Wonderful World of Disney

Mike is not a Disney fan. He has seen maybe 2 of the movies (Incredibles and Nemo), not a fan of crowds and had a tragic accident at Disneyland 7 or 8 years ago that he doesn't like to talk about. Mostly because its really embarassing to admit you got a rope burn on your face when you majorly bit it on the rope bridge back when it was the Swiss Family Robinson tree. Unfortunately no one was taping it. But I still laugh just as hard when I picture it in my mind. However when his family came into town for his brothers wedding Uncle Marshall and GG took Max, Mike and I to Disneyland. I was way more exicted than anyone. I really wanted to take Max on teh Dumbo ride which I've never been on. Max hardly reacted to any of the rides.

No reaction on Pirates...

No reaction meeting Tiger...No reaction on Mr. Toads Wild Ride...

The only ride where he showed any emotion was the Winne The Pooh ride (again, which I've never been on). There is a really bright part where you enter a room full of hefalumps and woozles. All Neon colors and he just got a hige wide-eyed look on his face and slowly turned to look at Mike and I like "Are you people on drugs, or am I?"

We also were able to catch what might be a smile on the Carousel.

I had purchased the book "Hidden Mickey's" to entertain myself a bit more during the day. It's pretty neat to try and find them around the park and hidden on some rides. Anyone who wants to borrow it, just give me a call. The Haunted Mansion one is my favorite...(spoiler alert)... when you go by the room of dancing ghosts at a party, look down on the table settings. One is in the shape of Mickey.

After about 4 1/2 hours I think GG and Uncle Marshall were ready to go, but I still had to take Max on Dumbo. We took about 30 pictures, but I'll spare you and only post a couple.

It's possible Max was tired as well.

Luckily we bought the So. Cal. season passes so we can go back again soon. Just give me a call if anyone wants to go, I'll ditch Mike and be there!

Hava Nagila

I love celebrations, particularly weddings. I just adore the bride & groom all fancy and in love, I crave the yummy food & always marvel at the creativity of the decorations. I love it even more when all you have to do is show up and partake!

This past Sunday Mike's older brother Matt married Susan who he has been dating for a few years. We love Susan and Matt and were so glad they finally made her addition to the family official. They put the wedding together themselves and it was great. It was out on the patio at the TRAXX restaraunt at Union Station in LA. I've never been there, but it was a great place to have an outdoor wedding.

It was a Jewish wedding ceremony so it took place under a Huppah. Since I married into the tribe & gave birth to a mo-jew, I will explain... a Huppah or Chuppah is a special canopy, which is held up by four poles and represents the presence of God as well as the couple's future home. Matt and Susan made theirs using Matt's Grandmother's table linen that she held passover on.

My sister Krista and her husband Ryan also happen to be friends with Matt & Susan so they were invited as well. Max was only the center of attention (as he should be) until my niece- Macie and Nephew-Carson got there. Macie has been talking about this wedding for a couple weeks and the "wedding dress" she was going to wear. She had to be in every picture and Carson was even directing the photographer on where he wanted his picture taken. At 2 years old he already knows his best side. Macie's favorite part was dancing to Hava Nagila (Hebrew for "let us rejoice"). To her it was basically ring-around-the-rosies. To everyone else, it just went on & on & on. Hava Nagila is a very long song which apparently no one knows the words to other than saying "Hava Nagila" over and over. That's Macie dancing in the middle of the circle with Susan. Can you guess which picture is of Macie when the dancing was over? I think she wanted to keep going (& going & going).

We did manage to take one Brownstein family picture w/o Macie. I think it turned out pretty good.

Chateau de Larson

This past week Max and I along with my sister Krista and her 2 kids, Macie & Carson drove up to Pleasanton to house-sit for my sister Kim and her family while they vacationed in Mexico. For us, it was a mini vacation. My sister has a gorgeous home with an even more wonderful pool in the backyard. The kids had a wonderful week getting up the courage to jump off the waterfal & go down the slide by themselves. Max even kicked around in his floatie and took a turn on the slide. I even raided my sisters library and read 3 books from the TWILIGHT series, which was fabulous.

So little sisters are sometimes good for something (love ya' Kris!). About a month ago she talked me into signing up for Classmates.com. I did and instantly found one of my best friends from highschool in Pleasanton (before we tragically moved my Jr. year (I'm still slightly wounded). She still lives in No. Cal so while at my sisters Allison came over for the day. It was so great to catch up and reminisce and see her new brunette hair.

Allison had another one of friends contact info so a couple weeks ago I met up with another BFF, Melissa. I'm totally ticked that I did not get a picture of us, but we were both juggling our kids. I did take pictures of her cutie-pa-tootie kids Simon and Charlie. Charlie totally has her red curly hair.

Have you ever had those kind of friends where you get back in touch after a long time and its like no time was lost? I'm so glad I signed up, thanks Krista!

Catch them if you can

Last night Mike decided to give the dogs some exercise and chase them while holding Max. Turns out Max LOVES it & Mike got the most exercise. We've never heard him laugh quite like this before...
(please ignore the messy house)

We had a lovely day in the fashion district trying to find fun fabrics, ribbon and such so I can look craftier than I am. The bedding for Max's crib and the curtains in his room are pretty much the extent of my abilities (and I had my Mom's help). I told my friend Sachia I'd post pictures of the curtains, so here they are. The buttons were a gift from my mom.

Kick-A day

Today was a kick-A day. Gorgeous weather, snow cones, lunch with friends at Olive Garden, then brownies & lounging the late afternoon away by the pool. For not really napping all day, Max did pretty darn good. At least, up until 20 minutes ago. But he's pretty darn pooped after swimming laps around Fallon in the pool. Fallon is 16 days younger than Max so she's not as advanced as he is at most things. Maybe when we take our swim lessons with her in August she'll do better. (hopefully the sassy sarcasm is coming through and you know I love Fallon, but love teasing her mother, Natalie even more).

We started by heading to the grand opening of the new Babies-R-Us in Glendale. They had Strawberry Shortcake, some Teenage mutant ninja turtle, and Geoffrey the Giraffe there. My friend Sachia wanted us to get pictures with the characters, but she didn't know I don't do people in costumes- freaks me out. I don't like when I can't see their faces. It's not as big as the one in West Covina, but who wants to go to West Covina? And its still well stocked and I'll go anywhere for a free snowcone. Then it was off to lunch at Olive Garden which totally hit the spot. Max and Fallon are big enough for high chairs so it was pretty cute to watch them play and try to hold hands.

After a pitstop at Joanne Fabrics, where hopefully the fabric I bought will eventually find its way into curtains for our bedroom, it was off to the pool at Sachia's. We snacked on brownies, played in the warm pool water and lounged in the sun. Great casual afternoon. Max and Fallon loved being in their little floaties, but check out the hilarious horse-head on Fallon's floatie. The best part was watching Natalie spend 30 minutes trying to blow it up :)

Check out Max and his frog-like kickin'.

Pretzels and Cheesesteaks

We just got back from spending the Memorial holiday in Philly with Mike's family, and of course while we were there Mike enjoyed his favorite Philly snacks of chicken cheesesteaks and pretzels. Uncle Marshall has a part time job at Einstein bagels so we enjoyed some of those as well. They are soooo much better on the East Coast, must be in the "wader" (you should ask Mike to say "water" for you some time, It's one of the few remaining words he still says with his Philly accent). Max had a few 1sts while he was there, he tasted his first pickle- which he loved & started rolling consecutively towards something he wanted across the room. The best part is that now I'm not the only one bragging about how smart Max is. It does not even compare to GG's raving about him to everyone. :)

Our friends the Melotto's drove in from NYC to spend Friday afternoon with us and we finally got to meet their cute son Thomas. Mike spent the afternoon describing how Max would dominate Thomas because he weighs 1 lb. more than Thomas who is 5 months older. Friday night we went to Shabat at the Brownstein's newly renovated synagogue so Max could meet all GG's friends. Ok...I can't lie. We only went for the dessert afterward, but Max is only half Jewish so its ok.

Saturday & Sunday our friends the Weisbergs drove up from Virginia to spend a couple days visiting. Audra, the girls- Anna & Lilah, & I are pretty used to our routine of finding something to do while Mike and Brad golf. Spending the day taking a ferry ride in New Hope & shopping in Peddlers Village did the trick this time. Don't forget to keep us posted on Baby #3's gender Audra!

Monday we spent at the Braun's who hosted a luncheon for family and friends to come meet Max. It was fun to "east coast greet" everyone & catch up. (I agree w- you Sachia, we need to bring the hug/kiss on the cheek to the west coast). Thank you Uncle Barry and Aunt Linda for a fabulous afternoon. Max was not exactly on his best behavior. I think the time change, teething, and catching 30 min. naps here and there finally caught up to him. I apologize again to everyone for a fussy baby.

It was a great trip, and we're already looking forward to seeing Uncle Marshall, GG and PopPop again in a few weeks for Uncle Matt's wedding.

3 little Monkey's

We just had to catch this on video. Max absolutely loves this little song, all we have to do is hold up 3 fingers and he gets so excited. I just love how he starts to flutter his eyes in anticipation of the alligator snatching the monkey out of the tree (watch the video and you'll understand).