Max is sprouting teeth!

Max is 8.5 months old now and is getting his first two teeth. Poor baby has had a couple of rough days and nights but he seems to be cheering up now. One tooth has broken the gums and the other is about even, ready to sprout any day. Both are on the bottom. Max is also sitting very well by himself. I don't feel like I need to place a pillow behind him, but he doesn't know how to sit himself up yet. He tends to fall forward onto his hands and knees, and then onto his tummy. He is still a long way from crawling. So big and heavy, like Sean was, I think it will be another few months before we see some action. However, he can scootch himself across the floor slowly on his tummy. Sean has been very gentle with him lately but still gets urges to grab Max's face, so we have to be careful when they are in close proximatey.

Maggie's Art

You can now view Maggie's art at the following website.

http://www.artsonia.com/Maggie1632

Her school is uploading art to the site, and you can become a fan of her art or order paraphenalia with her art on it, proceeds going to her school. Be sure to leave a comment for her.

Girl Scout Cookies Anyone?

Maggie wants to ask if you would like to buy some girl scout cookies from her. Orders are due next Monday (1/18). Send me an email if you'd like me to sign you up.

(Yes, Sean is trying to pose like Maggie. He was being very serious. I almost laughed.) Here is Sean playing with the "Wok and Roll". He likes to sort all the pieces by color.

Here is Glen and Maggie playing chess.

Here is Maxwell helping me make dinner.

Not much going on. Just though I'd post a few pictures.

Lots of walks

The weather has been beautiful. We've been taking lots of walks. Max loves it.

Sean loves any excuse to ride his tricycle. Glen attached a small rake to make getting up those hills around the back of the zoo more do-able.

Maggie has been on her bike too, and she doesn't want to stop for pictures. Can you see the bighorn sheep against the sky?

Christmas Break!

The days are flying by so fast! Let me update you on a few things we have been up to this last week. Christmas Eve we went to Zoo Lights with Grandma Nancy and Grandpa David.

Yesterday we drove up just north of Paysen to play in the snow. Doesn't Max look cute in snow bibs?

We pulled off the side of the road past Christopher Creek where it looked good for sledding. There was another family there with twin girls that Maggie played with. The dad took this picture of us.

Sean didn't want to sled at first, but after Maggie and Glen went down a few times, he was ready to give it a try.

He loved it! Sean and I went down a bunch of times.

Our Christmas was good. Favorite presents include Sean's tricycle, Maggie's Batik game (see video below), my bread machine and various cookbooks, and Glen's snake light. Sean loves to put all his little trucks in the back of the tricycle and ride around. Maggie loves this game below. We have played it about 30,000 times. I still have the throw the game for her to win, but that is what happens when your mom is a math teacher. She is starting to learn how to use up her big pieces first and save the small ones for the end game.

Today has been remarkably calm. Maggie has played by herself in her room with her new toys for long stretches and Sean has been nice to Max. I'm making my second loaf of bread with the bread machine, this time trying kamut flour to see if I can get a loaf a little less dense than the last one. Max and Sean are currently napping, Glen is outside playing with his frisbees and Maggie is playing with her dollhouse. Time for me to go play too...

Are you ready for Santa?

The key to surviving the pre-holiday crazies has been divide and conquer. Glen and Sean versus Maggie, Max, and Mom. Sean and Glen have taken numerous drives and visited Grandma a lot these last few days, while the rest of us have been at home. I've been wrapping, cooking, cleaning and nursing while Max mostly sleeps and Maggie mostly watches holiday movies on tv. One day until Christmas and maybe life will calm down after that. (Yipes!)

When the whole family is together, its best to stay active so no-0ne has a chance to bug, hit, annoy, scratch, grab, or bite anyone else. Here we are on A-mountain in downtown Tempe. Sean walked all the way up and down despite Glen bringing the backpack. I carried Max in the front carrier. Maggie ran up and down like 4 times in the span of our ascent. That girl has so much energy. The only time I have seen her tired is after a 12 hour day at Disneyland.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

Pre-Holiday Crazies

I think the title of this post says it all. The kids are wound up! Help!!