Stephanie at 2

Just things I want to remember as she turns 2 next week:

"go in nare" - Go in There
"candy, eat it, me" - she always ends whatever she says in "me"
"tired, ni-nite, me"
"Stephie Dawson" (said with a Sean Connery slur)
"color, me?" - loves to draw and color - starts on paper, ends on floors and furniture!
"go bye-bye, me" - loves going anywhere and everywhere
"jessy, mean"
"oh man, that stinks!" as she throws her arms down and her head back.
"mere" for come here
"see dis" for see this
"yike it, me" for I like it.
"ah pop" for otter pop
"paacuu" popcorn

She blames anything and everything on Nathaniel and he is usually not even in the room!

A Dry Eraser Marker is her tool of choice. It is on my front entry wall, my doors, my tables, under my tables, on the backs of chairs. All this done in a nano-second.

She sings the Barney Song, ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Start and Jesus Loves Me pretty well.
A bottle is called "milk botto bobble" - She LOVES her bobbo.

Whenever she dumps anything out (which she does ALL THE TIME) - she sees me and says, "cwean up, cwean up."

At 7 in the morning today she looked at Robert and said, "food, burger, ketchup, me?"

She also sings Twinkle Twinkle in a demon voice - no idea why! It's super funny!

Juice packs come out as "poop pack"

Yesterday I told her no and she said, "Be quiet Mom!"

She loves being read to and especially loves puzzles.

Jessy Sleeping and Other Things...

This cracks us up. Jessy wants the hall light ON when she goes to bed but then she wraps her "bo-bo" (blanket) around her eyes to be in the dark.

Whenever something funny happens around here - Nathaniel says, "Mom - you can put that on your blog."

Jake is sick again - he just looks...wrong. Robert is not too happy. Hope he makes it to the morning. I think he must have eaten something again!

Nathaniel in Brianhead

We went to Brianhead this weekend to check on the place. In the middle of the night the power went out - it was PITCH BLACK. You could not see anything - it was really weird- it woke me up and I struggled looking around, finally gave up and went to sleep. A few minutes later I hear Nathaniel panicking and calling me, starting to cry. He kept yelling, "I can't see! Mooooommmmy!!" I felt my way in there all the while trying to ask him to "sssshhhhh" and brought him back to my bed. He told me in the morning that he thought he went blind. It struck us so funny because we could imagine him trying to open and shut his eyes over and over again. He said he opened his eyes, couldn't see anything, kept trying, turned the light on - it didn't work and then he panicked that he lost his eyesight! You could tell he was scared to death!

Jessy woke up in the commotion, went to the bathroom, ran into the refriderator - which isn't anywhere near the bathroom. Dani cried and I had to get up and find her, brought her into my bad - Robert went in her bed in case Steph got up (and because there was no more room for him!)- Steph woke up because everyone else was up. Sammy, of course, slept through the whole thing.

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!!!

Dani and the Birds - Part 1

At Wild Animal Park, there is a place where you can buy nectar and feed lorakeets. It's the coolest thing there. The birds land on you and eat the nectar from a small cup. It's the kids (Jess, Sam and Nate's) favorite thing to do there. Dani was all excited to do it. When we got in, the lady told the kids to go to the center of the cage....well they stopped too quickly and we were stuck in a smaller area. Birds starting coming from all over. I think we were their first feeding of the day. A bird landed on Dani - you can see from her face in this picture that she's trying to enjoy this but that she hated every minute of it. Actually there is one on her shoulder - not sure she noticed it yet. Birds were going crazy. One landed on Reid's shoulder and started biting his head! The birds knocked Nathaniel's cup right out of his hand.

Dani and the Birds - Part 2

Lorakeets were everywhere - landing on Dani and freaking her out. When the bird started pecking her hair right by her face, she had had enough! I didn't have a free hand to help her (but I did manage to take a picture!)

Dani and the Birds - Part 3

The whole thing ended up with Dani crying (loudly might I add). I was laughing so hard as birds were coming from all directions- I had about 5 birds on me, two cameras and I was holding a cup of nectar for Stephanie who was enthralled with the whole thing. Dani started panicking and crying louder, so of course Steph started crying not knowing why but feeling she must since Dani was! Finally Gina came and helped poor Dani!

Stephanie as a Lion

I picked this costume up at a garage sale for $3!

Today we went to Wild Animal Park. It was a blast. Here's a picture of Jessy. The lions kept coming right up to the glass - it was awesome!

Stephanie

Today Stephanie dumped a box of cereal (3/4th's full) all over the floor before we could catch her. Later I was on the phone with our new pastor's wife, and she dumped the school room trash out 3 times - Dani cleaned it each time and would go back to her work. Stephanie would pick it up and dump it again. She must think the cause and effect of this is amazing. At lunch she turned her grape juice cup over and started dripping it all over her tray. She picked up a back of brown rice last night and dumped that all over the floor and counter. Oh no, she's up. Bye.

Jessy and Steph - Just a Cute Picture!

Jake & Steph

Jake did room time with Stephanie today for a long time and then she even fell asleep! She liked it better having "someone" in there with her. She didn't try to get out and I got a break. That would have been worth $1000 if Jake had needed the surgery!

Yesterday, while Nathaniel and Dani were watching her, she unscrewed the popcorn lid, and proceeded to dump 100's of kernals all over the kitchen counters and floor. Later, somehow our little artist got a permanent marker and colored all over my dry erase board. I was able to get it off thanks to the internet.....and on Wednesday, while Grandma made lunch, she took a pencil, sat up at the kitchen counter and colored in all my white grout. Wasn't that nice?

Steph and the lizard

Stephanie's sunday school teacher told me Steph took a rubber lizard and chased the other kids while growling!!! She of course thought she was hilarious while the kids were screaming!

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."

Jake and Rocko

I took Jake to the vet yesterday because he ate a ton of Palm Tree seeds and was very sick. He was going to possible need surgery - which would be $500 to $1,000. When I told the lady my husband wouldn't pay for that, she asked if there was anyone that would loan us the money - I told her she didn't understand - that he wouldn't pay for it. She looked at me a little shocked. There was a couple in there waiting to see how their dog Rocko was - It was like being in the ICU for a child for them. They asked if they could see him, if his tail was wagging etc. There was a man in there talking to them of his dog who has pancreatic cancer, has had four rounds of Chemo, and is hanging on. They suggested to him that really his dog was an angel in disguise since he helped him through his divorce. They asked how he was going to be when the dog passed - the man felt that he could shake his dogs hand (the angel) and thank him and send him to his next ministry. The next man came in and popped $500 down for his dog. Then a young girl (16 or so) ran out bawling. I assumed her dog was going to die. I asked the mom what it was and she said a hamster with tumors. Five minutes later Dani and I were uncontrollablly laughing wondering what everyone in there would have thought of Robert taking our sick hamster, putting him in a trash compactor bag and taking care of Fluffy's death himself. Fortunately jake just needed an IV, which Robert did pay for...

Steph's Adoption & the Family

The pic above was taken on the day Stephanie officially became a Dodson. I was thinking of all the kids today and how they relate to Stephanie. They are all really great with her. Jessy tries to make obedience fun for her, sometimes get frustrated at her but for the most part tries to be light-hearted. Jessy gives her lots of baths and loves doing her hair, which, by the way, she pulls out within 5 minutes. Jessy's solution to "surviving Stephanie" is to put Barney on and sit with her on the couch. Jessy may be reliving her toddler years... Sammy is so much like a dad - you just have to see it. He takes the most "care" of her. Talks to her like a dad, and will do anything for her. He enjoys her and never seems to get frustrated at her. Nathaniel is her buddy - the most "fun" for her, the one she asks for the most right now. I dropped the kids off at Michelle's today and when we drove off, she was in shock that Nathaniel was not back in the car. That changes every couple months - she usually picks one she is really into. Nathaniel plays outside with her a TON. She has gone through them all as her favorite and currently is settled on Nathaniel. Dani seems to like watching Stephanie do things she shouldn't and then tell on her! I call Dani her nanny - she plays puzzles with her and reads to her. Dani spends the most time with her, which is probably why she is around her when she gets in trouble. Today Dani caught her pulling all her clothes out of the drawer. I told her I would deal with it later. Dani asked if she could go in there and play with her - so...I said yes. I checked on them 10 minutes later and they had clothes on their heads, clothes all over the floor and were having a BLAST. I'm wising up to the fact that with Stephanie, Dani can get away with a lot as well! They had huge grins on their faces. I know in 5 years I will miss the clothes being all over the floor and the silliness of the toddler years. Robert and I are so blessed with our kids. God is so good. What would we do without all FIVE of them???

Steph!!!

Stephanie!!! Today she hid from my mom. Grandma went to answer the phone - turned around and steph was gone. She called her and looked for her everywhere. Steph went in my room and shut the door, went in my bathroom and shut the door - took my makeup and a brush and sat in the bathtub!

Nanno in history class

In history class on the first day of co-op, Nathaniel kept answering questions without raising his hand. The teacher told him to go outside and take a lap. He went outside, shut the door, and immediately came back in and sat down. The teacher and the kids looked at him in amazement that he could possibly be finished with his lap (running around the quad). He looked at the teacher noticing she had a look of shock on her face, and said, "I had my laugh." The teacher (Michelle) started laughing and told him he was supposed to take a lap, not a laugh.The picture was taken this year at the UCLA game - that is the quarterback, Ben Olsen. The boys had new shirts autographed by a lot of the players.

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!

Hi EVERYONE! Rachel encouraged me to start a blog to keep in touch with family and friends. I hope you all enjoy this! The picture was taken at Lake Shasta this summer. Tracy