max

**so one big piece of sadness with this move was leaving max's school
behind. it's hard to trust some stranger with your kids! and i really
like what she's doing with her preschool program, which isn't easy to
find. i thought it was about time to talk to him about leaving. here
was our conversation this morning when i finally broached the topic
with him.

mama - so, we're gonna be moving to the new house in a couple weeks.

max - we gotta pack up my stuff now!

mama - well, not yet, but i wanted to make sure you understand that
you won't be going to school at daniele's house anymore. it'll be
somewhere different.

max - (smile) good!

mama - don't you like school with danielle?

max - yes!

mama - but you won't miss them?

max - (smile) nope!

mama - what about reid, izzy and brielle?

max - but i can play with quinn!

**so clearly the whole school thing has been more for me than anyone
else. so i guess it's appropriate that I'M the only one CRYING OVER
IT!!! LOL

Technology

The picture above was taken recently -- you and Quinn just hanging out and watching TV in my big chair. You love to watch movies on TV and you love your "shows" on Nick Jr. as well.

Right now your favorite movies are:
Rio
Toy Story 1,2,3
Cars - we are waiting for Cars 2 to be released - you saw that in the theater twice

Your favorite TV shows are:
Backyardigans
Almost any other "kids show" - but you don't like when mom and dad watch their shows.

You LOVE to play with Mama's ipod and both mom and dad recently got iphones so you really like to play with those as well. However, we try to limit your ipod usage and we are doing are best to limit your TV watching as well.

Their are a lot of really interesting things happening with technology lately. You mom is a technology addict -- she loves her ipad and kindle. Facebook has been around for about five or six years. Your mom and dad are both on facebook and also on a website called twitter - both are social networking sites where people stay connected online through updates or sharing information with each other.

It is amazing how far technology has come over the years. I remember my Grandpa and Grandma Spaulding had one small back and white TV in their house. Today just about every house has at least one (sometimes two or three or more) 40+ inch HD television sets. XM and Sirius satellite radio are now standard in most new cars. When I was a kid we mostly listened to FM and AM radio stations or cassette tapes and CD's. Now everything is available on MP3 players or via podcast. You just go to your computer and download whatever you want to listen to -- its very simple and very convenient.

By the time you are able to read this -- who knows what new technology will be out there for you to enjoy.

Loving the outside on a hot summer day.

You and your brother LOVE to be outside. Over the last couple of months, the three of us have started the habit of going outside on Monday mornings to wait for your Mama to come home from work so she can take you to daycare.

You and Quinn love to push the brooms around the driveway and to play with my golf clubs in the yard. You guys love being outside.

These little moments like today -- where we are outside, laughing and giggling and having fun are the happiest moments of my life. Your mom and I love you very much and we are very grateful to have such amazing kids. I learn so much from the two of you every day -- and feel very blessed to be your dad.

Frustrating day

This morning was a frustrating day for me. I was getting you and your brother ready for school and both of you weren't listening very well. I was tired, grumpy, the usual early morning grind. By the time I had gotten you two to the car, I was on the verge of tears. I buckled Quinn in and he hit me for the fourth time, and then the tears came. I closed the door and went to the other side and helped buckle you in and you noticed I was crying and said tearfully, "Don't cry Mama or I'm gonna cry. Don't cry Mama." And you caressed my face like you do whenever I'm upset. You were crying seconds later when you said, "Mama take a deep breath and you'll feel better." I actually stopped there and took a deep breath and I did feel better. Again, tearfully you said "See Mama, you feel better, right? I'm sorry your sad." I honestly don't know how I got so lucky as to have my first born be so wonderfully empathetic and observant that you can turn my day around in a single moment. I am so blessed to have you as a son and spiritual guide, thank you so much. I thanked you and kissed you on your cheek, you held my face in your hands, tears still in your eyes and said "You're welcome". I hope that you will hold on to your sensitivity for your whole lifetime. You will leave a loving impression on everyone who knows you, it is something that is hardwired into you. Cherish it.

Max quotes

This one from Kent today:

Max was having quiet time. He came out into the living room and said "Dada – I have to make you laugh and then we can play Don't Break the Ice [a board game]. But I can't find my mask so I can't make you laugh." I then started laughing, so he laughed and said,  "Great, let's play don't break the ice then." 

[He went to the dentist a few weeks ago and she gave him a Drs. mask to take home - that is what he's referring to]

From Grand today:

Max: Where is Mojo?

Grand: He's gone, Max.

Max: He died. Grandma died too. She's an angel. Mojo is an angel too.

Grand: Yes they are.

Max: When will they come back?

Grand: They'll be angels for a long, long time.

He paused. . .

Max: Our friends are gone.

Play Ball!

Wow -- what a great day!

Max and Dad went to the Twins game yesterday -- on April 10, 2011. It was Max's first ever game at a Major League park -- and Target Field is absolutely stunning.

Your Mama and I decided to get a season ticket package again this year -- we bought two tickets for 20 games last year as well. We really love baseball and it seems like you are starting to like it too. You definitely liked the popcorn, pretzel, and the Twins Mascot -- TC the Bear! You also like the walk in the skyway in Minneapolis. You thought it was pretty cool to be walking above the street and to look down at all the cars on the road below us.



Our seats are in section 127, Row 33, Seats 1 and 2. You loved being in the sunshine and you really wanted to go down on the field with the players. The Twins lost to the Oakland A's 5-3, but we still had fun. Jim Thome hit his 590th career home run in this game -- an amazing accomplishment.

Your cousins Zach and Isaac were also at the game, so we chatted with them for a little while. We got to the game early and watched batting practice, so after a couple of hours you were tired out and ready to go home. We left after a few innings, but it was a great first day at the ballpark. Can't wait to go back. You Mama and Quinn stayed home this time, but they will get a chance to go very soon too.

Go Twins!

Stick Figure

Your first stick figure! I asked you to draw Daddy. You drew it with
your finger with an iPad app. Figures. . .the only place you would
draw!

LOVE

Uncle Emil

As I'm writing this to you two it is February 6, 2011. It is the 10 year anniversary of my brother Emil Lopez Nelson's death. He would be your Uncle Emil, and I guarantee you one of the coolest uncles ever. Being a big kid himself, he would've had a blast playing with you guys, teaching you music and goofing off in general. He loved kids, and I want you to know that he would've loved you two! It makes me sad to think that you'll never know him, because even now as I try to think of how he would interact with you guys, it's hard to come up with the words. How do I describe him? How do I do him justice? I can only relate to you my memories. I just feel it is important for you to know that I had a brother once, and that I regret to this day that we weren't closer than we were, but I also know that we made the best of what we had. I always had a great time with Emil. He was my big brother. I know as  you two grow up, you will have your arguments and sometimes you may even wish that the othe didn't even live in the same house! But try to keep in mind once the dust settles, that you are eachother's brother, and that should be cherished. No one on this Earth is guaranteed any more time than right now, so love each other. Love you, Mama.

 

 

Your Mama's Birthday!

Today is your Mama's birthday! She is 36-years-old today and I know for a fact one of her best birthday gifts is that you didn't have any "potty accidents" yesterday. You are really becoming a pro at potty time - you are wearing underwear during the day at daycare and yesterday you wore underwear all day at home -- even at nap time! We are very proud of you, you are growing up so fast.

The winter is really getting long and almost every day you ask if it is a "hot summer" day today and if you can play outside. You don't like the "white grass" as you call it -- you want the snow to go away and the green grass to come back. I agree with that and hope the spring can come soon. It is only January though, so I am afraid we have a couple months worth of winter before the weather turns nice.

We put away the Christmas decorations over the weekend. You loved having the Christmas tree and all of the Christmas stuff up. You were a very good boy and Santa delivered a Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie action figures - you are having a great time playing with your new toys.

You have been getting along pretty well with Quinn. He is really starting to crawl around a lot and he's close to being able to walk on his own. He loves to play with your toys and he wants to be around you constantly. You have been a good sport about it - you lose your patience every once in awhile because it is difficult to share everything you have, but you are really doing a great job and you are a good big brother.

Bedtime has been an adventure with you lately. You like to be where the action is and going to sleep isn't high on your priority list. We read books and sing songs and you are usually in bed by 8:30 p.m. However, your bedroom is upstairs across the hallway from Quinn's room and Mama and Dad sleep downstairs. You like to get out of bed at least once....and usually four, five or six times after we tuck you in to bed and you always have a "question" for us before you can fall asleep. You ask "is this a big nap" or "can I have some chapstick" or simply say "I have to go potty" and of course, you are so cute and give a little smile every time you say it that we can't get too frustrated or upset that you aren't staying in your bed. But...sleep is important too, so we hope you will get back in the routine of sleeping more once we read books and sing songs.

I am at work right now - but your mama and I are going out to dinner tonight for her birthday so I am very excited and ready to come home. As I write this, you are at daycare -- we call it school -- and you have been doing well with that. You are learning lots there and seem to be connecting pretty well with the other kids. Danielle and Adam, the people who run the daycare, really enjoy having you there and always tell us how well behaved and how pleasant it is to have you there. We of course already know this, but it is a nice compliment to hear from others!

Okay Max, I need to get some work done before I come home. I love you very much. We will sing Happy Birthday for Mama tonight.

Love you -

Dad

Happy New Year!

Well, I spent this New Year at work missing you guys terribly. It's a funny thing going into work. I dread it with all of my might, but it does give me some perspective. It makes me absolutely grateful that I have the opportunity to spend so much time with you guys. It also reminds me how lucky Kent and I are to have our health, and you two in our lives. You two are so special to me, and I intend to savor each wonderful, frustrating and rambunctious moment. Here is to 2011! I love you!

 

Mama