Sunday, August 31, 2008

Stick to the list

Maxx could probably do the grocery shopping all by himself if I let him... he's that good.
When I write my list, I then draw the list for Maxx so he can help me...this also helps me stay on track.

"Heeey. That's not on the list!" "Thanks Maxx, your right!"

Every once in a while there will be something special in the isle that is very tempting to change our brands or add on, 'specially if it is not our normal store, but for the most part Maxx is dead on and really good about it.

My Dad should be really proud. I remember going shopping with him on Wednesdays. His list would be written with the store lay out in mind...isle by ise. My Dad is in and out in probably half and hour.

Lots of learning goes on when we do the grocery shopping. I love answering the questions and having the conversations with him. He really knows his stuff, I crack up when he gives me back the answers I have fed him the the past.

"What is this!?!"

"Why can't we get that?"

"It's not organic!"

"Yes! It's on sale!"

"Does it have high fructose, Momma?"

"But I like yellow no. 5."

The latest today...
"MSGeeeee!?! Awww! Why do they add that stuff? It looks like it would be very tasty!"

My all natural son...He's that good!!!


Friday, August 29, 2008

The Thursday Night Grand Prix



Maxx the announcer:
"Gentlemen, start your engines." *Car roaring sounds*
"3-2-1!" *tires screeching*
..."And they're off!"

*announcer*
"An underdog team last race, The Wild Family, have developed into the darlings of the paddock this Thursday season-thanks in no small part-to talents of young driver Maxx. With several superb performances under his belt and an engaging attitude-Maxx is the teams golden boy."



Maxx, Kurt and I had our turns at racing and winning this grand prix. Oh the imaginary trophy's were huge and heavy. This was a blast and the races continued all evening.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Maxx Sitter Extraordinaire!







Tuesday was such a hectic day with balancing work-hood, mommy-hood, wife-hood, and parent to a preschooler hood. It was a grab and go, in and out, up and down, fast and furious, good and bad, emotions rise and fall, bus and El train, walk and cab it, very extreme preview of what school days will be like. Kurt and I attended a "Welcome Parent Assembly Dinner" and "Parent Teacher Night" at Maxx's school.


But the best part of the day...
Was being blessed with having a friend you can trust with your child...

Maxx came home WORN out and he is the child that energy never stops... until his head hits the pillow... so I can only imagine how Miss Shannon felt on Wednesday.
They went shopping at the Asian markets, made vegan pizza and vegan chocolate chip cookies, walked Miss Debbie's "girls", read, and played outside. Shannon not only provided Maxx with a safe loving place away from us...she created an adventure filled with thoughtful planned out activities...Jam packed!!! This is much more than we could have asked for, and we will forever cherish the time given and memories Maxx made.
Shannon you are the best!!!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

New Friends

Today was our Gathering with Maxx's class. It was so great to see all the children so shy and then warming up. It is going to be a great full year! Maxx meets his new classmates and reunites with his teacher...Kurt and I have homework due next Tuesday...how did that happen?


Caterpillar

Creepy crawly caterpillar
Looping up and down,
Furry tufts of hair along
Your back of golden brown.

You will soon be wrapped in silk,
Asleep for many a day;
And then, a handsome butterfly,
You'll stretch and fly away.

Mary Dawson

Friday, August 22, 2008

C is for Compassion

My dear sweet son is so compassionate.
So I might have a possible vegetarian in the works...
Once he understands what meat is.
I begin the morning's breakfast, open up the eggs and who do I find...?
Chick (Hicks)
Of course...how ironic...
Hey!?
How did Chick get in here?

Hey, Maaaaxx??

I did it Moam , Chick is keeping the babies company.
(Maxx has a new name for me "Moam" (like foam, but with a M))
...but Moam wait!
Stop! Noooo! Don't crack the babies!
Awwwww!!!
No. No. No.

For breakfast we had: cantaloupe and blueberry pork sausage with toast.

In separateness lies the world's great misery, in compassion lies the worlds true strength.
~ Buddha

The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another and all involved in one another.
~Thomas Merton

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

My favorite Things #1


This past mother's day...
I was given one of my most favorite things I own...#1 on my list.
...a red Paul Frank Calculator watch.
It is the Sweetest thing ever!
Since I was in school I always carried around a calculator, then I had one in the pocket of my chef coat, and until this past Mother's day I had one in my work apron.
Now... I am never without.
When I go grocery shopping...
Get this...
I input in my budget on my handy dandy calculator watch, and as I add things to my shopping cart...I subtract the price from my budget.
GEEK-Oh-Matic!
The older I get the geek-ier I have become.
Not only is it SOooo 1984...it's red (My favorite color).
Oooo let me share.
The Special Features: date, time, light, digital calculator, & alarm clock
Jealous???

Friday, August 15, 2008

Our Park Day: 1 mountian rescue truck, 2 playgrounds, 3 deer, 4 bike riders, 5 friends, 6 buses

Today Maxx and I took an adventure to Peterson Park. On the way we got off the bus to check out a used books store we had never been to, and found a store that sells crazy used toys next door. He dug and found a mountain rescue match box truck for 25 cents. Then we got back to the bus stop and 2 buses later we were there. This place is a city diamond. It has 2 playgrounds, many trees (Maxx calls the forest), an open area to run, basket ball courts, an awesome winding trail...we are sure there is more, but this is all we found today. We took 3 buses to get there. When we got off the bus, what did we see...

..two fawns munching on some green grass. They still had their white spots. They let us get pretty close. Maxx was good at staying quiet, not to disturb their lunch. He found a good walking stick for himself and then one for me. Off he ran to play at the first play ground. We were there for about half an hour and then took a hike on the trail towards the 2nd playground. We stopped half way there and sat on a bench to eat our snack pack. Some older kids were riding bikes and each time some one rode by us Maxx would say, "You're a good bike rider!" He is just too cool! Some of them would ignore him. Some would laugh bashfully, and one boy said thank you. It was entertaining to see everyone's reaction. Maxx just kept on, I think that was his point. Then we hopped off the bench and found a great climbing tree.

Maxx tried to get a little higher but got caught and got a few scratches. On the tree he said hello to a few carpenter ants and a greenish white moth looking guy. Maxx not only said hello to the moth guy, but gave him a push off the tree by blowing him. Down he jumped and off he ran to the 2nd playground. There was a huge pirate ship and some older kids he made friends right on the spot and we played for quite a while. Then I looked at my watch and realized it is almost rush hour, we better head out. On our way out we saw a bigger deer...which we both thought was the Mommy to the fawns we saw on our way in. Then it was time to catch our buses and head home. What a beautiful day to be outside and a story to tell, just Maxx and I.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Community


We got a beautiful handmade card from Maxx's teacher this week. It was to invite all the children and families to gather in a local park for reconnecting and welcoming the new before school starts. It is happening. He starts school in 4 weeks, and we are joining the commuinty. I am so excited for him. There are 20 children total in his class. Oh the friends he is going to make and the stories of adventure he will have. Eeek!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Wet Parks Have Fast Slides



Today, we didn't let the rain stop us from a trip to the park. Soaking wet pants to prove it. Maxx came down one slide and made some air on the landing...totally shot 4 feet away from the bottom of the slide...lets do that again!! Today I was thankful for the rubbery/sponge-y park floor that helped with the soft landings.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Urban Walk with Maxx

We saw Elvis...

and checked out the head lines on the Red i.


Cars zoomed past us
we looked both ways,
a gust of wind from the city bus
we crossed the street when the "walking man" light came on
To the park we were headed on this cool August evening

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Just a summer walk in our 'hood



Few people know how to take a walk. The qualifications are endurance, plain clothes, old shoes, and eye for nature, good humor, vast curiosity, good speech, good silence and nothing too much.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Teaching Gratitude

Saying thank you is more than good manners.
It is good spirituality. ~Alfred Painter


Maxx and I are putting together Thank you cards for his birthday gifts received so far. He loves doing activities and crafts in general... but you add a reason or to do it for someone... each card to that person gains personality and a thought out plan...by Maxx "I want them to get ...they will love this...I think they should have...I love them so much..." He gets so into it. I am such a proud Momma. Now to just be as on top of it as he is, and get these to the post office in the next few days.




Wednesday, August 6, 2008

The "Floam-tastic" Whale



Maxx got another birthday package...in the mail.
All the way from San Antonio, Texas.
It was sent with more birthday celebration from his cousins Philip, Abrianna, Isaiah, Aunt Tina and Uncle Dan.

Inside was a football perfect for the park...Maxx is still working on his catching abilites...so this football is awesome, it is full of holes and you can catch it with one finger. Also in the package was a box filled with 6 AMAZING colors of Floam. When I saw it I automatically thought of the "As Seen On TV" commercial.

It is floam-tastic!!!! Really!!! We have been making all kinds of things and molding it to random things arround the house. Maxx found a few google-ly eyes in our craft bin and our creepy floam creatures come alive.

Have a "Floam -tastic" day!!!


Sunday, August 3, 2008

A Birthday Story for Maxx

High in the heavens in a place that many angels call home, there once lived a little angel who was full of energy & love. He loved to leap high and play with his golden ball. Every where this sweet angel went he made new friends with other angels, never leaving anyone out in games and always helping every angel out. For this little angel had such a big heart & loads of courage. One day he was playing catch when the golden ball flew through the air so fast he had to jump on to a lower cloud to catch it. The cloud was beautiful, white & soft. This angel looked down as if in a dream, saw Earth. There on Earth he saw a woman with a strong heart and lots of pride her name was Jane, and a man named Kurt who had a strong spirit, and loving arms. "They should be my parents," he said. He then rushed to his guardian angel and asked if he could go to Earth to be with these parents. It was decided that this little sweet angel shall go, and right away so that they all would be blessed. The little angel would take a long journey over a rainbow bridge to Earth, but first he must visit the house of the sun, the moon, and the stars. He entered the house of the sun. It was so warm and there he was given the gift of courage, it was placed under his heart. Next at the house of the Moon, he received the gift of wisdom, it was placed under the sole of each foot. Last to the house of stars were it was so bright and the angel was given the gift of the twinkle in his eye that he may always see the humor in life.

On Earth it was a beautiful hot summer day and Mom & Dad with lots of family were at St Joseph's Hospital , in Chicago, were waiting for the baby to arrive. Then just as the angel crossed the rainbow bridge, a baby boy came to the waiting arms of his strong & courageous mother. His father smiled huge with tears of joy to know he has a baby boy. "his name shall be Maxx Francis, for this is the best name for him." And so the little angel received his first gift on Earth his name.




Everyone cheered, laughed, & cried when he was born. Grommy, Pa Pah, G. G. were there all the way from Texas. Then Grammy and Uncle John made it to see you and all our family in Chicago and Texas were so happy.


Mommy had quite the race and the doctors & nurses helped Daddy take care of her for a few days and then it was time to go home. The baby's little stomach was smaller than a peanut. Sometimes he nursed with mommy and sometimes he drank from a little bottle, but mostly the new baby slept. Mommy and Daddy would be up all night & day to make sure he had enough to eat, so that he might grow big and strong.



Bigger and stronger he did grow. Just a week later Aunt Deana flew in from Texas to meet him. We were having a hard time keeping little Maxx awake long enough to eat. One morning when it was time for his bottle Aunt Deana wanted to feed him. and he wanted to stay asleep So she went to the fridge and got a cold green grape and rubbed it under his arms and across his belly to get him to wake. We all laughed as he finally did wake & drank a full bottle. This new little boy let us know that he had better things to do than eat like grow and sleep.



Baby Maxx had so much personality starting with the fact his hair would not lay down it stood straight up. He was so happy and loved everyone who came over to meet him. He would laugh and play when anyone would talk to him. Mommy, Daddy, and Maxx flew to Texas to greet and meet the Palmer fleet. Everyone was so amazed by his hair & how sweet he was to hold. He met all of his older cousins Gabe, Andrew, William, Lyndsey, Phillip, Kole, Jordan, Abrianna, Carson, & Isaiah for the first time and blended in. Then back to Chicago we flew.




Soon came Halloween where he was dressed like a sweet pea. Then Thanksgiving & his first Christmas. Where we had two one in Texas & one home in Chicago. He enjoyed being with friends and family no matter where.







Maxx loved to play on the floor with Daddy. He would swing, swing, and swing more. He loved when Mommy would come home from work & hold him tight & give love. He learned to crawl & find the tiniest things on the floor. Daddy was a wreck with worry that the baby may fall and bump his head. Bump fall, crawl you did then before the middle of the summer the baby pulled himself up so proud, let go and began to walk.



The snow melted and spring came and went...before we knew it July came. We headed south to Texas for a big 4th of July celebration. There we had a Scurvy Pirate buccaneer bash to celebrate the one year it had been since Maxx crossed the rainbow bridge. We light the first candle to celebrate.







Now to year two...Maxx got walking down & began to talk. Before we knew it he could climb most anything. He loved to sing & play at the park or stay home & play with his toys. Before we knew it Fall was here for Halloween we were a jungle family with a cute Maxx monkey. Winter and the holidays flew by. Then it started warming up and we met baby Hailey just after she crossed the rainbow bridge. Then it was summer again. And that meant year two had passed since Maxx crossed the rainbow bridge. We light the second candle.








More and more Maxx could speak & the funny things he would say like, "Rubbish truck" and police cars go "bee bo bee bo!" He loved to sing Kermit's Rainbow Connection song while playing his banjo and had an entire repitore of songs, like Hold on to the Chair, ABC'S, The Cuppy Cake song, and Twinkle Twinkle little star. Trains became his thing & the places they would all go & the cargo they carried. "Chicken Dunkin" was a prized train. Fall came and we were a scare crow family for Halloween. Winter and the holidays flew by. Spring then summer we welcomed two new cousins, Baby Clif and Baby Zach, who crossed the rainbow bridge. Before we knew it year three had come around & we light the third candle to celebrate the third year since Maxx crossed the rainbow bridge.










Man, oh man what a year it has been... Trains, planes, nature museums, and parks with a field house. We moved across town and in his own bed he will snuggle down. Now Maxx can do most anything run, jump, hop on one leg, paint, draw, sidewalk chalk, cook, tell a good joke, sing a silly song, and loves to read a good-fun book. At Halloween we had the cutest spider. Winter and the holidays flew by. We welcomed two more cousins Baby Melody and Baby Oliver. What a year of change and Maxx is so "Bigger". Can you believe it? Mommy and Daddy are in awe and blown away on how blessed these past years have been with Maxx. We are here again today to celebrate the most beautiful day. The day four years ago when Maxx crossed the rainbow bridge. We light the 4th candle to celebrate.