Maxwell was chosen to present at his school's Kindergarten Roundup. It's an event to showcase what the preschoolers have learned and talk about why they should continue their Kindergarten schooling at the Montessori school.
I wasn't going to be able to go to the roundup due to work travel, so Maxwell's teacher let me go to the practice during the day at the school.
Maxwell had to introduce himself, what class he was from, and what he would be doing before he got to work. It wasn't a very fast process while he worked through the 4 digit subtraction but it's how you do this "game" so it just takes time.
With daddy at the presentation
Sitting at the front of the room
Patiently waiting his turn (not all the other presenters did such a great job and it was tough because he was nearly at the end of it). Peter said he did a great job (he's so timid ... it was great to see him be in front of a group like this).
While Maxwell had his presentation, I was in Nashville for work and got to go to dinner and then stuff hundreds of Easter Eggs with my step-sister Marabeth. It was fun to get to spend time together!!
Maxwell had an Easter Egg Hunt (gather) with his class. I totally forgot to bring his Easter basket so instead he had to use this reusable grocery bag that I had in my car - sorry buddy.
Ready to go get those eggs!
There was a visit from the Easter Bunny!
All the eggs are gathered (but you can't tell in that huge bag).
Group pic with his class - The Groundhogs and Ms. Cynthia
I was so pumped for today! (Aside from the hassle of getting everyone equipped to play in the snow and the super pain in the butt that is when you are looking for clothes to fit a non-size 6 body... Oh well, I made it work.)
We went up to a tubing park up by Park City with Peter's siblings and nieces and nephews. I've never gone to a place like this so I was excited to try it and to have the kids try it too.
Clockwise from left: Korben, Payton, Jaxton, Jordan, Maxwell
The kids all hung out with me in a heated hut while the rest of the adults bought the passes.
All bundled up (poor Emmalyn could only move her fingers and her eyes). Cute little snow kids!
Emmalyn aka Stay Puffed Marshmallow girl. She couldn't even really sit up, just sort of lay against the chair.
Hitting the hills - - -you stand on this conveyor belt and it takes you up. No big deal until you are trying to keep your balance, hold onto your tube, plus hold your puffed up daughter all at the same time. It stressed me to no end. After the first time, I let Peter take Emmalyn. (Which left me with Maxwell which had it's own complications as I tried to help him successfully get on and stay upright on the belt.)
Maxwell and his tube
Everyone had to have their own tube, so Emmalyn went down in an adult tube because she fit better inside it than a smaller one (plus I felt it was safer in the wider base). I didn't realize when we showed up that she would have to have her own tube and couldn't ride with Peter or I. That made me incredibly nervous.
Video - Emmalyn going down the hill for the first time. She wasn't sure what to think and you can see how she changes her mind a few times. I thought for sure she'd love this since she's usually so bold and brave, but nope...not this time.
He was so happy and having a lot of fun.
Daddy's girl
Waiting in line to go up the hill. The first couple times went really fast but after that, there were a ton of people you had to wait a long time. That made it not so much fun for Emmalyn and Maxwell.
Brothers and their daughters
I thought snow tubing was awesome (and I only did the little hill...that was plenty exciting)
It was a lot of fun having so many family members there. We didn't stay together as a whole big group but there was enough of us that you frequently ran into someone. After two times going down, Emmalyn did not want to go anymore. She decided it wasn't fun and was too scary for her.
At that point I took both the kids because Max was tired of waiting and starting to get cold, and Emmalyn kept saying she was poopy. UGH! That meant I had to trek all the way back to the car, holding my daughter who had doubled in weight thanks to all her clothes... get a diaper and wipes and trek all the way back to the bathroom. On the way back, I grabbed our stroller so at least I didn't have to hold Emmalyn but that was tough too because the ground was snowy/slushy/icy.
Alex watched Maxwell while I took care of Emmalyn. I think the diaper change took like 30 minutes because I had to take all the layers off and then put all the layers on. And to top it all off - she wasn't even poopy!!! She was totally lying because she knows that we act pretty quickly if she's poopy. She was clearly trying to manipulate me and get out of having to go down the hill again. Sneaky little girl.
Once Maxwell had some hot chocolate in him, he was ready to play on this mound of snow with Lola.
Sliding down on his rear
Trying it with a tube
Emmalyn was happy to just sit in the stroller and hang out. She was so fussy that I gave her the binky. I didn't put all of her layers back on after the diaper change so she was a little less puffy and I hoped still warm enough.
He was LOVING playing in the snow.
Nothing emphasizes how short one is better than wearing big bulky snowpants. :)
She fell asleep (which made me confident she was warm enough - whew)
Maxwell tackling Korben. They had fun playing together.
While I was with the younger kids, everyone else was having fun going on the big hill.
Group picture (minus Alex)...
...Oh, there he is
The area is just so beautiful! I miss seeing these gorgeous mountains.
We all headed to McDonalds for lunch and then went our own separate ways after that.
Max and Lola buddying up
Emmalyn's cousins were so sweet with her :)
Peter and Madison
Peter, Madison, Mark, and Alex w/ Morgan in the front
Group picture with everyone this time
After we left, we headed to Sandy to go to my step-sister Katherine's grand opening of her esthetician salon. We got to see Nana, Uncle Derek, Aunt Katherine, Aunt Marabeth, and Aunt Sharee. We didn't get to spend much time with them because everyone was busy with the opening but I was able to help a little big and Maxwell and Emmalyn got to see Nana, which they were so excited for.
There were a ton of people there - it was crazy!
We were wiped out after our long day. We stopped at Arctic Circle on the way back to Tammy's for another shake (I got cookie butter again because it was so yummy).
I was working in Denver and just happened to be there the same time that Julianne and Derek's tour was in town. I worked with Kristy, Julianne's assistant to surprise both Julianne and Derek - they didn't know I was coming.
I love that Cafe Rio is in Denver!!
On my way to the venue to surprise Jules (and Derek - - but we all know Julianne will be more excited about me being there. Derek's just like AJ. The boys don't care as much about stuff like this.)
It was pretty great. I walked into Julianne's dressing room and totally shocked her. She was like, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" She was so sweet and happy to see me. We were able to have a really great visit for a few hours before the show as she got ready.
I facetimed with Maxwell before he went to bed and he was really excited to get to talk to Aunt Julianne and Uncle Derek too.
Stare down between Lexi and Derek
Not the best selfie, I meant to get the whole poster. Oh well.
Again, I watched the meet/greet and Q&A except this time it happened before the show.
Woo! Right in the center of the stage.
The show was again amazing. It is so entertaining and so well put together.
Look how full this place was!!
I am such a softy and teared up multiple times during the show. Just so proud of these two and hard how they work. Happy to see it pay off for them.
I hung out with them after the show along with the dancers, a few of Julianne's friends, and Derek's old partner from DWTS - Amy and her friend. At one point Jules and I were having a pretty deep conversation and both crying. It was a tender moment that was unexpected (sometimes as the older sister, I don't want my younger siblings to see me "weak" or to know the struggles I have gone through. It stems back from when my mom was in the hospital so much and I felt like I had to take care of my younger siblings. Well now that we are all adults, including my step siblings, I have to remind myself I don't need to do that.). Anyway, it was a special conversation and I'm incredibly grateful that I was able to spend the time with her. We hung out as long as we could until their bus had to get on the road for the drive to their next venue.
It was a super fun night - wish we lived closer and could have more chances to be together!
Wife, Mom, and Career Woman. Trying to succeed at all three. Enjoy cruising, time with friends and family, and sleeping. Busy life doesn't leave time for as much fun as in the past but that's okay, it's still a good life.
