Our Xanderman Is a Decade Old!

10 fun facts about our Xander:

• He LOVES the Orioles!  Almost every day, because they play almost every day from April to September, he sits in front of the TV, waving his orange towel and cheering them on!

• Xander is a voracious reader! Currently he is reading The Rangers Apprentice series as well as books on Abraham Lincoln for a school report AND a different book each month for the Black-eyed Susan Reading Club he joined at school.
• Not only is Xander a huge reader but he is a writer as well and is currently writing a book about pirates. The chapters I've read so far have been very creative and detailed.
• He is currently learning to play the saxophone. 

• Xander is a Momma's Boy; he sure loves to hug me, hold my hand, and snuggle with me every chance he gets.
• School is one of his favorite places to be, thank goodness! He's a great student and really works hard to be the best in his class, especially at math which is his favorite subject.
• He loves electronics and would spend all day (and night) playing if he could. His favorites include the MLB baseball game and Clash of Clans.
• Xander has an extremely soft spot in his heart for babies. The wife of his Primary teacher sent me this picture of Xander snuggling with her little boy in class one Sunday. It just melts my heart!

• He loves to play sports! Every day when he gets home from school he heads to the nearby playground where he meets up with all the neighborhood kids for a big game of kickball. Just last week I even caught him over there passing the football with one of the cute girls that lives just up the street. Unfortunately for her, Xander has quite the arm and was definitely not taking it easy on her. He also loves to head out back with David to play catch with the baseball and has really improved over the past few months.
• Xander continues to enjoy scouts and just advanced to Webelos. Despite the lack of his scout uniform for the pack meeting, he still earned a few awards.

Due to my attending the GWTW movie event, Xander got to have a 2 day birthday celebration! Tuesday evening we gathered to open his gifts.

Some of his favorites included Clone Wars Season 5 (this was Noah's favorite too!);

book 5 of Spirit Animals;

and, of course, Chima Legos!

For dessert he chose my ultra-yummy strawberry pie, a definite favorite of his. I'm so glad Noah was thrilled to join in singing "Happy Birthday" to his brother. We're so kind and loving in this family.

Make a wish, birthday boy!

The next morning, Wednesday, was his actual birthday so he received the traditional birthday balloons...

one last gift - a robot spider...

and birthday donuts for breakfast!

Xander's favorites at 10 years old:

• Color:  Purple
• Food:  Hamburgers
• Movie:  "The Hobbit"
• TV Show:  "Chima" and "Star Wars Rebels"
• Book:  The Rangers Apprentice Series
• Toy:  Legos and Star Wars
• Animal:  Leopard
• Sport to Watch:  Baseball
• Sport to Play:  Baseball
• Sports Team:  Orioles, Broncos, BYU (what the heck??? Thanks, Grandpa Schaeffer!)
• Sports Player:  Adam Jones, Nelson Cruz, Steve Pearce (maybe we should just put the whole Orioles roster down)
• Fruit:  Strawberries, Cherries
• Vegetable:  Onion
• Singer/Group:  Dave Matthews
• Song:  any by Dave Matthews
• Holiday:  Christmas
• Candy:  Nestle Crunch
• Dessert:  Mom's Strawberry Pie
• Season:  Spring
• Restaurant:  5 Guys
• Temple:  Salt Lake
• Scripture Hero:  Captain Moroni
• Place to Go:  NYC, Grandma and Grandpa's house, Camden Yards
• What He Wants to Be When He Grows Up:  Professional Baseball Player, Marine Biologist, Pilot
• Best Friends:  Malik, Spencer, Ashur, Devon, Jordan...and the list goes on