Mini Carlson Family Reunion

Over Memorial Day Weekend, we had a chance to get together with a lot of our Carlson family since they were in town for Chad's wedding.  It was soooo great!!! 

But first...just a couple pics from earlier that week

Emmalyn playing doctor with Landen

Maxwell eating with chopsticks for the first time.  He loved it and was pretty good (with the little helper tool)!

Unfortunately we weren't going to be able to go to the actual wedding because we had already planned on doing a Color Run as a family on my mom's birthday.  Luckily there were other opportunities to spend time together with our extended family.  We met up with everyone at the site of the wedding and joined in on a pizza lunch.  (I didn't get any pictures) 

Then we headed over to the hotel everyone was staying at to spend more time together.  We decided to go swimming since it was something everyone could do and we didn't have to go somewhere and spend money.

The kids were already making friends and having fun.  Emmalyn had a couple of the "older" cousin girls who were happy to mother her.

Angelina, Vanessa, Emmalyn, Landen, Max, Hayden, and David

We hung out in my Aunt Sue and Aunt Nancy's room.  We weren't prepared to swim so I ran to Wal-Mart with my cousin Melissa to get supplies for her kids, my kids, and Brittany's kids.  It was fun to have a few minutes with her sans kids!

We got there and most everyone was already swimming.  Britt's boys just jumped in wearing their shorts but of course, Maxwell my rule follower was eagerly waiting for me to get back because he would only go swimming with a suit.

All of my Uncle Rob's family was there except the bride and groom who were off doing things.  Many of them I have not seen for years!

The pool was filled with my much loved Carlson family.

Unfortunately the water was not heated!!!  It was soo cold but that didn't stop everyone.  I was glad Emmalyn's little mothers got into the pool with her so I didn't have to.

She had fun but it was nerve wracking not being in the pool even though I was watching like a hawk.

Maxwell out of the pool on a quick break (note his purple lips!)

Emmalyn finally was too cold and so she got out and bundled up with Angelina

Uncle Rob tossing Maxwell in the air, just like fun uncles do.  :)  I have some really great uncles who are not only great uncles but great grandpas and treat my kids as if they were their own grand kids.  That always really touches my heart.

Finally pulled this kid out of the water and he was coooooold. 

Some of the group

After swimming, Britt and I took the kids and went home since it was bedtime.  Late that night, the Kenyons got to our house to spend the long weekend.

The next morning we all met back up at a park halfway between the wedding and our place (since we were more than an hour away) for more time to play together and visit more.

I found the park by just googling... No one had been there before but the pictures made it look like it was a decent park.  It ended up being AMAZING!!!  Lots to do, a variety of toys for many ages, tons of places to sit, trails to run for the runners, and a splash park too!

Emmalyn was constantly entertained by her cousins, it was great!

Vanessa, Emmalyn, and Natalie

They did a great job of taking care of her.

Maxwell also benefited by having lots of cousins around (even though some of them he didn't know before yesterday) to challenge him and inspire him to play in new ways than he had before.

Peter wanted to hold Jackson.  Maybe he's ready for another baby??? (Hah - NOT)

Why splash at the splash park when you can splash in the muddy puddles?

Some of Grandma Carlson's great grandkids.  It's amazing how many there are and then you realize that there are so many still missing!  There was representatives at this informal mini-reunion from each of her children/their families (and mine).

We finished off our fun morning with lunch at in-n-out.  Luckily they had some tables outside and I had a bunch of blankets in the car for the kids to sit on.  We were a big group!!!

Natalie and Maxwell

Landen, Hayden, and David

Jamie, Lindsey, Morgan, Anna, and Cadence

Park of the lawn crew

The table crew - mainly adults.  :)

Gotta love in-n-out!

I am so grateful for these great people in my life who, while technically are not blood related, are my family and have always acted like such.

First day of School (2015-2016 school year)

Maxwell wrote all of his "thank you" notes from his birthday presents

(see the tattoo on his arm?  Britt let him have two.  They are the first temporary tattoos he's ever gotten...  of course has loved them.)

Maxwell's note

Maxwell made himself a birthday card from Brittany...

...inside the card

On the front of each card, he wrote "card" so that it would say Thank You Card

I thought his little guy was pretty cute on this one

Emmalyn loved her hamburger at In-N-Out

Maxwell got a grilled cheese with pickles.  It was a hit.

This happy cheeser just cracks me up

We let the kids take a bubble bath together.  I don't think this has ever happened before.  They were cute together and for the most part had a good time.

Splashing her big brother

I finally got Max to participate in a little birthday interview.  The video is cute but frustrating because he's laying down for most of it and not looking at the camera and then he's moving so much the camera has to keep refocusing...so instead here's his answers.

Maxwell's 4th Birthday Interview 

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Vegetable: Cucumbers ("Cucancumbers")

Favorite Fruit: Raspberries

Favorite Toy: My Transformers

Favorite TV Show/Movie: Nindrago

Favorite game to play on the iPad: I like to play baseball games but you aren't letting me download any

Favorite sport: basketball

Favorite color: golden

Favorite thing to do a school: Write a robot or a rescue robot

Favorite Book: Toy Story 2

Favorite thing to do with mom and dad: Sneeze (he sneezed right before he answered)

Favorite game to play: Robot Turtles

It's finally here!!!  Time to go back to school!

I asked Maxwell what he wanted to do when he grew up and he said he "wants to work with Kallie in an office".   How cute is that?

He had to add his name

Emmalyn putting her touches on the board too

First pic of the year at school

He walked right in and sat down on the rug.  No problems this year!

Video - Maxwell and I talked about how he could handle getting his shots this year.  We decided he would say "that tickles"

Getting his blood pressure checked like a big kid

Here's his questionnaire:

This questionnaire is for ages 4-6.  You are supposed to keep going until you circle 3 no's.  Maxwell made it through the whole thing and only got 2 no's.  He's going to blow it away for the next 2 years.

Here's Maxwell's Stats:

Weight: 37 lbs (60th percentile)

Height: 37.75 inches (6th percentile)

Blood Pressure: 101/66

After the doctors, I took Maxwell to work (where he told everyone he saw that he had gotten 4 shots).

Maxwell left me a couple of notes on my white board and note pad.  I'm going to have to keep those, I will enjoy looking at them.

He felt good enough when he got home to "play" a little croquet with his sister

She used the play sand rake and baseball as her mallet and ball

Checking out his bandaid collection

Getting 4 shots was just not fun but he's been great!

Video - Maxwell did awesome at getting his 4 shots.  He did say "it tickles" at first but then after the first two shots, it was rough even though two nurses went at the same time.  He didn't cry for the next group of 2 but did whine a little bit.  It only lasted a few seconds and then he moved on.  He did awesome!!!

I went and got my first blow out with no hair cut so that my hair would be done for my trip tomorrow to Chicago for a KraftHeinz meeting.  I sure love when I don't have to do my own hair!