Best Friends

I debated long and hard as to whether I should send Lilli to Kindergarten this past year. She has an August birthday so I could have sent her. Anyways it was the day before Kindergarten registration and I was still debating. Josh and I had talked about it a lot and prayed about it and really I knew what we should do....sometimes I am just a little stubborn sometimes:) Anyways I didn't go to Kindergarten registration and I am sooo HAPPY I didn't. Isabella and her relationship has grown soooo much!!! They are the best of friends and they have become so close this past year. Of course they have their little sisterly "tiffs" but for the most part they get along so well!! It has been such a wonderful thing to see them grow so close!!

They have such amazing imaginations!! I love hearing their conversations and their laughter when they are being silly together!

Tonight as I was putting the girls to bed they love to "talk." Lilli wanted to talk about Kindergarten. She wants Daddy to wake her up and take her to the bus stop, or drive her to school. Izzy also wanted to talk about Kindergarten, not when she goes but Lilli's Kindergaren. She has a master plan....she is going to sneak into Daddy's car if he drives, or the bus. Then when they get to the school she will sneak into the classroom. She really loves her sister!! It really warms my heart to think about how close they are. I hope they stay close forever!

Sisters....Best Friends

p.s- Tonight I got a little frustrated and Lilli looks at me and says.."The person who is grumpy needs a hug and a kiss." Melt my heart...I got lots of hugs and kisses and needless to say I wasn't frustrated anymore. Oh how I love my children!!! I am thankful that they are so forgiving and for all that they teach me! My Children, my Jewels.

An "Isabellaism"

One of the many reasons I love Izzy is that she just says the cutest things that never fail to make me smile and or laugh:) The other day when we were driving in the van just Talmage her and I, she says to me while gazing out her window... "Mommy do you know what??? If I was Jesus I would make the Red Cardinals girls." I asked her why and she said..."because they are so pretty." I love it, thanks Izzy for making me smile everyday:):)

Joshua Nehring is Published in JADA!

Yes it's true Josh has been published in The Journal Of The American Dental Association. Yes you heard it right, a Dental Journal!! He has been doing research with a professor for a couple years and their article landed in the January 2010 JADA!! As you can tell I am very proud of my babe:) Here is an over view of what the article is about.

JADA Continuing Education

Accuracy and dimensional stability of extended-pour and conventional alginate impression materials

Terence A. Imbery, DDS, Joshua Nehring, BS, Charles Janus, DDS, MS and Peter C. Moon, PhD

Background. The authors conducted a study to determine if two irreversible hydrocolloid impression materials (Cavex ColorChange, Cavex Holland BV, Haarlem, Netherlands; Jeltrate Plus Antimicrobial Dustless Alginate Impression Material, Dentsply Caulk, Milford, Del.) stored for five days were dimensionally accurate.

Methods. The authors modified Ivorine teeth (Columbia Dentoform, Long Island City, N.Y.) on a Dentoform model (1560 series model, Columbia Dentoform) to allow measurements of tooth and arch width. They made impressions and generated casts immediately and at five additional times. They recorded tooth and arch widths on the casts and compared the measurements with those for the standard model.

Results. Compared with measurements for the model, the greatest measured difference in casts was 0.003 inches for Cavex ColorChange (extended-pour alginate) and 0.005 inches for Jeltrate Plus Antimicrobial Dustless Alginate Impression Material (conventional alginate). The percentage of dimensional change ranged from –0.496 to 0.161 percent for the extended-pour alginate and from –0.174 to 0.912 percent for the conventional alginate.

Conclusions. Results of analysis of variance and paired t tests indicated that when generated immediately and at day 5, casts produced from both impression materials were not statistically different from the standard model (P < .05).

Clinical Implications. When stored properly, both alginate materials can produce accurate impressions at day 5 for diagnostic casts and for fabrication of acrylic appliances.

Key Words: Alginate; impression; accuracy; syneresis; imbibition

Abbreviations: ADA: American Dental Association

I don't understand some of the Dental gargin, but hey very impressive if you ask me!!:)

One of my Favorite Sights...

my children "reading" together!!

On The Way Home

Talmage with the cutest quilt that my sister Shannan made for him. A train how fitting:)

Happy New Year!! This is us when we got off of the bus to board yet another train. We walked into the station (we had no idea what time it was, we were a little out of it at this point) and everyone was saying "Happy New Year!!" We were so done at this point but still had hours to go on coach. I had to quickly snap this picture......."yeah Happy 2010!!"

Here is where the cars connect. When we were travelling in Montana it was so cold that there was snow in this area. Crazy!!

Here is the hallway and the roomettes were on either side. Pretty tight quarters, the picture does make it look narrower than it was but not by much. Anyways you had to walk like a penguin to keep balanced, it was pretty funny to watch the waiters carry their trays and keep it all balanced.

Eating yummy food in the diner car! I was seriously impressed with their food!!

Christmas 2009

Letters and treats for Santa

Christmas PJ's

The "Leavitt" production of the Navitity. Izzy as Mary, Daddy as Joseph, Brad as the Donkey, Shannan, Mommy and Amber as the Wisemen, Grandpa and Grandma as shepherds, Lilli as the Angel, and Lindsey as the Narrator.

"SANTA BABY"

Oh sweet angel of mine:)

Canadian Snow FUN!

The girls were so excited to play in the snow!! Since we don't get much in Richmond, they relish any time that they can play...so this was a much awaited day...and a perfect day, not to cold.

"Look Mom we built a snowman bigger than Daddy!"

My Mom and Dad bought a tree and then "planted" it their pasture so the girls and Josh and I went and "cut it down." And then we decorated it....of course the lights were the funnest part!