Brianhead Pictures

Snowed all day again today!

Brianhead

I don't know where her gloves went!!

When we got here there was no snow - it looked like it does in the summer! The condo's in the background had no snow anywhere around them - it was all dirt. It has snowed constantly for 2 days.

We have had 27 inches of new snow (as of 5a.m. this morning) - and it has continued to snow all day long! We skied in the fresh powder with the Gallaghers (our friends and neighbors) - a lot of fun but hard work in the powder - none of the runs were groomed! It should stop snowing tomorrow and we should have beautiful days. The Ardo's are coming on Friday. I know Patty hasn't seen snow in a long time and is really excited. Today was 15 degrees - it is supposed to be 60 on Saturday!!

We looked at all the snowflakes on the chair lifts - they were all over our gloves, our pants, the seat of the lifts - it truly is amazing how beautiful and intricate they are. They look perfect! It is hard to believe that there are no 2 alike! God is amazing. Whenever we are up here, it makes us in awe of God and His creation - somehow it's not the same feeling being in Riverside! I love how the newly fallen snow sits on the branches of the Aspens - it looks GORGEOUS. It's too snowy to get a good picture - I'll try in a few days.


Stephanie wants to be outside in the snow all day long. She is hilarious!! We are taking her skiing tomorrow (if it's not snowing).


Oh and by the way...I have dropped from first place in our March Madness pool -the battle is on between Robert and Nathaniel. Robert picked all final four teams!!! Not me...

All Star Results

The team lost both games today - the first game was VERY exciting - we lost by 1 point. We should have won - we had awful calls - in the last 10 seconds - they called 5 in the key - they hadn't called it the entire game - it was a huge bummer! We lost pretty badly to the next team - they were like a travel ball team and our boys were just spent.

Nathaniel played well - in the pic he's making a three pointer - he was so excited! He noticed the travel ball coach in the background of the picture and was happy he noticed his 3 pointer!

Stephanie and Dani went to Michelle's - thanks Michelle!

Off to Brian Head!

March Madness and All-Stars

The picture is just cute (from January) - has nothing to do with this post! It came up on my screensaver today and I loved it! Dani is always in the middle in pictures with the twins!

Well - I dropped from first in the tourney - Nathaniel is now first with 86 points, then Robert with 85, then me....When Robert first tallied Nate's points, he had to recount because he couldn't believe he wasn't in the lead - he as in Robert! So for Robert and I it comes down to the Georgetown game. Please root for North Carolina! Nanno still has a chance if GT wins. Of course you all know that we are all rooting for UCLA to win the whole thing and for one of us to beat Robert.

Nathaniel's team won both their games today. The first game was awesome - they beat the team they lost to last week. The second game they won by 30 points. Tomorrows game is against a really good team. They (the good team) beat the team we beat today.

Nathaniel doesn't quite get the internet - he asks Robert if he can check the scores from his tourney on Robert's phone!! Robert is constantly checking the ESPN scoreboard for scores of games - Nathaniel doesn't realize his team is not nationally cared about!

Just Stuff

My allergies are TERRIBLE. I have sneezed 100 times in the past hour. Well -maybe that is a slight exaggeration.

Jessy hit a two-run triple tonight - a shot over the left fielders head - the grass was wet so it slowed the ball down or it would have been a homerun!

UCLA advanced to the elite Eight! I believe I am winning the March Madness Pool...I'll confirm it later! Robert thinks I'm in the lead because I picked Memphis and he picked Texas A&M.

Today Nanno was trying to sit by Steph and make her share the chair - I said, "Nanno, don't bug her, she is crabby!" Steph turned to nanno and said, "YEA Nanno, Don't bug me, I am crabby!" I couldn't believe she got all the pronouns right! It was HILARIOUS!

Wendy Skyped us today - We go to say hi to her and the kids in Italy. Steph was eating an orange (actually a "cutie") and I held it up to the camera and then her little girl Katie - tried to get it with her mouth - it was soooo cute!!! Neither toddler could figure out why it wasn't working. We all laughed at their expense!

Mom and Dad Ardo took Steph to In-N-Out Burger. I told them she eats a hamburger - she barely touched it. When they went to put her in her carseat, she scurried all over the car playing hide n seek. She'd hop to the back, they would go to get her and she would hop over the seat to the front etc. Grandma finally got her in her seat by suggesting she go "hide" in it!!! She said Steph wasn't being bad - isn't that just like a Grandma???

I'm reading Aunt Jane's Hero - Great book by E. Prentiss. I recommend it!

It's confirmed - I'm winning the March Madness Dodson Pool - I have 64, Robert has 61, Jessy and Nanno have 58, Sammy 43 - Dani is really not in the running at all as she just "picked" whoever. The important thing is that I AM BEATING ROBERT.

Goodnight!

Weekend Updates

Jessy had a softball tournament. They tied, lost and won on Saturday. On Sunday, they won the first and lost the second. Jessy hit in the tying run on Saturday's game and the winning run on Sunday's first game. The team they lost to was favored to win the whole tournament - not sure if they did or not. She struggled a bit in the outfield but made up for it with her hitting. She plays right field - there are tons of balls hit out there! The games are always exciting to watch.

Nanno's team (All-Stars) came in second place in their tournament and advanced to the District Finals - (this past weekend was Area Finals). They are the first team in his division in NJB to advance to District! Nathaniel has played really well on defense. A sponsor gave them all black warm up suits - I didn't get a picture - I'll try next weekend!

The rest of us spent the weekend going to games, eating junk, and hanging out. We wrapped up the weekend going in the jacuzzi with Stephanie! The older kids actually swam in the freezing cold pool.

Steph counting Eli's toes

Renee's Baby

Here's a pic of Renee's baby - isn't he sooo cute??? We all got to hold him, even Steph. He was born on Saturday in the morning. Everyone is doing great. Josh had his schedule all written out!

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.

Stephanie

Steph had her procedure today (see blog on 2/27). She was a trooper and did GREAT. They gave her a shot in the arm which basically put her to sleep in my arms. We then took her back and the doctor put an IV in etc. It was really strange to see her that asleep - she was out completely - I was glad when it was over but it actually went really well - it was easier than I expected. I watched the whole thing - I stayed back to stay out of their way but it was pretty interesting! The dentist said her teeth had a LOT of pits which made them very susceptible to cavities. They put sealants on the two molars that had no cavities in order to protect them! She slept about 1 1/2 hours after they were all done and then was back to her normal self - a little grumpy and tired but just fine. She was nice and thanked the doctors. There was a little boy that was in after Steph - same age - that had to have 8 teeth pulled, no crowns and then spaces put in to hold the spots! The dad was upset because he wanted him to have front teeth and they kept telling him that it couldn't be done. I felt sorry for the dad. They told me after he left that he was a really bad case and that Steph's was NOT bad - now to me - 6 cavities is bad - but not in their world I guess! When we left for the day, the poor little boy was back in for his procedure.

Dani's dentist told me 2 weeks ago that her teeth had too many pits so we are going to have her molars sealed this week!

Dani

Dani had her first riding lesson today! She loved it. Of course she wants the pants and boots! It cracked me up because whenever you take a child to ride a pony, the people act so careful and panicky. Alex (the trainer) put her up on the pony and sent her on her way! She rode the pony all over (even trotted) and was able to take his saddle off and brush him. Alex said that she was really good and one of the best beginners ever. Do you think he says that to everyone? It was a whole new world for us! And it smelled...

Nathaniel had a baseball game at 4:30 (Robert said he played really well - 3rd base, made a few plays right off the bat - even a double play catching a line drive and throwing the runner out at first, and he pitched), he then had all-star practice from 6 - 8, Jessy had batting practice at 6, Dani lessons at 6 and Steph and Sammy hung out at the stables with me. Today was crazy. Happy it's over!

Adoption

Check out this link - John Piper has a sermon on adoption: Adoption the Heart of the Gospel.

http://www.faith-bible.net/content/view/381/113/

A Walk to the Horse Stables!

Not sure who is checking who out here!

Dani looks like she is walking into heaven!

Steph and Dani with their "sweet" faces!

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.