Ross Reflections. . .

So at lunch today I asked Isaiah, "what was your story about today at church?" Isaiah immediately answers, "Jesus." "Well, what did Jesus do?" I asked. "He put his sweatshirt in the water." Isaiah repeated this exact phrase a few times because I was asking about fish in the water and other possible bible stories. So I went to the car to get the paper that comes home with Isaiah each week. I start reading the story and as I read, "Elijah touched the water with his jacket. Immediately, a dry path appeared through the water! They walked across the dry path." Isaiah was shaking his head up and down, in the YES motion, as if he was saying, "see mom, that is what I told you! Jesus put his sweatshirt in the water." Translation, Elijah touched the water with his jacket. At least he is paying attention. I thought it was cute!!

Sara Grace, Ella and Logan have been working so hard during their time together preparing for our Thanksgiving feast. They made turkey hats, place card holders, place mats and centerpieces. They decorated cookies and learned a song. I am so thankful for these girls and their families!!! What a wonderful evening and a perfect way to start our Thanksgiving week, with round 1, turkey dinner. Logan picked out her outfit, a blue royal gown and pink tiara. Very Thanksgivingy don't you think? Absolutely so proud to pass out her cookies that she decorated. Family photo: Thanksgiving '09 Sweet girls.

I often describe Isaiah as my most intense child. (kinda like his daddy) Today was another example of how intense he can be in even the simplest things like decorating a tree. I didn't capture the moments of frustration due to the need to parent and the need to defuse the bomb within him. I mean look at that intense celebration of the successful hanging of one ornament. Which by the way, Isaiah kept telling me to put the polka dots on the trees. I think he just learned the word ornament today. So happy he did all by himself. This was my attempt at being fun, laid back mom who didn't need control. They had at the tree for about 15 minutes then I sent them outside, took off all the ornaments and decorated the tree. Logan only noticed one snowflake ornament was a little higher than where she placed it but she was fine with that.

Hallway wall I heard Noah say, "Hey Logan, watch this!" and I casually walked down the hall at the exact moment Noah jumps from half way up the stairs, trips/lands on the second to last step a flies forehead first into the wall. I was 2 feet away when it happened. Impressively there were no tears until Noah saw the wall and was afraid he'd be in trouble. Which he wasn't because I had the wisdom to realize immediately that my child's brain and lack of brain damage was way more important than busted drywall. We have a story when you visit our house next time and Isaiah loves to reinact it!!

Seriously, I am still laughing. I handed Logan her pink play cell phone that had gone through the wash. So as I was putting the laundry away (it had been over a week and the pile was about to tumble.) in the boys room, Logan made a phone call.(on the pink cell) Logan: Hey Desirae, how are you doing? Me: Logan, Mrs. Crouch is what you need to call her. She isn't your friend, she is Ella's mommy. Logan: Mommy, I am just talking with Dez. I just let it go because I was so tickled. It gets better. This is what I hear with long pauses in between. (I really grabbed Noah's sketch pad and wrote it down word for word) "I've been doing that for weeks." "Oh, you HAVE? Oh, Wow . . good for you!" "Isaiah, not now, I'm having a phone call." Then Logan makes her way into the boys closet, (I am still putting clothes away). I tell her leave the door open and get out of the closet. Her response, "Mom, just like you when you talk on the phone." ...

Today was the long awaited and much talked about (by Isaiah) Motorcycle birthday party. He invited three very special friends, Elliott Wheling, Lawson Pasko and Andrew Spiegel. The boys were very excited and had a great time!! They were "motorcycle mans" as Lawson called them. Our dear friend Heath brought over his motorcycle. Heath and Isaiah share the love of motorcycles and Heath gave Isaiah many rides. Can you see how happy Isaiah is in that helmet? Thank you Heath for making Isaiah's birthday way cool and special to him. Now it was Gary's turn to ride. Gary is not only a Road Warrior but also an amazing dad to wear the bandanna and let me put a tattoo on the back of his bald head. Way to play the part. Happy Birthday Buddy!! You are the coolest motorcycle dude we know!!

We started the day with one of Isaiah's favorite foods, homemade donuts. We are celebrating with a motorcycle themed birthday party tomorrow so we had candles on the donuts. As we sang "Happy Birthday" Isaiah was overcome with emotion. Gary looked at me and mouthed, "is he going to cry?" I truly think he was crying because he was so happy. Who goes from complete happiness to total tears that fast?? OK, I know I do at a certain time of the month or if I'm pregnant but this was crazy. It was so sweet and funny, he recovered quite quickly. Before breakfast we gave him the motorcycle shirt he has purposely tucked into his soccer shorts. This is Isaiah's fashion statement these days. After we ate, we revealed his new motorcycle from both sets of grandparents. He was ecstatic. Noah went and got him this bandanna so he could be a real motorcycle dude. When it warmed up a bit, he went "riding." This is his "bad ass" motorcycle dude look. Th...