Fun Friday: Our Last Summer Adventure (The Case of Monk and His Margaritas)

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

How has your week been?  What are your weekend plans?

Our focus has been on the "back-to-school season" since Train Wreck Mommy returned to school on Wednesday (Sadie here .. I'm still with Mommy each day, but my brother, Mad Max, sure misses Mommy!).

But today we would like to bring you one of our last adventures for this summer (well, really ... Monk's (Max's Monkey)) adventure.

The Story: Has your child ever left (or lost) their favorite toy, blanket, or lovey?  If you answered yes, you may be able to relate to this story.  If you answered no (and have kids), I encourage you to go get several duplicates of their favorite toy, blanket, and lovey just in case (don't worry, Mommy, I won't tell Max).  If you don't have kids, maybe you can relate to this story if you saw TED ... hmm, well maybe!

About a week ago I went out to lunch with Mommy, Mad Max, and a few of Mommy's friends at The Original Ninfa's on Navigation (if you aren't from Houston and ever visit ... make sure to add this to your list!).  We were enjoying a nice lunch (thanks Viola and Jennifer!), and most of the time "Monk" was sleeping in Max's diaper bag.  Towards the end of our meal, Monk came out to of course enjoy some of Max's tortillas, rice, and maybe he was eyeing that margarita.

Fast forward to arriving back home for Max's nap time... Mommy went to look in her bag for Monk for nap time.  Uh oh.  No Monk.  Mommy asked Max "where's Monk?"  Max (being mostly nonverbal) did his "I don't know" turned over hands and shrug look.  Mommy started to panic.  Did we leave Monk at NINFA's?  She did her best to remain calm and put him down for his nap.  As soon as she put him down, she flew down the steps and basically turned the car upside down to find Monk.  Nothing.  Back to the diaper bag.  Nothing!

Then she knew it.  Monk.  is.  at.  Ninfa's.  And worse ... was he lost in the parking lot?  Dropped like an unwanted teddy (monkey) bear (stuffed animal)?

Mommy and I quickly called Ninfa's.

"Hi, yes, I was just there for lunch with my 18 month old son and some friends.  Odd question, by any chance did you find a small monkey?"

"Oh, yes!  We are keeping him very safe."

Whew.  So maybe Monk just wanted an overnight stay at Ninfa's?  What do you think?  We were worried Monk would have a hangover the next day (when we planned to pick him up) after a few dozen or so margaritas.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

In case you don't know Monk as well as we do, here's a photo of Max with Monk in Disney World (shopping).

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Before Monk went missing Max enjoyed some "peek-a-book" with Mommy's friend V.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

The next morning we went to pick up Max's Monk.  He was so happy (to see Monk) and seemed shocked that he was there!  And to make matters worse / more confusing, poor Monk was in a body bag.  How rough was his night??  (Photo: Outside of Ninfa's).

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

... if you like our Monk story you will also love this story about a Stuffed Giraffe (Stuffed Giraffe Shows What Customer Service is All About).

I will be back next week with my "Sadie Update."  In the meantime ... do you have any toy, blanket, or lovey stories to share?

Have a great weekend!

Sadie of Mad Max and Family / Mad About Town

Thursday's Kids and T(w)eens: School ... Supplies, Fashion, and Books versus Sports?

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

Train Wreck Mommy and I want to know ... what do your older ones look forward to most when they return to school?


New school supplies?  New clothes (or do yours wear uniforms)?  Classes?  Sports?  Other?

Image Credit: Notemaker

Train Wreck Mommy said that one of her favorite school supplies are notebooks.  And we found the perfect notebook for kids through teens!  Not only does it have a LEGO theme, but it's a Moleskine notebook (which are just the best).

Image Credit: Gwenny Penny

Mommy's second favorite school supply is pencils!  And if you have pencils, you of course need a great pouch.  Make your own pencil pouch!

Image Credit: Gearfuse

And keeping with the LEGO theme (who doesn't like LEGOs?), your kid or t(w)een can get a LEGO backpack.  I think a backpack is one of MY favorite school supplies AND style statement.

Image Credit: Geekologie

And finally, I know at Mommy's school shoes are the favorite fashion statements (the students wear uniforms) ... is this the same with your children?  I don't think my wardrobe can be complete without LEGO shoes.

And finally, what about yours and classes and sports?  

With the Olympic spirit surrounding us … I wonder, how do you balance and cultivate your child’s interests, hobbies, and talents (sports or otherwise) with school?

I read an interesting piece in The NY Times Motherlode blog, “The Jock (and His Dad) at the Chess Board.” What do you think?  Do you have a child that is more interested in sports over school?  Did they find an interest or talent in school?

-Mad Max

Check us out also on Mad About Town!

next stop: Houston Shakespeare Festival

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir? (Shakespeare)

No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you sir, but I bite my paci, sir (Shakespeare with Mad Max).


Have read or seen any Shakespeare lately where you are ... ?  And what about your kids?

In the spirit of back-to-school season ... the Houston Shakespeare Festival would be a perfect outing for your family (with older kids)!  Train Wreck Mommy would take me, but it's past my bedtime (plus I have to rest up for going out later in the night) ... and she said my attention span is only 1 minute.  Well, no offense, but do blocks hold your attention for more than one minute?


Miller Outdoor Theatre (All Performances at 8:30 p.m.)
The Comedy of ErrorsDirected by Paul Steger
August 4, 8, 10 and 12, 2012

HamletDirected by Steve Pickering
August 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, 2012

Image Credit: darling clementine

For your younger set, you can expose them to Shakespeare with this book above: Little Master Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet" by Jennifer Adams (Art by Alison Oliver).  Train Wreck Mommy said she may add it to my Christmas Wish List!

-Mad Max

PS: Be sure to check us out on Mad About Town!

Tuesday's Tots and Wee Ones: Little Ones and Learning

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

Do your little ones go to school?  If so ... how did you choose your school?  What do they do in school?  Do you think they enjoy it?

School: Train Wreck Mommy said she is looking for me to go to a school (Mother's Day Out program) next year because I'm a big boy now (and I'm already schooled in the street).  If you have any tips for her ... please send them her way!

Home: What about learning at home?  I enjoy learning with my family all of the time!  Do you set aside specific time, activities, or toys for learning?  What do you do?  What do you play / learn with?

Time: Mommy and I definitely having reading time and art time every day (and learning throughout!).  We love to learn most on our adventures throughout the city.

Activities: For our art activities, right now we mostly enjoy making drawings / coloring and sculpting with Play-Doh.  We are going to start using other materials more (like paint!).  I also tried out chalk outside for the first time at Gramby's and Pop's last week.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Toys: What types of "toys" do you make or buy to play and learn with your little one?  Mommy said she has already started thinking about the Holidays (Christmas in July!) to be better prepared this year ... so she's thinking of different things she wants to focus on for me and Sadie.  For me, she wants to focus more on the alphabet, numbers, shapes, colors, and maybe some foreign languages.  She also loves to buy of gifts that encourage play (inside and outside) and the arts.  (And of course reading is always a favorite of ours!).  Any suggestions on holiday gifts that cover these areas?

Mommy said she loves the toy website: YoYo.com.  Mommy said she found a few picks so far (don't worry, I won't peek):

Classic Alpha / Number Blocks (From Mommy: I love the classic blocks!)
Bath Numbers and Letters (From Mommy: I've been wanting to get him these for a while for the tub).
Melissa & Doug Shape Sorting Cube (From Mommy: He has a few shape sorters already, but I like all the shape options this one has!)
From Mommy: I'd like to buy some foreign language flash cards that are age appropriate - suggestions welcome!

Radio Flyer Classic Red Dual Deck Tricyle

Step2 Flip and Doodle Easel Desk (From Mommy: I really want to get him an art easel, but I see most are for ages 3+.  I think I need to do some more in person research.  When did you first get your little one an art easel?)
Goodnight Moon (From Mommy: This is one of the classics that we do not have.  Which ones are missing from your library?)

We look forward to hearing about how your little ones plan and learn at school or home!  What do you think?

-Mad Max

Mad for Monday (Max's Weekend Update): Back-to-School Blues

Hi Family, Friends, and Fans,

How was your weekend?  Well, this was our last weekend before we go back to school for Train Wreck Mommy (gulp).  I'll miss hanging out with you, Mommy!  Only less than three months ...

So are your kids looking forward to school?

Weekend Update

So with that in mind ... we made sure to have a good weekend together.  Nothing too out of the ordinary: my swim lessons at Dad's Club, church, music class ... but we did get to spend some time with Gramby and Pops so that was fun.  Thanks for visiting!  Mommy and Daddy also did some fun house hunting in the city.  Anyone else house hunting right now (we are hoping we aren't moving too soon though)?  And of course... the biggest of the weekend ... the Olympics!  Who is tuned in?  Mommy and Daddy are addicted.  And it makes me eager to start my second sport next month: soccer!

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Now I did make some improvement this week at swim lessons.  I started to blow bubbles!  Not what those other crazy people do ...but I stick out my tongue and blow!  Daddy said I'm well on my way to being an Olympic swimmer.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Back to School 

Despite our back-to-school blues, in the spirit of going back to school we are going to focus on school this week!

Besides the "school" part, what do kids look forward to most?  Friends?  New school supplies?  New clothes?  All of the above?  Well, at the Train Wreck Family we love food ... and who doesn't love packing a great lunch!  What is your favorite "school" sandwich?  I would have to say peanut butter and jelly.

Mommy and I went to the Monster PBJ Food Truck recently in Houston at The Menil Collection (are you enjoying food trucks in Houston or your city?).  What a fun trunk (the Monsters in the trunk told jokes!), great food, and a great idea.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Here I am at The Menil Collection.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

And now with the Monster PBJ Food Truck!  We were really impressed by their truck (graphics!), the people, packaging, and of course the food.  These aren't your normal PBJ sandwiches ... gourmet!  Check out their website to see their options and choices.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

I personally also really liked the bag.  Don't you love finding new purposes for brown bags?

Monster PBJ Food Truck you should have a bag decorating art contest!  I can judge.

Check out their website!  Are you inspired to check them out if you are in Houston?  Create your own fancy and fun sandwiches for your family?  

My Dada was ... we visited our favorite grocery store, Whole Foods ... and picked up some toppings for our own PBJs this weekend: sourdough (vegan!) bread, all natural PB and jam, strawberries, and agave. (And a side of grapes ... yum!).  What do you think?  See photos below.

Image Credit: Mad Max and Family / Tara J

How was your weekend?  So are you and your kiddos ready to go back to school?  Inspired to make any fun school lunches?

-Mad Max 

PS: Check us out on Mad About Town!