Garage Doors

Before we left on vacation (Jan. 14th) Jason, his dad, and my brother Will worked quickly to get the garage doors installed so the house could be completely lock up. If you have never installed garage doors before Jason described it as, "not hard, but very time consuming". It took them a couple 8 hour work sessions to get them done. They still need to put on the carriage style handles and decorations.

House Update

I haven't update the house status recently because I haven't had any really interesting pictures. Here is what is going on now:
*DP&L finally came and hooked up the temporary electric....yeah!
*Jason and dad (mom too) have been working on the HVAC system. This is still a work in progress though, but is coming along nicely.
* Jason and his dad moved a doorway in order to make a space large enough to put some cabinets. The also made the pantry slightly larger, so we could put the frig. next to that wall.
*We pick up the garage doors later this week, which once we have those up we will be all enclosed!

A Holly Jolly Christmas

Well, Christmas Eve we headed to the candlelight service at church. Xander did great during the service and we even let him hold a candle (unlit of course). When we went to drop the candle in the box on the way out the door. There was a sizable wet chunk missing from the paper wax catcher. A little fiber in Xander's holiday diet.
After the service we headed to my mom's side of the family in Germantown. It was a little sad since this was the first Christmas without my Grandma, but my Aunt Judy bought my grandparents house. It was nice to be able to go there and keep with Christmas tradition.

We decided to spend the night at Jason's parents house this year, so we wouldn't have to drag Xander out in the morning. It was great. We spent the night there, ate breakfast, opened gifts, Xander took a nap while Jason and I got ready for the rest of day. Jason's mom filled Xander's stocking with left over wrapping paper...huge hit. I was actually really excited to see how much interest Xander had in opening his gifts.

Xander first thing Christmas morning! Xander got a train, activity table, lots of little things, and several books from the Creation Museum.(Jason's dad really likes the Creation Museum.)
Jason got a shop vac and remote control helicopter, which he loves.

At lunch time we headed over to my parent's house. Mom decided that it might be fun to cook a Christmas goose. (My mom is a super great cook, no idea what happened to me.). Anyways, goose tastes a little like roast beef. At my parents house Xander got a collection of Little People things.

This is probably one of my favorite pictures. My mom wanted to get a picture of all of us and the goose. Right when she said smile Will decided to try to get off the other drumstick. The little picture makes it hard to see the large knife in his hand and my sister's face is priceless.

Our little family(In case you were looking closely enough to notice: Xander Christmas PJ's came in a 2 pack, so I did a quick change between granparents' houses.)

In the afternoon we headed to my dad's side of family. Always a good time with lots of people and kids. The last few years the aunts have been tired of a "traditional" Christmas meal. Last year was soup and salads. This year was ribs and chicken...they called it 4th of July. (I am just glad they didn't go with hotdogs.)

The Xan-Man and Coop

And finally in the evening to Roger and Linda Overturf's house where we met up with all the Overturf's and Edem's again. (Side note: We played Settlers of Catan and I won!)

This was not the easiest picture to get. (Jack, Addison, Claire, and Xander)

We had a great Christmas!

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.