I love you, Max.

Max riding train at Branson Landing (07-05-2012)

Max in the park (Sunday is Son-Day)

Hi Max!

I love you. I'm proud of you. I love to "get you" and love to play with you - even when it is just wheeling trucks around the floor. 

Here's what I wrote to my Facebook Friends today and I was inspired to share this with you: 

"Sunday is Son-Day. Here's what I hope - I hope that you love your kids as much as I love my son. I love his bad days (today when he "didn't want to play" soccer and I was pulling my hair out - quietly). I love his good days. And every day in between. He's not perfect and he has a father who is really struggling at this Dad thing. And he loves his mother right now more than his Daddy (it's a time thing), but here's what I wish for you... Parents tell your kids - sit them down, as awkward as it may be, and tell them - how much you love them, how proud of them you are, and how much they mean to you. Hug them, kiss them on the cheek, and take that moment. It's worth it. In all the hustle and bustle of the world, it's worth it... to stop a second and just show some love to your kids. No more assuming they "just know" you love them, but let them know how sincerely grateful you are for them and how much you love them. Sunday is Son-Day for me and for a Dad that screws up a lot and isn't there as much as he would like, it's a day that I wouldn't miss. It's a day to take a step out of the rat race and away from the concrete jungle, and hug our little animals and play with our little monkeys. Blessings, my Friends. +m2 P.S. And as a kid with four siblings, do this individually - one at a time with each kid if you have more than one."

Max, I love you. I'm proud of you. You are going to be a GREAT kid, a GREAT PERSON. You are a great kid now but you can improve, and please know your Mommy and Daddy are dedicated to becoming the best parents possible to help you to be the best person possible. It's not going to happen overnight - every minute, every second is a chance to praise, discipline, or teach - and quite frankly, we are overwhelmed and seeking consistency - consistency of discipline, consistency of message, consistency of schedule. We are getting there. Just know we care, we care enough to get better. We may never master parenting, but we will get better. 

Remember, you're the best. You can do it. You are equipped with the talent, smarts, and abilities to do ANYTHING YOU WANT. You are so helpful, a leader, a server, a light in any room you enter. You're the best. You're the greatest. You're the Max. =0) 

Blessings, 

Max's Dad (Michael)

Sunday is Son-Day October 3 2010...

Hi Max!

Boy, I have been delinquent in my posts. Something I have noticed is that the more I can talk to, interact with, and goof off with you, the less I post on here. I will set up a standard time to post. It may not be every week, but I need to post more often.

You are a routine-lover like your father: Some highlights are that you have a sandbox now so you can play in what you call "Max's Dirt". Every day, it is "Max's Dirt? Max's Dirt? Max's Dirt?" :) You love to play in the dirt and in the sandbox. Also, you are in the rhythm of "Cars". Every day, you watch Cars, the movie. You know all the characters - Lightning, Chick, Doc, King, Luigi, Guido, Sally, etc.

You are so smart! The teachers at La Petite comment all the time how you pick up on things so quickly. They have had you hanging out in the 2-year-old room for a couple of months. According to the teachers, you have been holding your own. You are now speaking in sentences your mom and I can understand and converse back to you. Still need to get you working better with a fork and start your potty training.

Today, we are hanging out. Guess what? You've watched Cars. You've played a little in "Max's Dirt". You've eaten lunch exactly the same time as you always do. You've taken your nap at exactly the same time. The schedule works. You are so happy when you are on schedule. Why don't adults time block? When everyone is on time, on pace, and expectations are known, things run so much smoother.

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

P.S. I love you!

Sunday is Son-Day August 22...

Hi Max!

Let's Play Ball!

Sunday is Son-Day for August 22 was exciting for me (probably more exciting for me than you). For the first time, you were going to see ME play ball. Softball is a love of mine and I've always looked forward to the day when my kid could watch me play ball. And the Sunday league games were normally at 9 and 10 - way after your bed time. But the make up games for Sunday were at 2 and 3. Perfect - and the weather was pretty nice. Warm, but not unbearable. It was great seeing you at the ballpark. At less than 2, you probably didn't get much out of it - BUT I did hear you yell Good Job Daddy! That made me smile after hitting a double against the fence. It was like you understood - and maybe at a deep level you do. :)

Love you son and cannot wait to watch you play ball - and it will happen soon.

To Your Success,

Michael

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 August 1, 2010...

Hi Max!

Did we ever have a blast on Sunday (Sunday is Son-Day!)!?! You love the water, my son. It was so fun to take you to Thomas (Tony) Soetaert Park in Shawnee. We played in the sprinklers, slid down slides, ran through bubbling fountains, and took a turn in the adult pool. We even floated around the lazy river a few times. You're a fish! I can't believe how much you loved getting into the pool. We stayed the perfect amount of time as well. We got a little sun, but not sunburned and you were getting tired by the time we took this photo.

All in all, a trip to the Aquatic Center was good for both of us and we both deserved a nap afterwards. :)

Sunday is Son-Day!

To Your Success,

Max's Dad (Michael)

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 is Son-Day May 2, 2010

Hi Max!

We had our Sunday is Son-Day fun day today. After 8 flights in 11 days, daddy was home and we were ready to spend some time together! Today, we decided to run some errands and part of the fun was a trip to Nebraska! Not the state, but Nebraska Furniture Mart the largest furniture store on the planet (I think). This place is HUGE! We didn't even see all of it! But you got to drive this groovy car. You weren't satisfied with just riding. You wanted to drive. =0)

Plus, you took the time to do some computer work for them. Overall, it was a great day. Best of all, it was a day together.

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)