Build-A Bear Workshop

On Sunday, November 15, 2009, Mama, Jared, & I took Xander to Build-A-Bear Workshop. Mama was letting Xander build a bear for his birthday. It is always so cute to see a child build their first bear! Xander was no exception!
Xander picked out a rabbit to build.

He decided to put a giggle heart in his rabbit.

Time to stuff the rabbit!

Warming the rabbit's heart and everything else you are supposed to do to the heart!


Pushing the pedal to stuff the rabbit.


The rabbit is ready!


Washing & brushing his rabbit!


Time to dress the rabbit. We thought it was funny because we just knew he would choose one of the Star Wars or Batman or Spiderman outfits, but he chose a regular outfit. A t-shirt with a treasure map on it, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. That kid'll surprise you!





Time to name the rabbit! After careful deliberation, Xander came up with a name! (The couple beside us were laughing at Xander as he was throwing names out there!)

Meet Map Ears!


Jared took Xander over to the Lego store after he had finished building Map Ears. Jared said Xander walked in and the man who works there said, "Welcome to the Lego Store!" Xander replied, "We're not buying anything, we're just looking!" Jared said the man laughed. You never know what kids'll say!

Disney Pajama Party

On Friday,November 20, 2009, I took Xander on a date (Shhhh! Don't tell him cause he'll freak!)to the Disney Store pajama party. I left straight from work and went to pick him up. He was wearing his cool new flannel Transformer pj's and he was so excited! When we got to the mall, we made a stop at JC Penney's restroom. While there, Xander finished before me, and then began looking for me... in the cracks of every stall! I heard laughter, but I kind of thought it was the teenagers just giggling. So, I come out and we wash our hands, and the girls were still laughing. Now I'm wondering what Xander did! Finally I turned to the girls and asked if he peeked in the stalls and they kept laughing and said that he did. I knew I had seen his little feet walk past me and then come back. The girls thought it was funny and said he didn't hurt anything. Xander said, "Emily, I was just trying to find you! How am I suppose to know if I don't look?" Always an adventure...
Well, we started toward Disney Store, but not before we passed Victoria's Secret. Really? Do we have to have the manequins wearing nothing in the windows but underclothes? Xander shouts, "EEWwww gross! It's that girl store! Gross! Their wearing panties!" Whew! We got past that one, but then we encountered the man who sells beauty products, who can barely speak English, who shouts at you as he beams toward you and tries to grab you! Well, that guy began shouting something I couldn't understand at me, but I kept walking. But wait...Xander stops and says, "Hey Emily! That guy is talking to you!" Grrr! Now he's talking to Xander and Xander has no idea what he is saying and why I am ignoring him. I grab him and make a beeline for the Disney Store. Whew! We finally made it! We looked around the store until the party began. First, they colored a Disney Christmas picture until more kids arrived.


Next, they played Disney Pictionary. I thought it was a little too hard for the kids, but the adults had fun!

Next, they listened to the store manager read them Prep & Landing. They were given a snack while they listened.

After the story, they played Disney Pictionary one more time, listened to some Disney Christmas music, and were given Prep & Landing cardboard cutouts, more like paper dolls, but I would never say that to Little Man.
After the pj party, we visited Build-A-Bear, but just looked and also the Lego store. Next, we met Jared at Olive Garden. A lady there was having her birthday celebration and the workers sang to her. Xander asked if they would sing to him since it was his birthday in a few days. So they sang to him and when they were through he wanted to know why they didn't sing it right. They had sung it in Italian! :) Then it was time to go home. We made up "There was an old lady who..." stories all the way home. It was a perfect evening!

Xander's 6th Birthday Party

...was held at Pump It Up! It was on November 21, 2009. We had fun acting like kids at Little Man's party! Happy birthday to our favorite little buddy!






























After Xander's party we had Jennifer's baby shower. Here is a couple of pictures of me holding Jaiden.

Halloween

I know, way late, but I didn't have my camera on Halloween, so I had to wait til Pam could burn me hers. So here they are!

Jared went dressed as my dad!



Xander as the coolest Wolverine ever!


Hannah as a Good Witch


Chandler as the Black Power Ranger


Mama as an angel


My daddy!


Most of the people who dressed up at the church Trunk-or-Treat


Me as the Statue of Liberty and Rachel as Betty Crocker


Me, Marley as a witch, and Nolan as Snake Eyes from GI Joe


Jared, Joseph, & Dad


Dad and Pam (my dad's work shirt says "Peace, Love, & Hospice! hehe)


Me, mama, and Joseph

Cheese and Xander

After the Pumpkin Patch, Rachel and Ben invited us all over for taco soup and pumkin carving. When I asked Rachel what could I bring, she told me cheese. Later she told me to bring Xander, too. So, I told her I would be there with cheese...and Xander!
I didn't get any pictures of us carving or the finished product. It's a shame because that was my first time to carve the whole pumpkin all by myself! We had a great time of fellowship with friends! Here are some cute pictures of Xander holding Jaiden for the first time! It was precious because he was so convinced that Jaiden really liked him and kept saying so! At one point Jaiden started getting a little fussy. Xander said,"That's ok baby, I'll take care of you!" He loves to hold her, but hates having to wash his hands before doing so!

Donna's Wedding

On Thursday, November 5, 2009, mama and I flew to Ohio for my cousin, Donna's, wedding. My mom's youngest sister was the only sister not going, but thanks to Aunt Susie, Kendra would be surprising the whole family (minus Grandma, we had to tell her) by being at the airport when they arrived to pick mama and me up. Our plane was delayed by an hour, so Aunt Kendra arrived in Columbus, Ohio before us, though originally our flights were to arrive minutes apart. Mama and I got off the plane, found Aunt Kendra, retrieved our luggage and then headed to the sidewalk to patiently wait on Aunt Deb, Aunt Joyce, & Grandma. We ended up waiting forever cuz those crazy aunts of mine were having a field day at Hobby Lobby and then Aunt Deb got lost because she always does when she goes to the airport! Aunt Kendra would hide inside the airport door anytime we saw a van that looked liked Aunt Deb's, only to discover it was not them. BUT FINALLY, it was them! As Aunt Kendra hid inside, mama and I began loading our luggage in and Aunt Deb and Aunt Joyce fussed over arranging it all just so. Meanwhile I ran over to Grandma to hug her and assure her we did in fact, not lose her precious baby! So, as the aunts were fussing and arranging, Aunt Kendra snuck up behind them and shouted, "Hey! You got room for one more?" Aunt Joyce turned around and said, "I knew it!" Aunt Deb turned around and started bawling! Aunt Kendra told them that she got to come because mama bought her plane ticket, so then they all started hugging and crying and thanking mom, course Grandma had been crying because she knew about the surprise! It was so fun to surprise them! We all hopped into the van for more crying and then headed off to Applebee's for lunch, Aunt Joyce's treat! Thanks Aunt Joyce! More fussing, playfully, and more getting lost, but we did eventually make it, after an hour, to Applebee's. The waitress at Applebee's got a kick out of the plethora of accents, GA, MD, MA, AL, OH, PA, FL... Next stop was the JCPenney Outlet. I got several xmas gifts and other goodies. Then we headed back to Aunt Deb's because Aunt Jo was calling because she wanted us to hurry up and get there because she got there and we hadn't made it back yet (she's so demanding:)) First we had to make a quick stop at Starbucks, thanks again Aunt Joyce!!!! Meanwhile, Aunt Jo is calling again and we have to be quiet so she doesn't hear Aunt Kendra! We finally arrive to Aunt Deb's, get out, and go inside, leaving Aunt Kendra in the car for another surprise. We are all hugging, glad to see each other when the doorbell rings and in walks Aunt Kendra! Aunt Jo starts crying and hugging her, so happy to see her! We forgot we didn't even tell Uncle David, so he walks in and starts laughing because we got him, too!

Another surprise at 1 am when cousins Christy, Becky, and Gavin arrive!
Friday we wake up and go to Ohio Valley College (where Donna and Brian went to school and met) to help decorate for the reception, then over to their church to check on decor there for the wedding, and then back to Aunt Deb's to help them off for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rest of us had fun playing games and visiting until they came back.
Saturday was the wedding!
Devin with his fresh hair cut!

My adorable Grandad! When he walked out of his room dressed and ready to leave for the wedding, I exclaimed, "Grandad! You look so handsome!" Everyone turned to look at him and exclaim over him! Grandma cried with pride!
That's Uncle Dennis to the right of Grandad.

Shelby and Devin switched shoes while they helped clean up after the wedding reception.

Devy Wevy


Aunt Nay, Aunt Joyce, Gavin, and Aunt Jo


Me & Gavin


Aunt Joyce and her girls, Becky & Christy


Mama, me, & Aunt Kendra


Grandma & Grandad


Grandad & Uncle Bob (my Grandma's bro-in-law)


The Sisters (minus Aunt Deb, mother-of-the-bride duties)


Uncle David(father-of-the-law) walking Donna down the isle


Me & Gavin at the reception


After the wedding reception we all pitched in and helped clean up. Sunday, we all went to church and then came home and played games and visited. Becky played dress up with Grandad and this is how he turned out!




After church that evening, the ladies of the family that were there, did our annual ornament swap. Christy had my name and got me the cutest snowman ornament. I gave Denni her ornament from Pan and gave Becky Raven's ornament from me. After that we all played Catch Phrase until we were too tired to stay awake! The next morning most everyone left and Aunt Deb, Aunt Kendra, and Grandma drove Aunt Joyce, mama, and me to the airport to see us off. I loved being with all of my family and can't wait to see them again at the Ken Woodmancy family reunion in June!