Ross Reflections. . .

So I am back to running, Amanda and I made a deal to try and run three miles, three times a week. I am not there yet but getting closer each week. My problem now is that I have to CARVE out an hour to work out/run, but where is the time for the 2 hour and 50 minute nap that I took today after my run. Seriously, I am SO tired in the afternoon I have to crash. Running could be dangerous for my children if this unconscious state occurs after each run!! But it feels great once I am done! By the way, great run for Deborah and Traci too, I love our new Saturday schedule. Fun for all!

I just never want to forget that this is what Isaiah says whenever he has figured out that someone may be leaving the house. If you ask him if he wants to go somewhere, "I go Me" is always his answer. Like he is telling me, I want to go, really ME, not Noah or Logan, ME. I think it is precious.

What fun it is to wake up to the snow coming down, to have Noah pop a movie in and Gary and I catch some extra sleep!! That is how our day started and then we headed out early on to shovel the driveway and play in the snow. I think my kids have seen Kung Fu Panda a few to many times. They wanted me to take this picture of "Tae Lung" from the movie when he was chained up in prison, this dead hydrangea bush allowed them to act it all out. Isaiah loves to be in the snow, but refuses to wear mittens because he can't shovel or eat snow. Noah and I cleared the entire sidewalk and driveway in about an 1 1/2 hours. It was a light snow, thank goodness, otherwise I couldn't have done it. I also couldn't have done it without Noah's help. Thank you Buddy!

Kailey is always so good to Isaiah. Pulling him around the backyard. Logan, Ella, Marley and Kailey Noah, Hayden, Conner and Gabe I couldn't catch Jonah with the boys, so I took this "angled" shot which is Traci's trade mark. Thane joined the boys outside a little later. Traci, thanks for this picture of Logan. She looks like such a big girl. The reason why Dez, once again, gets the mom of the year award. Not only did she invite us all over to play in the snow but she had hot chocolate, popcorn and cookies for everyone. She let ALL the kids in the house to run and play before we sent them all back outside for round two in the snow.

Gary has said NO MORE to tights, pony tails, baby dolls, high heels etc. I was telling him at lunch today about Isaiah wearing Logan's tights all morning and he was extremely serious saying NO MORE!! (and some other things about raising a cross dresser ). This MUST be my last post about my youngest son following in the footsteps of his older sister,(Gary's orders, he says it's disturbing) I think it is cute but I too want to raise a very masculine son. Gary is also a bit sensitive today since his "manhood" is going under the knife this afternoon, his masculinity is feeling a bit threatened. Please, does anyone notice the soccer balls plastered across his chest? He's all boy!!! OK, so I have learned now to not hold the camera vertically while filming. This is completely sideways and I don't know how to change that. If anyone knows how I can turn this video I would love to know, Laur??? This is my first video upload so I will leave it, just CRANK your neck t...

Today was the Perfect Snow Day. We have had a lot of snow but it has been bitter cold. Today was warm enough to melt most of our snow which also made all the light fluffy snow, wet enough to pack. Noah went out, with little brother following behind and "together" made this snowman all by themselves. It was so warm that Isaiah was out for at least 40 minutes with no gloves, eating snow the entire time. This was also the most delicious snowman Isaiah had ever tasted.

Today Logan had an appointment at Riley so we always try to combine her appointments with a fun trip or make the day into a family outing. Gary couldn't join us today so I headed to the children's museum in Indy with the three kids. We always seem to go to the dinosaur exhibit first and the digging area is a favorite of all. Below is Logan with Dr. Emily Walvoord, her endocrinologist. We see her every four months and before this visit Logan didn't remember which Dr. we were seeing. I took my camera, and asked if we could take her picture. Dr Walvoord is so sweet, has a WONDERFUL rapport (thanks Dara!) with Logan and it is always a joy to see her. Logan was given a clean bill of health and is getting braver with every visit. Today she said she was only a "tiny" bit nervous.

Logan has a new friend, Sarah Grace, who moved to Upland in October. These two girls have bonded and LOVE each other. They have enjoyed playing together but have been separated for three weeks while Sarah Grace and her family traveled over Christmas. This day the girls declared today, "A Lucky Day" as Logan says and also "Sarah Grace and Logan Day" since they played in the snow this morning, had gymnastics at 4 and dinner at Fazoli's. We are thrilled to have Sarah Grace home. Gabe joined the girls outside for some winter fun on the slide. Sarah Grace just joined Logan's gymnastics class with Miss Brandy. We are excited about this!!

"Noah, have you finished all you jobs?" I asked knowing the answer and slightly annoyed. "No, mom I haven't because I am helping Logan and Isaiah make a bridge. . . and isn't family more important than jobs?" "Mom, when I grow up I know I am not going to be a mailman." Noah stated one day. "Really, why is that?" waiting for a interesting answer. "I don't want to work on Saturdays!!" It really bums him out that we don't get mail on Sundays. Noah loves getting the mail everyday, running out to the mailbox half dressed most times. Last Saturday Noah was thinking about why we get mail on Saturdays but not Sunday and now has come to the conclusion that delivering mail isn't for him. Sorry to say buddy, that if you plan on coaching any sport (being like dad), working Saturdays is a guarantee .

My dear friend Amy Spiegel is such a great mom!! The girls didn't have school on Martin Luther King Day so Amy invited Logan, Millie, and Ella to join Maggie at Ivanhoe's for a girl's lunch out. Amy is so sweet to Logan, always catering to her picky texture and tastes and today was no different. Logan was introduced to her new favorite ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough. Thank you Mrs. Spiegel

NOT AT ALL. . . So he like boots, big deal. . . OK, maybe A LITTLE. Isaiah clomped around Old Navy for a good 15 minutes wearing these shoes. He could actually walk and only fell a couple of times. I wonder why, not only were the heals 3-4 inches high but there was a string connecting the shoes together.

Isaiah really liked sledding last weekend up in Michigan. I just didn't realize how much until today. I just bought this new hat, scarf and glove set and was trying them on at home. Isaiah wanted a turn so I helped him accessorize himself. I went on with my business, (deciding what all I needed to return to the store tomorrow) and when I looked at Isaiah he had the face of my vacuum cleaner on the floor, and was lying on it like a sled. I immediately knew what he was thinking, but this was the only picture I could get before the hat was off and the sledding hill was gone from his imagination.

Today we were having lunch, just talking. Logan says, "Aw shucks" in the midst of her conversation and I lovingly correct her saying, "Logan, let's not say shucks." "Ok mom, Oh Darn." she changes her expression to. "Well, Loggy, that one is not a better choice." I say while smiling on the inside. "Ok mom, Oh Crap, "(pronounced Quap) she says very seriously. "Logan, aw shucks is just fine" I say about to bust and worried that her next attempt would be "bamit" (a word she has thrown out before.) She hears her daddy say this when making fun of mommy during frustating moments. I was laughing so hard, hope you have a good laugh too.

Today we are having a huge snowstorm. Love it!!! Logan's preschool was cancelled, Noah played outside for almost 2 hours with friends and this day called for chocolate chip cookies. But whenever it snows, my kids beg for "syrup snow." I fill bowls full of snow and drizzle on maple syrup (the fake stuff, sorry Amanda) and they scoop it up. Today we enjoyed this wintertime tradition but used our left over snow cone syrup, root beer and grape. Let's just say our "syrup snow" has been taken to a new level.

dresses up. . . (insisting on running socks and short sleeves) and TWIRLS.

Caleb and Noah play so well together!! They spent hours outside building a fort out of the sleds and making booby traps (that I stepped in.) We hardly heard from them all weekend unless they were hungry or wanted hot chocolate. The boys bundled up and went back outside after dinner for a nighttime sled run. They found huge icicles and played outside for an hour by the light of the porch.

I love this picture of Logan and Livy, with the boys in the background. This day was also beautiful, we had gotten about 8 inches of snow since we arrived and the temperature was about 30 so it felt very comfortable to be outside for a long time. Jeff was setting Landin up for the ride of his life, but the old fashion sled dug too deep into the snow and didn't go very far. Landin held on tight and was ready! Jeff gave Landin a ride back up the hill, both Gary and Jeff got quite the workout carrying their youngest sons back up the hill after each ride. Surprisingly, Isaiah really liked sledding and kept saying "again, again"

This was the highlight of our weekend up north. We had this entire water park to ourselves for three hours, when we left there were two other families there. We have never done anything like this before but I will be begging Gary to go every year!!! I can't remember having that much fun in a long time. We got a day pass so we spent the morning running from slide to slide and getting as much in as possible. OK so I spent much of the morning convincing myself that if my seven year old could do the slides I could. There was wading pool and hot tub that Logan and Isaiah spent a lot of time in. But by the end of the day Logan was going down slides alone and so proud of herself. Following Livy was a big incentive for her. This was Noah on a boogie board in the wave pool. It was amazing to sit and watch all the skateboarder/snowboarder/surfers who could surf for a long time. They inspired Gary so he had to give a try. Definitely not as easy at it looks. I do have pictures with him standin...