Hi Max!

What a great Labor Day Weekend we had!

I got home from Birmingham on Saturday mid-day and we went to play in the bouncy-houses restaurant (as you like to call it) at The Great Mall.

Sunday, we had the VFW Picnic at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park at 87th and Lackman. Ate some lunch and then played on the new playground set and LOVED the astroturf and padded FieldTurf at the playground. We walked on the trails to the creek and bridge.

On Monday, we topped our great weekend off with a trip to the Zoo! We went two years ago, but all you did was sleep then. This time, you (WE) had a ball. You loved the polar bear as he did his somersaults and was very active. You said the monkeys were your favorite and you really liked the train ride - wow you love trains. :) We rode the train, the tram, the boat, and my favorite was the African Sky Lift that was a ski lift of sorts that took us over the wild animals of Africa - cheetahs, elands, african birds, ostriches (Australia section), Zebra, antelope, and we even peeked a lion while going across the zoo on the lift. It was a terrific ride! We zoomed right through your nap time thought and by 4 you were just about out on your feet. You fell asleep in the car on the way home and I couldn't help but reflect on how great the weekend was for us as a family.

Weather was terrific, relaxation was at a 9 or 10 level with no or little client expectations, and we really got some true quality time together. Sometimes I wonder if you realize how great you have it right now (you've been on 15 airplane rides (most of them first class or business class), two loving parents who have the time to spend with you and a plan to keep it that way, no other siblings, a great house, lots of toys, a great school, and lots of love around you) and I realize that it is me that has it great right now for having you in my life. Thank you for letting me live again through your eyes as you discover life. It's a blessing. You're a blessing.

Blessings,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. Pictures to be uploaded later. Have to figure out which ones to post - took MANY!

Sunday is Son-Day August 8...

Hi Max!

I've fallen a little behind with my blog updates to you. My apologies, but it is so much better just to talk to you directly - your vocabulary is REALLY improving.

Sunday, August 8: It was a guys' shopping trip! I had a special surprise for you. It was time to get you a Big Wheel! One of MY favorite toys when I was a kid was my Big Wheel. My brother, Rob (your Uncle Rob) and I rode our Big Wheels so much that we wore holds in the front plastic tires! Loved those Big Wheels - then it was time for bikes. :) You love Cars, the movie, so much (SO MUCH!) that I was just thinking, Boy, it would be great to get you a Cars Big Wheel. I did a quick Google Search and what started out as a hopeful, positive, and optimistic search turned out to be one of frustration. I really wanted to combined these two cool things - Cars plus pedal car/Big Wheel. No pedal cars branded with Cars - anywhere on the Internet. I was thinking, seriously?! So, it was time to go. In all the searches, the Radio Flyer Big Wheel continually came up and Target was the store. So, together, we headed to Target.

We found the Big Wheels and bikes aisle. I was focused on the Radio Flyer Big Wheel. It was great. It was $34 and I had a budget of $50 so we were good there. But, I worried that it was too big. The age said 3 - 7 and it just looked too big. In the cart, you were squirming a little bit so I let you out to walk around a little bit. I'm still looking at the Radio Flyer Big Wheel and looking for a smaller one when I hear a "CARS! Racecars!"
I thought, "Oh no." I turned to see you pointing at Lightning McQueen, on a box - on a box for a pedal car! I couldn't believe it. I was so focused on the Radio Flyer that I missed the box that was PERFECT! It was a three wheel pedal-car outfitted like Lightning McQueen with the horn, the sounds, and the lights just like your push car! It was PERFECT! I was so excited and happy for you and YOU were happy.


An interesting thing did happen though... we were looking at it and I had to get you off of the box to put it in the cart and when I lifted you off the box - you started to throw a fit. You were getting ready to pout and cry. I hesitated to put the box in the cart. I didn't want to encourage you to cry, pout, and throw a fit. What if we weren't getting the pedal car? How would you have acted? I really thought about not getting it - after all the stars were aligned for us to get it. Instead, I lifted it into the cart. I was going to have you walk alongside us, but you were having none of that. You looked up at me, raised your arms, and said, "Up?" I smiled, and picked you up. I lifted you over the edge of the cart and put you in the back of the cart with the new "car" so you could push the sound-makers. You were so happy. I was so happy.

What a great Sunday! What a great Son-Day!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. By the way, the price? $44. Ended up just under, you guessed it... $50.00. :)

Sunday is Son-Day May 23, 2010...

Hi Max!

Sunday is Son-Day!

Well, two weeks ago was Mother's Day and we had a good time at my sister's celebrating every mothers' favorite day. Last weekend, we went to the park and instead of playing on the most awesome jungle gym ever, you wanted to just walk and walk and walk. :) We walked all over Antioch Park - you love this park! We had snacks sitting on the war memorial and it was a beautiful 72-degree day.

Today, we did yard work. It was fun. I saw the strangest pattern in the yard though. What do you think? :)

It was a great day!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

Sunday = "Son"Day...

Hi Max!

We've fallen into a pleasant pattern. Sundays have become "Son"days. A full day of daddy and you playing, learning, eating, goofing, and everything in between. Today, we continued our fun:

I got up, got the paper, let Lucky out for his morning ritual =0), made some coffee, and got a cup of water. You were ready to get up soon thereafter. After changing you, we ate eggs together. That was fun. We played a little bit and read the paper together - you LOVE the car section and this week was THE AUTO SHOW so of course you got ink all over yourself (and me). I'm sure we are breaking a parenting law there, but you LOVE the cars. "Car?" Yes!

After the paper, it's JOEL! We love Joel. He was inspiring this morning talking about God's ability to accelerate our success. You sat still through the whole thing - you know how much daddy loves to watch Joel. You seem to watch him and understand as well. Do you? =0)

Dishes were next, but of course we had to play before we made it there and BAM! We knocked a picture off the table. It had glass in the frame and that broke. Why do I have glass in any frames?! So you got to watch me sweep up and throw away the glass. We did the dishes and you REALLY helped. You handed me the spoons and forks and I put them away. Not ready for you to help me with the glass, but cups and silverware were perfect. That was fun!

We played some catch with the soft football your aunt Joyce gave you. You cackled for a while, and then you were tired. Just like that! Like a switch went off, you were ready for your nap. You are napping now so I have time to post.

What a great morning as we celebrate another super Sonday! I love that Sundays have become Son-Day. Let's keep this ritual forever. Okay? =0)

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)