we had our own Easter egg hunt in the backyard.  We think a squirrel or other critter absconded with one of the plastic eggs.  Yes, Max has the bunny ears around his neck.  He liked them there better, and he collected some eggs as well.

We took some photos of the little ones in their Easter outfits at Grandma and Grandpa Lytle's.  Zoe decided to do a little posing for the camera, and Max has a typical little brother look.  "What in the world is she doing?"

And then there had to be spinning and general silliness.  These kids couldn't be serious for long if you tried. 

And then of course finishing off with some piano playing.  Max took care of the bass.

Wishing For Spring

Zoe has been dressing in summer dresses, skirts, sunglasses and sandals.  She is just voicing the need that everyone else is hoping for, but she is going all out by also dressing the part.  So this past weekend was a wonderful glimpse to spring starting to spring. 
Zoe put on her Hello Kitty boots, that now actually fit, and marched through the wet snow.  I think she was tired of the snow boots.

Grandma and Grandpa came to visit on Sunday so everyone spent some time outside.  We spent it on the driveway and sidewalk since that isn't affected by the snow making  the ground turn to mush.  Max had fun pushing the snow out of Grandpa's hand.  It was actually funny.  It really is the little things.

Everyone is just so much happier when we get to go outside.  We all get to run, and scream as loud as we want, and it just makes us look better too.

Max took Grandpa for a walk back and forth and back again on the sidewalk.  This walking thing is really cool.  He'll be running soon so we'll have a very active summer.

Zoe got to ride her scooter outside and let it all out.  She wasn't constrained by the small circle in the house, toys in the way, cooking dinner or Max deciding he needed to sit in the one path available.  She was also able to try a few tricks.

Everyone is happier when they get to spend time outside.  Even the emotional one. 

Daddy: "You're emotional"

Zoe: "Yeah, totally" said with a valley girl accent.

Gone sledding

We finally had a snow that we could go sledding.  We went to Gramma and Papa's because they have a great place to sled and play in the snow.  Also a warm place for Max to go so the rest of us can stay outside and play.  It's also nice that Gramma makes us hot chocolate for when we are done playing in the snow.

Max liked being pulled around in the sled the best.

Max took a couple runs down the hill with Daddy.

Being pulled around and around by Mommy.

Mommy and Max take a trip down with Zoe giving us a push.

Zoe took a snooze on the way in.  She just fits.

Our snow girl.  She is wearing a wedding gown and has a baby carrot nose, must be dainty, red grape eyes, and charcoal buttons.  Isn't she beautiful?

The snow babe.

Yes, Zoe and Max took a run also.  We're not sure if Max actually saw anything down this run with Zoe's arm over his face.

We now have more random ice sculptures around the yard and on the picnic table courtesy of icicles hanging from the gutters.  Based on how much snow is still on the roof I'm sure there will still be more.

Snow

 We've had lots of snow, like most everyone else, so everyone had to make a trip outside at some point.  Zoe and Scott have spent the most time outside.  Whenever Scott goes out to shovel, Zoe also goes out, mostly to entertain.  But we had a few times that we were all out.

Max's first trip out in his snowpants.  He liked it until he slipped on the driveway onto his face.   

 Our little snow bunny.  She loves the snow and would stay out all day if she could.

Max finally started having some fun when he sat on my lap and touched the snow. 

The ice castle that we all built.  The icicles are from the gutters so they formed the gate to enter the castle.  Check out a previous post about our Science experiment.  These were bigger, the center one is close to 6' tall.  Have to do something fun with the ice that forms on the gutters.

Max came out to play in the castle after it was finished.  Walking in the snow was not fun for him, but he liked sitting on the snow and pushing it around some.  It didn't take long though for him to have enough, so 10 minutes of putting Max's snow gear and mine for 10 minutes outside and then back inside. 

And as Zoe says "I'm on fire."  Scott took some pictures at night with a red covered flash.  It really does look like an ice castle with the lighting.

I Love My Yogurt

Max loves his food, well specifically his yogurt.  We have to hide the yogurt or he won't eat anything else.  We've been slowly getting his yogurt out because he knows that he gets it at lunch and just gets so excited.  We just have to torture him like that because it just makes us smile as well.

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.