Like any three year-old, Max has done his share of time-outs for various offenses. We always sit him in the same spot, set the timer, and then come back when it goes off. We ask him why he’s in time out, have him apologize and demonstrate the desired behavior. On Tuesday night my mom called me after the kids were in bed to relay a story she hadn’t wanted to share in front of Max. It seems Max had pushed Anna down. She was unfazed and he insisted “It was an accident!” but Mom had witnessed the infraction and knew it was intentional. She walked Max over to the designated spot and sat him down. Before she went to set the timer she asked him, “Why are you in time out?” Max looked at her for a minute and then patiently explained, “Grandma, you are supposed to ask me that at the end of the time out.” At this point Mom is just trying her best not to burst out laughing as she sets the timer and goes to get Anna. Too late for that, as Anna has put on Max’s firefighter hat and is standing right in front of him doing a funny dance. Pretty soon they are both laughing, she puts the hat on his head, and Max is asking, “Why is Anna doing that, I’m in time out?!” That one may have been a wash as far as a consequence goes, but that’s okay, the story is worth it.

Maxwell and Anna certainly have their times of conflict, but overall they are so good with each other. Max is patient with Anna and explains things to her (usually getting right up by her face when he wants to tell her something important). Anna loves to do whatever he is doing and manages to keep up very well. Yesterday we were driving home from Target and I glanced in the rearview mirror to see the two of them holding hands from their car seats. Moments like that make up for those times of conflict!

A couple weeks ago we had our friends Angel, Eric, Emmeline and Penelope over. We decided to attempt a picture of all four kids together. We bribed the eldest ones with the promise of cookies, and I snapped away while the other three adults replaced squirming toddlers and generally made a fool of themselves in an attempt to get everyone looking in the same direction while smiling–quite a feat!

A few outtakes. This one cracks me up because Max and Emmeline are making the same face:

Those crazy three year-olds:

Now the little ones are having a side conversation:

Success!

And a few from last weekend. Anna has been really into her sunglasses lately, wanting to put them on and take them off, put them on and take them off, etc…it’s really cute.

The very talented Oma made her a really cute hat. I took a couple pictures on our way out the door.