Sammy and Disneyland, with a bit of Steph thrown in

Today Sammy and I went to an Educational Doctor to get some tests run on him - basically learning style, academic tests etc. The doctor was great - we'll know more next week. He tested about where I thought he would which confirmed what I was thinking. He said he is a visual learner - I thought he was auditory... Sammy, of course, was a trooper and a hard worker. The doctor was very encouraging to me and helped me with some ways to help him read better. Sammy wanted to go to Disneyland after the appointment... so we did. We had a great time. I didn't know what to do with myself without a stroller, backpack, lunch, purse, camera, 4 other children... I put money and credit cards in my pocket and locked the keys in the car (on purpose - we have a door code). We got right in, had lunch, went to all the rides he wanted and headed home, stopping off at Starbucks on the way.

When we got home - Steph said, "Mooooommmmmm, you went to Disneyland and you didn't take me??? You are mean!!!!" That is no exaggeration - it is exactly what she said. We all laughed so hard!! She had a big smile on her face.

The Weekend

This past Saturday we went to Sylmar for a softball tourney for Jessy. The Ardos and Drollingers came to play at the park and watch Jessy play. It was soooo much fun. Thanks everyone for coming. During the last game, a field was open and all the kids went and played baseball - it was so cute! The twins and Dani are really in to playing catch - I think Dani wishes she had a twin, although Nathaniel plays with her a lot.

Jessy - not too happy to be losing!!!

The girls getting into their newest sport. The funniest thing..the Ardo's friend who bought the twins the gloves, didn't realize Lauren (in the white tank) was left handed. She would catch the ball with her right hand and then take it off to throw it!!! They replaced it and now she no longer has to remove the glove!! I guess they play catch everyday!

Stephanie with strawberries, chips, string cheese, sandwich etc. all over her face. To keep busy, she eats, then eats some more, then some more. Not sure how she is keeping a slim 28 pounds. Must be all the activity. Jessy did Dani and Steph's hair for the day.

At the end of the day , they discovered this great climbing tree. Behind Dani to the left there are branches going everywhere - it was super cool.

Andrew was trying to kiss Dani for 10 minutes!

Nathaniel had a baseball game - my dad took him to his game and then he spent the night with Papa and Grandma and they brought him to church this morning. He had a great time. He ate beef stew and even slept with Grandma. Dad told me Nathaniel knows all the sports teams, all the players etc.! I think they had a great day watching basketball. I was so thankful he got to have this time with them. Thanks mom and dad!


Before he left we were looking for his baseball glove. Robert and Nathaniel looked for 15 minutes. We tried to have Nanno remember what he did after we played catch - we looked inside, outside, in drawers etc. We finally called in Sammy who found it within 2 minutes. Guess where it was? By the wheelbarrow on the side of the house. How in the world did Sammy find it??? We have no idea. We think he has a gift - we have never seen anyone find anything like him - it's unbelievable.

Sammy

Sam did great. We ended up knocking him out at the doctor's advice. He's hilarious right now - soooo sleepy!

Sammy went into the appointment ready to have a local but the doctor said it would be better to put him to sleep. Sammy actually cried because he wanted to stay awake. I encouraged him that Stephanie did it last week! I think he was a bit afraid. It only took 20 minutes. He has been so sleepy all day. He has had yogurt, jello, apple sauce and ice cream! Jessy now says she wants her teeth pulled. The kids have been soooo cute taking care of him all afternoon - all of them have been checking on him, asking him if he needs anything, etc. Nathaniel kept saying how boring it was that Sammy was sleeping so much!

On another note, the doctor prescribed him Motrin and Tylenol with codine. Sammy has no pain, doesn't need any of the medication and probably could have done it awake!!! He's really tough! It was hard to explain to the doctor that he was weepy because that's what he does when all attention is on him, not because he was afraid of the pain! I think they were thinking - oh he's crying, we better put him out - and all along I'm know that he's crying because he really was planning on staying awake!!!

Updates!

Well Mondays are our busiest days. We had horseback riding, baseball, softball and basketball - plus Stephanie!

Pray for Sammy tomorrow - he gets four teeth pulled at 10 a.m. - trying to do it using a local rather than putting him out.

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!

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!

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

Sammy falling backwards in the Pit

UCLA game

Robert surprised the boys with a UCLA basketball game last week. He just put them in the car and drove to Pauley Pavillion - they guessed where they were going when they saw the sign that said, "UCLA next exit!" ...and yes - we are VERY excited UCLA beat USC last Saturday (football). It was a great sports day for the Dodsons - Jessy's team won their softball tournament, Nanno his basketball game and both boys their first flag football game - that with UCLA winning - what a day!!! And yes - I know what most are thinking - too many sports...well - I didn't know flag football was the same time as basketball....I think Robert DID!

Today, Steph, Dani and I went shopping. We went to Chick Fillet for lunch. Stephanie had her own drink in a styrofoam cup. While I was picking up the food, I heard her screaming at the top of her lungs. She bit a hole in the bottom of the cup and the sprite spilled all over her - It spilled out like a faucet! Dani couldn't figure out what was wrong as she couldn't see the hole in the bottom of the cup!

Sam and the Tooth Fairy

We think Sammy really believes in the tooth fairy. He's had about 4 teeth under his pillow (in a ziplock bag) for about a month - yes - I know - that is gross but anyway... Nathaniel came in the office a week ago and said, "Dad, you really need to give Sam some money for his teeth..." We were laughing that Nanno knows it's Robert. Another week went by with no money. Sam lost a tooth yesterday and came into the office and said, "Mom, I'm going to put this under my pillow but I have had other teeth under there for a LONG time and I never get any money." I said, "Alright, I'll talk to him." He says, "Him who??" I caught myelf and said, "Oh the tooth fairy, I know him." He was excited. We put a lot of money in there last night and you should have seen his face this morning. He ran out showing everyone - and Jessy just glared at Robert thinking that she has NEVER received that much money!!!

Sammy and the Molatov Cocktail

Sammy went on errands with Robert a few weeks ago - Robert came home and asked, "Did you really give Sammy and Kyle permission to make a bomb - because Sam says you did???" I laughed and said, "Yes, but what they were doing was harmless!" Robert looked puzzled and asked if I knew what they did. A month prior to that conversation, I went to the Ardo's for a visit. I brought bag bombs that I bought at the outlet - 3 for $1. You pop them and chuck them in the air, and they explode - they are harmless but the "bang" is loud. Kyle and Sammy were asking me how they worked and I told them that they must be made of baking soda and vinegar. Five minutes later they came back and asked if they could make a bomb. I, thinking that they were going to use baking soda, said, "Sure, go ahead," and suggested using a ziplock bag. I never heard anything about it again until Robert asked me if I gave them permission. I guess what they acutally did was put gasoline in a gatorade bottle, stuff a sock in it and light it on fire!!! Fortunately it just burned a hole in Kyle's driveway and no one got hurt. What makes me laugh the hardest is that Sammy was laughing with Robert in the car and saying, "I promise dad, mom gave us permission to do it!!" We had a long talk wtih Sammy about gasoline and the specifics of permission!!! I looked up Molatov Cocktail on the internet and it's known as "the poor man's grenade."

Family News

Here's some family news:Jessy's softball team (Travel Lite) won their first tournament over the weekend in Fontana. They qualified for nationals (which are held in Oaklahoma City next July!) Jessy played well. She is in sixth grade this year and doing great. She is taking an art class and loving it.Sammy and Nathaniel are starting basketball this week. They are very excited. Nathaniel has been practicing everyday. Sammy is waiting for his new basketball shoes. They are on different teams this year as Sammy moved up a division. They hope to play flag football in December - not sure how we will work that out!Daniele is taking two dance classes - ballet and yes...hip-hop. It's through a Christian dance company called Good News Dance. It's very tasteful and a blast! She takes one class with Jenna. Dani is a great help to me during the day with Steph. She is really into card games right now. Old Maid and Rummy are her favorites.Stephanie...well what can I say. I'll just tell about today. She colored all over my entry wall (which I can't get off yet), found finger paint and painted on my tile, put toothpaste on the back of her puzzle pieces, drew on her clothes, went up to Sammy and drew on his shirt, tore off a barbie head... Sound like we don't watch her huh? Well we do. She literally accomplishes most things in a matter of seconds. She climbs on everything she can - in fact when she looks at something cool and high - she looks at me and says, "Climber?" She spent a long time climbing a chainlink fence on Sunday - climbing up and down - over and over. She is the cutest, funniest baby ever. She makes us laugh daily - has a great sense of humor. She enjoys puzzles and books. She loves jumping on the trampolene. She is very social and prefers to be playing with someone rather than on her own. Much to everyone's dismay, she loves Barney - yes he's still around. She has room time everyday (which of course she doesn't prefer to do). We found her asleep under the bed one day. Jessy went in there to check on her, couldn't find her and finally saw her feet sticking out under the bed.Bye!