Category: Xander

Visiting with Uncle Darren…

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We have LOVED visiting with Uncle Darren, who is here from Norway for the holidays. He spent a day and a night with us for which we were so grateful. I enjoyed having some one on one time with him before we picked Roman up from preschool and before Jonas and Xander came home from school on the bus, kicking off the Winter Break. I loved sharing our daily life and catching up with my big brother and watching him spend special time with each one of the boys. His rousing rendition of “Ooey Gooey was a worm…what a worm was he…he climbed upon the railroad tracks…the train he did not see…Ooey Gooey” was just as much of a hit with Jonas, Xander, and Roman as it was for me when I was a child. Yay for Uncle Darren!!!

Breakfast with Santa…

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Going to the Breakfast with Santa at our church has become a holiday tradition. We eat breakfast, help the boys with crafts and games, and snap a picture of the boys with Santa. This year they stamped treat bags, made Santa puppets, played Christmas bingo, and loved on the dog (sheep) in the live nativity. So sweet!

Halloween…

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We went trick or treating in our neighborhood with my namesake, Isabelle Leigh (the daughter of one of my dearest friends, Lizza). It was so sweet to see all of the kids together (it’s amazing how they grow) and to walk around the neighborhood with Tom and Isabelle’s aunt and grandparents, marveling at the droves of trick or treaters that turn out on Halloween night in our neighborhood.

Tom was an “I don’t know”, I was Pikachu, Jonas was a wizard, Xander was Pikachu, Isabelle was a fairy princess, and Roman was Ash the Pokemon trainer.

halloween-1

Fun Run…

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Jonas and Xander were SO excited to run in the Fun Run to raise money for technology for their school. It was a threatening rain kind of day, so they ended up changing the location from the playground field to the gym…it was a glow run and the kids loved it. There’s always something about watching a race that makes me tear up…especially to see my boys out there. Roman and I had fun showing our Cardinal pride and cheering them on. Thank you so much to everyone who sponsored them!!!

Fall Break: Walden Pumpkin Farm

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After school today, we took the boys to Walden Pumpkin Farm to kick off Fall Break. They ran through the corn maze, went down the slide, played on the seesaw, climbed the hay bales, played in the corn box, and picked out pumpkins. It was hard to get a good picture of them all together because they were in constant motion and looking every which way, but here’s what we got. By the end of our time there, I think I was more worn out than they were!!!

Bentley Bear’s Adventures with Roman…

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Each week, a child from Roman’s preschool class gets to take home the classroom mascot, Bentley Bear, for an adventure filled weekend. This was Roman’s weekend, and he was SO excited!!! We took lots of pictures to make some fun story pages to share with his class. Bentley shared snacks, checked out the garden and the treehouse, snuggled with Ah-Ah, went to the zoo, watched soccer games, took a trip to the dentist, and listened in on piano lessons. So fun!!!

Xander’s Orchard Field Trip…

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Xander went on a field trip with his class (and all of the other 1st grade classes) to a local orchard this morning. I loved being able to be there with him. The weather was perfect (such a nice fall-ish change from the long stretch of 90 degree weather we’ve been having). It was so sweet just holding his hand and walking through the orchard. The orchard guides talked about tree spacers, grafting, bees (queens, drones, and worker bees), orchard ladders, picking apples, different types and varieties of apples, apple hummus, and apple cider. I think Xander enjoyed it. (He was sad that he only got to pick one apple though…we’re used to picking a bag full at the apple orchard we visit every fall…but I think he understood that if every child picked a bag full they wouldn’t have many apples left.) Yay for fall, yay for apples, and yay for a field trip with Xander!!!

Xander Swimming…

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Xander is learning all four strokes in swimming lessons this fall. Go, Xander!!! It is so fun to see his progression from one lesson to the next. He’s listening really well and catching on quickly and will be moving up to the next level in October. I think his favorite thing thus far is the dolphin kick from the butterfly stroke…of course! 🙂

Xander Swim

Roman’s First Day of School…

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Roman had his first day of preschool in the 4 year old class today! Xander was sick and stayed home from school, so he got to go with us and see his old school and teachers. Roman didn’t even say goodbye…he walked right in his classroom with his backpack on and started playing. I said, “Bye, Roman!” He said, “Bye, Mom!” Gotta love it.

Operation Tadpole Rescue…

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Xander championed his first aquatic animal rescue this weekend!!!

It has been a while since we’ve hung out in the backyard because it’s been so brutally hot lately. But it was actually really nice out today, so we all hung outside together for a little backyard clean up time. We have a water feature in our backyard that somehow became home to a few frogs. And before Tom dumped out the baby pool (which had been there for a while with water in it), he realized that there were hundreds of tadpoles in it. When Xander saw all of those little baby tadpoles, he started crying when he thought of them dying. (I was right there with him in my heart.) So, I told him to run and ask the neighbors for their butterfly net, and we scooped all of the tadpoles into a plastic fish bowl. Then, we loaded up in the van and headed to the creek to set them free. I love Xander’s heart. Yay for Operation Tadpole Rescue!!!

“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all.”

Operation Tadpole Rescue

Audrey’s Visit…

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Audrey visited with us this week, and we absolutely loved having her…she is such a blessing. We played Pokemon Go, swam in the pool, went to the downtown sprayground, ate a sweet treat at Rita’s, had a pajama day, did some antiquing in Nolensville, etched and made journals, went bowling, played volleyball, and floated down a lazy river. We’re already looking forward to our time together next year.

For more pictures, click on the “Audrey’s Visit 2016” page to the right…

Audrey 10

4th of July…

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We had a neighborhood 4th of July parade this morning!!! The neighborhood kids decorated their bikes and trikes and scooters, followed the fire truck blasting patriotic music (driven by Tom), and enjoyed popsicles in the shade. It was a great turnout! We even decorated Petra. 🙂

4thofJuly