The Coin Collector

Max LOVES collecting coins. Yesterday, Max and I went to Panera to get out of the house and to get mommy a surprise breakfast treat. When the cashier gave us change for our purchase, Max gobbled up the coins and hoarded them while we ate breakfast. But this wasn't enough. He wanted to put the coins in his pocket -- a game that some times provides him hours of entertainment and practice with fine motor skills (I mean, have you tried to put a coin in a kid's pocket before? Those pockets are like lock-boxes they're so tight.).

So there he was in Panera, putting coins in his "pocket." The whole store was watching, mostly because his PJs have no pockets. Instead, Max would drop his pants to his ankles, place the coin in the crotch area of the pants, then pull the pants up and scream "Coins pocket!" to the delight of the whole store. And so, of course, he spent the rest of our visit to Panera picking up and dropping his pants, all the while looking for his coin.

Things I'll miss about paternity leave and things I won't

Things I'll miss about paternity leave:

1. Watching Kristin parent
2. Watching Max put on his shoes by himself
3. Hearing Max calling for Daddy after his naps and the hugs I get when getting him from the crib
4. Naps
5. Panini Monday

Things I won't miss about paternity leave:

1. Nothing

More Aviva

Some more pics from this weekend.

Weekend Fun

Ryan, Amy and their kids came up Friday night and spent Saturday morning with the family fawning over Aviva. To get the kids out of the house that morning, we all went down to Art on the Avenue, a small art fair in a neighborhood just adjacent to our own. There were lots of fun kid activities, balloons, live music, and of course hot dogs. Max didn't want the hot dogs though. Instead, he literally just walked into a Mexican place we frequent -- Los Tios -- and grabbed a server by the hand. He looked at us questioningly, wondering if we would be joining him for lunch. We had to oblige.

One of the toys he picked up at the fair was his first piggy bank. He loves honing his fine motor skills by putting pennies into his piggy bank, breaking it open, and then putting the pennies back into the bank. (Yes, he only has pennies. He doesn't know the difference and none of you should tell him.)

Max also played his first violin, instructed and aided by local high school students. Shy at first, he loved the experience and eagerly thanked the girl helping him. He also enjoyed the live music, but it was too loud for his taste (luckily, otherwise we would have been there for hours).

On Sunday, Grandpa and Mimi came down to visit and watch Conference. Aviva provided plenty of glamor shots and good looks.

Max and Keely and Aviva

I was just reminiscing this morning about our trip to Ann Arbor and this picture made me happy.

Sweet Home, ALexandria

After a five-day excursion, two days of which were spent in the car, the burgeoning Ellis family returned home late Tuesday night to their beloved home on the hill (Quaker Hill). Everyone had fun while in Ann Arbor. Max played with Keely and (mostly) Keely's toys. Abram played with Shawn and (mostly) Shawn's Wii. And Kristin played Rook with Lisa and the men (when they weren't busy playing Wii). Even little V would sit in the same room as Benjamin and they would cry together.

For more highlights of the trip, we suggest visiting Shawn and Lisa's blog, where supposedly Lisa will post a list of our weekend's adventures. But for pictures, see attached.

Picture descriptions
Max at Keely's birthday party -- held at a local inflatable circus -- with Keely proving she can cry at her party in the background. Max was absolutely in heaven, especially since the inflatable devices could hold Daddy's weight. And for once, Abram wasn't the sweatiest person at the party.

Keely holding Baby Aviva -- Keely ADORED V and held her, caressed her, and kissed her at every possibly moment. Keely must see a princess-adoring little girl underneath all that pink.

Max sleeping in the car on the way home -- whenever he sleeps in his car seat, this is his pose. Not sure where he learned it ...

Max in his new Michigan gear -- Apparently Max is the only unaware that Michigan is having a poor football season. No matter, Max is making up for with style.

Road Trip

Two things in this world are guaranteed to make Kristin happy: me in a onesie and roadtrips. Since I don't fit as comfortably in my onesie as I used to, we roadtripped today. From DC to Ann Arbor, MI, you could see the Ellis-mobile rockin' the kids crying. I mean, wow, the two of them were like a symphony of anger, alternating between strong bellows of hatred from Max and simple, untrained wimpers of confusion from Vivi.

But we're sure glad we're here for Keely's birthday party.