Oh to be so loved...

that people will act foolish for you. We went out to dinner last night for my brother Tim's 16th birthday. Here is how my family acts with Xander and remember we were in public and this continued for awhile.

Cruisin with the Edem's

We enjoyed a wonderful 7 day cruise on the Carnival Splendor (their newest ship) in mid-January with the Edem Clan for Jason's Grandma's 80th Birthday. There were 13 in our group altogether. It was nice to get away from the cold and the house project for awhile. We left out of Ft. Lauderdale and made stops in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas. The weather was in the 70's for most of the trip, which was fine with me but others thought it was too cold.

Xander enjoyed the cruise. He was able to meet his great-uncles and aunt and his great grandma Edem. He discovered a passion for cheerios. He enjoyed taking apart the towel animals that were left on our bed each night. He liked the splash park and pool on the boat. However, I think he mostly enjoyed all the attention he got from fellow passengers and the staff.

Windy Day in Ft. Lauderdale

The Muster Drill (Xander hated the life vest, so they let him take it off.)

This is in the ship's theater for an after dinner show. We thought it was funny.

The first of many towel animals that he took apart. The crowded streets of Puerto Rico. We could barely get the stroller on the sidewalk. Our room on the boat (St. Thomas Day) An iguana in the wild in St. Thomas. It was pretty big. The splash park on the boat. Xander loved it! About ready to take apart the towel turtle.

Horseback Riding in the Dominican Republic

That was a towel monkey.

Most of the group (minus Gary and Terri)

Bahamas

Jason burying Xander's feet in sand.

On the way and back from Ft. Lauerdale we stayed the night at Brian (Jason's college roommate from Cedarville) and Bethany's house in Atlanta. This is Xander with Christine (their little girl).

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)