easter at grama's...

we ventured over to grama's house for easter dinner.
and what do you know, the easter bunny left a basket for max there too!

checking out his HUGE basket of goodies.

he got some thomas jammies, a bowling set, shovels, buckets, coloring books, and a few treats.

we had a great dinner and even got to celebrate uncle mike's birthday.
mom, linda, bill, lindsday, heidi, mike, leslie, hayden and denny were all there!

i got a couple shots of max and hayden before they had to head back home.
i couldn't decide which one i liked best, so you get both!

fun family day...

drew had monday off so i decided to take a vacation day.
we made plans to head to the building for kids.

max found this baby nursery...he quickly picked up this baby and said, "momma, have!"

next he found a giant barn filled with animals.
it was much bigger than the barn he has at home and he carried this bull around for awhile.

he thinks he is such big stuff.
he just HAD TO climb these stairs.

next dada and max spent some time driving the firetruck.
are they a couple of handsome firemen, or what!

dada was trying lure max into this rope tree house but he was having none of it.

next it was off to the water tables.

he would put these rubber duckies down the slide and quack at them as they passed by!

he was really enjoying this part of the museum.

after this particular table and this specific move...the back of his shirt and the seat of his pants were soaked! :)

i think the construction exhibit was dada's favorite.

he operated this machine a few times...this was the only time max joined him!

dada and max in the tree house!

what a good looking pilot!

momma and max in the control tower.

when max lost interest, we headed over to copper rock for coffee for us and a treat for max.

i love that a fruit and yogurt parfait is a "treat" to my kid! :)

after a nap for max, some house projects for drew, and some relaxing and book reading for me, we ventured outside.

max enjoyed his first of many picnics!

then, dada broke out the bubble wand from one of max's easter baskets.
it was a riot to watch this!

and this might be my new favorite picture of max for the time being.

i am so in love with my family.

i am so thankful for days like this to just be with each other and have fun.

easter day...

max was up EARLY on easter.
we brought him into our bed to snuggle for awhile so he didn't wake our house guests up before 7. when we came down he was ready to start hunting for his easter basket.

is it under the table? no...

looking under dada's desk. not there either.

should we check in the basement?

he spotted it right away and he was off!

he was pretty excited about the eggs.

checking out his loot.

our handsome little bunny!

after digging into some cookies and mini m&ms...it was time to play!

playing fireman with grampa mark!
(notice his hand on his ear. the belt plays "fireman" sounds. when the truck siren goes off, it gets louder and louder. max puts his hand on his ear and says "noisy" or "too loud." so funny!)

grampa was teaching max how to take pictures.

here is his subject!

checking out his work.

max and grampa mark!
thanks for the visit dad...max always has so much fun with you!
i wonder if it has anything to do with the donuts? :)

max had a serious nap...as you can tell by the hair.

i think it looks like the jim carrey's hair as "lloyd christmas" in "dumb and dumber."

we headed to grama's house for dinner to celebrate easter and uncle mike's birthday.
the easter bunny brought basket to grama's house and max got one from hayden too. what a spoiled little guy! i forgot to bring the camera but took pictures with my mom's camera. i'll have to post those later.

easter vigil...

saturday was the culmination of lots of time spent at church, a real bonding experience for drew and i, and the celebration of him becoming a full member of the catholic church.

the mass started in darkness. we got to walk down the center aisle of church and light people's candles. it was really neat. the room looked so beautiful illuminated by hundreds of candles.

the entire congregation prayed for becky, drew, and matt right before they were confirmed.

drew and i got to take communion together...that was very special.
drew put in so much time, effort, and learning and i am so proud of him. i know it might sound silly but i just don't have other words to describe it.

we are so blessed to have such wonderful families. so many people were there to show support to drew. his mom, step-dad, sister and brother came up from cedar grove. my dad came from michigan. my mom, denny, heidi, linda, bill, and lindsay were there too. max was even able to be there for part of it too. a big thanks to amie and austin for being willing to take him home! (and sorry again for the whole being locked out thing!)

happy easter...

book worm...

max loves to read.
he "reads" along to so many of his books.
i love to come into the living room or his bedroom and see him just surrounded by a pile of books.

here he is lounging on the couch enjoying some delicious milk and a great dinosaur book.

trip to see the easter bunny...

dada and grama attempted to take max to visit the easter bunny on thursday.
they got there and the line was really long and the easter bunny was off taking a "carrot break."
so they snapped a couple of shots by the mechanical bunnies and max seemed satisfied.

and i guess a pic of him as captain america to end the trip!

find max...

drew buried max in a pile of stuffed animals the other morning.
too funny!

some of my favorites...

here are just a few of my favorite things that max says right now.

the human race...

hello blog readers! i'm not really sure how many of you there really are out there... but i'm once again participating in a fundraising event for my beloved "youth go." my staff have already raised over $1000 and the youth themselves have raised over $500. it's time for me to kick things into gear. click on the following link for more information. if you can make a donation...at any amount...it would be GREATLY appreciated. thanks! love...kelly http://humanrace2011.volunteercenter.net/YouthGo/khicks/

family band...

max has been loving music lately... singing, playing his piano, watching (and helping) drew play guitar. here is max jamming with dada.

hannah and teddy were over for a few hours to visit and play.

they go in on the music too!

teddy on the shaker, max on the drum, hannah on the piano, and drew, the band leader, on guitar!

max was trying to multi-task and play two instruments!

good job band!