Preschool Project

Xander brought home this cut out angel from preschool over Thanksgiving break and our job as a family was to decorate it. Well, we could have done it on our own, but I am not the artsy type. We called in the reinforcement...enter Grandma! Grandma with her construction paper and very large container of glitter. Xander said he wanted a rainbow angel. So, they made a rainbow for her to hold. Then Xander wanted to coloring the skirt red and green because those were Christmas colors after all. 

 My mom also cut out a little angel for Lily to decorate. My mom is big on making sure no one is left out. I love this next picture because it shows just how happy Lily was to have her hand in all that glitter. 

Lily was very into her little project and worked very hard. 

Just Another Day

Xander found a rouge ladybug in our house and decided to befriend it. He has played with for quite some time. He really wants to keep it and wanted me find it some food. I had to think about that one and then look it up. I mean who has ever considered what a lady bug eats before. They actually eat other small insects incase you were wondering. It is getting really loved on right now by two small children so I am not really sure if it will see a next meal. 

 Apparently Xander was getting too much camera attention so Lily grabbed this mask and asked me to take her picture. Do you see all the posted notes I let her stick to the window earlier in the day? Nice. 

Bible Olympics and Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes

The child's ministry team created a very fun Sunday for our kids with games during the first hour and packing and praying for Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes the second hour. I went around with Xander's group to each room. The preschool and kindergartners played games with themes related to Bible stories they have learned about. 

There was Goliath bean bag throw,

 Noah's Ark relay race, 

and Fisher's of Men fishing just to name a few. 

 The kids then gathered for a special snack and to watch a video about Operation Christmas Child. They then were able to decorate and pack their boxes. 

 They colored a picture to include in their shoebox. (On a side note Xander's coloring lately has blown me away. He has been paying very close attention to details lately and staying in the lines...super impressed.) 

 I bought too much stuff for one box, so we ended up with two. I really just love Operation Christmas Child. 

 Mr. Burkhard lead the kids in a pray over their boxes that the boys and girls who received them would get to hear about Jesus. 

 Here are the kids and the boxes they packed. 

I am so grateful that Xander was able to participate in this this year. He had such a good time and I know everything that was done and said has made an impression on his heart. I am so thankful that we go to a church that teaches our kids about Jesus and his love in real ways. 

Xander's First Preschool Field Trip

Well, I am pretty sure this was one of the best times of my life and I only say that because it was made up of so many things that I absolutely love. The first of those things is my favorite boy in the whole world, Xander, followed the fall season in general, being at a pumpkin patch, and being with a class of elementary aged kids. 

It was a joy to watch Xander have fun with the children he has meet in his preschool class. He loves preschool and is always so excited about going. 

 Xander with the pumpkin he picked from the pumpkin tree. 

 Mrs. Gross & Mrs. Pelt with their class. 

 Xander loved climbing up the hay bales to go down the slide. 

 This slide went right into a pit of corn. 

 You just gotta love this kid. 

 I feel so very blessed to be this little guy's mom. I can't believe he is growing up so quickly. 

I love you Xander-Man! 

Xander Meets the Dentist

Xander went to the dentist for the first time shortly after his 3rd birthday. I prepared him as much as I could. I had a teeth cleaning the week before his appointment and I took him with so he could watch. Dee, my hygienist, was so good and showed him the tools and talked him while she worked on my teeth. He even got to meet Miss Leah, his hygienist, for next week too.  I still wasn't sure if he was going to want them to use any noise making tools in his mouth. I love everyone at our dentist office and they told me that unless I had concerns they never pushed kids to do anything at their first visit.   He was a champ though. It was one of those moments where he was so mature about everything and I was just so proud. (I am going to let all the nice people at the dentist think he is that way all the time.) 

 Listening to Miss Leah explain what is going to happen,

 Miss Leah counting his teeth. He even let her clean and polish them with the electric brush. 

 Look at those sparkling teeth! 

 Dr. Holzinger coming in for the final check. 

 All done and looking great! 

Thank you Dr. Holzinger's and Dr. Seller's office for a wonderful first trip to the dentist. A big thank you to the wonderful hygienist, Miss Leah. If you decide to quit this job you would make a great preschool teacher! 

Xander and the Potty

I can't honestly say I had officially begun to potty train Xander. We knew we were going to be traveling over Labor Day weekend, so I knew I didn't really want to start until we were going to be home. Xander seems to have the type of personality were he at least has to think the idea to under take a larger project is partially his idea and lets face it I really needed him to be on board with this one. A few months ago I decided to begin what I lovingly call the "brainwashing" portion of his potty training. I headed to the library to collect any and all books and DVDs they had on making using the potty seem like the best idea ever (which by the way are painful for any adult to watch). We read the books and tried to watch one of the DVDs everyday (brainwashing). We bought a little potty that he liked to sit on, but not use. Than on Monday night while Jason was watching football and I was in the other room on the computer Xander emerged from the bathroom, diaper-less and pant-less, proclaiming he "put his pee pee in the potty". Jason, who was kind of suppose to be the one watching him, says he became increasingly nervous as to what he would find in the bathroom (because if there was pee all over my walls I probably won't have been happy). Nevertheless Xander had apparently made it to the potty, taken off his clothes, and peed all in the potty all by himself!

Gram and Gramp's New Pool

So the new pool is a big hit. Here is Xander having fun with Dadoo and Uncle Eric.

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.

Happy 2nd Birthday Xander!!!

Xander had a great construction themed birthday this year. He really liked helping me get ready for his party. Even though I stuffed the bottom of the truck with towels it still took me two boxes of brownie mixes to achieve my desired look.
Left to Right & Bottom to Top: Claire, Layna, Cooper/ Jack, Xander, Henry/ Brinley







I can't believe my kiddo is 2 already. I know ever parent thinks their kids are the best, but Jason and I often say that we really couldn't ask for a better boy. He defiantly has a personality all his own, but some of the traits we admire the most about him are the ones that drives us the craziest at times. I can't wait to see what the next year brings.