Max is 3!

Max turned the big 3 yesterday. His one request was a Finding Nemo cake which he got to share with friends at the pool. Once Jeff got home the present opening began along with another round of cake and ice cream. He had a fun day and now loves to tell people that he is "free!"

Ready for cake at the pool!

 Frosting mustache

 Opening a special package from Grammy and Grampy.

 Taking a closer look at his I Spy puzzle.

 Make a wish!

 Thoroughly enjoying himself!

 More presents!

A new race car to add to his massive collection.

 Trying out his new baseball bat.

 Batting practice

 *It's hard to read in the picture but Max's shirt says Made in Ohio. So cute! Thanks Neil and Liz!

 Max's big present was a play kitchen/market.

We put it together after he went to bed so he got to try it out for the first time this morning. 

  This is what he cooked up for me.

 Breakfast of champions!

Blackberry Pickin'

Max and I channeled our farming ancestors and went blackberry picking bright and early this morning. It has been crazy hot here, but luckily this morning was much less humid and we found a few shady spots for perfect picking. I was surprised how seriously Max took his job. He was very careful about only picking the big, black, ripe berries and not the small, red, unripened ones. Of course, he ate quite a few and had stained purple fingers, lips and chin by the time we left. Now I have a gallon of gorgeous berries with plans for cobblers and freezing for later in the year when fresh berries can't be found.

"I got blackberries, Mama!" 

 One more for the road home!

(Yes, the humidity does amazing things to Max's hair!)

Weekend Getaway

Jeff and I got to enjoy our first weekend getaway together since Max burst into our lives. And since it will probably be the last weekend getaway for quite some time we were really looking forward to it. We decided to visit Memphis since neither of us had ever been there. Max got to have Nana and Papa all to himself at our house. He was probably more excited about the weekend than we were. He couldn't get us out the door fast enough!

Jeff at the bar of Charles Vergo's Rendezvous.

Seriously good barbecue joint!

 On (in)famous Beale St.

 The fountain at the historic Peabody Hotel.

We didn't stay here, but we did enjoy a drink the gorgeous lobby and got to see the march of the ducks.

The day that we returned was my parents' 35th wedding anniversary.

We were able to enjoy a nice dinner out together.

The happy couple with an ornery grandson.

4th of July

It was another fun filled, action packed Independence Day in Cottonwood. Jeff kicked off the day at 7am with the neighborhood 5k run. Max and I cheered him on....from our front porch...in our pajamas. Then it was on to the parade. We got to watch from a friend's house. Max knew before the parade began that a fire engine was going to be in the parade so he was on high alert for any sound that might be a siren. The fire dept. did not disappoint this little guy! A fire engine AND a brush rig?! Little boy heaven. He was so excited he literally couldn't speak... or move when they drove by.

Enjoying a pre-parade donut

 Max heard sirens way down the street and knew what was coming.

 Very seriously waiting.

 "Fire Engine!"

 Giving a timid wave after much prompting.

 When finally he came out of his fire engine induced trance he was able to enjoy the rest of the parade, including lots of candy and beads.

 After the parade we headed to the pool for an afternoon of swimming with friends and (what seemed like) 1,000 of our neighbors. Max has been very eager to try out his new swimming skills. In fact, it was a big day of firsts for him. He went down the water slide and jumped off the diving board!! Both in daddy's arms, but it was still a big deal in Max's world!

Maybe next year we won't be too tired to make it to the fireworks.... maybe.

My mom was also in town last week. Here is a picture of Nana and Max at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens. Max is doing his classic not looking at the camera move.

Can't wait to have Nana and Papa in town again this weekend!