The best Christmas surprise - a visit with Grandma Carlson!

Our Christmas continued at the airport...

Max's present from Brittany was pretty fitting for the day.  He loved the digital camera he got from Aunt Aja and brought it with him.

We had a delicious Christmas breakfast/lunch at La Madeleine.  Love Field Airport is so nice since the remodel!

When you have a fancy Christmas dress, you wear it even if you are only rocking it in the airport and in the skies!

She was so excited to be on the plane.

Checking out the clouds...

Maxwell was a super traveler

I even got her to fall asleep!!!! Score!

We had a layover in Phoenix and when we got to our gate they were asking for volunteers to give up their seats.  So, we did!  They would still get us out to SLC that day but it would be 4 hours later and we would get 1500.00 in travel vouchers for our trouble.  SCORE!!!!  What a deal.

My Grandma Carlson lives in the Phoenix area so I quickly called her and asked if she had plans or if we could come visit.  She was just staying home so it was perfect for us to go visit.  At that point, we had to hustle to make it happen.  I figured that by the time we got a rental car (with car seats since we had checked our car seats) and drove out to Grandma's we would only be able to stay 45 - 60 minutes before we would have to head back to the airport, return the car, go through security again and get back to our gate to board our plane.  

There wasn't much room for error so we quickly got moving.  While we were on the shuttle to the rental car facility, I had my laptop out making the reservation.  

The kids hanging out while we got the car.  They were good little troopers.

We needed to eat dinner and I didn't want Grandma to have to worry about trying to feed us so we called and told her we would pick up some food on the way to her house.  Easier said than done on Christmas Day.  We looked and we looked and the only thing we found open that would work was Jack in the Box.  (It was funny that's what we got because when I talked to Brittany earlier, she shared that they had done Jack in the Box for dinner because it was just them and she didn't feel like making a big, special meal.)

It was so fun to pull up to Grandma's house and see her come out to greet us.  This was the first time she got to meet Emmalyn and I think it's the first time she got to meet Maxwell too.

We ate our Jack in the Box dinner (mine was gross...good thing I loved my lunch!).  But I was really, really grateful we were getting to see Grandma.  For multiple reasons.  1 - It made me sad that she was home all alone on Christmas.  Such a departure from the busy holidays with her from my youth.  I was happy that we hopefully filled her evening with some cheer.  2 - Even though it was only Jack in the Box, I was glad to be able to bring her some dinner so she didn't just have her regular dinner on Christmas.  3 - I love her and it's been far too long since I have been able to spend time with her.  4 - It touched my soul to be able to see her engage with my kids.

It felt like a Christmas miracle to be able to spend an hour with her.  

She pulled out this hot wheels track that I remember playing with at her house when I was a kid.  Both the kids LOVED it. 

She got right down on the floor and showed them how to play with it

video  - playing cars with grandma Carlson

Emmalyn kept reaching out to her to get her attention by hitting Grandma in the chest (whoops - sorry Grandma).

Group picture!

I sure love my Grandma (who is now visibly shorter than me!)

4 Generations minus 1 (miss you Mom!!!)

Back at the airport she was still a happy camper which is good considering she has spent most of the day on a plane or in a car

Planes...buses...and automobiles

So we had RUSHED back to the airport only to then have our flight delayed another like hour and a half. :(  Such a bummer because I would have loved to have spent more time at Grandma's rather than hang out at an airport trying to entertain kids who were now past their bedtime and still far from going to sleep in a bed.

Trying to keep her entertained

we went through all of our bag of things to play with

luckily getting off and on and off and on and off and on a chair is super fun

Finally on our last leg!  Look how exhausted that little face is

We landed at SLC about 5 hours after when we would have originally landed but it was worth it!

We had an issue getting the luggage loaded into the car that was smaller than we were expecting (so frustrating!).  The kids and I hung out in the front seat trying to stay warm while the freezing car struggled to heat up while Peter was a trooper and was standing out in the cold trying to fit out suitcases/bags/stroller into a space made for one of those.  He eventually succeeded and we got to Aunt Tammy's around midnight.  (They were out of town and not getting home until the next day so I was glad they weren't home and disturbed by our late arrival.)

Whew --- what a long day but it was all worth it for that one hour with Grandma - Best Christmas Present ever!  Merry Christmas!!!!

Dapper!

I used to think that it was impossible to find cute boy clothes.  I know now that it's not impossible, you may just have to look a little harder.  I really enjoy dressing Max!  I think "dapper" best describes this look.

Rocking the suspenders

Someone so cute shouldn't be so sad!

I filled Easter eggs in preparation for our neighborhood Egg Hunt.  Max had to investigate.

I am in love with those lashes

And those chubby cheeks

We've been on the hunt for some furniture for our living room.  It's been torture.  We have been so many placed and not really found anything we've like.  PLUS shopping for furniture with a 1 1/2 year old who wants to touch everything is not very fun.

One store had these great carts that allowed us to trap Max.  He had fun "driving" around the store.

Actually eating a grilled cheese for the first time (we've tried before).  It is starting to be fun to take Max out to eat.  We are getting better at finding things he will eat (note the pickle on the table) and are getting better at keeping him entertained.  He does a nice job of ensuring everyone around us sees how cute he is.  :)  We aren't complete pros but it is better. 

Video - Max cracking up while being tickled by dad.

Don't laugh - I took a picture because I actually made dinner.  I just don't have a lot of drive to cook.  When I get home from work it's the last thing I want to do.  I just want to spend time with Max.  So most nights either Peter cooks or we figure out something for Max and eat leftovers/pizza/fast food.  So, good for me.  I made dinner!

Joe's mom, dad, sister, and nieces were in town for a week.  Max got to spend a lot of time with them while I was at work.  He called them Grandma and Grandpa and didn't take long to warm up to them.  He was really cute with Joe's Dad and the two played together.

Britt, her family, her in-laws, and Max went to a place similar to chuck-e-cheese.  She sent me this cute picture of Max.  I guess he's not too young to start taking these types of places!

Sweet sleeping baby.  I hate to wake him when he falls asleep in the car.

Details about Maxwell Charles on March 24th, 2013

• When he licks his fingers he likes to get the smacking sound
• He has starting giving me something that I call "Cheek Smooshes" where he smashes one of his cheeks against mine.  I looooooove it.  It's really sweet and affectionate.
• He is trying to jump but it's more like just raising up on his toes without leaving the ground.
• He points out letters and numbers on things.
• He knows his numbers 0 - 10
• When we read "Dr. Suess' ABC's" tonight he knew all of his letters except L, N, and U!!
• He is still a picky eater
• He is starting to get the scoop method down when using a spoon.
• He actually sang tonight.  I sang 3 notes to him and he sang it back to me multiple times and a few times was even on pitch.  It's so fun to see him pick things up!  I asked him to sing and he did.
• When we were brushing teeth tonight, there was a moment where he looked in my eyes, like REALLY looked in my eyes as if seeing into my soul.  I don't know how to explain it but it felt like he was looking into my soul.  It made me instantly tear up to feel that deep connection with him.  The bond that I have with this little person is such an amazing and special thing.  I feel very lucky to be able to experience it and experience a deeper love as well.  It motivates me to do more, give more, and be more for him.