Where did Xander go?

Xander is still trying to master the art of crawling. He will get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth, but has yet to really go anywhere. However, that has not stopped him from getting where ever he wants. He lays on his stomach looks at what he wants or where he wants to go and angles his body and then rolls or scoots. He continues this sequence of angle, roll a little, re-angle until he gets where he wants to go. He can get pretty much anywhere.

Xander rolled under Grandma E.'s tree to play with the gifts.

On Sunday night he kept going under the ottman and chair. It was really funny. He just kept doing it even when we took him out and moved him away from it.

He tried taking his toy with him.

All that moving wore him out.

We also took at trip to Menards. We have taken many trips to Menards (Tipp City) since the house building has begun and when we go we are there at least two hours and many times longer. This week we bought: 2 doors, ordered garage doors, and circuit breaker panel.

Xander helping Jason pick out a circuit breaker panel.

Yes Xander there really is a Santa Claus.

At my Nana's church they have a Christmas lunch where Santa makes an apperance. Xander was not quite sure what to make of him. Lately he has really been studying the faces of the people he mets and Santa was no different.

Xander loved the paper placemat.

Xander is thinking, "Who is this guy?"

"Let me just give this beard a tug."

Xander and Cooper (My cousin Heather's son)

Xander is thinking, "I'm just not sure he is the real Santa."

Cooper is thinking, "Peace out people." (Check out his hand)

We Have A Roof (and Other Stuff)

Here is a picture of the front and back of the house since the last update.

Things that have been add or finished over the past two weeks:

1. The roof is done and shingled. (Who knew there we so many colors of shingles!)

2. A ledge between the two car garge and roof was added.

3. A second peak was added to the second floor.

4. The windows were installed.

5. The front door was installed. (I still love my door from the auction!)

6. The back porch roof was framed and shingled.

Other Things:

1. The gas line was installed from the road.

2. The water and sewer lines were hooked up.

3. The front yard was graded. (See picture)

4. The house was back filled.

5. The trench for the electric was dug.

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

Pre-Thanksgiving

My kindergartens made turkey headbands, pie, and played pin the the feather on the turkey!

Thanksgiving Day

It would not be Thanksgiving unless we ate at least 3 meals in one day and drove all around. (We really do like it, even with Xander this year.)

The first stop is my mom's side of the family. We eat there around 1:00. In the picture is me, all my siblings, Xander, and our one cousin, Matson.

The second stop is my dad's side of family. There were around 30 people there this year. Here is a picture of Xander with his second cousin, Cooper.

Xander enjoyed sitting with Nana and playing with all the spoons on the table.

The third and finally stop was Jason's parents house with most of the Overturf clan. Here is a picture of Xander with Jack and Claire (very close to real cousins).

Post Thanksgiving

Jason's cousin Tina and her family spent the night at Jason's parent's house on their way home to Kansas on Sunday night. We always love to see them and the kids. Here is Joanna (who was our flower girl 6 1/2 years ago), Caleb, Eliana, Karis, and Xander. Karis is just a month older than Xander, so that was fun.

Xander's 6 Month Pictures

My friend, Amy Henkel, from our church took Xander's 6 month pictures last week. She also took Xander's pictures when he was 2 weeks old. She does a great job (and is very reasonably priced).

Check out Xander's pictures at http://amyhenkel.zenfolio.com/.

Framing Day 7

The roof trusses are installed! Looks more and more like a house every day.

Trusses from the inside (above playroom).

View towards the front door from family room.

Setting up the ladder so we can get a look at the 2nd floor.

Happy Baby, Yummy Feet

Happy Baby

Yummy Feet

Fast Framing

On Tuesday (Nov.18) the framers finished the first floor and the interior walls. This was a monumental day for me because I have a hard time picturing things from drawings with measurments, so to be able to actually walk through the rooms was awesome. I even measured a few walls to check on where I want to put some furniture. (I know I am way ahead of myself.) The first floor consists of a formal dining room, 1/2 bath, small study, a great area in the back that consists of the kitchen, breakfast room, family room, off the family room is a room with 3 large windows that the plans call a sunroom (but I am going to use it as a playroom), coming in from the garge is a dropzone area, and laundry room.

Looking into the kitchen/breakfast area (pantry in left corner)

This is the side of the family room, behind it is the sunroom (playroom).
Looking into the sunroom (playroom) from the doorway

On Wednesday (Nov. 19) the framers put up and framed most of the upstairs and the trusses were delivered.

Upstairs

Framing has begun...

and things are changing quickly at the construction site. The framers started on Wednesday, November 12. They got the support wall in the basement built and the sill plate put on all around the perimeter of the house.

They did not come to the site on Thursday, but a lot of materials came.They were back to work on Friday and got the first floor subfloor all installed. It was exciting being in the basement with the floor overhead.
On Saturday, in the rain/snow, Jason, his Mom and Dad worked on putting in the pier foundations for the back covered porch posts. It was a miserable time, but it got done. They were walking in about 4-6" of mud and their feet would get stuck.Today (Monday) they began framing the garage and the first floor. I love seeing the changes day to day!

Xander's First Snow and Tooth!

I can't believe that Xander is 6 (going on 7) months old already. His first tooth just barely poked through today! I am excited and a little sad because it is just another reminder of how fast this first year is going by. He also saw his first snow on Saturday! Here are some pictures from his life this week.

Playing with his Boompa.

Playing with my wooden spoon.

Watching his first snow! The flakes were very large and he could really see them.

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