Nana and Bull

Now we are back in Cali for the weekend. Well not all of us. Adele is with my parents because I couldn't fly back with both the girls. I'm feeling pretty crappy about it - I miss her and I feel guilty that she's not with us. Veda couldn't go three weeks without seeing Todd though so we had to make the trip. She was a good traveller - she didn't scream "help me" at the top of her lungs for three hours like she did on the way to the Midwest;) Here are some pics from the children's museum and mall with my parents. Then they got her a happy meal and she looks pretty happy!

July

We are back in Iowa and I'm travelling for work. Todd is in Switzerland and the girls are hanging with Nana and Bull. We had a great weekend back in Clear Lake celebrating the life of Grandma Uthof and spending time with Kelly, Owen, Didie and Papa. I've been so busy I haven't had a second to blog. Here are a few pics to tide you over until I have time to sit down and spend some time on this. I have 10 hours in the car tomorrow during my road trip to NE... I'm still trying to figure out if it's safe to blog and drive. Probably not.

Heading East

I don't have any pictures... camera is packed so all you get is rambling...I'm finsihing up with the packing. We had to load up the girls at 6:15 so we could take Todd to work this morning so we only have one car at the airport. I'm dragging. Veda wouldn't get out of the car so she is in the garage watching movies in the car and eating her breakfast. I'm getting a lot done;) We leave later this morning. Wish us luck and I'm crossing my fingers the girls cooperate so I can take a shower - ha ha .

First time travelling with both kids in tow. I have Veda's passport ready in case anyone challenges her age and eligibility as a "lap infant." She's sitting with Todd in first class otherwise I'm not sure how we would fit her on our lap anyway. I'm happy to report that Kel made it back to Iowa yesterday wtih Owen and without incident. Today is the visitation which we will miss and then the Funeral is tomorrow morning bright and early. We won't get to the lake until after 11 so I'm not expecting much sleep in the next 24 hours - let's just hope the girls are rested by tomorrow.

Todd's Grandma Uthof

Just last week I was wishing her a happy birthday and then we lost her suddenly and unexpectedly. Our trip back to Iowa on Friday will be with mixed emotions as we meet up with the rest of the family to lay her to rest. I was fortunate enough to get to know her over the years. She was emailing and blogging into her 80's and even had her own Facebook page. I was closer to her than with my own Grandparents. It says a lot about her that she was willing and able to navigate the technologies that would help her communicate with her Grandkids.

My favorite memory was when the family gave her her Christmas present several years back. Go figure that I was the only one in the room that had no idea what it was... a post hole digger... for their 80 year old Grandmother. I was wondering what planet I was on but as I would come to learn... this would be the perfect gift for her. Always out clearing snow from the driveway, mowing and burning yard waste on the farm... she just did what needed to be done.

We could always count on her to tell us what the rest of the family was up to. I'll miss being in the "know" and I'm sorry that she won't get to meet Adele.

Piggy Tails

Finally - enough hair for piggy tails;) I'm actually blogging from somewhere over the skies of the Midwest. On my way back to LA from Detroit. I love that they have wi-fi on planes now! Can't wait to see Todd and the girls.

Daddy Daycare

I've been trying all week to download this funny video of Veda jump roping and couting "Two, Three, Five.... Two, Three, Five." I can't get it to load so you will just have to imagine how funny it was. I won't be posting much this week. I leave for Detroit tomorrow and Todd is going to be alone with the girls. Of course the neighbors have them during the day but night time is the most challenging anyway. He is really going to be happy to have me home late Wed night!

Fri we leave for Iowa for the majority of the month of July. I have appointments in six states. I'm back to work in full swing!

Big Girl in her Bumbo

Funny Veda

After I drained the water from the tub tonight I left Veda in there to play while I tended to Adele. When I came back she had tucked all her ducks under the bath mat and was telling them goodnight. "Nigh Nigh duckies".

The other funny thing she did today was to bring me a bag of toys that she couldn't open herself. Usually she just says open but today she set it down in front of me and said "knock knock" while pounding on the bag. It gets the door open so why not the bag of toys? I like how she thinks.

Happy Birthday Grandma Uthof

A shout out to one of our best blog stalkers. We know you are reading. We hope you had a great birthday. We love you.

Father's Day

We spent Father's Day driving home from Kel and Chris'. It was actually a pretty great day spent as a family. We love you Todd and the girls are so lucky to have a Dad that loves them so much!

Sweet Sweet Owen

I was pretty excited that Kel and Chris trusted Todd and me with Owen on Friday while they attended their appointments. I was warned that he was a little fussy but he put on a good show for me... I think he just likes me a lot. Well he eventually showed his true colors and man can that kid scream. The last night we were there we didn't hear a peep out of him in the middle of the night and were relieved to think that the new parents got some sleep... come to find out it was because Kel and Chris put him in the car at 2 in the morning and drove around for an hour so his crying wouldn't wake us. They are super parents and totally sleep deprived. It makes me glad that I'm over the 3 month hump with Adele;) Keep up the good work Mom and Dad... it will get easier!

Family Photos

We tried to get a good family photo...because we don't have one. We eventually had to use the banana as a prop to distract Veda.

Field Trip

Todd and Chris took Veda to the Science Museum on Saturday... she needed to get out of the house and away from the babies. I think it's finally starting to hit her that she's not the center of attention;) My favorite is the picture of her trying to play with the phone - which is actually wallpaper. I also like the fake airplane... good practice for our trip to Iowa in a couple of weeks;)

Cousins

Grandma Didie will appreciate the photo with the vacuum cleaner - this is how she use to calm Kel when she was a baby. Owen was having a hard time calming down so we turned on the vacuum and he clamed right up. Adele enjoyed it too. Good thing Veda was already in bed otherwise we would have had a different kind of fit - she is terrified of vacuum cleaners!

Owie Here We Come!

It's a big weekend for us. We are headed to meet cousin Owen. I've been preparing all week for the 7 hour drive. Veda has lots of new toys and a new movie that will be revealed during the ride;) She has been practicing "Baby Owen" and I think she may have it down. Isn't this picture the best?! Photo credits to Laura Shivers and http://www.thefamilyfootprint.blogspot.com/;))

Adele is 3 months today!

I already can't imagine life without her... or before her!;)

Smarter than she looks

We are really enjoying all of Veda's new words. Everyday she surprises us with something new (today it was "whale") and we are able to translate a new word that she has been using for some time but we didn't understand (today it was the word "again"). Tonight I was entertaining her while she was taking a bath. She looked up at me with her serious face and said "stop singing."

Boo boo

We were watching a movie the other night and someone got blown away with a shotgun. Apparently Veda was watching too because she kept saying "boo boo - boo boo".

Weekend Review

Todd was travelling all week again... this time Cincinatti - he left Monday and he returned late Thursday night. We enjoyed having him home for the weekend. Yesterday and today Veda got some pool time with Dad. Yesterday we took Veda and Adele to Shrek - their first movie. Veda lasted about half way through before she wanted to run around but she stayed close and the theatre was pretty empty so all in all it was a success... not a peep out of Adele. Last night Todd and I went on a date. It was great to have a meal out alone! This morning we took the girls to breakfast at the Camarillo airport... one of our favorite spots.

Sidewalk Art

Love the Crayola sidewalk paint. You can get it on anything and it washes off! Thanks Auntie Janice!