My 1st Birthday Celebration: Details

Train Wreck Mommy and I literally have 1,000,000s of photos to go through for my 1st Birthday Celebration.  Wow.

I am going to start with focusing on the details of the party ... it's in all the details!

Mommy worked very hard with Gramby (Gma A), Mimi (Gma J), Auntie Tam, and "Auntie" Viola to finalize the details!  A special thanks to y'all for loving me, Mad Max, so much!  A few special shout outs: 

A special shout out to Gramby for going above and beyond and using her awesome crafting skills to make me many personalize items for my party.  She also made me delicious coffee cake!  You will see more below.  I don't know about you, but I like starting out my day with an double espresso and coffee cake.

A special shout out to Mimi for using her baking skills to bake me many, many, and many wonderful breakfast treats for my morning party at the Houston Zoo.

A special shout out to Auntie Tam for all of her help with the party planning and her delicious, um, (zebra print!) cake balls.  Be sure to check out her website for her new event planning and styling company, ever swoon.  (You can also find ever swoon on Facebook and Twitter!).

A special shout out to "Auntie" Viola for helping Mommy craft several nights, even though she couldn't even make it to the party (out of town).  We missed you!

And last, but not least... a special shout out to Train Wreck Mommy and My Hero Daddy for throwing me such a great celebration.  Enjoy the details below, and check back soon for more on my party!

Round tables: Since my party was at the Zoo, the theme was animal print / Zoo animals.  Gramby made the center piece signs (and Mommy made the Sophie and Max design throughout the party).  We also placed animals and animal cards throughout the round tables (loved by my young fans!).

The plants were from Lowes.  The animal cards were from Michaels, and the animals were from Michaels and Target (dollar bins!).  

Much of the other party supplies (table clothes, paper plates, etc.) was either from Green Party Goods or Arnes.  We tried to be as "green" as possible for the event.

On this table: Munny for my guests to sign; cakes; gift bags; animal masks; and 1 year photos.

My favorite: don't you love the sign of my name that Gramby made for me?  Great job!!   Do you think I should hang it in my room?

1 year professional photos by Erin Carlyle.  She rocks!

I will smile more next time.  Promise.

Mommy and "Auntie" Viola made gift bags for wee ones (under 3) and bigger tikes (over 3).  Don't you love the "Thank You" card they made for me?  Mommy made the design.  She's going to start working on designs for your young ones that you can purchase!  More soon.

Gift bag supplies bought at Amazon and Michaels.

The animal masks were a huge hit (more photos to come!).

Masks should be required at every party.  Who wants to be their own self anyways?  Really?  

Animal masks from Amazon.

Mommy and Daddy got me a delicious vegan cake from Whole Foods.  Cookies and Creme!

Candle from Whole Foods, and the customized Max cake topper is by Goose Grease.  They also made Mommy and Daddy's wedding cake toppers!

Guest cake from Whole Foods Market.  Guests describe it as "stupid good."

More food!

I have to point out the most important part of this table.  Gramby (of course) made me the awesome one year banner - a photo from each month.  She did a great job, and I love it!

We just ran out of room for our food!

This table had mini Crave Cupcakes (with the number 1), zebra print cake balls by Auntie Tam, and coffee cake by Gramby.

Mimi made me so much delicious breakfast food!  Thank you for turning your home into a baking factory!

I should also point out that Mommy found some organic juice boxes for the kids at Amazon.  

The happy, crazy family.

The Mad Max.  By the way, this was literally my first bite of sweets.  But not my last.

So what do you think?  Do you have any events coming up that you are planning?

Mommy is thinking about working with Auntie Tam (ever swoon) and another Houston friend to plan kids events.  Thoughts?

Be sure to click on follow for my blog and leave comments!  I look forward to hearing from you.

More soon on my special celebration!

-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

Mad Max and Mad Potter

Mommy and I are becoming regulars at The Mad Potter.  I love painting pottery with Mommy and friends.  We didn't post photos earlier because 1) Mommy is a Train Wreck when she works ... and 2) We didn't want to spoil any surprises.  I will post photos soon from when we made the Grandma's Mother's Day gifts!  Last weekend Sophia (the giraffe) and Patches (the giraffe) came with me:

By the way, have you seen my new trick?  See above.  Need I say more?

I finally got to meet "Auntie" Elizabethan!  Thanks for coming such a long way to see me, Elizabeth!  It was nice to meet you.  I can't wait to meet Anna.  Mommy and I met "Auntie" Jessicana, Elizabeth, Gaby (and Valentina! ... and her Super Fetus Becca), and Viola.  More pics to come, but we don't want to spoil any gifts.  Wink wink!

I love painting with Mommy!  I can hardly contain myself!  Obviously.

-Mad Max

Lunchin' with the Ladies

Last week TW Mommy and I joined "Auntie" ... Viola, Mandy, and Jennifer for lunch at Habaneros Mex Grill in Midtown.  You know we love Tex Mex.  This place was delicious!

"Auntie" Mandy, Mad Max, and "Auntie" Jennifer.

The ladies can't keep their eyes off Mad Max!

Mommy and I enjoyed some Spinach Enchiladas.

I passed out after all that wine (see behind me).  Let's get together again soon ladies!  I'll just have to check my calendar with my assistant aka Mommy.

-Mad Max

My Fan Base Grows

I may need to hire a Super Full Time Assistant to help Mommy with my Fan Base and schedule!

Gma A's friend Suzanne came to visit me at the end of last week.  Thank you for coming!

Mommy's friend Viola also came to visit at the end of last week.  I've been eagerly awaiting "Auntie" Viola's arrival.  She made me a blanket!!  She also made me wonder ... "Auntie" Jessicana, where is that Monkey I've heard rumors about?  I love you, "Auntie" Jessicana!... haha, but back to my blanket, didn't Viola do such a great job?  And it matches my room perfectly.  I'll have to take a pic of it in my room sometime.

You can see the blanket there at the end of my bed.

"Auntie" Alicen came to see me on Sunday, and she brought us soup!  Yay for not eating toast for the 10th time in a row.  It was super yummy, thank you "Auntie" Alicen.  We also watched some Playoff Football (well, fell asleep... it was quite boring, wasn't it?... not much of a game.  Hopefully the Texans will be in it next year.)  I (most appropriately) wore one of my many sports outfits.

Daddy's friend Mick also came to visit on Sunday.  "Uncle" Mick was afraid to hold me!  Hah, he must have heard I am a Super Infant with super powers.  Do.  Not.  Be.  Intimated.  But, it is probably better that he didn't pick me up.  If he dropped me, I would have fallen like 10.5 billion feet to the floor.  Look at this guy!

I can't wait to see what loving fans come next.  Maybe I should start autographing my dirty diapers.

-Mad Max