Simon and Max – growing up in a big, big world

Simon and Max turned 3 recently and it was a celebration that was spread out over several days with various family members arriving at different times and mama and papa being gone for a few days around that time. But rest assured, the boys missed out on nothing.

We had a big toasted hazelnut cake for the boys and it was very yummy.

For the celebration in school mama had made banana sorbet because of all the food restrictions (no eggs, no nuts, no strawberries etc.) The banana sorbet however was a big hit. And Simon can be seen devouring his portion.

In his class Max also quickly ate his banana sorbet and was ready for more.

One night we had a wardrobe malfunction and Max was very concerned about it.

As the boys are getting bigger they get to wear underwear here and there instead of diapers.

New balance bicycles arrived in time for the birthday of the boys.

The Nutcase helmets found the boys well too, and they would wear them all the time if we were to let them.

Simon also has a distinctive Nutcase helmet and he loves it too.

Simon and Max went to the mall with grandmama Georgia and got to ride the carrousel.

These German brand Bruder construction vehicles were a gift from grandmama and they are super nice.

The Legos from GiCi, Jean and Dorothy and David are also very popular. The fancy footwear came from Anna and Greg.

Simon got to be Elmo for Halloween and boy did he look cute.

Cookie Monster Max is also ready to charm everyone.

After the hayride in school, Elmo goes to the next station with grandmama Georgia.

It was warm inside and Max took off his headgear, but Simon kept it on until he got home.

The Bluegrass music in school was great but both boys started to get over stimulated.

Our Halloween decoration in front of the house.

Max is making sure that the pumpkin has a scary enough face.

On the way to a neighbor’s party and trick or treating on Halloween evening.

Simon loves this bicycle and would be outside all the time if he could.

Showing opa and mimi the bike riding s=kills on a very cold day. Brrrrr

The summer went by in a flash and the boys are growing like weeds, but everyone had a great time. Here are some impressions of Simon and Max during the late summer months.

The boys like the train and we get to watch it every now and then near where we used to live.

Oh no papa, it is all over.

Exploring downtown Winston-Salem and this car caught their interest. The driver however was nowhere.

Papa had brought back some treats from Germany and they found the boys well. But it is very very rare for them to get chocolate or other sweets.

Mama and the boys took papa to the airport when he had to travel to Hawaii to cover the Ironman World Championships.

The boys love stories and they get them when they go down for a nap and at night. Here David reads one of their favorite books.

We took a special trip to Krispy Kreme and it was well received by all parties involved.

Simon said “Is this a donut store?” as we walked in, having only seen one before in the Children’s Museum.

So good, but each boy only got a very small piece to enjoy.

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Simon really does not like to pose for pics so he always tries to interfere with his hands.

Max is having fun with the Halloween glasses of mama.

Trying out the new puffy vests as the temps slowly get a bit cooler.

Crossing the bridge near Brunson Elementary School.

There is so much to see and simply not enough time.

Boy, these are some very big pumpkins.

Hanging out on the playground with the best buddy.

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Simon and Max have had a very busy summer, and here now are images of the boys over the last few weeks.

Even with papa watching, there is always trouble on the horizon.

Watching the fish in front of West End Cafe

Simon strutting his stuff downtown

Monkey business at the closed bank.

Waving to mama who is far away in Ghana

On the way to breakfast at the Lighthouse

Simon passed out in papa and mama’s bed after an early rise

Fun in a puddle on the last day at the beach

Shower for the boys after a swim

With mama on the beach

Little pirates after a seafood meal

Captain Max at the helm

The seashell hunter Max in action

Simon was pleased about his find

With David attempting a tall Lego skyscraper

Checking out alligators at the Zoo at Brookgreen Gardens

Simon had fun with a sculpture of an alligator

Digging and digging

At the pool

Snack time outside the Herin home

Helping papa return a shopping cart

Beach haircuts for the boys

Story time with mama, and notice the long hair on the boys pre haircut

Checking out a cork tree with Opa

Water fun at GiCi’s house

Snack time at home

Bread time outside of the Whole Foods

One of the last pool dates with Sara

Helping papa mow the grass at the property where the house will be built – eventually

Simon and Max have no fear when it comes to water and that is a great thing. Clearly we are always with and near them, but they simply do not appear to panic.

Simon is like a little fish.

And Max clearly has no fear.

This is how Simon and Max spent most of their 4th of July afternoon.

Simon and Max had swim lessons again and they continue through next week. Below are a few images of the boys in action before, during and after a couple of those sessions.

Below are some of the art projects the boys have been involved in while at the Centers For Exceptional Children.

In this update you will find a bunch of items of the last few weeks. In no particular order, well – roughly in the timeline it occurred.

Simon and Max are now the proud owners of this American Flyer off-road wagon. But it is likely a better snack cart versus being loaded with two 30 plus pound boys.

The boys on the way to school, and there is so much to see.

Simon after sampling Mama’s kale smoothie.

One young man has graduated to a toddler bed, and we are waiting for the other conversion side to arrive.

We went to the mountains to spend a week with GiCi and grandmama.

Grandmama brought clay for Simon and Max and here everyone is hard at work behind the mountain house.

Simon quickly figured out how this works.

Hiking around with the whole group on Grandfather Mountain

Simon on the final climb to the very top of the mountain.

We all had to chase hard to keep up.

Crossing the bridge on top of Grandfather Mountain.

The boys love the Chris Van Dusen books and this gift from Grandmama was a big hit.

We had seen a bear, read a story about a bear, and that night a bear came visiting us.

Hanging out near a creek not to far from the mountain house outside of Boone, NC.

We all had a great time out there.

Playing bedtime in the middle of the day.

The boys had read about marshmallows and now they got to enjoy some. But this is a very rare treat.

It is very cute how Simon often assist Max. Here he helps his brother get the socks off.

Max enjoying breakfast with Papa at Cagney’s before a standard dentist appointment.

The crew at the dentist was in awe what a good patient Max was during his first professional cleaning.

And Papa was very proud of little Max.

The boys and Mama supported Papa during a recent sprint triathlon.

And Papa brought home the goods thanks to the great support crew.

A stroll through the neighborhood on a Sunday afternoon.

Simon seems to have decide on his career early on.  He seems to either be on the acrobat or cat (cake) burglar path.

His brother Max on the other hand appears focused on the pilot path.

Simon and Max stumbled upon a few new things this morning. 

Afterwards off to church

Actually not an egg hunt in the park after church

Self sufficient at Whole Foods

Same with Max

One or more bunnies died tragically

And some Easter flowers