Newport Aquarium

Emily & I took the kids to the Newport Aquarium on Friday. We took them in July when our friend Tracy was visiting and decided to buy passes since you could more than make up the cost in 2 visits. The kids loved it, probably Jack the most since he wants to know everything about every type of fish. The tunnel tanks were Xander's favorites. When we went in July Xander really liked the floor tanks, not this time. Check the video out at the end. He would stand at the edge and say, "no no fall down".

The kids also really liked the penguins. The aquarium was not very crowed and all the kids would run along the tank and "chase" the penguins.

Why Did I Buy Him Toys For Christmas???

We moved into our house the day after Christmas. These pictures are how Xander occopied himself while we were unpacking. (He did actually get that hammer or "my boom boom", as he calls it, for Christmas.)

Sometimes Friends.....

wear matching headbands....

and sometimes they wear matching hats...

and sometimes you are just trying to help entertain each others kids at mall so you can take turns shopping. :)

Operation Christmas Child

* I am attempting to go back and blog about some past events for my own personal records. Things got a little crazy with the house building project towards the end and I didn't get a chance to add things to our blog, plus Jason's parents had slow Internet so updating took forever. *

I want to start making Operation Christmas Child a holiday tradition in our house and with our kids. It is a wonderful program run by Samaritans Purse to provide toys for needy children around the world at Christmas time ( http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC).So, we filled our shoebox for a little boy Xander's age. I want Xander to understand the true meaning and spirit of giving of Christmas. Anyways, here is how it went explaining it to a then 17 month old.

The day I set aside to shop for our shoe box was a rainy November day, but I had already decided that this was the morning were going out. We went to Target, Wal-mart, and the Dollar Tree as I keep saying, "We are buying toys for a little boy who needs some" (I am sure he understood). Anyways, as a I walking out of one of the stores Xander was holding my hand saying, "Oh no, Oh no, Oh no" when we got back to the car and I noticed he was missing a shoe and his sock was completely soaked from walking in the parking lot.

Then came wrapping our shoe box and packing it. I really wanted Xander to help, but he really just wanted to sit in the shoebox. So, he ended up crying and Jason and I finished packing the box after we put him to bed.

Chick-Fil-A in Beavercreek had a day where you could drop of boxes (you got a free chicken sandwich). When we got there I was still attempting to include Xander in this process. I asked him if he wanted to help me carry the box over to the people. Well, Mr. I Want To Do Everything Myself did not want me to help him carry over the box. However, the box was way to large and heavy for him to carry...so once again this ended in crying.

I am excited to this again next. We tracked our shoebox and it went to Togo.

Xander's 1st Haircut (By Someone Other Than Me)

I wasn't really sure if Xander was going to be game for sitting in chair and letting someone cut his hair, so I took along Jason and a bag of Hersery kisses. He actually did pretty well. He made the funniest faces watching the girl cut his hair.

A Toddler In the Kitchen

Xander helped me make some chocolate chip cookies the other day. Xander is very good at stirring and adding ingredients. I have to say, I think more dough ended up on it by the time we were done.

Trying to scoop out the chips

Forget the scoop, I'll just use my hands

The chips never made it to the dough.

Getting Closer...

Here is the kitchen (minus appliances and countertops and a pantry door). The downstairs 1/2 bath
The hallway bathroom upstairs (I call it the kid's bathroom). That is why the mirrors hang lower.

Xander watching the driveway being poured.