Okay, I haven’t blogged since November, so, here’s the mega update post… in pictures and captions. Enjoy! (Click on any photo to be taken to our flickr page with tons more).

We spent Thanksgiving with Grandma and Grandpa in Costa Rica. We had an AWESOME time. Maxton was just learning how to walk on his own. He still didn’t like the beach… A few shots from Costa Rica:

We got looted by the monkeys.

On the way back from Costa Rica, we had a layover in Dallas so we got to hang out with family. Here are the inseparable cousins.

As we shared before, Maxton has been given a clean bill of health and we no longer have to take him for regular check-ups with the cardiologist. This is his last visit with Dr. Bar-Cohen (it was the same day as his first haircut…thank goodness! Why didn’t anyone tell me it was way past time to cut his hair!!!?)

I was really not pleased with the results of his first haircut. I figured that taking him to a kids haircut salon would make it easier…and there would be less crying and more distractions and toys (Maxton does not like to have anything done to his hair). But, um, let’s just say this stylist wasn’t well equipped to cut Maxton’s hair.

Delina cut his hair the next time and we were very pleased with the results, not to mention it was FREE…except for the soy yogurt (his favorite thing to eat) to keep him still and distracted.

Wait, I skipped something… Here’s Maxton at Jake’s birthday pool party with the other birth center babies.
They were all born about a week apart.

Everyday is an adventure for Maxton (and us). He’s always busy exploring, walking around with grocery bags, wanting to do everything Mommy and Daddy do, walking (now running), imitating sounds, reading books, throwing books,…. Here are a few shots of Maxton’s exploits.

Ben bought himself a juicer at the after-Christmas sales and Maxton loves to juice with him, drink the juice, and pretend he’s juicing all on his own (with his toy helicopter).

Beet juice mustache.

Oh wait, I forgot something else. We voted in November and enjoyed spending the entire day immersed in election day coverage and then inauguration day coverage. Maxton recognizes Obama’s face and voice (on the radio). You should hear him! He won’t stop saying “Omama” until you acknowledge that, “yes, that’s Obama, Maxton.”

On the TV, ABC and CNN on the wall.

We drove around until our odometer hit a milestone.

Maxton’s Christmas gift from the Pryce grandparents, Aparicio’s and Pryce’s (Elwyn + Ruth) was music classes at the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. He LOVED every minute… until the semester ended, but he still enjoys listening, dancing and singing to the CDs.

Speaking of Christmas, this is how we spent it. Sick and alone, but together. Ben’s family gathered in Maryland and Delina’s family gathered in Texas and we watched the festivities via Skype. Watching Samuel open gifts is my favorite part about Christmas.

We had several visitors, friends from our time in Berrien Springs, drop by!
First, Sarah and Marius Asaftei. Sarah and I run a blog for young (under 40) pastor’s wives.

Then the newlyweds, Marlene and Dalitso Nseula, spent the day with us.

Then Carolyn spent a week with us. It was such a refreshing visit. We had fun mixing teas at a tea bar.

Then Trevan Osborn spent a couple of days while he was in town for a conference.

We love our long-distance friends, but we also like to hang out and meet with those nearby, so (backtracking again) we, along with our neighbors hosted a shindig for the neighbors in our building. It was fun and we keep saying we need to do it again, or plan a movie night outside or SOMETHING, but we haven’t gotten around to it…

In January, we hung out and had breakfast with our neighbors and walked down to Colorado St. (about 1/2 a block from our apartment) to check out the Rose Parade. The crowds were crazy. We watched most of the parade on TV, but got to see the floats up close the next day.

In March, I went on my first overnight trip alone since Maxton was born (and probably the last for a really long time after the twins arrive). I went to Nashville to see Beth Moore (yes, again!) at the Ministers’ Wives Conference. It was an absolute blast and I got to meet some of the women that follow the Clutch blog. I only spent one night away and Ben was a trooper!

Maxton loves chatting with his cousins and aunts and uncles (in Texas and Maryland) and grandma and grandpa Pryce on Skype.

And last, but not least, if you’ve made it this far, check out our Maxton showing off in this video (there are 2 more in this series). There are more videos on our YouTube channel. Maxton LOVES to watch these… Enjoy and hope you get a good chuckle.