May is here! Kindergarten Round Up for Maxwell

We had some fun family time going bowling - one of Maxwell's favorite activities and Emmalyn is finally big enough that she can sort of participate too (although she takes a LOT of entertaining when it isn't her turn).

Matching mother/daughter frizzy and curly side hairs

She, of course, wanted to do it on her own

Maxwell did a great job without the ramp (but with the bumpers)

He did a pretty cute celebration dance every time he knocked down some pins

Begging to play the big arcade games

Silly kids enjoying one of their favorites - pizza

Ugh.  It was time to go through Emmalyn's clothes and put away the old size and get out the new size.  This girl is blessed with far too many clothes!!!

Maxwell really like shoes.  I think it's probably his favorite piece of clothing right now and he would love to get new shoes all the time.  I was a little shocked when I laid them all out and realized he has 12 pairs of shoes!

Wearing his new leather penny loafers to school.  He was really excited about them (as was I because they were so handsome).  Unfortunately he came home from school and his feet were so sore from the shoes.  I didn't even think that boys new shoes could be painful like girls new shoes could be.  I know that's silly, but I really never thought about it.

It was a gorgeous day so I treated myself and sat outside to enjoy the weather while enjoying this yummy burger!

Maxwell had Kindergarten Round Up.  This is where all the upcoming Kindergartners get to see parts of the school and the parents get to hear a little about Kindergarten.  Even though we haven't fully decided to send Maxwell to Kindergarten this year, we figured better to send him just in case.

He was all excited until we got there and he realized he would be going someone separately from us.  Then he started crying.  Luckily, right then we saw one of Maxwell's friends from the neighborhood, Avery, who is also going into Kindergarten and so she sweetly put her arm around him and they walked off.  A teacher quickly helped out too and off he went.  My heart was aching a little watching him walk away.

So off he went to see some of the rooms he will be going to as a Kindergartner, like a classroom/the gym/the music room, etc. While Peter and I sat with a bunch of parents and learned about the "ABC's" of Kindergarten.  Such a weird experience! How are we parents of a kid that is old enough to go to school?

When we picked up Maxwell he was having a great time playing with kids in the gym and was happy.  Whew - I was worried he'd still be upset and clinging to an adult.

Maxwell and Avery

In front of the elementary school

This stuffed emoji has a story.  Maxwell got this one from McDonalds, it's name is "J/K".  He LOVES it.  It's the thing he is sleeping with at night.  He wants to take it places with us... He LOVES IT.  Well, all of a sudden it went missing one day and we couldn't find it anywhere.  He was devastated.  I found a picture of it online and put out a cry for help on Facebook to see if anyone might have one.  Our sweet photographer found one and so I picked it up from her and then a mysterious benefactor secretly placed one on our door (and then showered us with a few more over the next few weeks).  So grateful for friends that come to your rescue!

I threw a double bridal shower at work for my friends Beth and Michelle who are just a couple months apart.  It was a lot of fun and we did a "cinco de mayo" theme.  :)

These cousins are so lucky to have each other to play with!  Most of the time, they get along well.

Maxwell's card to his teacher for Teacher Appreciation

Presents for his teacher and co-teacher

3 amigos

Warm spring days and enjoying them outside!

Emmalyn playing with a little friend from Kindermusik after class

Emmalyn got to paints the letters for her "TWO" photoshoot.  She had a lot of fun and I let her do whatever she wanted.

Maxwell did his own paint project at the same time.  He's really into drawing hearts right now.

After the letters she wanted to paint a little more.

On Saturday, I got to pick dinner and I chose to get some take out from a new Sushi restaurant by us.  I chose Teriyaki Chicken and tempura veggies and Peter chose .... get this... sushi.  for real.  He chose Sushi.  Who is this guy???

FALL at the Arboretum

On November 17 we went to the Dallas Arboretum to take some fun fall pictures.  We went a couple times last year, one of which was quite an adventure.  I LOVE the Arboretum.

Rosy cheeked Max doing what he loves to do in the morning - play with the iPad.

We finally made it to the Arboretum later that afternoon.

Nope, not going to hang out here until you get the perfect picture, Mom.

Wiggly kid.

Max wanted to take control of pushing the stroller.

Chasing the birds.  He thought this was pretty fun!s

Snack break!  Luckily I had some baby food in the diaper bag, I didn't plan on him being hungry for more a small snack of raisins. 

Playing in the hay.

There were amazing Chihuly glass sculptures throughout the garden.  I had been wanting to come see them all year.  Each piece was so beautiful and unique!  This was called the Dallas Star.

Video - Max had on his squeaky shoes (which got quite a few laughs from people around us throughout the day) which made walking around even more fun.

Finally!  Some big smiles!

Escaping!  He really didn't want to hang out for pictures at all.

Enjoying walking around on his own.

He was so happy.  He was having a great time. 

Then, a split second after I took this picture, he face planted...HARD... right on the ground.  If you look at his feet in this picture you can see how his right foot is getting caught on his left foot, which leads to the face plant.  It's hard for me to look at this picture because you see the pure joy in his face but the tragic moment is already starting to occur.  I also feel guilt because if I hadn't been trying to snap a picture maybe I would have been able to catch him in time.

So he face planted and started screaming.  When I picked him up his mouth was bleeding.  I tried to comfort him but he didn't want me.  He wanted his dad (ouch - that hurt my feelings a little). So Peter comforted him and I tried to clean up the blood and determine where it was coming from.  I was so worried that when I looked in his mouth that I would find that he had knocked a tooth out.

He eventually stopped crying.  We got him and the ground cleaned up.  He didn't lose a tooth but he was scraped up and already had a fat lip.   And, the fun was over.

After cleaning everything up, we were out of wipes which is a scary place to be in my book.  Max was unhappy and not going to sit happily in the stroller anymore (and I certainly wasn't going to let him walk around).  Peter was done.  So, it was time to leave. 

We didn't have the perfect family picture that I wanted to get for our Christmas cards.  I didn't get to see even half of the Chihuly exhibits.  GRRRRRRR!!!!

Phew, a little smile from Max.  It helped ease my worries about Max.

I begged Peter to let us get 1 family picture.  Here it is with my sad baby.

A quick shot of one of the exhibits as we were passing by to the exit.

Scraped up face and fat lip.  Worst injury yet (knock on wood).  Given how hard this was on me, I am in BIG TROUBLE if Maxwell is one of those boys that gets hurt frequently.

Recovering back at home...enjoying his milk while sitting IN his racetrack.  Silly boy.