Celebrating Max

Today we had a "Max" day. He's finally fully toilet trained after a very long couple of years. It's been a week and a half and he's doing great. The bunk bed we promised him is on order due to be delivered this week, with a snazzy set of Scooby Doo sheets washed and waiting. We wanted to do something special for him today, as he has been working so hard. We started off the day with a family breakfast at the Hi-Life, Max's favorite breakfast place. He gleefully inhaled the kids grand slam. Alice ate 2 pieces of bacon lightening fast, it was pretty amazing to turn back to her a few moments after her plate arrived and see only bacon crumbles remaining where 2 large slices were a mere minute before. After our fun breakfast Shawn took Max to ride the Duck: http://www.ridetheducksofseattle.com/
Max has been wanting a ride on this since he was old enough to point, so we coughed up the big bucks today. After the neat ride they came home for lunch and Max excitedly told me all about it.

We then attempted to drive to a birthday party out on Lake Washington. Both kids fell asleep in the car (a rarity), and there was some festival going on out there with such traffic we were unable to get through. We drove to a shady side street and hung out and enjoyed some iced tea as the kids dozed. Later in the afternoon we headed up to a friends house in Northgate for a backyard hang out and dinner. Max had so much fun playing with our friends toys. He announced happily while eating: "Mom, this is the best dinner ever" (a cheese and refried bean quesadilla, cucumber slices, black olives, corn on the cob, and watermelon).

He was so pleased with himself and our special day. It was lovely to see. And he's even been good about not using this loud "quacker" noise toy that he got on the Duck in the house.

Such a nice day with the family. Now, if only Alice would stop biting other kids when she's over tired. She bit our friend Cleo twice on the arm and left purple bite marks, with puffed up areas where she broke the skin. I cannot wait for her to grow out of this phase!

On another note, today was a beautiful summer day. Perfect hot weather, but not too hot. Alice and I spent some lovely time this morning at our neighborhood Fremont Peak Park and we had a nice lunch just the two of us.

In September I'll only be working 1 day a week due to the seasonal nature of my job. I've got one lead at UW for a half time job with full benefits. My resume made it from HR to the hiring department, so I'm hopeful I will get an interview. For now I'll enjoy some time at home this fall with the kids. We've got them registered for a six session art class which starts mid-September, along with 7 sessions of swim lesson for both kids. They have been enjoying a drop off playgroup Wednesday mornings at a local neighborhood center and Max has really been flourishing being back at Trettin preschool on Fridays. It's really nice to have some activities lined up for them, they both love learning so much.