Making Easter Eggs

Deckers Outdoor Corporation did a volunteer event for Food from the Heart.  We decorated 870 Easter Eggs to go into baskets for folks who are shut ins in the local Santa Barbara area.  Food from the Heart provides meals for 150 people in need each week.  It was a fun event and Max LOVED making all the eggs and making more Deckers Friends.

Mama and Max dying eggs

Max making friends with Letty and Mark

Quite the assembly line.

 

 

Easter Egg Hunt

We went to Arroy Verde Park in Ventura today for Community Presbyterian Church's Easter Egg hunt.  Auntie Amy and Aunt Becky also joined us which was super fun.  It was a beautiful day, sun shining and warm.  Perfect day for the activities.

Mama and my two besties:  AKA Aunt Becky & Auntie Amy

We started with face painting.  Max wanted a butterfly; I think he has spring fever.  After that, we decorated our own Easter basket to get ready for the hunt. Max had his heart set on finding "one yellow egg".  He got the hang of it pretty quickly and went  for the mother load.

sit very still

 

Springtime butterfly

After we went and played a bit in the park, the entire time, Max was holding his handmade Easter basket.

whheeeeeeee!

 

 

Max and Mama.... enjoying a beautiful Saturday morning.  The day couldn't have been more perfect.  Max really had a great time.   Thank you CPC for putting on such a fun family event.

 

Auntie Amy and Aunt Becky - thank you for making Max's morning so special  He was sooo excited to see the two of you.  He loves his 'girls', that's for sure!

Auntie Amy, Aunt Becky & Marvelous Max

I would say it was a very successful day.  Anytime you get the boy to sleep for a half hour on the ride home is a good thing.  We really had fun!

the best way to ride the 101

All in a day's fun ....

One of Max's favorite places to go burn energy is the Goleta Beach Park.  It's always good to bring him there after dinner to try to tire him out and get him ready for night nights.  Most of the time, Daddy runs Max ragged so he'll poop out ... last night it was Mama and the little man.  I think Tommy might do a better job at this part.  :)

Swining on my belly is FUN!



Trains like to go down slides too

Whheeeeee!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cars Land

GrandPops, Daddy, Mama and Max at Cars Land for Max's 5th birthday.

Well... Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure is super cool and well worth the visit. We wanted to go in the evening so we could see the neon.  By that time Max was a little worn down and not really into going on rides.  But we did walk around and get a great look at Cars Land in all it's glory.  I'm looking forward to a return visit in June and getting more thrills on the fun rides.

 

Cars ride lit up at  night.  Pretty cool!

 

We went back the next day first thing and the lines were already very long. We should have toughed out the line for the fast pass, but Max had a bit of a cold and wasn't too excited for more theme rides. So we just walked around, shopped and checked out Radiator Springs.

Luigi's Casa De Tires

 

Mator visiting the Cozy Cone

what 5?? FIVE! Happy Birthday, Max!

Happy 5th!
click on any images to enlarge

How did I wait an entire year to update Marvelous Max?  Damn you Facebook! 

It's hard to believe Max is 5! What a big boy; he is just darling.  Max is a very caring and sweet person. I get lots of hugs and kisses served with my daily doses of, "I love you!".  He really is all Tommy and I could ever ask for and more.

We had the great "Maxabration" for his 5th birthday. We took the Amtrak train from Goleta to Anaheim. It's about a 4 hours ride and Max loved every minute of it. He always calls the Amtrak Surfliner his "favorite train" and often wants to go to the Goleta station just to watch in come and go. Imagine his thrill when he got to pack up his Cars luggage and actually get on the "favorite train" and go for this big adventure. He probably would have been happy with just that!



Favorite Train

Mama's pride and joy

I love my awesome Cars luggage from Auntie Becky.  Waiting for Pacific Surfliner.

But it got much better, GrandPops came out from Boston and met us for a Disneyland and CA Adventure extravaganza.  We rented a nice condo and stayed down for a couple of days and did the park hopper.  We really had a blast.  The only thing missing was Tommy's dad who was originally going to join us but, sadly, couldn't make it.

As soon as we got to Disneyland, Max was immediately chosen to march with Mickey's band and conduct the orchestra!  What a great treat!  He got his birthday pin at City Hall which was mirrored by his Mickey Orchestra button.  He kept pointing them out all day.

waving to his adoring fans

  

Conducting

Max and Mickey!

Of course there were fun rides, the carousel, space ships and Carsland ... all big hits.  Pirates of the Caribbean?  Not so much... Max didn't like the darkness or when he got splashed with water.

Carousel with GrandPops



happiest place on Earth

Great Maxabration 2013 - Carsland

Daddy, Max and GrandPops on the teacups

I'm flying!

After a busy two couple of days even the exciting train ride back home was a little much and Max was ready to get off the train after only a few stops and "go home".   To entertain himself, and everyone around him, he sang "God Bless America" from Ventura to Goleta.  All in all, I'd say he had a very happy birthday and will remember his adventure for a long time.

Mouse ears from GrandPops

Happy 5th Birthday, Marvelous Max!!  Mommy and Daddy love you to pieces and are so proud of our little man.    ....

Like I always say ... it doesn't stink to be Max

Happy 4th Birthday, Max!

WOW!  Look who turned 4 years old!  I can hardly stand it!  Max had a great birthday!  He was lucky enough to have not just Mommy and Daddy to celebrate with, but Grandpa Tom, Auntie Amy and Auntie Becky too!



Auntie Paula sent balloons which were a HUGE hit for Max!

 

Max showing us his 4 digits!  He's such a big boy; I feel like he grew into 4 just in the last couple of weeks!



Max gets so many hugs and kisses!  Look at the cheeky grin on his face as he plays hard to get with his adoring Auntie Becky!  It was so special to be close to some aunties and have them share in our celebration. 

Best Friends:  Auntie Becky and Auntie Amy give Mama some hugs!  SOOO love these ladies!.... and they ADORE Max.  So cute!

Max was also super lucky to have Grandpa Tom here for a few days to celebrate the bit FOUR!  And, of course, Max had to show Grandpa his favorite place to hang out: The Goleta Depot.  Train rides are so much fun!

are you having fun Grandpa?

Tommy and Grandpa Tom.  Tried to get 3 generations of Rowell men, but it wasn't happening.  We still have a few more days for visiting, hopefully we can capture all 3 cuties pies.  (and see the crazy genetics of how they pretty much all look alike. )




I just had to add this great picture. Daddy and Max sent to Mama while in Chia to cheer me up. I just love it!

 

Christmas 2011

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 I'm a bit behind on my blogging, so let me try to catch you up.

Christmas was so wonderful this year!  Max was soo into it and really loved the season... and presents!  We're missing a picture of Santa this year because Max was having nothing to do with him. He was only interested in admiring Santa from a far.  Maybe next year.



Max's Preschool had a super cute Christmas pagent.  Lots of little kids singing Christmas songs.  It was totally adorable.  Max was very interested in the Christmas tree where he was standing.  He made kept looking at me and pointing to the presents under the tree.  

Singing Jingle Bells

 

Mama, Daddy and Max after the show.

Deckers had a fantastic Christmas party!!  We even had snow, in southern CA!  They really did it right, Santa came with his reindeer and sled.  All the kids were so excited.  Max was interested in Santa, but afraid at the same time.  He had to keep a safe distance.

Making Christmas cookies at the party.

Nothing says Christmas like an ice sculpture of Lucky the Penguin.

Christmas morning, as you can see by the bed head.  Buzz Lightyear was a big hit.  Max had been asking for Buzz for quite some time.  Glad Santa thought he was good enough to get him.

Max loves his Thomas the Train pillow from Grandpops.

And what fun would Buzz be without Woody?

Mama loving my Maxi boy!  So much joy this Christmas.  I still can't believe how BIG this child is getting.

Max and lots of cousins!  He LOVED having the entire tribe to play with!

Fireman dress up from Uncle Dave, Aunt Shelly, Madi and Bryce.

Cool new flashlight from Uncle Patrick and Antie Yvonne.

Max and his love, Kendyll.  She was so great with him.  The two of them were like 2 peas in a pod.  Hard to tell who enjoyed each other more.

Oh yes, 2011 will be known as the UGG Christmas!  Mama LOVES her new job.  :)

Just so happy with all the family and attention!

Tommy and Dad .... two of my favorite men on the planet!  May Max grow up to be just as wonderful as you are!

This is my favorite!  These two were stuck together like glue.  I loved watching them together; having sooo much for.  Truly wonderful.

So, we learned how to play "Blurt" with the "loud family".  It was a crazy fun game, but people are nutty.  You really have to YELL your answer out.  Tommy and I were just saying it in our normal voice, by the end, we were screaming too!

and much to everyone's dismay, Tommy and I won the game!!

After a looong, action packed day... it's time to snuggle.  Mama's favorite!

Now it's back to adjusting to winter in California.... I think we're doing pretty well.