a person in 254 photos max One last pic before we got on our separate flights. Headed to the airport with Brett & his family My mom kept crying because my dad's cancer was continuing to progress and we all knew this would probably be the last time we'd all be together. Family pool day! Grandma even came over to join us for dinner! ...and ugly faces. ...then we moved on to funny faces... Did my Uncle duty and taught Max the joys of the whoopee cushion... Bestest lil helper! Taking selfies with Max. Amy and the boys! Pillow fort! And this last pillow... ...goes here. lol Max showing me his homemade Cat in the Hat hat. Breakfast supervisor. Are you done eating and can you play with me yet? This guy on my leg before I'm even caffeinated. Reading books and wrassling. Fun-Uncle things. He wanted to try on... ...my sunglasses. lol. I made it down to DC in time to surprise Max by picking him at at school with Amy. ...and they sent me cute pics. My brother and his family were down in Florida visiting my parents... Got up early Monday morning to spend some time with Max before school... Just in time to catch these rugrats before dinner and bedtime. His dad popped on to say hi also! Afternoon video call with Max during his lunch. Scooter gang with his lava ball "bat" in his pocket. lol Max was hot for some more Lava Ball action! Max likes to help dad with things. ...LAVA BALL! In the afternoon we headed to the stairs to play Max's favorite game that I made up... Max is an early riser and is always wanting me to hurry up and get out of bed. Max always chooses me to do tuck in and story time. The next morning Amy, Brett and Max took me to their fave breakfast spot.... Max is old enough now where he and I can hang out and do fun shit solo. I took him to the park for an ice cream hang to give his parents a little much-needed break. ...to visit my brother! Spent the evening hanging with Max. On Thursday morning we went to Odessa for breakfast before Brett, Amy and Max headed back to DC. ....to see where Amy was hiding this supposed brother! ...when he realized what it said was priceless. He wanted to try on the shirt and he wanted... Train is too loud! ...and took the subway out to Brooklyn. Cooperative bus driving. We took the subway... Max was excited to see my apartment. ...to my apartment in the East Village! Later that night we installed a cool, Captain America shield night light in Max's room. Max liked Uncle Bruce's Batman Castle gift the most. After all the presents were opened... Great to watch my parents be grandparents on Christmas. Max was in his Spiderman hoodie and I showed him how to take a good photo with someone. He took my phone... Let the upwrapping begin! Cut to 7am Christmas morning! While my parents hung out with Max... Very excited to wake up and unwrap his presents in the early morning. Got Max ready for bed in his Christmas Jammies. Mom hanging out with Max. I also love Max's serious expression about his seed-podling sword I'd fashioned for him in the yard as he wished me and Maddy farewell. Haha. Love this pic! The inaugural ride! He was pretty excited! Max outside waiting for his gift. Happy birthday, Max! Lol, so excited about cake. That swingset feeling. ...fireman outfit! Max is always excited to see me! Mom & Max playing in the sand. Police & fire dept section. The mall store turned into a weird hands on playground for kids. They had a grocery store section. ...and headed to a nearby mall. On Sunday morning we Amy, Emily and I loaded Max up... Max was excited to show me his superhero costumes. Had a birthday video call with Max who wanted me to see his developing "lava ball" skills. (His favorite game that I made up). Lots and lots of fort-building cushion action! ...our related, messy, morning hair! Up early again before work hanging out with Max! Taking pictures to compare... This guy had me up bright and early on Monday morning. (Rain boots and diaper, for the win!) Haha. Related. Fun to watch the next generation of cousins in the pool together! On Sunday we headed over to my cousin Chris' house! Lotsa boy Battjers & Dexter the dog! Max thinks it's hilarious that Maddy fits into her dog carrier and wanted to see... ...if he could also fit! ...and hung out with Brett & Max! ...the Sandia Peak Tramway... My dad making Max laugh. ;) (I'm writing this in January 2019, four months after my father's passing and it's nice to see all these photos of him). Miss you, dad! Later that evening, we got dressed up and headed to the wedding! ...to get some energy out before the wedding. On Saturday we took Max to the park... My cousin Danny and his wife, Jess Brett, Amy & Max! Max getting ready to hide from me! Haha. Played his favorite game: GARBAGE PAIL KIDS! The next morning, I surprised Max who was playing with my mom. Took Max and the dogs out for a long walk around the neighborhood. Pop Pop & Max Waffle-eating cutie. Lunch!
