Max - The Birthday Man

Saturday was a 4-year-old Super Swim party...with Quesadillas. That's what Max requested. Swimming and quesadillas. So we obliged. And the countdown was on from about 10 days. I am certain that waiting ten days for your birthday party when you are 4 is nearly impossible. But it finally came.

The kids have gotten pretty confident in the water now, which really sets my mind at ease. Because they used to freak out. Water wings have made a big difference. Max put on a pool life-jacket at one point, which was a bit small, and everyone got a good laugh about his wedgie. Logan had a blast. Especially when he was hanging with Dad. He enjoyed splashing around and playing with the rings and the balls. At one point I asked him if he was ready to get out and eat, and he nodded yes...until he saw dad.

We headed back for our Quesadilla party, and lots more visiting and playing. Cupcakes and rainbow icecream and presents.
The day before we had gone to the dollar store to pick up a few party supplies and balloons. Max got to choose 2. He chose a 'Happy 4th Birthday' one in green, and a 'Happy Birthday' one that matched the cups, plates, and tablecloth we already had. When we got to the front to pay, the lady asked what type of ribbons he would like tied to them after she inflated them. He concluded that he already had green and blue and red, his favorite colors, so he would like pink ribbons, 'Because I also like rosie cheeks' he said.

Max was hilarious opening his presents. We decided to do it 'spin-the-bottle' style and at one point we were spinning Great-Grandma's oxygen tank, but gave up on that because it was too heavy...and let's face it, weird.

Max requested a suit for his birthday, so he could look like Dad on Sundays, and we were happy to do that for him. Tyler had picked it up on Friday, so it was ready for the party on Saturday. Because he had to try it on, it wasn't much of a surprise, so Tyler picked a purple zip tie to go with it, in addition to the black one that came with it, and then I sewed him 2 pocket squares. Purple and multi-colored (mostly blue). The kids like to get their dad a tie or pocket square for every present-giving occasion. So we knew Max would be pretty pleased to have one of his own. As he opened it, someone asked him if he knew what it was, and he answered without hesitation, 'Yeah! it's a pocket square!' What 4-year-old knows that?!


He also got Monster-Trucks, coloring books, and a shaving kit and awesome Super Hero puzzles which he has already done many times.

Auntie Alison gave him a Walmart Transformers gift card, which he is stoked about. And Great-Grandma gave him $5...also a highlight.


Grandma and Papa got him his own tool-box with tools in it. It was the last gift he opened, and his face fell and got emotional when he saw it. He saw the screwdriver set and said, 'I can't have that...it's too sharp!' (almost heartbroken as if he couldn't believe someone would get him something he couldn't actually use!) Grandma reassured him that they were safe and not too sharp. Then the gift was awesome! Papa, had to fly to Germany right after the swimming, so he didn't get to see Max open the gift, but Grandma told him that Papa wanted to give him some wood and teach him how to build something. So cool! There was also a Spiderman truck in the tool box, which was the highlight at the moment. The tool box contained screwdrivers, a flashlight, a level, a hammer, some nails, a sanding block, and a tape measure. Because the gift was big, it wasn't wrapped, so we made him close his eyes and hold out his hands to receive it. Seriously cute.


Now a word about Max:
He is my buddy. My best little friend. He is so spunky and climbs on literally everything. All The Time. Why sit when you can stand? Why stand when you can walk? Why walk when you can run? and Why run when you can climb, bound and jump? That is Max's life motto.
He is super stubborn, but his stubbornness is subsiding. He used to fight-back and argue with everything, I think just for the sake of arguing sometimes! Now he only takes a stand when he is super tired, or we've been rushing too much and haven't given him sufficient time to just be. He needs it. I think he mostly has a hard time expressing his frustrations. Sometimes his whole body shakes and tears start to come because I can tell he is trying so hard NOT to freak out, but it is taking ALL his physical strength to restrain it. Makes me just want to hug him.

He is also THE sweetest boy I've ever met. He loves hugs. And gives really good ones. But only if you've made it into his hug book. He doesn't just give them to anyone. He loves to rub people's backs to help them feel better. He loves doing jobs, and races as fast as he can to get it done. (Something I hope sticks!) He gets incredibly emotional whenever he sees something bad happening to babies. He just can't handle it. We watched Prince of Egypt one time (story of Moses) and when the baby was put in the basket and floating on the river, or when the Pharaoh commanded all the babies to be 'you know what' he lost it. He also cried at the beginning of Megamind when the baby superheros are blasted away from their planet in baby spaceshuttles, or in Toy Story 3 when the Lotso the bear yells at Big Baby.

He is also hilarious. The things that make him laugh the most are words like, "Poop, Bum, Toot, and Butthead." Typical 4-year-old boy stuff. I believe this is why Despicable Me is his current favorite movie. He has the best giggle. Watching him watch movies is one of my favorite things to do. And he will quote them back to us for days afterward.

He likes to do things himself. He does not like help very often, and especially when it is offered. He'd rather ask for it, otherwise, leave him be. Especially when it comes to dressing himself. He figured out how to do buttons and now has to do them himself all the time. It takes a while. I used to get frustrated when we were in a hurry, but now I just account for it and leave him time.

His best friend is his sister. The days that she has school are especially hard for him. I don't get much done on those days, because he needs a playmate. I'm hoping Logan and him will start to have their own games soon. He is so good about playing with, and including people in his games. He LOVES puzzles and is so good at them. He also loves Star Wars, Transformers and cars. But, he has no problem, and actually looks forward to playing games with Lucy, like Pet Shops, Babies, Dress-up, House, Princesses...whatever she comes up with. For a long time, he would just go along with her ideas, but now he's insisting that she listen to him and let him come up with ideas. I've never seen a brother and sister as close as those two, and I hope it lasts forever...and that they include Logan soon.

He has weird tastebuds I think. He DOES NOT like cereal. It makes breakfast interesting. He usually eats granola bars or crackers, or yogurt or fruit. But he can't even stand being close to someone who is eating cereal. The smell of frosted flakes or cheerios is very offensive to him. But he loves Mexican food like quesadillas and chimichungas. He does not like chili...or soups.

He is smart and handsome and loving and wonderful. He always wants to be doing more, but also loves to just be at home with his family. He's just awesome. I love him. He totally has my heart and I just nearly burst out of my skin because I like him SO much.