Christmas is coming

Due to my lack of coherence this past week (see last post), I forgot the camera for Christmas. We just used my mom's but then I forgot to get a copy of the pictures... so Christmas is coming but will be a little late.

Christmas was Magical this year! With a little one that loved to open and then play with the toys made it amazing! He wasn't interested in what Santa or mom and dad gave him, he wanted what Papa got... a basketball. He threw down his toys and headed straight for Papa's ball. They went into the hall and played ball while everyone else finished unwrapping and visited. After playing with the ball for about 15 minutes, we were able to coax Max and Papa back into to finish opening the gifts, but the rest of the weekend he would run and find the basketball to play with. I guess we might have to find him one of his own.

Don't do drugs

I should probably preface this post with: I had surgery last week and thanks to some great drugs I am healing nicely, but they sure make me do funny things. I have crazy dreams and do funny things like get up put my clothes on, go back to bed and not remember a thing. I tell people out right lies and don't realize it until a couple days later and have to go back, apologize and explain*. Putting things in random places can also be a problem (like finding my lipstick in the fridge), and according to Clu I talk really loud. Then you forget A LOT of things like cameras, presents and my drugs. So like the Berenstain Bears books says: "let this be a lesson to you"... Don't do drugs.


(* No need to worry about Max being neglected by an intoxicated mother. My most amazing In-Laws and husband took care of the little guy. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!)


And due to weird side effects, that have been previously stated, I have discontinued use (I know you are not surprised.)

For Zac

Jealous, knew you would be! We went just for you.

"Shocking-ly" Good?

I can thank my dear husband for teaching Max another BAD little trick:

(if you can't tell he is putting a 9 Volt battery in his mouth for the "zing/buzz", and yes he loves to ride the vacuum.)

Just what we need more ways for Max to get into trouble or get a "buzz".

(Pheww, this is the last update for now. check out the other posts below)

Lighting up the night

With family in town, we hit Temple Square to see the lights. The kiddos loved it, as we knew they would.
My favorite part was this:
Watching these two busy bodies!

Trimming the tree

If we had a real Christmas tree I am sure that we would be doing a little trimming, but with a busy 18 month old, we took the easy way out ... a fake one. If you know Clu, you know that he LOVES Christmas. It is a magical time at our house and so Christmas was up the middle of November (I put my foot down and it can't go up until after the 10th of November). Max loved helping but loves pulling the ornaments off even more. He gets up every morning and say "WOW" and "OOOOH" then proceeds to the tree to take off some ornaments. He also loves turning the lights on and off (we have a remote, thanks to Nana Deb).

Update

I know that you were all so worried about ol' blue, well... he is back! It only took three weeks to figure out the problem; he needed a new ECU and distributor. He is back on the road with Clu, a happy camper. His old sidekick is ready for more & more miles! How long he will go, nobody knows!

Park City

Clu and I went to Park City for a little getaway. It was perfect while we were there. It was snowing and cold! The first storm of the season. The first night we went just the two of us while Nanny and Papa watched Max and then the next night Max joined us (due to scheduling conflicts). I am not sure if Max would've rather stayed with N&P. He had so much fun. He got 100% of their attention along with any and everything he wanted. We had a wonderful time with and without Max. He loved playing in the hotel room and was entertained by the corded phone and the closet door mirrors. I think that Clu and I need to hit the DI to find a corded phone for him. He loved playing with it and pretending to talk to G&G and N&P. He would sign one of them and then start jabbering. We hit the pool while we were there. The pool was indoor (in a breeze way) and so it was super cold (with it snowing outside) but the water was great. Max wasn't so sure about it, he was much happier in the big tub back at our room. He was so worn out that he slept until 10am the next morning!

Hallelujah!

Max is "officially" a nursery go-er.

This means sanitiy for mom and dad at least the last two hours of church. He is so friendly that I am sure he will love it!

New BFF

Max has found a new Best Friend: My brother Marcus came to visit and Max would not leave his site. He kept following him around and saying "Hey Ju" (aka "Hey You") and then would laugh. He was so sad to see him go. Come back soon! While he was here I was raking leaves out front and Marcus was kind enough to throw him in my pile and video it, while I was taking care of a mess in the house.

Max was a good helper before jumping in the leaves. After that he just wanted to throw the leaves all over.

Pray for him

It is a sad time at our house. Ol' blue has taken a turn for the worst. He is at the dr.'s waiting for a diagnosis which has put Clu in a foul mood. He was told that it isn't anything with the engine or transmission, so we are hoping for the best. He has been a good truck for Clu. The two have been on many road trips together (with over 270,000 miles on that thing. It still has the original engine and transmission with no major repairs). Clu hasn't had the heart to part with him. We have tried a couple of times, but he just wanted blue. We will see what the future brings, but to Ol' blue we say:

Thanks for all the great memories. There have been many trips to and from Salt Lake, the U, moving all over the valley, and I am sure some pretty great parties. You have survived 4 break-ins, oil dumped all through your interior, 3 stolen stereos and many flat tires. You have been kind to us. We just hope that all cars would be as good as you!

October come and gone!

I can't even believe that the month of October is gone and I am already posting Halloween pictures.
Max was more than happy with his Halloween costume. I don't even know if he knew he was dressing up. He just ran around with his club hitting everything (ball or not). Halloween was pretty low key. We visited family and went trick-or-treating to all of 2 houses (because G&G wanted to show him off - we were happy to oblige).

Sneek Peak

of our little trick-or-treater:

more to come!

It was raining....

On Saturday and Max was going stir crazy, so Clu loaded us all in the car saying that he was going to take us somewhere that we ALL would love. Not knowing what to expect, we followed his directions and ended up about 5 minutes from our house. As we pulled into the parking lot I knew Max was in heaven. His eyes were huge, he couldn't stop making VaRoom noises and saying WOW!

We were at Harley Davidson

If you listen carefully you can hear him saying "Wow" and "VaRoom"

Clu was right, Max & Clu headed straight for the bikes and I of course found the clothing department. I was coveting some killer boots.

*The picture and video are not the greatest, they are via our cell phones.

Monster at our house

The weather has changed and so Max has brought the clubs inside to practice. This is daddy's monster wedge that he has taken as his own.

For heaven's sake

The other night I was on the phone with my mother, when Max came to me and signed help. I followed him to see what he needed (normally a toy that is out of reach). I found him with his Christmas present from Nanny & Papa. My mother had left it at our house so that I could wrap it and put it under the tree. I thought I had a great hiding spot: downstairs, in the closet (closed), behind the shelf with stuff on top! Mr. Mischief was very sly and wriggled behind the shelf to pull it out. He again signed help (wanting me to open the package). I told him that he can’t have it and put it up on the shelf. Immediately he pulled out the 1 ½ yr. old temper tantrum (remember I am talking to my mother on the phone while dealing with this). She asked what had conspired and I told her that the little bugger found the gift. “Oh for heaven’s sake Megan, let him have it” … My reply “It is okay mom, he needs to learn”. “Not with Nanny, just open the gift up. You were the biggest snoop of all, a taste of you own medicine."
You'd think he was posing for the picture. Maybe he was just so proud that he "won" or got the toys.

1-0 for little Max. The best part is that his daddy was making us a headboard while this was happening and so he got his “tools” to go and help daddy. He must’ve known that they were just like daddy’s and he needed to go and help.

Fire Day

What is Fire day you ask? At DHI they have a day that the Firetruck comes, demonstrates and reminds people of fire saftey (of course families are invited). We jumped at the chance to take Max to see a big fire truck. They let the kids climb, use the hoses, push buttons, and pretty much get into all of the COOL equipment. Take home: a firehat and football, both of which are a huge hit at our house. You can't ask for anymore! Here is our journal entry is photos:

"Copy that HQ...Engine 1 in route..."

..."Oooooo...buttons...switches...EVERYWHERE!! Am I in heaven?"

"Some day I'll see over the steering wheel"

"Hey mom...did ya need a shower?"

Last but not least....

Old, now NEW!

This toy came from a garage sale and is a Huge it at our house. The simplest toys are sometimes the best.

(Don't mind the awful wall. We are still working on the wallpaper removal and the kitchen is the WORST!)

Swing-tastic!

We headed to the park for FHE. Max is in his element at the park; why you ask...well: He can pretty much roam and run wherever he wishes, he LOVES to be outside, as well as people and his freedom.The weather was great (not according to Clu - it would have to be 50 degrees and then he would be happy) and it wore the little critter out.

A ride home in the wagon + a sucker (for FHE treats) made for a happy little Max

P.S. We love, lOve, LOVE this wagon! Max received it as a gift and has put it to good use since. We would highly reccomend it!

All by myself

Max is sure that he should be feeding himself.

There is a huge mess left, but don't worry, the mess all over his bib he will lick off.

Puppy Love

Max loves Coco and Dodger. While we were in SG he would wake up and say "dodg" and go looking for the dogs. They kept giving him kisses. He loved it and was reciprocating the gesture.

Forget the plastic

Max wants the REAL clubs! He loves to pull out Clu's clubs and swing them around. I think he might be ready to hit the sticks (said with sarcasm). Clu is forever putting his clubs back in the bag because Max has pulled them out.

Sous-Chef

I now have a side kick while making dinner. Max used to stand by my feet and push me a way from the counter while I made dinner. Which ususally translated into not getting anything done. He wanted to be in on the action. So I put a chair up to the counter so he can see. He is not very helpful, but this keeps him out of trouble so that I can get a meal half way done before Clu gets home.