Chawocklit and Manilla

This is, hands-down, my favorite words in Max's vocabulary right now. Just wanted to give you a chuckle too! 

Blue Bike

Max just seems to be growing up before our very eyes. His new passion: the blue bike. 

He has recently mastered riding his bike. It took some practice sessions and determination, but he's got it down! We have spent the last couple of days doing family bike rides. As I watch Max riding down the sidewalk, I can't help but think, "really, he is big enough that we can take a bike ride together?" Some days I feel like I blinked and then he was three, and mister independent. ;)

Max and the Motorcycle

Max can't seem to get enough of Sam's 4-wheeler. He asks constantly, "Can we can go out to Uncle Tom and Aunt Beth's farm today so I can ride my motorcycle?"

Well, daddy delivered today.

As I weeded, and worked, and labored, and tended our organic garden, the boys were living it up. Laughing, smiling, and grinning from ear to ear. They would blaze by me, then slow down to a crawl so Max could yell out, "do you see me mama, do you see me?" Sure do buddy.

So what does a piece of heaven look like to Max? Apparently, it's a hunk a metal that you can ride at high flying speeds, and includes dirt in the face, grit in the teeth, and a sweaty head of hair under that helmet. Go get em' boys!

Isn't He Handsome?

Maximus played the role of ring bearer over the weekend for my cousin Michael, and his bride, Missy. Max took his job very seriously and won the crowd (errr I mean guests) over with his adorable toddler strut, big blue eyes and commitment to get the job done right. He was all business while standing in the bridesmaids line-up and when it was his big debut, he stuck his hand out for the flower girl and said, "hold my hand Bailey." He and Bailey successfully made it down the aisle, with flowers and pillow in tact. Well done!

Melt. My. Heart. These photos are priceless.

Happy Independence Day!

4th of July is one of my favorite holidays we get to celebrate. And freedom is such a powerful word. Webster's defines it as a state of being free, at liberty rather than confinement, and independence. In Scripture it says this,"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

We are truly blessed to have freedom. To experience life as free people, not in bondage, not in slavery. But, truly, free.

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Can you believe how time goes so quickly? I love doing then and now pictures. And this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Max

4th of July 2010

Max & Family

4th of July 2011

Smoothie King

Max and I have fully embraced smoothies these last few months. We have at least one, if not two, a day.

Our morning always starts out with a green smoothie. If you don't know exactly what a green smoothie is, you should try one. I can't think of a better way to start the day. (Well, start the day after my mandatory cup o' joe).

Most of our green smoothies (and keep in mind, there is no recipe to follow) start with lots of fresh fruit. Bananas, peaches, mangos, cherries, berries, really, whatever I have on hand that sounds like it would be good together. We add some greens (that is where the green smoothie part comes in) like spinach, kale, chard, parsley and anything else green we can find in our fridge! Add some raw honey, chia seeds, dash of flax seeds if we feel like it, fresh lemon juice, carrot juice and if need be purified water.

So day to day, the color of our smoothie changes. Max's least favorite is when it is actually green. Usually means mama put in too much of that healthy lettuce and such. ;)

So drink up! Max sure does. And has the smoothie mustache to prove it!

My Lawn Guys

So lets just start out by saying that Max has been begging Sam to mow the grass together. Last year, Sam spent most of the summer mowing the grass with Max in the Kelty backpack. Sweat much?

Well this year, Sam decided to ease his summer load and hire the 12-year-old neighbor boy to cut our grass when needed. And I am pretty sure Sam has not regretted his $15-a-cut investment once. Nope, not once.

However, little Max has not forgotten about the Kelty and that feeling a man (or boy in this case) must get when behind a powerful engine, cutting the grass, hair blowing in the wind/gas fumes, sweat dripping into your eyes. You get it. He was desperate for a ride with his daddy pushing that mower.

So Sam's new summer best friend, Wesley the 12-year-old lawn boy, went on summer vacation with his family. Which means, Sam had to do the dirty, sweaty grass cutting himself.

Mission Accomplished.

Little boys summer dream fulfilled.

Check.