Steph and her 6 cavities!

Steph had her pediatric dental appointment today. She was hilarious - sat so perfectly - even let them take x-rays of her back teeth - both sides!

She has 6 cavities - 4 regular fillings and 2 that will be crowns - one root canal. I know shocking - but yes - they do root canals on toddlers! He ACTUALLY said her teeth were not that bad! He blamed it on the bottle to which I said that I have 4 other kids that had bottles and no cavities - to which he said that the statistic is 1 in 3 babies on bottles too long will get cavities - so...I guess the bottle coupled with her genetics (thin enamel) didn't work - it's all our fault! All of you out there with babies on bottles - stop them at one year!! Or you have a 33.3% chance of a very large dental bill.

Her "surgery" for all this will be April 16th. Unless - they get cancellations on March 5 and they call!

Stephanie at the Dentist

Steph had a dental appointment yesterday! I know - she's way too young but it was necessary. If you care to watch the video - she was so cute!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1VJzeaptFg

Steph

Robert drove by the horse stables. She lifted her head, put her nose and the air - sniffed (making the sniffing sound) and said, "I think I 'mell horse booty dad!"

Sammy and His Braces

Sammy got his braces on Thursday morning. Thursday night, one came unglued - Sammy missed a movie to go get it fixed. Of course, he didn't care about missing because he was concerned about his teeth. He brushes his teeth constantly - he is trying to be good so his name will be entered in a drawing for an ipod which he wants very badly!!! If they get good check-ups, they get entered each month - they can win an ipod or a PSP. He wants the ipod. He even put a travel toothbrush in the glovebox last night and keeps reminding me to buy travel toothpaste. He lets me know what he can and cannot eat. Today he got a bag of candy and thinks he is saving it for 2 years until they come off - He is upset that he has to give it away! He didn't get UCLA colors because he has a new type of brace that isn't colored. He was okay with that! We have to have 4 teeth pulled in a month which I'm sure he will think is cool too. He has been so good about this - he is so responsible. He cried when the brace came unglued and I had to assure him that I didn't think it was his fault.

Dani brought the camera in to take pictures. The Orthodontist asked her to make sure she got his good side. They also put Steph in the chair and pretended she got a check up - which was good because she really has one on Monday morning. They gave the three kids toothbrushes and mirrors!

Basketball

Nanno's team won the championship tonight. Not sure who was more excited - Nathaniel or Robert! This team beat us twice during the season - once by 21 points and the other time by 18 points. We beat them tonight by 12. It was close the whole game but we pulled away at the end. All the kids played great. It was so "cute" to see them jumping around at the end of the game all excited. The other team cried - which makes me sad BUT I was very excited to win! Stephanie sat on the bleachers with a pen drawing tatoos all over her body - I think Auntie Michelle gave her the pen...and probably some candy too!

My cousin Julie, her son Christian and my Aunt Johnye came for the day - cheering on the boys in their last football game, going to the football team party and then the championship basketball game. Grandma and Papa Ardo came to all the games as well. It was so nice to spend the day with Julie - it's been too long. Thanks for coming Julie!

No More Bottles

The kids and I gathered in the kitchen (Monday or Tuesday) for a "throw the bottle away" ceremony. We all kissed it and threw it in the trash...even Stephanie. We grabbed the rest of them out of the cupboard and put them in a bag. She doesn't know it but they are all on top of the fridge in the bag (yes, even right now!) I kept them just in case...not sure why I kept them but I did...probably because it was harder for me - my last baby with a bottle. I guess the next thing is potty training. She goes all the time on the potty but still wears a diaper. That's probably my fault too. She's just growing up way too fast. Not that diapers are sweet and touching or anything...

She hasn't had the bottle for 4 or 5 days. Occasionally she asks, but we remind her that we kissed it goodbye and then she asks for water or yemonade. I think I am struggling more than she is! The sad thing is that without the bottle she seems even older!

Every morning Steph comes up stairs with a HUGE smile on her face, crawls into my bed and kisses me saying in her VERY raspy voice, "good morning mommy." It is so cute. Robert gets it sometimes as many days he is gone before she is awake - but she is twice as happy when he is still there.

Santa Clarita

The girls and I (Tracy) went to Santa Clarita for a softball tourney for Jessy. The team went undefeated on Saturday. The tourney was canceled Sunday for rain...Because they were the only team that went undefeated on Saturday they received first place! Aunt Wendy and the kids hung out with us all weekend - it was a blast. We were also able to see Rachel and Andrew on Friday at their new home which is so nice! We babysat the Ardo's on Friday night and Saturday (Scott and Patty were on an elder retreat), went to church on Sunday (Scott was AWESOME) and hung out at their house on Sunday. It was such a fun weekend. Robert stayed home with the boys as they had a basketball tourney. Nanno's team is advancing to the championship...Sammy's team had two of their main players out sick - they played well and hung with the team the whole game but ended up losing and ending the season.

Katie Pen making her bull dog face!

Wendy got to the park and said, "Tell me that is NOT your stroller!" Well - it was! I had millions of kids with me, all their jackets (it was supposed to be 54 but it was 70), food, snacks, water bottles, juice, diaper bag...toys, bikes, purse...etc!!!

Andrew posing in his backyard. Rachel- I put the pics on a CD for you!

Sammy's Birthday February 5, 2007

Sammy turned 11 years old today. I still can't believe it. He had a great day. His day of course was run by food. He had French toast for breakfast, chicken, white pasta and broccoli for lunch and steak kabobs for dinner with caesar salad. Jessy made him a cinnamon swirl birthday cake (which he picked out!). Grandma and Papa, Josh and Renee all came to dinner. We had a GREAT time. Sammy must have received 20 phone calls. Thank you everyone that called!

Posing for the typical picture! (See below!)

Blowing out the 11 candles!

Sammy is getting braces on February 15. He is actually excited. Guess what color he is getting? It should be obvious to all... if you said baby blue and yellow for UCLA - you are right. I told him that maybe royal blue would look better...but we'll see!! Please keep praying for him to grow to be a Godly young man. He continues to have a sweet prayer life (never forgetting to pray for people's salvation and people that are ill), a servant's heart and he has maintained the knowledge of where everything is in our home (as he has done since before he could speak!). He is such a joy around here. It's so much fun to watch all the kids play and giggle at night like they did when they were little. His little gut laugh is still so catchy and Jessy seems to bring it out in him just like she did when they were 2 and 3. He and Nathaniel continue to play constantly and get along so well - their friendship is sweet to watch. Dani and Stephanie continue to look up to him and he is always there to help them and get whatever they need. When it came time to share what we all love about Sammy - Stephanie yelled, "his presents!" For Steph, his presents were boring - for him thrilling - he got new Vans, some shirts and an Active hat, some money ... and the promise of Nerf Showtime Hoops. It's an electronic inside basketball game...Hopefully we will find one! Robert went to a couple stores searching but they were out of it! Tomorrow he will check Toys R Us!

Weekend Pictures

Sammy is Turning 11 on Monday!!

Some old pics of Sam. Prior to 2001 I did not have a digital camera - so they start in 2001. Wasn't he sooo cute?? I can't believe he will be 11. I was reading things I had written to him 5 years ago - things about him liking clothes, being orderly and organized, sticking up for Nanno, explaining everything he says or does, giving us play by play etc. and I laughed because he is still the same way! I love you Sammy!

5/23/2001

6 years old 5/15/02

2003 (7 years old)


2004 (8 years old)

2/2005 (9 - the candles don't add up but he is 9 here!)

November 2006 - 10 Years old...Almost 11