you don't tug on superman's cape

                                                                                  

i guess you can say he's been protecting this family since the day he was born. (that's a quote from my nephew, parker.=)) just like parker, that statement is also true for madden.  anyone who knows mad knows  how tough, stubborn and prideful he is (i can't fathom where he got that way from.;)) he has been this way since he was a baby baby. i swear i have pics of him at less than 1yr with that scowl on his face. he is such a tough little boy, the complete opposite of my max who has mastered the role of victim, but under that tough, little exterior is the sweetest, most sensitive little angel who hates to see anyone in distress. 

but protect, he will do....

max was having some issues with a little boy at recess that he would refer to as his "enemy". (note: he was very into an episode of spongebob around this time where one of the characters had an enemy, so i'm not sure the other little boy had much of a choice on whether or not he wanted to be max's "enemy".;))  max would come home from school and tell us what the little boy had said or done that day. it was mostly just things like, "he shook the stepping thing when i was on it and i almost fell." or "he was chasing me." but this would really upset madden and he would start to plan his revenge of shaking the stepping thing while max's "enemy" was on it or "well, if he's gonna chase you then i'm just gonna chase him!"=) i suppose one day max told the little boy that his brother was going to get him (i mean, after all, in max's eyes there is nobody tougher or stronger or meaner than his little brother, madden.=))  the little boy told max his little brother was stupid and, of course, madden had a few things to say about that..."well, well, well, if he's just gonna call me stupid then i'm just gonna call him stupid." and "i'm just gonna kick him!" which eventually evolved into..."i'm just gonna get him and put him in a box!" (it's all much cuter in mad's tough, little boy voice.)  we have definitely learned in this family that you don't mess around with jim.=) crazy child!

p.s. max and the "enemy" have kind of fizzled out. so, no need to worry (dad;)). however, max seemed to really enjoy mad and i coming to lunch and recess that often; we are now expected to attend multiple times a week.=)

more of their cuteness...well, a few of the ones i can remember, it's late!=):

max came home from school today and was very bothered that christopher columbus is no longer with us. i guess they have been learning about him finding america in school and max made me google how he died. the rumor is it was from gout. anyway, max is pretty upset he's dead and madden swears he saw him at hobby lobby the other day.=)

max on the day he dressed as spongebob for school: "walking teachers just talked to me and said cute stuff about my outfit." 

i was having a hard day a while a go and was crying, mad came up and asked if i wanted him to scratch my back. he then said, "mom, do you why i'm making you feel better? because you're cryin like a baby."=) 

kenna was asking the boys what their favorite memory is. max said his very best memory is when he got stung by a bee and i made him pink cake (red velvet) and got him milk.=) all of the time and money that has been spent on trying to make wonderful memories for these two and cake after a tragedy is his best!

 madden did not have a favorite memory because he has never been stung by a bee.;)

mad to "gwama"- "i'm angry because my name's mad!" what have i done to this child?

the boys are obsessed with rv's! it's all they want for christmas.=) i took them to the rv show at the expo center the other weekend, you would have thought they had died and gone to heaven.=)