next stop: Fall Festivals

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

What is your next stop this weekend?

What about looking ahead to this Fall?  Are there any Fall Festivals that you look forward to?  Or any that you would like to go to with the family?

Mommy and I found a listing of Fall Festivals from last year via the Houston Chronicle (many of which are probably around the same time this year).  We pulled out a few that we thought would be great to look into this year for the family (there are many more to choose from beyond the ones listed below!  Be sure to click the Houston Chronicle link ... what festivals are you looking forward to in your city?).

Ballunar Liftoff Festival (September 28 - 30th, 2012): Hot air balloon festival and more.  This could be fun for kids (as young as tots) of all ages.  One of my favorite things?  BALLOONS.  I've never SEEN a hot air balloon ... so this would be beyond exciting!

Greek Fest (Exact Timing TBD): I'm not sure of the exact dates for the Fall Festival, but it is usually in October.  This is a very popular festival in Houston, and it's a great opportunity to expose your young ones to the Greek culture (and did I mention, food!).

Bayou City Art Festival (Exact Timing TBD): This is another Fall Festival that usually happens in October (and then again in the Spring).  Mommy of course couldn't leave off a festival that connects to the arts.

Dewberry Farm (September 29th, 2012 and Beyond): Mommy and I actually heard about this last year, and we thought it was a great place to take kids during the Fall (pumpkin patch and corn maze (and more)).  Mommy decided I was a bit young to really enjoy it last year (ahem, speak for yourself!), but maybe we will head out past Katy, TX this year to enjoy it.  What do you think?

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Finally, we would love to hear your ideas of Fall Festivals either in Houston (if you are a Houstonian) or near you!

-Mad Max

... You can also visit us on Mad About Town, and please stay tuned this coming Monday for a back-to-school giveaway with Whole Foods Market.

Thursday's Kids, Tweens, and Teens: Gearin' up for Spring

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

How is everyone today?

On Tuesday we brought you Tuesday's Tots and Wee Ones: Gearin' up for Spring (quick picks for Spring Break).  Today I'm doing some quick picks for you for the older set: Kids, Tweens, and Teens.

What are your picks in Houston and beyond?  We would love to hear from you!

Note, I'm feeling uber artsy today after Mommy saw RED at the Alley Theatre Wednesday night (a play about my favorite artist, Mark Rothko).

See my quick picks below!

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Jennifer Crancer (at the CAMH)

Here I am above during my first visit to the CAMH last summer with Train Wreck Mommy and "Auntie" Train Wreck Crancer.

Contemporary Arts Museum Houston - Teen Council: The Teen Council has an exhibition on view that is juried by the Teen Council, and the work is by teens!  The exhibition is in conjunction with Fotofest 2012, and it features teen photographers that answer the prompt "what happens next?"  Read more about it on the CAMH website.  Mommy and I are loving the photo prompt!

Be sure also to follow the Teen Council Blog.

Mad Potter: The Mad Potter is one of my favorite places to go with Mommy, but it is great for super young and all the way up to older kids too.  They even have a Spring Break Art Camp.  Your kids can either paint something as a gift for an upcoming celebration or holiday or paint something for themselves to keep!

Sundance Cinemas: Have you been to the new theatre downtown? Sundance Cinemas?  Enjoy an artsy film with your kiddos (and / or just an enjoyable kids film).  They have some available that are currently showing!

AIA Architecture Center of Houston Walking Tour: We must also find activities and adventures that keep the kids active and enjoying the outside.  Have you tried an Architecture Houston Walking Tour?  What a unique way to spend time with you family and see the city!

Discovery Green: Discovery Green was one of my quick picks for Wee Ones and Tots too, but it is also a great pick for the older set.  Check out their Spring Break Activities, and they also have Screen on the Green (Outdoor Movies) so be sure to check the schedule.

What do you think?  We hope you enjoy our quick picks!

What are your picks in Houston and beyond?  We would love to hear from you!

-Mad Max

Preview: Happy 1st Birthday To Me

On Saturday I celebrated my 1st Birthday at the Houston Zoo with family and friends (which of course included Train Wreck Mommy, My Hero Daddy, Auntie Tam, and more!).

I can't wait to share more about the celebration and big day with you.  Can you believe Train Wreck Mommy and I literally have over 500 photos to comb through?  Yikes.  We will share more soon, but in the meantime... here is a sneak peek!

Who is Daddy's favorite Zoo Keeper?  Mean Bean (that's me - Mino).

Later ... at home with the family opening gifts from my family, friends, and fans.  In my pampies.  Of course.  (I'm wearing my 1st Birthday shirt from Little One Boutique).

If you are Mommy's FB friend, you probably already saw these photos below.  If not, here we are ... in all our glory at my 1st Birthday Party!

My Hero Daddy ... Me as a Zoo Keeper (umm, thanks Mom!), and Train Wreck Mommy.  Love you guys!

(I actually got much praise for my outfit that Mommy found at the San Diego Zoo Shop.  What do you think?)  I picked out Mommy's sweater at Gap.  

I immediately stopped crying after Mommy told me it was vegan.  Whew, I was safe.  Cookies and Cream vegan cake from Whole Foods - yum.

(1st Birthday hat and bib from Little One Boutique).

Two big highlights of the weekend: Auntie Tam was here to celebrate with us, AND the Texans won their F1RST playoff game.  What a day!  I will share more soon.  Stay tuned, and be sure to click on follow to follow my blog!

Crazy Eyes Mad Max and Crazy Auntie Tam

How was your weekend?  Any fun celebrations?

Check back soon!

-Mad Max

Weekend Update: Birthdays, Bottles, and Baby Jesus

I swear.  This is allowed. 

Look!  Look quick.  My asian and white eye are coming out.  We are both watching you.

On Saturday we went to Nathan and Alyssa's Birthday Party (4 years and 2 years) at Playscape.  Happy Birthday, kids!

Look at me go down the slide.

Um.  Whee?

Okay, Daddy.  Now this is what I am talking about.  Mommy was too scared to go on this one!

Can you find Mad Max?

We got this.

Hydrating after playtime.

Here are my friends enjoying some cupcakes (Yvonne and Corinne).  What's a 10 month old got to do around here to get a cupcake?

Happy Birtthday Alyssa and Nathan!  Thanks for inviting me!

Mommy was checking out their decor.  She's been working hard on my 1st Birthday Celebration!  How do you like these lady bug centerpieces?

Meanwhile back at the ranch ... Here I am in a Santa get-up.  Check out my first Nativity scene.  See it?  Over there?  On the floor?  Poor Baby Jesus!

What happened to the donkey?  What did you say?

So ... are you decorating for the holidays?

-Mad Max

Weekend Update: Melting, Riding, and Climbing (Part II)

Happy Birthday, Cousin Ribear!  Cheer up, kiddo!

Train Wreck Mommy and I apologize for being behind on the blogs this week.  Mommy is still feeling under the weather, and I had a fever last night.  Not to mention the piles of work Mommy keeps mentioning.

But last weekend we went to the Houston Zoo to celebrate Cousin Ribear's F1RST Birthday!

Cousin Corryn.  Slightly upset.  See, she is related to Mommy!  Hah!

Gma J aka Mimi got a double stroller.  I'll let Birthday Ribear lead this time.  Wow, let's see where that leads us!

Aren't we quite the pair?

It's only about 1,000 degrees outside, guys.  Let's see how much longer we can melt!  Zoom in, Mommy.

Me, Mad Max ... in all of my glory.

My F1RST carousel ride!  Whee!  All by myself.  Let's teach Daddy the "zoom" button, Mommy.

Daddy!  Daddy!  Look behind you!  A real live Sophie or Patches.

I am having a dreadful feeling that this is going to end up on Awkward Family Photos.

In addition to going to the Houston Zoo last weekend, I also worked on my coffee table climbing skills.  Booyah!

Mommy!  Mommy!  Look at all those papers / projects you need to grade that have been sitting there.

Teeth?  Who needs teeth?  Max eats coffee table.

What did you do last weekend?  What are your plans for this weekend?

-Mad Max

Weekend Update: Part I

As promised ... last weekend:

Mad Max the Rock Climber.  Or Transformer Coffee Table Climber.  Either one. 

Hey, brother!  Wake up!  Dinner time.

And of course ... Teddy's 3rd Birthday Party.  Happy 3rd Birthday, Teddy!

Urban Cowboy.

I ride my horsey to Auntie Tam's.

YES SE Wizard Boys: Luke, Harlem, Blake, and of course Mad Max.  Teddy?  Where are you?

Bein' a Cowboy, of course.

I hope you had a good weekend.  The next blog update will be this weekend.  What did you do this weekend?

-Mad Max

A is for Adventure (Weekend Update): Choo Choo

I rode on my first train (at Hermann Park).  I examined new toys.  I partied.  What did you do this weekend?

Sweatin' on the train.  Choo choo.  If this train would move faster, we might get a breeze in the 1,000 degree heat.

I love playing with Daddy.  Even if we have to play on the floor.

We examine things.  Look closely, Daddy.  Let me explain to you what you are looking at ... 

Happy 2nd Birthday, Yvonne!  Thanks for inviting me to your party.  I'll give you some Ramona eyes for your Birthday!

How was your weekend?

-Mad Max

Art Thursday: Remember Twombly

Today was my Art Thursday with Train Wreck Mommy (and we missed our TW2 sidekick, "Auntie" JCranc!).  We went to the Cy Twombly Gallery at The Menil Collection.  He passed away last week ... Mommy said we lost a great American painter.  Be sure to read more about Twombly.  He is well known for his mark-making paintings, and Train Wreck Mommy said I can begin to explore my own mark making.  (Now if I can just resist putting that paint brush in my mouth).

Cy Twombly at the Cy Twombly Gallery in Houston (The Menil Collection)

We didn't take any pictures at our visit because 1) Mommy is a Train Wreck without her sidekick, JCranc ... at times, and 2) I was busy being Mommy's art critic.  If you live in Houston or are going to Houston sometime, but sure to make a visit to experience Twombly's art.
Do we just stop at enjoying art on Art Thursdays?  No.  We need face time with my fans.  We went with "Auntie" Viola to go visit "Auntie" Gaby and her new baby, Becca ... and Valentina!  The ladies love me.

Did I mention that this WEEK I've been doing such a better job sitting up?  Mommy sure seems excited.  Little does she know, if I didn't have such a heavy hand with my Scotch, I could sit up all the time.  In the photo above I'm too busy looking at this new thing called - c-a-r-p-e-t to sit up fully.  We don't have c-a-r-p-e-t at home.  Look at Valentina!  Show off.  Haha love you!  Thanks for letting me drool on you.

Umm.  Mommy.  Look how SMALL that kid is behind me.  Yikes.  Ramona eyes!  And you say I use to be that small?  I think not!

Nice feet Gaby!  Look how long I am!  NBA star!

What art shows have you enjoyed lately?  Enjoyed some time with friends sitting up nice and tall?  What did y'all do?  Max loves hearing from you!

-Mad Max

The Boys

Summer with Train Wreck Mommy is finally here!  We'll have many adventures to share with you.  And also in the meantime, we have many blogs to catch you up on.

"Auntie" Eek's family came to visit about a week ago... I finally got to meet them!  Auntie Eek, Uncle Carl ...and my buddies, Dylan and Reid.  Reid and I share the same birthday month - Jan 2011.  Here are a few photos from our vomit-filled afternoon:

Dylan, Auntie Eek, and Distracted Mad Max

Quick ... Reid!  Let's look at our feet.

Hey, Reid!  Let's look somewhere else... no need to look at the camera. 

Wow.

Reid, you are safer over there.  I go crazy town in my new underwater gym.

-Mad Max