Dear Max,
We are so very lucky to have an amazing extended family. And I must say you have some really great Grammie, Grampie, Aunt, Uncle and Cousins that we were able to spend several days with. It was good that you cousins were able to get to know each other better. Daniel loves you so much, it was so cute when we would take pictures, he always wanted to stand by you. I’m grateful that you have Daniel to look up to. He is a great little dude and I have faith that he will make good choices that you will be able to have a role model in him. So let me tell you about all the fun things we did!
Everyone (except Grampie) arrived at our house late on Wednesday (10/14) night. Of course we had to keep you awake and wake up Natalie and Daniel so we could all get our hug fixes. Within a few hours we were all back in bed for the night. We woke up Thursday morning and geared up for our day! We first went to Gilcrease Orchard to the pumpkin patch. I’ve been looking forward to doing this for so many years. So many of our friends have gone with their families over the years and it always seemed like such a fun thing to do. However, it kind of seemed like a creepy thing to do with just the two of us. So you can imagine how excited I’ve been knowing that this was our year! The year we could go to the pumpkin patch as a family. Daddy came home from work early so he wouldn’t miss your first pumpkin patch experience, we borrowed the Ballantynes wagon (so glad we did) and away we went. By far your favorite part of the pumpkin patch was the ride in the wagon. You and Daniel sat in the wagon and as we went down the dirt road, your little cheeks just a shaking and the biggest smile on your face! You LOVED the wagon ride… I’m thinking Daddy and I know what you may want for your 1st birthday. We picked out several different pumpkins including a small one that you wanted to hold on your lap. The pumpkin patch, for me was all about the pictures, for your dad the yummy apple cider and you the wagon ride.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rise and shine... we are headed to the pumpkin patch!
First some breakfast!
We are loaded up and ready for an adventure!
You LOVED the wagon ride!
It was so hard to get you to look at anything but the pumpkins!
Our little pumpkin
Daddy with the pumpkin... I mean Max
The pumpkin patch was a lot of fun!
Oh- I forgot to mention. It was 95 degree's. Doesn't feel like pumpkin picking weather!
We have all the pumpkins loaded back up - we are ready for our hike back out.
After the pumpkin patch we went back to the house for lunch and naps. We wanted to ensure a rested bunch of kids for our next adventure to the Secret Garden Habitat inside Mirage. Every one enjoyed it so much, Daniel was not a fan of the lions and tigers, they kind gave him the creeps but the dolphins were so cool! It was so fun to see your reaction to the dolphins. Grammie really liked the dolphins too and daddy I’m sure some day will tell you the funny story about how she shared her excitement with the entire park!
You loved looking at the dolphins
Look at that!
Daniel helping you stay steady
Beautiful Baby Natalie
Max - you wouldn't be smiling if you knew what was behind you!
One bite! That's all it would take!
Look he's smiling
Such a fun day!
Max - I really don't know how to explain this... other than "My two dads!"
My thoughts exactly!
After the dolphins we went down to Freemont Street for a $9.99 prime rib special. This was by special request of your Uncle Geary. And we were all feeling the effects of his decision for at least a day! J When we were down at Freemont Street I was pushing your stroller and this crazy guy came up to me and was telling me how cute you were. I said thank you and kept walking. We walked inside the casino to eat and as we were standing there the guy showed back up! He walked over and said that he would be willing to baby sit for us and started showing your Auntie Jali and I pictures of his “grandkids” and said that he watches them all week. This dude was sketchy to say the least. I thanked him for sharing and said I thought his grand kids were cute and got the heck out of dodge. Luckily a security guard walked by that Grammie started talking to and that scared the guy off. Now Grammie would like to think that she saved the day by talking to the security guard… but I have news for you… Grammie didn’t even know what was going on. She started to talking to the security guard all on her own. So it was your Mommy that saved you!
After an adventure in “down town” we headed back home to wash our hands, clothes and anything else we thought might have touched anything “down town” and went to bed.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Friday we were able to meet up with Grampie! Grampie was so excited to have all three of his grandkids (well 4 including Cooper, who was equally excited to see Grampie) there. We bummed around the house in the morning and then headed down to the Bellagio in the afternoon to see the fountains and the conservatory. You were a much bigger fan of the fountains this time around. You love music and you love “conducting” the music. Whether its our ward on Sunday, Dancing with the stars or the Fountains at Bellagio – you just love the music. We also went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. I have to say that I was pretty nervous holding you 460 feet above the ground. You didn’t mind being that high at all. I hope we don’t have a dare devil on our hands. I don’t know if my heart can take it! After exploring the Las Vegas strip we went back to the house for our Halloween celebration. One tradition that has been passed on by my family is the Sunday closest to Halloween to have “dinner in a pumpkin” we have done this since your Uncle Geary and I were kids and we thought that since we were all together that we should have our dinner in a pumpkin. For a dish that I only make once a year it turned out really good. And I will say Daddy hasn’t always been a fan of the dish, but it seems that each year he decides that he likes it more and more. Now YOU on the other hand… LOVE dinner in a pumpkin. Max, I’m not kidding when I tell you that you must have eaten ½ of the pumpkin and a healthy portion of the casserole. I know that the pumpkin is squash and I know that you’re a fan a squash – but you have eaten and eaten and eaten this pumpkin. Grammie even took the other left overs and put them into small containers and froze them so you could continue to eat pumpkin for several weeks! We enjoyed the evening visiting, watching movies and playing American Idol on the Wii. Now, we know that you are a huge fan of music. However, your cousin Daniel is a HUGE fan of music as well, mainly the song from the movie Cars, “Life is a Highway” which is available to sing on the Wii version of American Idol. In Daniel’s mind the game is not even called American Idol, it’s called Life is a highway. It’s crazy that a 3 year old knows most of the words and can sing the song on pitch. And it is a blast for us to get to watch!
Preparing the pumpkins for carving and eating later that night
YEAH! Grampie is here!!!
Down at the Bellagio.
Look Natalie and I hanging out with Michael.
You just never know who you'll meet down at the strip.
And the fountain's began!
Natalie and Aunt Jali
Our Family
889 lb pumpkin...and we thought you were growing fast!
Inside the conservatory
We caught a 2nd fountain show!
You don't seem amused
We are headed to the top!
It's quite the view!!
Later that night... we had our halloween party. You enjoyed some T.V. I think you are turning into a bit of a couch potato!
Can you figure it out?
Who me?
Yes you!
Dinner in a pumpkin
Reading bedtime stories with Grammie
Off to bed. Funny story Max, these jammies you have one I have had in our stash for awhile and had never put them on you. Apparently they glow in the dark. I did not know this until I went to put you to bed that night. I walked into your dark room and WOW! you were all aglow. It was so funny. Everyone had to come up and see it. It was crazy!
Don't ask... the boys were all sent to time out after an "incident" while carving pumpkins
Saturday we left bright and early in our rented 15 passenger van for our day trip. Now, Max, let me explain something to you. Your Uncle Geary and I grew up in a small family. Just the two of us. When Grammie, Grampie and Uncle Geary and I wanted to go somewhere we just all got in the car and went. Then your daddy and I got married, then Uncle Geary married Auntie Jali. Our family grew, but all that meant was that we all had to jump into a SUV or mini van and we could go where we needed. Then our family grew again, Daniel arrived, this put us to max capacity in a mini van. Then our family grew again… another 2 members into our family in 5 months! Well, we are not use to going places in separate cars. I know this may seem strange to large families, but Max, to our little family, this is a big deal. So the solution… we rented a 15 passenger van! It was like the page family bus on the road. Daddy at the wheel, with Uncle Geary as our navigator. You and I taking the next row, with Grammie and Natalie taking the next. The back row was held down by Grampie, Daniel and Auntie Jali. It was so fun that we could all visit and sing songs while we went on our adventure. Oh, you must be wondering what we did…can you tell that a large portion of the adventure was being in the page family bus!
We first headed off to Hoover Dam for the Dam Tour. We went inside the Dam and saw all the big generators. Even though I have been out there several times it always amazes me. Your Great, Great Grandpa Page actually helped in the construction of the Hoover Dam. We went up to the observatory deck and took a look at the construction of the “fly over” bridge that they are building. By the time your driving I’m sure it will be done, but it’s an amazing world wonder to see this huge bridge being suspended over a gorge. Pretty cool stuff! We then drove into Kingman for a quick lunch break at Subway before hitting Route 66 over to Oatman, Arizona. We teased Grampie that this was not exactly what he imagined his route 66 drive would be like, in a 15 passenger van versus a classic convertible. The road was windy and steep and not a whole lot of fun for me in a 15 passenger van. I never thought in a million years I would be so excited to jump out of the van in Oatman, Arizona! When you see the picture you will understand why I’m convinced that the road was put in place just to ensure that travelers would be grateful and welcoming of the “ASS” town. I’m mean that seriously. The entire town has been overtaken by Donkey’s! And these are the most aggressive Donkey’s I have ever met! It was hilarious. They would just roam the town, they would go into the stores, cars, trunks of cars, your personal space. They would just go where ever they wanted to. We explored the little town, took lot’s of pictures to remember this crazy little place and headed on our way. We ended our adventure at a Mexican Restaurant in bullhead city with a drive through Laughlin. It was all our first time in Laughlin except for Grammie and Grampie – they had been there before. It was such a fun day and it was fun spending time together. Sometimes it feels like Auntie Jali, Uncle Geary, Daniel and Natalie are so far away and we just don’t get to see them very often. So it was so good to spend time with them. I’m glad we did it, cause from what I hear the drive home for them was horrible, so it may never happen again. Or at least for a Very, Very long time after they forget about the miserable drive. We are very lucky to have such a fun family! Love you Max!
Hoover Dam
Natalie, You and Daniel
On the Dam Tour
The new bridge
It's a long way down!!!
At the Dam
Oatman, Arizona
If it is good enough for a Japanese Tour Bus... well, than it
is good enough for the Page Family 15 passenger van !
Oatman, Arizona is on historic Route 66
I bet Grampie never thought he would be going down Route 66 in this type of style!
How does someone explain Oatman, Arizona? It's a place we had never heard of, a place where the donkey's roam free, a place where the times of old are EVERYWHERE! It was definitely an adventure! And the donkey's are the only claim to fame that Oatman has. It's also home to the annual "bed race's" That's right... people take old bed frames with wheels and race them down the main street. I think I'm seeing a "bed race" in our future.
Ode to the bed racers!
The Page Family day with the Donkeys!
Man vs. Donkey
We are not kidding about this stuff!
Guess who found the one in question...
That's right YOU DID!
The Donkey's at first seem nice...
And then we saw a side we were unprepared for...
These Donkey's make themselves right at home.
It's us who's coming in on their domain
Do you see the Donkey taking grocery's out of the
back of the car?
The lady runs to grab her stuff back.
This is pure comedy!
Excuse me... do you carry size "Donkey"
I think they do - cause they are lining up to get in!
The welcoming committee!
They are so happy to see all the passerby's
Uncle Geary and Donkey
Mommy with Donkey
I'm so brave!
Aunt Jali, Grammie and Daniel with Donkey
They are brave too!
Natalie, You and Daniel with Donkey
Uncle Geary and Daniel with Donkey
It's like the game... Where's Waldo
Only this time it's called Where's Grampie.
Should we be concerned that he fits into the elements so well!
Now one thing I did appreciate about Oatman was it's sense of humor...
Grammie asks...what's that smell?
ewww!!!!!
It's so hard to say goodbye!
