Someday we'll catch up...

My getting behind all started in early May after I went to Women's Conference at BYU. It was definitely the best way I could have spent two days and felt recharged when I returned home. I had answers to prayers and confirmation that I am on the right path and although I have so many ways to improve, the Lord loves me. I also felt like being creative and domestic and made Carter a blanket, our niece Ella a tutu for her birthday, organized some closets and put blogging on the back burner.

And then life just got busy! One day in June I was thinking about blogging what I just wrote. I was getting the kids ready to go out to a ward park day when I noticed Claire went quiet. Claire being quiet is NEVER a good thing. I went into Carter's room and found this:

She climbed on the toilet and got nail polish out while I tried to do a three minute beauty routine then painted her toes and nails AND the carpet. She was so proud of herself and said "I paint a toes." Claire definitely makes getting the smallest task done difficult. She is a whirling dervish. She loves to destroy and make messes. I know it is because she is almost two and is quite normal. It can be frustrating at times though. Even trying to post this, I've been interrupted five times. Now she is crying and Danny is trying to comfort so I can push "publish." I really do want to catch up blogging but don't hold your breath:) One last photo of Claire because she is so cute and smart and we are glad she is part of our family even though she exhausts us all. She recently started asking "why?" One day Carter complained about how much she was asking it and we reminded him it was he who taught her to say it:)

She stripped herself and came out like this. What a girl!

Thank you from a husband...

...I haven't been a very prolific poster lately, but I still love ye olde Todd Blogge. This is just a quicky, I want to say thank you to everyone, friends and family alike, who helped make Sarah's birthday so wonderful. In fact, this morning her dad, Jeff, took her out on a daddy-daughter shopping date (his present to her) and right now she's gone with a few girlfriends for ice cream. Hey, where were all my friends on my last birthday (which was my thirtieth?)...oh yeah, guys don't even know their friends' birthdays and if they're like me, they remember and still forget to call.

So, we're gearing up for Yosemite both literally and figuratively. Indeed, Sarah now has a nice bicicletta and she got a bike trailer for Claire (with both kids it's pretty heavy if there are any hills) and I just borrowed a little third wheel hitch with a seat, handle bars, pedal, etc. for Carter like this so he can ride with me (he actually likes to go faster than his mom at the ripe age of 4..ha!!):

We're so excited to be up there for nearly a week and then it's back to work for me on JUly 13th. We hope you all have an fun and/or relaxing holiday and that you stay cool...and once again, I mean that both literally and figuratively. (;

Sarah's bicicletta:

Bike trailer:

Thanks to everyone in the fam who helped pitch in to make this birthday so special for Sarah and for all of us since we can now bike together!

One last gift for Sari...on July 6th she'll see Yosemite Valley and a giant redwood tree for the first time:

Half-dome:

UH Cheer Squad

(L to R): Amber, Shonda, Robyn, Farrah, Sarah, Liz and me

Before I post all the ordinary things that have been keeping us busy, I will share this comedic performance of me and 6 of my friends from church at our ward talent show. Three of us were cheerleaders in high school and with the combination of the others' band and drill team expertise, we put together this cute routine. There was a bake sale that night, which is why we said "don't forget to buy some yummy cake." Staying up late choreographing and laughing and then getting ready to perform took me back quite a few years. Thanks again, friends, for making it so much fun. We are already looking forward to next year's routine with bigger and better stunts;)

Good news at the Todd Pad

The kids are learning to play together and it is wonderful! Yesterday Danny and I spent a good part of the morning working outside and the kids were happy making messes together inside. I did discover an ENTIRE package of gum ingested primarily by Claire, but other than that, no harm was done. This picture is of the two of them having fun on the slip 'n slide with their favorite babysitters--Aunt April and Uncle Wes.
The other fabulous news at our house is that Danny got a Teacher On Assignment (TOA) position at his district. He will be leaving the classroom and will be coaching/instructing secondary language arts teachers in his district. The new position starts July 1st and we are excited for this new opportunity. It is bittersweet for him though, as he loves his students and coworkers at FMS.

Colton Friends Dinner

When we were newlyweds, we lived in Colton and made the best friends!  We are eternally grateful for the examples of parenting, loving and living we received.  Since then we have all spread out, but, whenever somebody comes back to So. Cal. we try to get together.  The Bethers, who are now in Colorado, came to town for the weekend and we got together at Anchos for a reunion dinner.  There are 22 of us together now (we missed you, Wilcoxs and Wells) and it was loud and crazy, but we had a great time.  Bill is a gifted photographer and captured some great shots of the night.  The pictures got out of order when I uploaded them.  We had such a fun time catching up and enjoyed lots of yummy tortillas.  Thank you, John & Aileen, for coming to visit and for dinner--you are the best!  

These girls are growing up so fast!!  Eliza, Hannah & Aubrey

Claire was a little taken aback by all the people;)

Carter showing off his Bakugans and dough

D. T.

The culprit of the "icky hand" mess

The result of the yummy blue popsicle.

Carter showing off his orange tongue from his popsicle.

David & Gayle Land, Scott & Ranelle Curtis, John & Aileen Bethers, us, Bill & Kathryn Lindsay

Eliza, Alex, Bowen, Aubrey, Hannah, Ile, Sophie, Mercedes, Carter, Claire, William & Adam

Kiddos being cute

The kids started their own game of "duck, duck goose"--it was so cute!

Not Without My Brother

Since returning from NYC where we walked around and saw so many interesting things, I have oft contemplated how although NYC is the "coolest" city I have every been to, there are precious gems in our own backyard. Riverside has almost 300,000 residents and a rich history to offer and I feel like we should explore it more than we do and there's no better way than on foot.

We love living near UC Riverside and one of my running routes cuts through campus. There is a beautiful area with trees and grass next to the Student Health Center that we often jog by and that the kids call "the forest." They often ask if I will run through "the pretty place" when we leave the house. Two weeks ago for FHE we finally took the chance to take a picnic in "the pretty place." We pushed the kids in the stroller and, once on campus, they got out and walked a bit themselves. I do not remember exactly why, but Carter was throwing a fit as we approached the picnic spot. We decided we would just leave him (not really, we were just trying to motivate him to get up and moving) but Claire would have no part in that. She went from being concerned to "pulling him up" herself. What a girl!






Once we arrived, we enjoyed a fine meal of PB & J for the kids and tuna for us;) We had a lesson courtesy The Friend Magazine and then played on the grass for a while.



They love their daddy and I can tell why!

Carter: "Me too, me too"

Playing with a ball

Then we walked to University Village to enjoy some yogurt together at Berrysweet.




Claire: "Mo waa waa peese"


The sun setting at University Village.

Once we started walking home, we realized just how far we had walked to get there and Blaine is no small hill pushing 75 lbs (both kids). Regardless of the fact that we might have bit off a bit more than we wanted to chew for an evening stroll, we had a great evening together! By the way, we used GMap Pedometer to find out how far we hiked and discovered we walked nearly 4.5 miles. I appreciate Danny always being a good sport on the adventures I plan--he didn't complain once. ;)

Happy Easter

Claire and Her "Dollie"

On Wednesday this week, Claire became attached to a doll for the first time.  She has slept with stuffed animals before, but never carried anything around.  She was quite possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen as she cuddled her baby "Dollie" all day, wanted the doll wrapped in a "blankie", laughed it as we drove around in the car and was so gentle and nurturing to it in her own little way.  It is amazing to see the innate mothering come out in my 21 month old daughter.  She is so different than Carter and it is so fun to watch.  I snapped this photo when I had to wake her up to leave for work and meet Danny on Thursday.  It was so sweet I couldn't resist!