Happy Opening Day

Where education and chores collide

Learning the difference between herbivores and carnivores while cleaning up the dishes. 

That Sam

That Sam

That Sam-I-am

That's how Dr. Seuss starts "Green Eggs and Ham." Elisa would probably start with some different words with our ham, Sam Greene. 

Last Friday our little man decommissioned mom's phone by dunking it in a cold cup of coffee. Oh well, it was due for a change. 

Speaking of due for a change, tonight Sam managed to strip below the waist and then paint himself and his crib with what he found in his diaper. 

Oh well, at least least he's cute...

And at least there's good Scotch in the house for Elisa.  

Play ball!

Max had his first T-Ball practice on Monday outfitted with new baseball pants, a belt, bat and glove, which we picked up the day prior. And yes, I may have gotten a little weepy in the store buying him his first gear.

Ready to play ball

Ready for his first baseball card

Meeting coach

Running with the coach/ cat herding

Helping out with the crazy cats

With a little instruction...

This happened

And this happened, too.

Afterward, Max was exhausted, hungry and ready to play again.

Sweet research

Through some careful field research, we were able to verify this. May have to go back and re-test several times though. 

BREAKING NEWS: Sam took his first steps!

For months, Sam has been dogged in his determination not to walk without the aid of a handhold. True, this, and his new-found love of climbing the stairs, bodes well for his future as a mountain climber. However, his refusal to walk by himself had begun to bother us. Even peer pressure failed. Surrounded by other toddlers, did he want to walk too? No. Not at all.

Yesterday, though, he decided that standing by himself might be ok, if it was on our bed, surrounded by pillows. Half of the fun of that must have been falling, because he giggled every time he did it.

Today, he decided that at least a few steps after standing up on the living room carpet, wouldn't be so bad, at least with his mom at arm's length. I was so thrilled that he couldn't stop squealing and clapping, as I squealed and clapped. Now, we'll see what he does tomorrow. Hopefully, marathons will be a ways away.

(by Elisa)

Remembering Gary Pfitzner

Gary Pfitzner was a local pilot who lost his life tragically this morning when his news helicopter crashed in Seattle.

A little over a year ago, Gary generously spent time showing Air 4 to a then 3-year-old Max. He took him up to the helipad, let him sit in his pilot's seat and even signed a magnet with a photo of his chopper for him. Max asked questions about every detail of the helicopter, including what the step into the cockpit did, and Gary answered all of them. 

It was less than an hour of his life, but Gary created a memory that will last a lifetime for Max and me.

Our thoughts are with Gary's family and his extended family at KOMO.

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the green-clad Greene lads

Sam selfie

Living with a pterodactyl

Squawk? Screech? Scream? Words can't describe this.  [watch video]

Penguin fetch

Watch Max have more fun with a penguin that he shakes a stick at.  [click to watch]

High on five

We wrapped up a week long celebration of Max's fifth birthday. It started with a birthday dinner with family and culminated in a Curious George themed, corn-dog-fueled party this past weekend. 

Our little man was pumped for the festivities, repeatedly asking how long it was until his party, who was coming to his party and please for the love God make sure there are balloons at the party.  

Here are some more highlights:

Grandma and Grandpa G took Max to Toys R Us with a $25 budget to get whatever he wanted...

What he wanted was a Dusty Dustcropper from the "Planes" movie. 

The "Planes" continued in Duplo form.

Cake #1 of 2

Sharing cake #1 of 2 with child #2 of 2

The Curious George cake... banana, of course. 

Cake with Cosimo

Really embracing the Curious George theme

The Man in the Yellow Hat and his other little monkey

Even Winnie got into the spirit

And it wouldn't be Max's birthday without Elisa's homemade corn dogs!