OK, these aren't pictures of the swimming lessons themselves, but pictures of Xander hiding in a locker after swimming lessons. Megan suggested the lessons and Delia and I are taking them with her at the Xenia YMCA.
Travis's aunt Yvonne sent Xander a bunch of clothes that her (8!) kids had outgrown. I took pictures of him wearing them so that I could include them in the thank you note that I wrote. I got some REALLY cute pictures. That's what happens when you take a hundred pictures in the course of an hour or two. Also, we went to MOMS Club cooking club, which was excellent! We stayed for many hours!
Xander is learning to read! I decided that he was probably capable of recognizing words, so I made flash cards with animal names on them, and had him match them up. He actually just matched up the first letter, because he knows 'G-goat, and C-cat' and such. Still, we're darn impressed! Ethan came over later so that his weary parents could have a break from having two kids around! They got to take a nap while Samantha napped.
My aunt Nancy gave us a bird feeder that sttures of the cardinals and tufsome beautiful pictures of the cardinals and tufted titmouses (titmice?) that hang out there. Also, pictures of Xander opening a present from Grandma and Grandpa.
Xander gets a bath from Grandma, with very cute pictures of him snuggled up in the green frog towel.
Sunday, January 23: Whites' Visit and Visiting Whites - Travelling to Michigan
Xander loves the Walkman! He and Grandma danced to some music that Grandma couldn't hear. They both fell asleep in the car on the way home. He played with PlayDoh IN THE CAR. Grandma and Xander continue their dancing on the kitchen counter. Even more cute pictures of Xander.
It was excellent fun indoors with Xander and Kira and Kat. Then Xander played in the basement with Grandma for a while. He really likes to listen to "Row Row Row your Boat" on my dad's Sesame Street record player.
We went to AlTerra to see my grandma and have fun at their Mexican Fiesta. My grandpa was in the hospital with a bad leg, so he and my dad weren't there, but I got some great pictures of the four of us wearing mexican hats! Xander and Great-Grandma also played with the stuff that he could find in her drawers, like a necklace of blue beads. She was so cute playing with him!
We went to the Hands On Museum with Kat and Kira. Xander loved it! We only spent time in the first two rooms. We'll have to go back and see more sometime soon.
We stopped by to see my grandpa after we went shopping at Briarwood. It was great because he and Xander actually got a chance to interact. Usually, there is just too much going on for Xander to slow down and talk to Grandpa. Tonight, Xander took things out of Grandpa's chest and showed them to Grandpa, then waited for an explanation. It was adorable. Xander made the tiny little pipecleaner dogs that Grandpa made fifty years ago dance!
We went over to Karen and Troy's to see Karen and Kaden, and we had a nice time. It was good to talk to Karen, and Xander and Kaden had a great time wandering the house together. We spent the afternoon at the hospital with my Grandpa and my aunt Nancy, waiting to see my Grandma. That was pretty awful. In the evening, we went to see Matthew and Mary and Alden, and Matthew's parents Lizzie and Brian. I got some wonderful pictures of the kids together. They are adorable. How neat that Matthew and I ended up with kids the same age! They really played together well.
Saturday, January 29: Visiting Whites - Hands On Museum with Matthew, Mary, and Alden
Matthew called and said that they were heading to the museum, so my mom went and I went to join them. There are also a few pictures of Xander playing in the waiting room at the hospital. My Grandma White died this day.
Nancy playing in rocking boat at church that she played with as a kid. All White kids at our house. Xander having a bath with Becky and Grandma watching.