The Todd Girls

*The Todd Girls*

(Hayley Hamilton, April Aleman, Peyton Aleman, Mama Todd, Claire Todd, Sarah Todd, Ella Broberg, Heidi Broberg)

I am THANKFUL...

...for Thanksgiving and the opportunity I have to slow down, spend time with family, and reflect on ALL I am THANKFUL for, because it sure is a LOT!!!!

I TAKE THE CAKE....

....for the worst mom, wife, self award. At least I feel like it. And the reason I haven't blogged in the last FOREVER is because I have been so busy, stressed, tired, sick and booked lately. Not what President Uchtdorf counseled us to do last month, so now I feel guilty on top of all that!!!! Ahhhh...can I not win!

To sum it up quickly I put my notice in at my work and actually (YES, for all you NON-BELIEVERS that thought I would NEVER do it) am quitting my full-time job. So basically I am DONE with that job (AFTER 9 YEARS!!!) I was officially terminated last week, BUT with that being said I am now a broker for our same company and can make my own schedule, but with Open Enrollment here I am working HARDER than I ever have in my life to help sustain us through the next upcoming year of 2011 when I will work only 2 days a MONTH or wont work at all!

So needless to say it has been VERY hard balancing it ALL. And with the kids and myself being sick, it sure doesn't help when we all are a little cranky. So then I read others blogs of all the fun things these SUPER Mom's are doing with their kids and just feel bad. Then I see all the nice things people do for their spouses, and I come home and just crash OR am ready to hand the kids over if I have been home all day with them. Or I feel like I am not doing enough for my job to help us through 2011.

So as I start to get down on myself, I just remind myself of ALL MY MANY BLESSINGS and to have FAITH that all things will work out in the future and we know we are doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is.

SO I will be out of commission the next few months, but I PROMISE a SUPER update after the new year and will be back on the blogging bandwagon. But yes I am still alive and just say a little prayer for me that it stays that way through the end of this next year.

THANKS all my blogging friends!

Peyton's Baby Blessing

We had the wonderful opportunity a few weekends ago to bless my beautiful niece Peyton Jane (April & Wes's baby)...

Here's my family....

the entire crew

the beautiful parents

the boys...

(Josh Bladh, Paul Duncan, Ryan McCook, Ned Broberg (isn't he handsome), Wes Aleman & baby, Fred Aleman, John Todd, Daniel Todd, Patrick Aleman, Andy Moore.

Good-bye BLACK BEAUTY..Hello DIESEL

Good-Bye Black Beauty (yes, I sold my 2002 LEXUS IS 300)...

...and HELLo MINI-VAN (you heard it right, we bought a 2011 Toyota Sienna MINI-VAN!!!)

It LITERALLY has taken me 2-3 years to get to this point. Ask anyone who knew me well enough that I had sworn an oath to myself that I would NEVER own a mini-van! Well here we are, Saturday I sold my car and bought a new car, so within 5 hours I went from Lexus mom to Mini-Van mom! Keep laughing...

Well a few months ago I had to watch my nieces and nephews (& my own kids) so I borrowed my sis-in-laws mini-van and it really started to win me over. It was SO convenient, spacious, and nice. I still swore I wouldn't do it. But after months and YEARS really looking at trucks, SUV's, crossovers, everything was lacking something that the mini-van had (space, seats, cargo/camping room, comfort, features). So besides (what some may say, is the lack of style) all fingers pointed to the mini-van. We decided, we divided and we conquered!

And to tell you the truth I LOVE IT! And I still feel pretty dang cool in it as well. So I am gonna ROCK MY MINI-VAN!

Shout out for the MINI-VAN!

PS. We asked the kids what we should name the new car and immediately Ella yelled out DIESEL, so it stuck. And with all our automatic opening doors, sliding & removable seats, we thought it was pretty appropriate for the TRANSFORMER mini-van name!

Ballerina Girl

Ballerina Girl

You are so lovely- With you standing there- I'm so aware Of how much I care for you

(When I was a little girl my parents always sang Ballerina Girl-Lionel Richie- to me so its become a natural thing to continue this tradition with Ella).

She has been in dance "exploration" for about 4 months now and she loves it. They do tap, ballet, gymnastics, and other fun things for 4 years old! She actually gets a recital in December and that will be funny!!!

Shade Clearance

So I guess Shade is going out of bushiness (my sis-in-law just passed this good news along). So I went shopping.

www.shadeclothing.com

Plus if you spend over $100 you get free shipping. Or so I think, I am not saying I spent over $100, but I am not saying I didn't either....

Discovering the iPod

I know how happy I was when I discovered the joys of an iPod...happy to report Miss Ella enjoys it the same.

(She inherited my old shuffle when Ned got me the new Nano)

Asher's BUZZ Birthday!

A BUZZ LIGHTYEAR Birthday for our Bubba Buzz...

(he LOVES BUZZ in case you cant tell from his face)

Swimming in Nana & Boppies mini pool with cousins.

And drowning in the pool (look at his face) and look at dad's pants. He still doesn't get how to stand up yet even though he can reach...

CRAFTS with cousins (Claire loving her crown)

And one of the presents from mom (of course mostly potty training supplies, can you tell what I WANT!) ha ha ha

And his two newest cousins who seemed to enjoy the party too

(Peyton-April & Wes's & William- Dan & Sarah's)

The BIG 3-0

So I have been a little sad this year about turning 30, it just seems so old, because I don't feel old at all, but that number just seems so much older than I feel. So Ned was so sweet and totally spoiled me (probably so I wouldn't be depressed about being 30!). So forgive all these pictures of me, but last Sat. (a week after my b-day) Ned took me OUT!

Cedar Creek Inn (I had the BEST, and I mean the BEST Lobster I have EVER had in my life). I didn't even eat my steak or the rest of my food after, in fear or running the wonderful, succulent taste in my mouth!

At Massage Envy, I really fell asleep at the tail end of massage, you think I needed it!

And getting my M.A.C. makeover at Brea Mall. I am checking myself out I guess in the first picture, and then the after shot (not much different from the usual) but how I wish I had someone to get me ready everyday, it would be heaven!

Thanks to the BEST husband EVER!!!!!!!!!!