Xavier's Mural

We didn't want Xavier to think we were proud of his mural, so he is telling the camera about how sorry he is that he wrote on the wall. The marks did all come off with a Magic Eraser. Also, he had just tried on his Easter outfit - he doesn't always dress like that during the day!

Gymboree - Art I

Daddy took Xavier to an art class at Gymboree this morning. He made such a beautiful mural on the dining room wall the other night that we thought he would really enjoy an art class! It was at 11:30, so right smack in the middle of lunch and nap, but he did really well. We are going to test out a music class and a "Play and Learn" class sometime in the future.

You can hear the instructor in the background of this video. It is not a recording!!

Xavier really isn't playing with the bubbles much in this first video because he just wants to do it himself.  At least she thought he was mannerly!!!

Mad River Mountain

Rachel agreed to babysit all day Saturday for Anna and Xavier, so the rest of us could go skiing! We dropped Anna and Xavier off at 8:15am and headed to Bellfontaine. Brian went skiing growing up and a few times in college, but Isabelle has never gone and I just went once in high school and was about as bad as you could be! So, Isabelle and I took a lesson and spent the rest of the day on the "mountains." Isabelle was a rock star. She was not scared at all and went super fast. Too bad she didn't really master stopping!

I, on the other hand, thought that slow and steady won the race. There is actually video of me going even slower, but it's kind of embarrassing. I'm proud to say, though, that I didn't fall once while skiing and was actually able to get off the ski lift with ease! The lessons are definitely worth it!

Brian, of course, was the best skiier. He stayed with us, so we didn't have to fear getting stuck in the snow, but we let him have some fun too! This is video of the first time he jumped the little cliff. He went a bit faster the next time, but I wasn't taping!

 Isabelle was very excited on the way there.  Of course she wouldn't express that to us, but she couldn't wipe the look of extreme anticipation off her face!

Girl Scout Luau

The Dublin Girl Scout unit planned a Father-Daughter Luau for all of the 3rd graders for all of the elementary schools.  This was back in January, but I just found the pictures on our other camera.  Isabelle's friend Caidyn tagged along, so Brian went on a double-date!

We Love Snow!!!

I know some people are getting tired of the snow, but I guess since I don't go anywhere I enjoy watching it!  Here are a couple more pics from today of the snow!

These are not cloudy pictures - it's just how bad the snow was coming down!  They were all taken about 2 in the afternoon.

Okay - I started going through the pictures taken today and there were over 50 and most were really good!  So, here is a link to them on a Snapfish slideshow!

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=3465623009/a=53221922_53221922/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/

Xavier's Imaginary "Frenemies"

Xavier has had 2 imaginary enemies for a couple months now.  They are "two guys."  Usually the two guys are trying to "get" Xavier.  Sometimes he can't go upstairs to bed because the "two guys" might get him.  We told him that the "two guys" weren't moving to the new house, but sometimes they still show up.    We remind him that the only two guys in the new house are Xavier and Daddy.  Last night when he went to bed, he told me that he had to hide Jake and Babar (his two elephant best friends, these are not imaginary!) because the two guys might get them.  I again told him that there were no two guys in the new house.  Daddy had to tuck Xavier in again because he just didn't seem to want to go to bed last night and he told Daddy that he had to hide Jake and Babar because Daddy might try to get him - now he's being sneaky!  We'll see if the two guys have officially moved out or if they will reappear again!

Happy Valentine's Day

We made valentines this afternoon.  With the age of the kids, these activities really can only last about 10 minutes, but I think they had fun anyway!  Sadly, Xavier was the only one that ate the yarn.  I would have expected it from Mady or Anna, but it was Xavier.  Here are some pics:

Go Colts!!!

After we moved out of the old house, we discovered just how much popcorn we spill into the couch.  It is pretty disgusting.  So, having new furniture in the living room, we have made a strict "no popcorn" rule in the living room.  It's actually working out okay for the most part, because we have to get up and go to the island to get snacks, so we're eating just a little less snacks!  Xavier really doesn't like the idea that he has to sit at the kitchen table to eat his popcorn, though, so Mommy had a great idea!  If Xavier picks up his toys, he can sit in his rocking chair and eat popcorn - he's very excited.  He's dressed in his best Colts gear - really, just the only royal blue he had (I couldn't even find his white shirt to wear underneath!).  But, he finally enjoyed showing off his Stud Muffin shirt!

Getting Settled In

The kids are really started to get settled in the daycare room and the the new house.  I took a couple pics of the kids playing in the daycare room.  Being able to leave the room at the end of the day and to not have to look at the toys every second is AWESOME!  I put up a gate on one entrance into the room and I use the Exersaucer to block off the other entrance.  Anna put herself in jail Friday night - it was pretty funny.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Isabelle got out of school 2 hours early on Friday due to the snow and spent the entire afternoon outside in the snow.  Isabelle and I got our haircut on Saturday morning and couldn't believe how pretty the snow was everywhere!  We are LOVING the views and the yard of the new house.  When we look out the patio door, it looks like we live in a woods.  Very pretty!

Isabelle's First Day

With the move, Isabelle had to change elementary schools. She is now attending Thomas Elementary. Her first day was Monday. I dropped her off and got to meet her teacher, Mrs. Cutteridge. There are quite a few girls from her soccer team that go to Thomas, but only 1 of them are in her class. She said her first day was "fine." I didn't realize the one word answers were going to start in 3rd grade, but I guess they do! I got an email from her teacher yesterday that said Isabelle was fitting in very nicely. She was impressed that she is already vounteering to answer questions and she is always participating. She can tell that Isabelle is gifted academically already, and thinks she is going to fit in just great. I took Isabelle's picture which of course she didn't want done. I said "you never get your own post on the blog, and now you get one." She said she's just fine not having any of her own posts - ahhhhhhhh, the life of a mother!

Last night one of the neighbor's stopped by to bring us cookies. She also brought her daughter, Lexie, who is also in 3rd grade. Isabelle and Lexie ran off together and this morning, Isabelle traveled through the backyards to get on the bus at Lexie's stop - apparently it's closer. She's already making some good friends -yea!