Party On Xander

Xander's 1st Birthday Party

@Grandpa and Grandma's Edem's

Using the sucker antenna to dip into the frosting

"Nana look at me!"

Xander loved all his birthday "baboons" (as he calls them). He liked carrying them around. Opening gifts (Jack is checking it out). I forgot what gift it was, but Jack said, "Ohh that is nice."

When you push its hand it says, "Hi I'm Xander Xylophone."

Jason found this blow up ball pit/soccer field in the clearance section of Target probably 4-5 months ago ($11.48!). We finally blew it up and gave it to Xander for his B-day. The kids liked it.

Xander and Henry

Getting out myself...no problem (getting in looked the same)Emily & Claire Me & Xander
Xander, Brinley, Henry, and Layna
"Auntie" Andrea and Xander (They have the same B-day!)

Happy Birthday Xander!

If you had told me a year ago that I would feel a tinge of sadness on Xander's 1st birthday I would have told you, "No way!" Delivering a baby, no sleep, and a drastic change to my daily life seemed endless a year ago. However, he sleeps through the night now and my day-to-day life as a semi-stay at home mom seem to fit more comfortably. What can I say, my baby is growing up and it is going by too fast.

Xander 1st bithday was an interesting one. His birthday fell on Tuesday, which is my day to work, so that made me a little sad and then we found out a little while ago that Jason would be out of town (leaving Xander's birthday morning). So, Xander's birthday party with cake and such is on Friday. But this is how his actual birthday went...

1. Mom takes picture of Xander first thing in the morning! Happy Birthday!

2. We snapped a quick family picture before Jason left for Cleveland and I left for work.

3. Jason's mom (who watches him Tues.) brought him to my class for lunch/recess. I brought in Popsicles for my big kids (kindergartens). The kids were so good with him and he loved walking around the room. We took a serious picture before this one, but this one fits them better.

4. I came home from work and Xander and I went to swim class at the Kettering Rec. He loves it by the way!

5. Grandpa and Grandma Edem took Xander and I out to dinner. They brought him a bowl with a lot of whip cream!

What happens when you take it away!

It was a great day!

Tip-Toe Through the Tulips

This past Friday we headed to Cox Arboretum to take some pictures of the kids in their huge tulip patch.

Xander liked picking up the mulch pieces and putting them inside the tulip.

He also enjoyed playing with the rocks, dandelions, and straw pieces he found on the ground.

Here is Xander with his Friends (Brinley, Claire, and Jack) (Layna was their too)

Easter

We had a great Easter weekend!

On Saturday we headed to a local church with some friends and kids for an Easter egg hunt and other activities. Xander really enjoyed just hitting the eggs together.

Xander had even more fun with the eggs at home. He would shake them and then he got one open. He was so excited and I think surprised to find something inside. Then he wanted to take them all apart. Luckily he has no concept of candy yet, so he just played with candy inside.
On Sunday morning we attended the first service of our church's Easter program. Then headed to Jason's parents church for their Easter program. Jason's dad was the narrator. When Xander noticed his grandpa he pointed at him with both hands, stood up, and started "talking".
Then we went out to lunch at Outback (very Eastery I know) with Jason's mom, dad, and brother Eric. Xander got a very large stuffed dog and a "secular" (as Jason's dad says) board book that plays "Here Comes Peter Cottontail. So, if Xander doesn't turn out in the end we can all blame his "secular" Easter book. :)
That evening we headed to my Aunt Barbie's house for the Hunter side of family Easter dinner. We had an Easter hunt with all the great-grand children (9 kids total). Xander's eggs were all orange. My parents got him an Easter basket with play doh (I know :)) and a board book. He loved them both. He also liked hitting the table with spoon with my Nana (a favorite activity) and now semi-traditional holiday picture with his (2nd) cousin Cooper.

House

Updates on the house:

1. The front porch poured.

Xander and Grandpa (Xander approved the front porch.)

Xander helping dad put in the front porch posts.

All done

2. The garage floor poured.

3. Plumbing almost done.
4. All outlet boxes in and up stair outlet boxes mostly wired.

5. Canned lighting/overhead lights being put in.

Kids Really Do Change Everything...

Here was our fun filled family Friday night last week.

Made a trip to Lowe's to buy more PEX tubing. When we go to Lowe's it is usually for a while. (Although not as long as when we go to Menards.) Jason has a list and check's things out (prices, etc.) on whatever he needs or thinks he will need for the house. I keep Xander occupied by making laps around the lighting department. I took a video. He wasn't quite as excited as he usually gets, but you will get the idea.




After we got home Jason and Xander did this. They play this "game" every night.

The House

I know I haven't updated the house status recently, but that doesn't mean stuff isn't being done. Jason and his dad go out every night after work and the weekends. It is more like stuff is being done that is not that exciting to take pictures of (at least in my opinion). It is nice that the weather is getting nicer and the days longer.

1. Jason and his dad finished all the duct work for heating and air. (Not bad for two guys who watched an instructional video Jason bought on the Internet.)

2. The PEX plumbing has all been run and Jason mounted the water heater tonight. There is still some crimping to do on the plumbing, but the runs are in the wall and to the right places.

3. The yard has been graded and is ready to be tilled and seeded sometime.

Here are some pictures of the duct work(not quite done in the pictures):

We also bought some real hardwood flooring at an online auction. Jason and his brother, Josh, drove up to Youngstown in my dad's van to pick it up. We got enough to do all of downstairs (70 boxes) and we got an excellent deal.

Xander checking out a piece of the floor.