Woodland Lights

We spent a fun "family" night with our some of our very bestiest friends the Comer and Schulers. We started the evening at the Schulers eat taco and then headed to Woodland Lights in Centerville. It was a really warm evening for December in Ohio. 

 The kids loved the free fair type rides. Xander is going to LOVE Disney world when we go there in February. 

 Lily and Amelia really wanted to ride the flying person ride. Lily kept saying, "me too" (which I hear a lot lately). She does not like to miss out. 

 I wasn't planning on letting her ride anything, but Jason was nice enough to sick her on. I told Xander to look out for her and if she tried to get out to keep her seated. 

 Xander wrapped his arm around her and kept it there the whole time. My heart melted as I watched them go around and around. Lily was so happy and Xander was taking such good care of her. I love the way the love each other. I love how in the end Xander is so protective of her. 

 You would have thought this ride was crazy and dangerous. It wasn't, but it did kinda whip you around the corner. The boys would yell and laugh. 

We ended the night at Cold Stone for ice cream. I am so beyond thankful for our friends and the memories we are making. 

Happy 1st Birthday, Chelsea Sampsel

Last weekend we headed up to Westerville (just north of Columbus) to help celebrate this cute little lady turning one. We are so happy the Sampsels (Brian was Jason's roommate at Cedarville) live closer to us now. Although every time we get to Columbus I feel like we should be there and it is still another 25 minutes, that is the longest part for me (and Xander). Xander and Christine had a good time playing together. 

Chelsea wasn't all that thrilled about he cute cake, but hey it's her party. Now if you were playing a word association game with Lily on the other hand and you said "birthday" I could almost guarantee you the next word out of her mouth would be "cake" or "kitty" because she is having a hello kitty birthday party here soon. 

I love this picture of Grandpa Sampsel taking pictures of Chelsea opening her gifts and Xander with the play camera. 

We headed home from the Sampsels about 3 because I wanted to put the lights on our tree. Our tree decorating this year was a muli-day and stage process. We bought the tree and put it up inside for several days. We put the lights on it on a Saturday and then the following Tuesday Jason, Xander, and I decorated it (sorry Lily you were asleep). If I was a photographer or crafty these Christmas light pictures would be cuter, but this what you get people. I wanted to wrap them up together, but they didn't want to. 

Thanksgiving Eve

Is that a holiday? Well, it feels like when you don't have to go preschool. Let me tell you even Xander's three day a week/half day preschool has put a damper in our little playdate schedule. We took advantage of freed up schedule and headed to LeapFrogs with Brinley and Layna. Thankful it was only mildly busy. However, Lily is at the super fun age of wanting to do everything, but not being able to do it on her own without my fear of her being trampled by "big" kids. 

Xander's favorite thing is the "big" slide. Lily enjoyed bouncing with Brinley and going down the small slide with her. 

 Brinley is so good with Lily and is so caring. Lily really loves her. 

 Whew! All done bouncing: Xander, Brinley, Lily, and Layna

 After a special Chic-Fil-A lunch we got home and put Lily down for her nap. Xander and I headed outside to do some work (well I worked he played) thanks to the 65 degree weather. I love Ohio weather (sometimes). I got all the sanbox toys put away along with all the other outside toys we leave on the porch. They are safely tucked away in the garage ready for the snow. 

We even got some finger-painting in before Lily got up. Xander doing some thumbprint leaves on his thankful tree. 

Henry's Birthday Party: Cars 2, Cupcakes, and Dinosaur Bones?

Here are some pictures of Henry's really fun 3rd birthday at Delco Park. 

I like this picture because you can see Lily's long swirl of hair in the back blowing in the wind. 

Xander got Henry some monster trucks...shocking I know. 

We had a bad storm come through the area a few days before and it uprooted quite a few pine trees at the park. You can kind of see one in the background of this picture. After the party was over the boys were digging in the dirt and they uncovered a tree root. They started yelling that they had found a dinosaur bone! They spend quite some time digging out the exposed "dinosaur bone". The next day when I asked Xander what he liked best about Henry's party he said, "hum...the cupcakes and finding the dinosaur bone".

Lily and Amelia also had a simply delightful time too. 

Happy Birthday Henry!

There are not many people who can say they have been friends since they day they were born, but Xander and Henry can. Henry I have enjoyed watching you grow these past three years along with Xander. Even though you boys have your own personalities they seem to complement each other nicely. I love watching you guys play together with your crazy banter that I assume is normal for three year olds. I have also enjoyed (kinda) your weird boy humor that is seemingly emerging. I can't say that I really understand it, but your dads don't seem too worried about it.  My prayer for both of you is that you grow up to men of integrity who love the Lord (and selfishly your wonderful moms too). I hope that each of you will be a positive influence in each other's lives. 

Happy 3rd Birthday Henry!  

 Xander and I visiting Henry on the day he was born! 

 One of the few pictures where Xander is noticeable larger than Henry. 

 Their first easter egg hunt. 

Xander's 1st birthday party.

                                                           Just last week

Fun at the Park

Headed to the park with friends for some summer time fun!

It is always funny what ideas kids come up with that they think are funny. I have entitled this video, "Put Your Bum On It" because that is what Brin and Xander kept saying.

Roller Skating Baby

We were invited to Ashton's 8th birthday party at Skate World. I had Ashton's older brother, Zach, in my class when he was in first grade and became friends with the family. I never had the opportunity to be Ashton's teacher because Xander was born the spring before she entered first grade, but Ashton still loves Xander.

I wasn't really planning on letting Xander skate, but as it turns out he loved it. It took him about a minute to realize he could do it on his own and then he refused to hold my hand anymore. He really loved being out on the real skate floor.

Check out Xander skating:

The Zoo

We headed to the Cincinnati Zoo today with Emily, Mary, Christina, and Courtney (and all subsequent children) for a really fun spring day at the zoo. The weather was perfect and the kids had a great time.

Xander and Henry getting their diapers change (defiantly going in at least one of their high school graduation slide shows).

This is a Penetrometer (it measures the toughness of a leaf). Xander loves anything that looks like a tool.

How many bugs does it take to weigh as much as Brinley, Caden, and Xander?

Watching the Polar Bears Swim

Brinley, Jack, Caden, Henry, Xander (yes he is eating), Layna, and Claire

COSI Video

This was Xander's favorite thing in the kid area. He would run to get the balls and put them on top of the blowers.

Xander and Caden ran in and out of this tent a ton of times. Xander would look at Caden and say, "hey" (translation, "This is fun lets do it again.").

COSI

Some friends and I recently headed to COSI, the children's museum in Columbus, for the day.

Xander playing at the water table.

He really like the wheelbarrows and was finding lots of things to put in it.

This one you could have two balls race each other down, but Xander really just like watching them role down.

Classic Sliding

The small child's area was set up like a little town. He liked flying the helicopter.

Xander, Caden , Jack, & Claire

Xander performing an operation.

Xander playing in a submarine. (I think he liked the buttons.)

In the gadgets area he would fill each hole with a screw. Then after he did that he started moving them over one by one to another rod. He was really interested in what that dad and son behind him were building.

I had to at least get one picture of the two of us.