Doesn't even seem real...

It's been almost two years since we welcomed Max into our lives. About a week after he was born, a friend of Paul's came to the house and took some pictures for us. He dropped the CD off at the house yesterday, and it was such a pleasant surprise to look back. Who knew we'd get such a great little boy out of this tiny baby?














Wow!

It's the holiday season...

We're getting ready for the holidays!

Thanksgiving


Christmas
(The Partridge Family Christmas album - the classic that forever endures)


Pretty sure he gets style points for doing the moonwalk!

Trains - Part 1 (of what may turn out to be an infinite number of parts)

Well, we have discovered we have a rail fan in the house. A couple of months ago, Max took a real shining to Thomas the Train. Little did I know what I was getting into then. However, it wasn't just Thomas. It was trains. The kid will watch some series called Trains and Locomotives on RFD TV (TV for rural America - which also airs Big Joe's Polka Show - another Max fav).

Anyhow, the fact that my son could just intently watch home video of trains coming and going reminded me of one person: my brother Rob. Rob grew up with model trains, visiting train stations, chasing trains, taking photos and video of trains, and now he works for the Union Pacific and has for a while. I believe he has found his soulmate in Max.

Our journey into real training began Oct. 30 with a visit to the C&H Railroad in Tecumseh, Kansas. Rob got clued in to this fantastic little place through some railroad buddies, and, boy, did we make a day of it.

On Oct. 30, the railroad had it's fall open house and a visit from Santa himself. Rob's fiancee Sara brought her sister, brother-in-law and nephew along as well. Here's some fun from the day:

Family Pic


Dad and Max checking out the rails. Cute!



Max getting ready for his first train ride!


Train Ride Part I

Train Ride Part II



Sara, Katie, and Fisher


Rob, Max, and I




Who is this Santa you speak of?


Fuzzy? No. Santa?




Rocketship? Okay. I guess this Santa guy will make the cut.


Mommies and Babies (Katie with Fisher/ Me with Max)


Family!


The best thing about the day was how much Rob enjoyed that Max enjoyed it. What fun. And there is already more train fun to post about soon. And more to come. I'm telling you all: we have a real rail fan on our hands.

Halloween!

Our Halloween adventures began this year with Max's first trip to a pumpkin patch. We visited Schaake's in Lawrence, where Grandpa and Grandma B joined us for the events.

Hayride to the patch...


Choices, choices...



The ever-elusive Max-smiling picture. This one was enabled by a dancing Grandpa B in the background!


Max loved riding the trailer, but even more, he LOVED it when the tractor driver let him take a turn!




We got three great pumpkins, which Paul proceeded to carve a couple of weekends later.





For Halloween, we decided Max should be Indiana Jones. Of course, Lucas Films does not make a costume in his size, so I had to get a little creative. I think we pulled it off. We began our festivities with a playgroup party followed by a visit to Paul's new KU Endowment offices and a visit to Nan's office.

Getting ready to party!

These two photos are courtesy of my friend Katie Trenkle, who always manages to get great pictures!



Playgroup Mayhem!


Trick or treating at the KUEA



Hi Nan!


We practiced and practiced our Trick or Treat. Max didn't say to either at Paul's offices or on Halloween, but he does walk around with his pumpkin and say it at home. :-)


On Halloween, Grandpa B came over and we all walked over to Brookside for some neighborhood Trick or Treating.







Max followed up with a visit next door to see his "girfwend" Joanna, who was more than happy to have her little Indy visit.




Pretty sure we have a real ladies' man on our hands. Oh boy.

All in all, it was a successful Halloween!



Now - on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!