Lake Perris LAKE Adventures

Forest & Kim invited out to Lake Perris on their boat last Sat.  SO FUN!

April, Wes & Peyton came too.

 Check out Aprils blog here for more pictures and her post.

Baby Kyler who was STELLAR on the boat ride, totally use to it!

Ella did NOT enjoy the boat ride much, but surly LOVED the "brown" Perris water

The first person to go on the tube was Ned and as he went flying through the air and way off in the water at a distance she thought he was gone forever, not understanding why we were laughing and she was screaming her lungs out for her Daddy, kinda sad at first, but it got funny as it progressed.

It was Asher's 3rd birthday and Kim even made him cupcakes. He just loved playing with the shells.

The boys did up some hot dogs and we actually enjoyed the HEAT

Daddy & Uncle Wes took Asher out on LOTS of rides since it was his 3rd B-day and he had a blast

He even got daring and laid down with the boys (but he didn't keep his head up)

Also NOTICE his new hair cut like Daddy's!

I passed out on the 1st day of School (It's True)

So I remember feeling ANXIOUS as a kid prepping for school. Not nervous, just excited & all the anticipation.

I NEVER used to be able to sleep as a kid on Christmas Eve, preparing for a big vacations, and always the night before the first day of school.  I remember on the first day of 3rd grade, I was really nervous and I was curling my bangs in the bathroom, and my mom walked by and told me not to lock my knees or I would pass out.  Well YES if you have read my blog before, you know I am prone to passing out, and that is exactly what I did.

Hot curling iron in my hand and passing out, burning my forehead, for the first day of school.  
Good times!

So I have been a little anxious while my firstborn (Ella) had her first day of school today. KINDERGARTEN to be exact. Yikes.  Well I always call her my mini me, not because she looks like me (more like Ned, for sure!) but she has a LOT of my personality. Which is sometimes hard for me to deal with (OK often times hard to deal with).

So we put her to bed at 7pm and by 11pm when I went to bed she still was NOT asleep. It broke my heart!  With all the sincerity of her heart she said, "I really am trying mom, I promise I am, I'm really sorry!"  So we were worried all night how the today would be, exhausted & emotional.
The verdict:
The day before, checking out her teacher, we got the one we wanted & requested: Mrs. Padilla. 

 The morning of, she was excited!  She was up with her new alarm clock, pumped & ready to go! YES!  Dad even took the morning off work to walk with us all to school (& we (Asher, Ned & I) went to Mimi's for breakfast after)... not celebrating, OK just a little! But shh, she doesn't know that!

We then got to meet her teacher (again) prior to class, who already remembered Ella's name. We could tell this made Ella's day. And you can see it in her SMILE!  (with her upside down tag & all)

She then waited in line with the other students, and would NOT put down her backpack or lunch pail, even though she kept complaining about how heavy they were.

AND MY ULTIMATE FAVORITE MOMENT & PICTURE OF THE DAY!  The school had all the students walk through the front gate where they had music playing, balloons all over, teachings greeting, AND A RED CARPET! How AWESOME is that!  Well Ella (in her MISS ELLA BELLA personality & typical way) after smiling her time away, WOULD NOT smile or pose for the camera on the red carpet.  So my favorite shot of the BACK TO SCHOOL BLITZ!

Then to make it an extra special day. When she got home I had helium balloons for her & a bunch of school supplies!  She was thrilled & LOVED every minute of it.

So after a lot of trepidation to begin with.  We all had a great day today and glad it all went over with so much success. And for those of you who asked (it seems to be the question for this situation) NO I did NOT cry. I kind of cant believe it. But she didn't and I didn't. I think we were all just ready and happy.

I think I was more ready to cry about school starting in the middle of the Summer though, what happened to back to school in the FALL (remember the day after Labor Day)!

I'm Still Here & Exhausted...

Most of you already know why I have been non-existent here on my personal blog lately, if not you can read about all I have been doing the last few weeks on the new blog I am doing for my sweet little nephew here who is currently fighting for his life, read more about how it all started here.  So between blogging updates for him and emotionally dealing with that and life in general, I just started feeling really down and sad dealing with everything, so I really decided I needed to just get back into my daily routine with my family again so that they are all not suffering as well.  We have done that by:

• Returning back to do the fun Summer Movie Program, so we saw this today.

• Back to serving in my church calling as Young Women's President in my ward and for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Which keeps me very busy. Sunday lessons and classes. Tuesday activities (we watched a movie they made from Girls Camp this week, and made a poster, and ate Ice Cream). AND preparing for our 30 mile bike ride from Corona to the Beach THIS Saturday! Whew! It is exhausting, but I LOVE it!!!  These girls are some of my "besties" that means Best Friends (yep, totally trying to stay cool)!

• Walking & hanging out with my new preschool friends.  I usually walk Tues. & Thurs. with a few mom's I met through Ella's preschool. It has been a way to keep me exercising and have fun at the same time. I haven't started back until this week, since our vacation and everything with my nephew has happened, so it feels "normal" reconnecting with them again.

• Ella also has swim lessons everyday, M-Th. Since Danny & Sarah have a pool at their house, we are really trying to get the kids swimming, and Ella absolutely LOVES IT. Can you tell?

So if you have read it all, you can see I am very busy and pretty darn exhausted, but hanging in there and trying to get back into the swing of things, which helps my emotional state.

I am also wondering WHAT HAPPENED TO SUMMER??  My eldest BABY is starting kindergarten this year, and on AUGUST 11th!!!! That seems crazy to me, more anxiety producing posts about that later.

My nephew William in critical condition: Update & new blog

Hey my friends, family, & blog followers. Most of you have probably already heard from my fb page, but my sweet little nephew William is VERY VERY sick. He is only 1 and in critical condition. 

Last week we left to Yosemite for our family vacation and on the way up Sarah was telling us lil' Will was sick, we didn't think much of us and let him sleep on it that night. The next morning my dad was sick (ended up passing a kidney stone, in Yosemite) so he went to the urgent care there (which we believe was God's hand) because Dan & Sarah decided to take Will to the urgent care with my dad since he was already going. Immediately they hooked him up on an IV and sent him to Fresno hospital (the closest hospital). After being their and determining his illness (see the new blog I created below for more details) http://williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com/ 

he was then air lifted to CHLA and has been undergoing dialysis, blood transfusions, surgeries, etc. 

It has been horrible to see the suffering of the Todd family (Dan, Sarah, Carter & Claire) are going through. Our family has felt so helpless and frustrated while just waiting.  The one thing we felt we could do was help keep everyone updated on his status and also try to help Dan & Sarah with expenses. Although they do have insurance the copays & deductibles are still very high, and they are spending a lot on gas for back and forth to doctors, specialists, surgeons, home, etc. They are also worried about having to go back to work (Danny has to return next week) and will drive back and forth in the evenings to be with Will, while Sarah will take off as long as financially possibly. 

I know if it was my child I would just die having to go to work while my son was in critical condition. So I started the web page below, and know there are so many generous and caring people out there who would love to help. So please feel free to donate $1 or any amount you'd like.

Most importantly PLEASE pray for baby William daily.  We love him so much! 

I will NOT be posting on updates on my personal blog anymore, so please go to William's blog and follow to be updated on his status.  Thanks again for your prayers at this time.

http://williamantoniotodd.blogspot.com/

Here is my first blog post on the new site:

My sweet nephew (Danny & Sarah's 3rd born child) 1 year old William was recently diagnosed with (HUS) Hemolytic-uremic syndrome or e.Coli 0157, the worse kind, including a number of other medical issues resulting from this disorder that usually occurs when an infection in the digestive system produces toxic substances that destroy red blood cells, causing kidney injury.

He was diagnosed at Fresno Hospital & air lifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles where he is currently a patient in ICU in critical condition.  He is undergoing dialysis, he has had a complete body blood transfusion, and today has had his first surgery; where it was discovered a major portion of his intestines was dead.  This is the latest news for NOW. He is out of surgery & stable.


William's condition is not good right now, but we all hoping and praying that our will is alignment with God's.

All Danny & Sarah have asked for at this point is sincere PRAYERS on his behalf. And this is the key and most important thing desired.  Please ask any friends or prayers circles you may have to keep William Antonio Todd in their prayers.

I know many of you have contacted them and myself asking how you can help or assist.  And many of you knowing the stress they are under right now is heart wrenching.  The numerous hospital bills that have & will continue to incur (including the air lifting), the driving back & forth, managing their other 2 children, and worrying about their jobs all while trying to spend as much time with William as they possibly can.  In order to help we have set up this fundraiser page to help them with their hospital bills and continue the great care they are receiving.



We all appreciate the out pour of support for our little Will and again thank you for the many, many prayers on his behalf. Please feel free to share this site with friends of Danny's & Sarah's as I know they have told me how grateful they are already for the kindness & blessings they have received from so many caring friends.

Thank you so much for helping this sweet little baby. ANY donation amount is appreciated and goes a long way. Everything goes strictly towards Williams expenses.

ALSO, YOU IF YOU PREFER TO NOT USE PAYPAL YOU CAN SEND CHECKS TO:  2101 Veranda Ct. Perris, CA. 92571

CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO "DANIEL & SARAH TODD" WITH "WILLIAM ANTONIO TODD DONATION" ON THE MEMO LINE.

Have I told you lately.....

...that I LOVE HIM???????!!!!!!!!!

 Date night with my bro. & his SWEET wife Sarah!

I LOVE these Girls!!!!!!!!!!

I seriously LOVE these girls! They are hilarious! They are fun!  They are FULL OF ENERGY! But most important they are grounded, they have testimonies and strive daily to be better, to be young (women of worth)!! They are GREAT examples to me! I LOVE THESE GIRLS!!!!!!!!