Ross Reflections. . .

Thank you Grammy and Grampa for a wonderful visit. Thank you for the generous gifts and teaching us a new card game, 99. I am sorry I have no pictures of you, mom, you didn't have your eyes open in any of them. (ha, ha, but true) Enjoying his Sports Illustrated Kids magazine subscription. Matching outfits for Logan and Roselina. Jack also got a new outfit that matches Roselina. We have entered a new world.

Noah was off sledding with friends so Gary braved the weather and took the younger two. They both are die hard and Logan or Isaiah carried the sled up the hill after each ride. This was their first time at Taylor Lake sledding this year. We had to bribe them off the sledding hill with chips and salsa at Mi Pueblo. Isaiah's turn to drag the sled. At first he kept telling Gary he was too little to carry it. This was logan coming to the car to try and convince me she could stay and sled on the hill by herself, "I'll be fine mom, really."

We had a wonderful day with my extended family. We enjoyed haystacks for lunch, like we always do, played games, watched football and raided the toy closet in the basement. We had our gift card exchange/grab bag which was really fun although Logan and Isaiah were in tears because Aunt Jo stole our gift. Noah was thrilled because he wanted in on the action/game, which aunt Jo knew, (so sweet) but the younger to didn't get it. Hours later, Isaiah spotted Aunt Jo across the room and says to me, "her mean, her took my popcorn." Then he had to go over and forgive her for "stealing" our gift. Cousin Tim was super sweet to Logan. Logan is a budding cheerleader, (only attending 3 practices ever) but did her little cheer for the family. Well, Tim was a cheerleader at Bethel back in the day and it wasn't long before Logan was cheering from way up high. Logan was in Heaven!!!

My family arrived early afternoon and we celebrated again with Grandma and Grandpa and Auntie and Uncle Jay. I took only a few pictures, because how many different pictures can you get opening presents. Our Christmas tradition is fondue. Amy always brings the cheese/bread fondue, mom pays for the meat fondue, and we make the chocolate fondue. It is absolutely delicious and Noah says he "loves fondue because we never really sit down and eat." This true, we just revolve through the kitchen all day filling our plates with the fondue of the hour. Auntie Amy, Logan and the twins named Jack and Roselina. (no convincing her to change these names, she made them up and they are perfect for her babies. SO Logan) Can you tell she never put them down? Evidence of the new stamp pads Grandma gave the kids all over Isaiah's face. He is ready for Taylor Lake with these sweet new googles from Grandpa. Noah wore his Bronco shirt days on end because Gary said he could wear it everyday of ...

Eager to start opening presents. Notice Isaiah is dressed and picked out his own clothes. Even on Christmas morning he sticks to his routine. . . wake up everyone around him, get dressed in "cool jeans," and eat all within 5 minutes of opening his eyelids. A bit annoying for this mommy who has two older children who love to lay around and snuggle with me. Dorothy joined us for the second year in a row, (hopefully a new tradition every year). She came showering the kids with gifts and enjoyed a cinnamon roll and coffee. Later, Dorothy joined Isaiah's band because he said there could be girls in his band. My little clothes loving boy received three shirts for Christmas and immediately after opening them had each one of them on, hence the wardrobe change in the pictures. Isaiah's big gifts were a drum set and a marble run. He was thrilled. Noah's favorite gift was his Denver Broncos shirt. Gary was happy to get one too. Noah also had been begging for the Guiness boo...

This year was the first year since having kids that we went to church on Christmas Eve. We have always wanted to but the kids sit in the service the entire time. This was the first year we felt like all three could manage and that Gary and I could actually listen. Isaiah (made me nervous b/c he has NEVER been in any part of any service before) did great and we had a very meaningful Christmas Eve service. It was touching to celebrate Christmas and sing carols with our community, to look around the sactuary and see our "family" here in Upland. I really felt blessed. We then had a great time with friends after the service before putting the kids to bed to "prepare" for Christmas morn. The kids wore their new Christmas jammies to bed and to keep the Ross tradition going strong, we made cinnamon rolls for the morning. Gary made the beds in front of the tree and we brought the kids out around midnight. I realized I have never taken a picture of it before so I ...

Spontaneity+sledding+spaghetti= one great night.

Whose great idea was this?? Gary tells Noah he will video and make a movie of him if he builds a snowman and then tackles it without snow clothes on. Noah didn't think twice about it! Bare feet and all. I am scared what the two of them will be filming in years to come.

In the picture below, Noah has made up the game, "throw snowballs at the snowman until I knock his hat off" This is SO Noah and he finally did it. We are staying home for the majority of Christmas and are so happy to being having family time here in Upland, but secretly, I wanted snow. I want the kids to play outside, sled, build snowmen and come inside for hot chocolate. These are such fun memories to make. I woke up today to a beautiful, soft falling snow and my secret wish was granted. We bundled up and made memories. Seriously. I am purposely posting this picture of Gary as payback for ruining my sweet picture. All the kids are looking and smiling and he ruins it with whatever he is doing with his mouth.

Yes, Isaiah is getting a mini drum set for Christmas but he doesn't know this. So, as he does with many things in our house, he created his own drum set. All fall, he has taken the baskets in my book shelf, dumps the contents and jams for quite a while. When I put a few gifts under the tree, it didn't take Isaiah long to turn them into drums. Pa rump a pum pum, me and my drums. (pencils for drumsticks)

Do you know what a whole-cupper is? It is what Isaiah calls a cup. He doesn't want to have a sippy cup when everyone else has big cups. He wants a whole cup like a big boy. Today a lunch he kept repeating, "No a whole-cupper, no a whole-cupper" and insisted on this left over motorcycle cup. I found it very cute and funny. He has been saying this for a few months but I know I will forget if I don't blog about it.

What is more fun than friends, candy, sugar and more candy? On Monday, we made mini gingerbread houses and the girls were so precious. Logan and Ella opted for a chocolate chip roof top and Sara Grace chose gum drops. Sara Grace just kept saying, "I am just so proud of my house." These three were so complementary of each other as they created their houses complete with licorice stairs and candy cane archways. The biggest hit was the coconut snow. I had to finally stop them or the gingerbread men would have to get out their snow blowers. A night out at Applebee's The girls got all dolled up in their Christmas dresses (or a borrowed dress, thanks Millie) and went out for dinner, had a gift exchange and drove through the Marion lights. The girls passed the presents left and right as Dez read a story. This was the educational part of the night and we will be working on right and left in 2010. They had a great time. Merry Christmas

This is Noah's second year taking piano lessons and he really enjoys it. Tonight he had his Christmas recital and played Go Tell it on the Mountain and Silent Night. Mrs. Bowell asked Noah to play Silent Night a second time as we all sang along. He did very well to be put on the spot and I was a proud mommy. He is so independent when it comes to practicing. It isn't hard to get him to go upstairs and play, but it is hard for him to stay focused on the assigned songs for the week. Noah likes to play what he hears in his head or make up his own music.

So I brought the snow from Grand Rapids home with me. What fun to wake up to snow. My kids hadn't noticed it before I told them to look outside. Within minutes their breakfasts were gone and at 8:50 they were outside playing for an hour. (how timely, I had just bought fun winter boots on my weekend away so I am all prepared!) We found all our gear. The mitten/glove thing will be an issue for Isaiah for one more year. Hard to do things with them on, but frost bit hands if they are off. My kids are huge snow eaters. I wish they weren't only because they would stay warmer if they didn't eat the stuff. Of course, they soccer balls came out of the shed and were kicked all around the yard. Snow angels were made by my little angel. And "Hot Clocklat" was made!! What a way to start a day!