Soccer, Soccer, Soccer - Maxwell joins a soccer team!

The third week of February was all about soccer!!!  We went on Sunday to an indoor soccer game.  It was a lot of fun with lots of action.  (It was also very loud.  Why don't I remember how loud these things are going to be and bring headphones for Emmalyn?)

She's like a little lady bug today

Max was super into the game - watching, cheering, joining in on the crowd participating things

Emmalyn also like watching the game and got really into clapping.  It was good until someone scored and then it would get way to loud for her.

Emmalyn just had fun watching and talking to everyone behind us.

Super focused

We ended up leaving early because Maxwell was tired and Emmalyn was tired of the screams every time someone scored. (The scores are much higher in indoor soccer because the action rarely stops.)

Big girl walking along things

Her hair still has that one curl on the top of her head, just like the day she was born - just with a little more hair now.

I will take these cuddles any day!

Max celebrated Mardi Gras at preschool and was excited about his beads. (I was excited that he didn't have to wear his uniform - that's a rare thing.)

I was worried about Max and felt like he was getting sick and it wasn't just a cold, so I took him into the pediatrician (against Peter's judgement - - - hey, a mom doesn't want to worry!).  His regular ped had added a new Dr to her practice and we saw the new Dr.  She was great, I love her!  (Which is nice).  Max did a great job of engaging with her and answering all her questions while I just sat there.  What a cool new experience for Maxwell to get to handle all the doctor's questions!

Of course, the doctor couldn't find anything wrong with him.  UGH!  So that was a waste of a co-pay but at least I feel better knowing he's okay and nothing's wrong.

He's now 35.4 lbs!

Emmalyn and Landen

We signed Maxwell up to play indoor soccer on a team with 3 and 4 year old.  We knew he wanted to play soccer and had heard indoor soccer is great at this age because the ball always stays on the field and you don't have to spend most of the game chasing the ball out of bounds.  We didn't know anyone on the team before joining so hopefully we will make a bunch of new friends!  His coaches are Coach Eric and Coach Maggie.

We had our first practice.  It was quite crazy/funny/adorable/frustrating to watch these kids try to do the drills.  The coaches did a great job.

Max is in the blue and grey striped fleece top

Patiently waiting while holding his ball still (I wondered if he would be able to do it when the coach gave this instruction but he was able to do it)

Video - Maxwell at soccer practice

It was windy and FREEZING!  What happened to the nice weather?

Max did an awesome job of kicking the ball into the goal whenever it was his turn and also didn't touch the ball with his hands

Circling up with his team at the end of practice, just like the big kids do it.  I can't believe he's really turning into a kid and doing stuff like this.

Selfie

She's now starting to really pick what she wants to play with

And sometimes that means a huge mess for Momma.  :)

My smiley girl

This play table is her favorite toy

Big Cheese (and Drool queen)

Look at those teeth (and if you look closely you can see more in the back getting closer too)

I am so grateful for this beautiful girl.   So grateful we were able to have another child, grateful we got a girl, and grateful for her happy little spirit.

Our next door neighbors asked if they could take Max to watch one of the high school soccer games (their son's on the team).  I said yes.  This is the first time (at least that I can remember) that Maxwell has gone off in a car with someone that wasn't us or immediate family.  I was super nervous about it and nervous about how he'd behalf, etc. but I really didn't need to be.  Mr. Chris and Ms. Mary Ann LOVE Max.  They are great parents, clearly capable people, and Max is such a good kid.

Anyway, as you can see above, Maxwell was really happy and had a great time.  We are so lucky to have such great people living next door.

Conversations with Maxwell are certainly changing...

This weekend he asked where my mom was and I tried to explain that to him,  Boy was that hard.  What do you vs what don't you tell a 3 year old?  I explained that she had died and started to say she was sick and then stopped myself because I didn't want him to believe that just because someone is sick that they will die...  And then I tried to explain that she was in heaven and even though we couldn't see her that she could see us and she loved us all very much.  Ugh, who knows if I did a good job or not.  I did my best.

The other day, I didn't want him to touch the sound bar for the TV and told him so.  He got mad and said to me, "I'm mad at your behavior" in such an upset voice.  I had to not laugh and how cute that was.

Goodbye to Nana - Part II

Here's the rest of our trip to Utah...

Max had fun playing his second cousins at Tammy's house.  I love how much they love on him and want to be around him.  Now if only Max wasn't so shy and scared of strangers, he might have more fun playing with them.  It takes him a long time to warm up.

Maxwell and Dad

The yummy "organic" raspberry jam we made with raspberries from their garden.

In process: homemade salsa that we canned.  It was soooo fantastic.  Tasted just like the salsa I remember my mom and dad making and canning when I was little.

We had lunch with a bunch of Peter's family to discuss some of the arrangements.

Alex, Mark, Tim, Susan, Aja, and Harleigh

We got to the funeral home a little early so Alex and I went into the Winder Dairy Store and shopped while Peter stayed outside with a sleeping Max.  This brought back memories of Field Trips here when I was in Kindergarten or 1st grade.  Their freshly baked goodies and flavored milk was too good to pass up.  I went a little crazy and got cookies, coffee cake, milk, and a rootbeer float.  I almost got some bread too, but I was able to draw the line somewhere.  :)

Alex and Peter were in meetings with the funeral director before the viewing so Tawny and I hung with the kids.  Lola loved Max and helped entertain him.

She wanted to help as much as she could so I let her feed him too.  It was seriously so cute to watch.

Payton and Jaxton

Max chewing on his dad's finger

Max was good during the viewing, we mostly hung out in the hall but he was getting stir crazy so we went outside to play a little too. (I can't believe I let him wear this to the viewing - - I didn't think anything of it at the time, things were pretty causal, but looking back...)

He was crawling and doing something funny - every time he went across a crack in the side walk, he'd come off his knees and crawl over the crack up on his feet.  Funny kid!

Back on his knees when he was past the crack.

After the viewing a bunch of people went to dinner.  Max slept in the restaurant the whole time (with his cute feet crossed).

Peter, Richard, and Tawny

Jeremy, Alex's best friend, and Alex

It was a late night and then we got up early the next morning to get ready and get back to West Valley City for the funeral.

Peter's co-worker and boss, Andrea and Brenda, sent a beautiful floral arrangement.  It was very thoughtful of them.

Aja and her kids - they are all getting so grown up!

Madison, Harleigh, Korben, and Morgan

Siblings

Peter, Aja, Mark, and Alex

Tawny's dad stepped in last minute to officiate.  He was perfect and we are so grateful that he was willing to help out. 

It was a nice service with lots of people sharing their memories of Grandma.  It was exactly what I had wanted for my mom when we all gathered at the church but it didn't turn out that way and people didn't share very much.  Maybe my mom's family is just more reserved?  I don't know...but I was happy with Grandma's service and the stories and pieces of her wisdom that many shared. 

It was difficult though because Max wasn't interested in sitting quietly and listening (wouldn't have expected him to).  So I spent most of the service in the hallway trying to keep him entertained.  I did sit by Peter for a little bit and Alex/Tawny took Max.  It was one of those times where I needed to be a partner to my husband and a mom to my son but couldn't do both at the same time.  I don't like that at all.

Video - Alex got a bagpipe player for the cemetery. (I thought it was a little much but I know Alex wanted things to be nice for Grandma.)

Aja's boyfriend took most of these pictures.  I spent the entire graveside service in the car with Max.  He fell asleep on the short ride from the mortuary to the gravesite and we decided it was better to let him sleep since he really needed the nap.  I unrolled the window and was able to hear some of what was said.

Max fell asleep on the short ride from the

Felisha, Mark, and Mariah

Alex, Aja, Donna, Mark, Peter

Mark, Frayne, Richard, Alex, and my studly husband Peter

Peter and his uncle Tim

After the funeral, Grandma's ward Relief Society put on a luncheon.
Me, Max, Peter, Grandpa Scott and Grandma Donna



Silly, drooly boy.


We were ready for the family time to be over so a big group of people went bowling.

Team 4 - Peter, Madison, Felisha, Brianna, Katie



Team 3 - Aja, Nikki, Avery, Mariah, Kallie



Team 2 - Asa, Richard,Mark, Morgan, Sarah



Team 1 - Korben, Harleigh, Brittany, Dan, and Traci



Max showing off his standing skills (he spilled some water on his shirt, so it isn't ALL drool)



Dad making Max laugh



Max wore his pin striped pants, polo shit, and matching cap to the funeral - I should have gotten a picture of him with the cap on before his shirt was all wet.  Oh well.



That night we hung out at Alex's.
Maxwell, Peter, and Peter's cousin's son - Adian



Alex trying to get Max to pay attention to the turtle.



Tawny - if this picture you are taking turned out, send it to me!



Max enjoying the attention his cousins were giving him



Cuddling on dad



Richard, Tawny, Maxwell, Peter, and Alex


The next day we had time to go to Grandma Nelson's for breakfast and then had to head to the airport.

family pic



Max enjoying the food Grandma made.



A yummy breakfast (I love my Grandma's cooking!)



Max thought he was hot stuff with his spoon skills.  Grandma dipped the spoon in sugar and then let Max enjoy the sugar.





Video - Max showing off



Max was pretty excited about his Great Grandma's laptop



She was even nice enough to let him play on it and push the buttons.  She spoiled him for sure!...just like Grandma's are supposed to do.



Time to go home...back on the airplane!  It was a busy long week and we miss Grandma already but it was nice to be around family both mine and Peter's.