Remember Easter?

Yeah... Easter. That's how far behind I am! Apologies...making up for all I missed now though. Like I said earlier, I had distractions :)

Well this year Easter was so fun. I mean, I think Max had fun, but Leon and I definitely had fun watching Max. It was great that he got to enjoy some of the cool things that the year before, he didn't have a clue about. Like,

Dying easter eggs:

Look at that concentration!

Opening his easter basket:

Spiderman AND a football? Happiness.

Participating in the annual Easter Egg Hunt in Burgess Park:

With friends Teagan & Henry and their parents

Waiting for the hunt

On Daddy's shoulders looking over the crowd

Catching on right away, Max spots some eggs 

Got the loot, let's get outta' here

Bye bye eggs

Max scored big :)

What a fun time. Can't wait to do it again next year!

Our little monster turns 2!

This past weekend we threw a b-day party with a "monster" theme for Max's 2nd birthday. Seeing that I don't have alot of time on my hands nowadays, I kept things as simple as I could by hiring a taco lady (awesome by the way! However, we are still eating tacos every night for dinner) and keeping decor & sides low-prep. Of course...I must bake. I must ALWAYS bake.

As usual though, I am running around during the festivities or chatting with friends, so I didn't get pics of everyone and totally forgot to ask someone to take a family pic of us! Doh... Oh well. Max was uber excited though and definitely enjoyed himself at his party this year. And...get ready...the kiddo ate cake! He hasn't asked for it since, and yesterday on his actual bday when he was offered a cupcake he refused and ate a banana instead. Good boy Max, keep away from those sweets.

It was so great to have both sides of our family around and the many friends who made the trek. We know one thing for sure...the taco lady may make another appearance at a future fete. Seriously...it was THAT good.

I plan to post separately on Max 2 year highlights, but here's a few pics from the party.

The sweets table

Monster cake (it was suppose to be furry looking, but I ran out of frosting! oops)

Monster cupcakes (ignore the poor frosting job...I was tired)

Monster cookies as favors

Bubbles & monsters on each table outside

Watermelon-on-a-stick & chips with sides (I bought mexican party tissue flags too which were hung inside and outside)

Taco's  & quesadillas made to order with beans, rice, & all the fixings!

The Utleys with 6-week old Evie!

My oldest sis Hong (right), her fam, & my dad chat

Camille plays in the kiddie pool (we had a stomp rocket out too which the kids loved)

4 Paulsons & the Van Staverns

Karen, Jake, Jeff, & Shani catch up

Paola "La-La" with the bday boy

The Wehrmans

Getting ready for cake with Dad

This was Max's expression the entire time we were singing...he could be the next Simon Cowell 

He likes it!

New balance bike from Mom & Dad (I am helping to push him...he doesn't get it quite yet)

Max finally realizing these gifts are all his!

 Such a fun party and thanks to all of you that came out to celebrate! 

Sorry...I've been a little distracted

By this guy...

I mean can you blame me? Look at him! He's gorg...

So this guy is Henry Cavill whom I've been recently watching on the Tudors. Thing is, Leon started watching the Tudors series awhile ago and would watch a show almost every night before we went to bed. My problem was, I would fall asleep about 5 minutes in and miss the whole thing. And then, I started watching towards the last season, and asked myself "Who is THAT guy?". Low and behold, I been missing out on this hotness  for three seasons. So what did I do? Watch the Tudors starting from Season 1 of course!

And I have been neglecting my blog. Hope you can understand. I mean, I think you will understand from the proof above as to why. :)

I also found out he's going to be the next Superman? Whhhaaattttt???

To those who did not know about Henry Cavill before either...you're welcome.

Expect a blog blast very very soon.

Max shares a snack with Tank

Our lil' bear is sicko - fever, cough, runny nose, and now pinkeye! Even though he's not feeling his best, he still manages to share with Tank...it's the cutest!

Grandpa's bday

This past weekend we headed out to Stockton to celebrate my dad's bday (his bday was March 14th). My sister and I shared in BBQ dinner duties, and I also baked a German Chocolate cake for my dad. German Chocolate cake is a family fav of ours!

Besides getting to spend time with the fam, Max had a few milestones of his own. He climbed out of the playpen on Saturday night about three times before finally falling asleep (and once again in the morning, managing to bump his head on the wall...oops!). Crib tent is on it's way!

Max also had quite the explosion of words this weekend, pretty much repeating whatever we say! These words included please (he always signed it, but now he signs and says it), Grandma, Grandpa, Max, water, welcome, love you, and alot of other words I can't remember. Today he said "rice" at lunch while eating it, and "Elmo" when he was reading an Elmo book. I am just amazed at how much he is picking up and I LOVE that he is saying "please" and "thank you" when asking for something. It's darn cute and hard to say no to him.

Here's some pics of Grandpa and Max with the bday cake...

March gives us some sunshine

Well if you are reading this now, that sunshine is long gone. But weekend before last, the weather was awesome. What was also awesome is that Max's YiYi and Nai Nai came up to visit and enjoy it with us!

We headed out to Vasona Park on Saturday to check out the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad where Max got to have his first mini train ride. If you decide to take your little one, get there early and be one of the first in line so you won't have a crazy toddler pointing to a train he couldn't ride (and now had to wait for it to come back) because we missed the first one...just sayin, plan accordingly!

Sunday brought even warmer weather, so we headed out to Coyote Point Park. What an amazing play area that had! And to top it all off, you can walk right over to the water to watch the planes land at SFO. Max is a little obsessed with airplanes right now, so it was a perfect spot. I imagine us coming back time and again.

Max had such a great time with his YiYi and Nai Nai! All he did was ask for them from the time he was awake until the time he went to sleep. It so great to see Max get to spend this kind of time with his grandparents :)

Why take the slide?

YiYi helps Max get ready to go down the slide

While Nai Nai greets Max on the other end

That was fun!

Like...REALLY fun!

YiYi & Daddy watch Max play

YiYi, Nai Nai, & Max get ready to watch the planes

Watching the airplanes land

Max was tired, so everyone took a seat 

YiYi keeps Max warm as the wind picks up

What a great day!

Holy smokes Batman

I just noticed in my last three posts, Max is wearing his batman shirt. Somehow, when I'm filming, THIS shirt seems to make an appearance. I swear, the boy has other clothes. :)

Don't steal my snack!

Full house

Last Sunday, Erin & Ben as well as the Paulsons swung by to hang out.  We had quite the full house and it was fun to see all these kiddos together. Ruby & Charlotte were so cute! I mean...they always are so cute. The highlight of the night though was the Max & Henry show - these two guys were giving us a preview of what it is going to be like as they grow up!

So fun to have impromptu nights like these :)

Catching up 

Henry giving some love to his sis

Henry having a PBJ & snacks

Me holding...Charlotte? Notice she's clinging to my shirt! :)

Brett with Henry and....Ruby? :)

Leon helps Hank & Max read a book

And then....here is the Hank & Max show. They were cracking us up! Although, as Brett mentioned, they may have been good birth control for Erin & Ben. I love how they are saying "Hiiiiiiiiii!!!" to each other and copying one another. These boys...luv 'em! :)

Evan's 3rd bday - Pump pump pump it up!

Last weekend we got to spend the morning at Pump It Up celebrating Evan's 3rd birthday. Last year we went to a similar type party for another kiddo, but Max wasn't old enough to join the others in the bouncy houses. This time was totally different and Max enjoyed every minute of it.

Happy bday Evan and thanks for having us be part of your day!

Max & Daddy

Max having fun shooting hoops

Andrew plays with his Dad Jimmy watching

Attempt at a group picture...Max wasn't interested in that 

Evan the bday boy