Max is four!

"Can I keep this up ALL ALL the time?!" Max immediately said when he awoke to his decorated abode.

It's his birthday and Christmas Eve, so he can eat his house if he wants to.

Max was the first one in the door of Chibis this morning

Kira loves hanging out in the bounce house

Birthday lunch at his favorite spot, Lucias 

One of the many highlights of Max's fourth birthday may very well have been his excursion to Giant.  "I am such a big helper, right!" he said every two seconds as he carted around our groceries.

Max was in shock, practically in tears, when he opened this Giants helmet and uniform from aunt Arielle.

Immediate outfit change- obviously.

Max enjoyed the rest of his gifts through the eyes of his new helmet.  He made out pretty well considering that Santa is bringing more gifts for him tomorrow.

Christmas Eve ready

Sadie came over to celebrate

Dance party!

"This is my Christmas outfit!" said guess who, in regards to his football uniform.

'Twas the night before Max was four

When Max wakes up he will be four! Assuming it is sometime after midnight...

Uncle read Max a dozen books tonight 

Climbing up to see the General 

Top girl

She did it! Kira loves to climb stairs with daddy- they both get so excited when she makes it to the top.

Pajama Day + rainboots is pretty much the best day of Max's life 

Monday morning

Everyone slept past 6am today, which in our house is tantamount to noon!  

Monday morning and the race is on

Kira may not have won the scooting race but she is obsessed with climbing up the stairs.  Daddy taught her how to climb this weekend and now that is all she wants to do.

She loves to slide, too!  

Ball girl

This crew does not believe in a lazy Sunday, or a lazy second for that matter. On Saturday morning Max asked if he could watch "so many shows" since there was no school.  He was done after 20 minutes.

The ball rack was actually a great walker. Kira also got lot of exercise at home too, we taught her how to crawl up the stairs.

Could she be any cuter?

Hanging out in daddy's office

Max insisted on getting an Elmo placemat like Kira.  "Did you give her that placemat to make her happy?" Max asked.  

Slurp!

Max finished his Christmas shopping and wrapping.  He decided to buy some actual presents to go along with all the hugs he is gifting this year.

Puppet show

Decorating cinnamon holiday decorations

...even though Hanukah is over 

Max and Kira went to a puppet show at the farm, and thankfully it was inside because it was the first very cold day in a while.

Basketball hat...

Front row at the puppet show

"Get away from my [first] hot chocolate!" said Max, but hardly drank any!

Bundled 

Morning concert by Christmas light

Playing gingerbread house 

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas

Max woke up at 5am demanding to make a gingerbread house.  Eventually he settled for crashing Kira's house and she was happy to welcome her guest.

We told Max that Santa is not a real person, but he still believes that the bearded guy brings him presents.  Last year he begged for the "green Target bike" for months and it was a thrill to see him find it by the tree on Christmas morning.  This year there has not been one particular thing that Max has asked for, until yesterday.  Daddy came home with a new Oakton Basketball sweatshirt and Max went crazy.  He is dying for the same sweatshirt.  Santa called the embroidery shop the very next morning, but the elves are slammed...

While he is eager to receive, Max clearly does not feel responsibility to get gifts for his loved ones, after all that is Santa's job.

What do you want to get Sadie and Tessa?

"Ummmmm...[huge smile grin laugh] a nothing"

What do you want to get daddy?

"An Oakton sweatshirt"

What do you want to get Pa?

"Hmmmmm....a hug!!!"

Max decided that a hug from yours truly was the best gift idea ever, so nevermind long lines and Amazon Prime, a hug it is.  Try to act surprised.  

Construction began immediately after school.  A real child-rearing expert must have designed these gingerbread house kits, because it is absolutely no problem at all to wait 1-3 hours between building and decorating the house.  Kids are oh so patient, especially the General.

We figured out a way to safely decorate the house with minimal (zero) wait time between steps.  "These look like Tums!" Max remarked of the candy, half of which he understandably ate.  

Playtime

Fish tacos and peanut butter and jelly