Max is 4 years old!

Our little feller turned 4 years old today!  Birthdays past have barely registered with him, but this year was different.  He contemplated what time of birthday "cake" he wanted, the flavor it would be, and the colors.  He was more vocal about what he wanted for his birthday!

Max continued to play an active role in executing his birthday cupcakes.

On the morning of his birthday, we let him open the presents that Tita Grace, Tito Derrick, Brandon and Lauren gave him.  It was after dropping off Simone at school that he and I returned home to decorate his birthday.  This day was also a sad one for Max because it was the last day that his preschool teacher Miss Jessica would be teaching his Sports and Arts classes.  He claimed it was the worst birthday he had ever had, but the celebrations that continued in the evening lifted his spirits.

Although Max picked out the strawberry cake mix, he was more into the color than the taste and refused to eat it after devouring the frosting.  You can see in the picture below which one Max ate.

Simone's Latest Drawings

This past weekend was one filled with lots of drawings.  I wrote already about Max's debut into the anthropomorphous theme.  Now I'm here to write about Simone's latest series: TV/Movie Posters.  It started with innocent question, "What is your favorite show, Mommy?"  I told her it was The Walking Dead, not thinking that she was about to interpret in any fashion.  Here's what she came up with ...

  

I think she drew her "zombie" from this image she saw on my computer.  I had assured her that the creepy woman in the back wasn't really a zombie.  She just hadn't bathed in a long time.  It's true! 

Here is "Alaska: The Last Frontier."

"It is cold"   "Yeah"

  

"The Kilcher family from the Alaskan show"

"New Girl"  

  

The lines in the girl's speak bubble are a representation of the character's blabbering.

This last example also illustrates that when I think Simone is just playing her games, she is also paying attention to the melodramatic Chinese films I seem to be addicted to lately.  The movie is about a man who sacrifices a lot to save the remaining heir to the throne after a military dictator slaughters the entire royal family.  When the boy grows up and finds out that his father is not his real father, there are outbursts which make me tear up.   Simone remembers this scene that made her mommy cry.

"You are not my father."  "You are my son"

Max's First People Drawings

Max had started complaining that the only thing he knew how to draw was a racetrack, the result of drawing circles upon circles.  Simone and I tried to help him out by showing him how people are drawn.  The first picture shows a collaboration among us.  Max drew the head of Super Diaper Baby, one of his favorite books lately.  He felt frustrated so I showed him how to do the body and diaper.  Then Simone added color.

This gave Max courage to start drawing other figures!  Here is his first human drawn all by himself.  I think it's as happy as he is!

Then he started thinking of his other favorite cartoons and tried to draw "Quack" the duck.  Can you guess which one he is based on Max's drawing?

  

Max redid Quack and accentuated his feathers.  

He has really taken to drawing now.  So much so that he gets really irate when I tell him he has to go to bed and has to stop drawing.  

Simone, the Bus-itect

Simone has her own ideas as to what the bus should look like and what it needs.  Her first swish of the pencil yielded this:

"I want the bus to look like this. From Simone, to Daddy"

Upon further consideration, Simone quickly sketched the importance of including certain furniture:

"Timeout Chair"

No Shower Cap, No Problem

After my hair mishap yesterday, I became quite grossed out with the dry, brittle nature of my hair and remembered that I had a deep conditioning ointment from July - when I first thought that my brittle hair needed help.

To my horror I realized I needed a shower cap to contain the conditioner for 45 - 60 minutes.  But that didn't deter me from moisturizing my hair.  I found an alternative and my hair looks a little more healthy.

A plastic bag and rubber band make a suitable shower cap!  My hair turned out really soft with a bit of sheen.  I have more leftover so I think I might do it again really soon - and with my DIY shower cap!

Simone, the Fashion Designer

Simone saw a need for more pockets in her jacket and set out to provide it for herself.  While working outside, she approached me and showed her own DIY project.

The picture above is actually after she made modifications to her project.  She first put simple pockets in using cardstock and tape.  Then she remembered that she had seen people with covers on their pockets and did the same with the same materials.

I'm so proud of my resourceful girl!

Filipino Fro

I put my hair in tight curlers last night and woke up to a Filipino afro.  No wonder Simone cried when I did this to her for Halloween.