Christmas Decorations

My mom came for the enitre month of November to help me while Philip was gone interviewing.

One of the many projects we got done was decorating for Christmas. Max LOVES Santa and Christmas lights. He is just loving watching Christmas videos and seeing all the decorated houses.

Since, The Philip Scherer family will be unable to travel this holiday season, my mom got us a tree so that we could have a fun Christmas, here in Gainesville, all by ourselves. This will be the first time we didn't spend Christmas with family. However, we are fully prepared to celebrate!

Drawing

Max loves to draw. Mostly circles and pirate ships, pirates and pirate swords. Unfortunately, he would rather draw on himself and the table, then the paper. Pencils, no way. Crayons, those are for babies. Max likes to draw with markers - no substitutions please.

Thank you Grandma Lake for buying me this table, it's the perfect canvas for all my art work. Luckily, it all wipes right off with lysol wipes!

This is some very intense drawing!

Florida vs. Florida State

Tim Tebow walking onto the field for the last time.

This was Tim Tebow's final football game in the Swamp. It was also College Game day here in Gainesville. Philip and my Dad went to the game. It was an easy victory!!!
That's how we like the games out here. Philip and my Dad waited in 30 degree weather for 3 hours to upgrade the student ticket for my Dad for the game. They only upgrade 500, so you have to get there early.
It was a big game since it was Tebow's farewell game. We're glad my Dad could come and see the game!

Unfortunately, they got a major whooping at the SEC championship, so they will no longer be playing in the national championship. It's a harsh realty in Gainesville.

Pirate bath

This is Max's "pirate hat". That's what he called it, sometimes I have to resort to bribery to get Max to cooperate. Max has an imagination that's out of this world. The catch is - everything is imagined in pirate terms . Pasta pinwheels -no way - those are pirate wheels. All kitchen utensils are "pirate hooks' or 'pirate swords'. Anything long and flat will be used as a 'pirate plank' usually when placed on the edge of my coffee table. The list goes on and on and on...

Trick-or-Treat

A pirate says ARRRRR!

Max was a pirate for Halloween. Pirates are his obsession these days. He loved trick or treating! He especially loved the candy.

What a cute pirate! He says Ho Ho ho. It sounds more like Santa clause and less like Yo Ho Ho. It's pretty funny.

Isabella was the spokesperson for the treating route. She rang the door bell and said trick or trick. Thank goodness for older cousins! Isabella was also a pirate for Halloween.

The Halloween party in full force: Max, Isabella and Ellie.

Max has so much fun with Isabella. We're glad that they live close by.

Max came home to cuddle with Eyeore once all the festivites were over. He was ready to relax after a long night of fun.

Max, 2 years and counting

Our blue eyed Max is supposed to be 2, but he looks like he's 3. He is actually taller then my waistline and the doctor says that when he's fully grown they estimate his height to be 6'2". He's so strong that he can lift his entire body weight - 33 lbs. - using just his arms onto bar stools. He can also push me out of the way and has actually almost pushed me over. I can't carry him around anymore, he's just too big and heavy for this pregnant lady.
He's our kind hearted giant. What can I say. I didn't except this from my 6 lbs. 1 oz. baby. No wonder he takes such long naps, he's just constantly growing! He would eat a whole jar of pickles by himself if I would let him, but his favorite food is actually hot dogs and blueberries. He gets more compliments on his eyebrows then anyone I've ever met.
Max is our social guru. He loves people and loves to play with everyone. Max is just so much fun and might genetically be related to superman and Noah. He can name any animal, and loves all real animal shows. He is an incredibly fast learner and people can actually understand what he is saying, which is alot. He talks all the time now, including to himself, his pirate toys and during sacrament meeting. He loves to dance and to play hide and seek. But most of all Max loves to be outside. He calls it "walk". He could live outside with the lizards and frogs and be the happiest little boy in town. He even catches the lizards. No doubt he's all boy. While he's growing up fast he's still out little boy who likes to hug and kiss his mom and then fall alseep while sucking his thumb.

We love our Max!

Orchid Festival at the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

We went to the Gardens this weekend. Max loves to go on walks there and see the fish and this wall which has random little stones and crystal creatures in it. There was actually a Festival for Orchids going on, but we didn't actually participate in that section.

This is a glass turtle that Max found in the wall. One of the many turtles he found today.

This tile scene was also in the wall. Max of course called it Nemo.

Philip took a small break from studying to go on the outing with us. The wall had everything from ceramic angels and grasshoppers to shells and vases.

These are some of the lilipads in the pond where the fish are. They are actually gigantic, I don't know if the picture shows their true size.

Max looking for the fish.

He could spend all morniing on this bridge just watching the fish and the one turtle swim around and eat. He says "baby fish, cute". Then he points out the Mommy and Daddy fish.

Destination: Crestview,FL

As part of the Univ. of Florida Medical School 4th year cirriculum Philip is doing different rotations around different parts of Florida. This past month we spent 2 weeks with the Roberts family in Crestview, FL where Philip shadowed his brother-in-law Mike (an internist).

Approx. 4 hours northwest of Gainesville, Crestview is not just a small town, but a very happening place! We had non stop fun with our family in Crestview. Here's what we did:

Went swimming at Foxwood Country Club, ate at the Wild Olive, saw G.I. Joe in Destin, went to the beach, ate at Fudpuckers, went to a Carnival park, had Cold Stone Ice Cream, saw The Time Traveler's Wife, ate at a Japanese Restaurant, saw Julie & Julia in Niceville, ate at Giuseppes', ate at the Waffle House, went to the Gulfarium, saw the armory Museum, picked Julianna and Ashley up from their first day of 3rd grade and 1st grade at their brand new Elementry School, Riverside. Toured Dr. Robert's new Medical office, and buzzed Max's hair.

We had so much fun! Thank you to the Robert's Family for sharing their home and exciting lives with us for the past two weeks. We appreciate your love and support!


The gang having fun in the pool. Ashley, Tommy, Julianna Philip, Mike, Andrew, and Max.
Max loves water and he thinks he can swim all by himself. One Day.

The Armory museum. There were quite a few war planes and jets on display from all different Wars and conflicts. There were even some helicopters and bomb shells - like the MOAB. The boys had fun seeing all the planes.

The three boys with the aircraft, Tommy, Andrew and Max.

Tommy the pilot! You could sit in the pilot seat of an airplane and the boys had fun inspecting the cockpit!

The new Hair cut. We took off about 2 inches. He looks more like a little boy now.

Dad, Max and the Dinosaur.

The Gulfarium: we saw sharks, birds, dolphins, sea lions, turtles, sting rays, seals, and lots of fish! (Me, Juliana, Ashley, Andrew, Max and Tommy. Ingrid is taking the picture)

Snack time at the Gulfarium.

Max riding the pretend duck at the Gulfarium.

Andrew four wheelin' at the Gulfarium.

Destination: Crestview Cont...

At the Beach. The Beach is beautiful here along the Gulf Coast with warm water. max ran straight in to the waves and Philip would have to chase him and bring him back to safer depths. The waves would knock Max down, but he would continue on undaunted.

Max and Andrew, the two year olds.

playing in the dirt.

Fudpuckers with the Roberts family and the alligators. Lots and lots of live alligators are housed around the restaurant. They are pretty amazing.
Fudpuckers is a restaurant and I guess normally when tourist season is at its peak it's about a 1 -2 hour wait. But since we were there at the end of the season we didn't have to wait. It is a dinning experience you must have in Destin!

Max, Dad and the alligator at Fudpuckers.

At the Carnival. Max and Andrew wanted to ride the Choo-Choo train. Max thought it was so much fun. Andrew kept saying "All ABoard" but Max just said Choo-ChoooO!

Then Max road the carousel. Max loves carousels. Well, to be honest he loves horses, so he likes riding the horse on the carousel.

Philip, Julianna, Mike and Ashley on the bumper cars. Wonder who won.

Max had so much fun with his cousins that he even adpoted their affinity for Tiger's. LSU Tiger's that is.