Hector the collector

Who couldn't love a face like that! It's the little things in life that makes Myles so happy. For example driving bumper cars at California Adventure, or hoarding _________(you fill in the blank), or getting to feed little bits of crackers to his sisters. He is so animated and smilie all the time. He really is a great kid. We just visited the Dr. for his three year check up. He's officially the size of an average 5 year old. He weighed in at 43 lbs. and 43 1/4 inches tall. He wears a size 11.5 shoe and 4T pants are becoming floods, time to dig out the 5's. I can't believe how big my bubba is getting. He's such a good boy and since he has started to talk more he's become much more of a ham. He's always saying things like "that's good mommy", or "remember" when he recalls something from long ago, which he does all the time. He loves to car seat dance when the music is loud, and he loves it when he can get the girls to "dance" too. He's a caring boy who is usually very polite. He tries hard to say "please" and "thank you", and he's gotten really good at saying "sorry" too. I guess when you are three it's hard to always be nice to your sisters. He must feel out numbered at times. The only guy in the house until 5:30 pm each night. Myles loves watching movies, and has the Johnson knack for repeating lines from the shows. Although he's a giant I have to remind myself that he's still a little guy and he's only 3. I expect a lot of him, and he generally delivers. I love, love, love my little bubba!

From the same pod

I'm not sure why I'm feeling so nostalgic today, but I am. These are just a few thoughts I want to share of Audrey and Lydia. They are growing WAY to FAST.

This is how she spent her first day at the beach. She loved the dirt and digging in it.

This is Lydia Keiko Dodd. She is half of my beautiful pair of girls. She has a fire in her. She is somewhat devious. She is a love. She loves toy cars, being outside and tickles. She will sit in her car seat and tickle her own toes, then laugh hysterically. She will tickle Audrey and Myles and laugh. She has always been first at her milestones. I guess she is trying to make up for being born second! She is her daddy. I love, love, love her to pieces.

This is how Audrey spent her first day at the beach. She never got off the blanket, nor did she have any interest in getting her hands and feet into the sand.

This is Audrey Amiko Dodd. She is the other half of my beautiful pair. She is the first born and yet she is the one who will sit and watch very carefully. She is a snuggler. She is all girl. She talks, yet refuses to walk at 17 1/2 months old. She loves shoes, sunglasses, and her blankie. She loves to be outside and kicks and screams when you make her go inside. She is a drama queen. She is precious. I love, love, love her to pieces.

These two beautiful girls are such a joy to me. I'm so blessed to have them and to be their mother. I can't believe how much love I have for them, and Myles. I can't imagine my life without them. I'm so glad they have each other. Forever "womb mates"... no matter what else they do or the different directions they may go. I hope they will always be close.

Halloween 2010

It was past bedtime when this was taken, that's why the girls look so thrilled.

We had a very fun Halloween season this year. The day itself fell on a Sunday and since we don't live in Mormonland, where the night would have been moved to Saturday, our kids didn't trick-or-treat. Not to worry, they still had plenty of fun and didn't even miss trick-or-treating. I'm always hard at work trying to come up with costumes for the whole family that won't break the bank. So this year we went with the book, The Cat in the Hat. Bjorn and I were the two kids who sat in the window while their mother went out. Then we took our fish bowl with a goldfish, Carlos K. Crinklebine. Myles was the Cat in the hat, a costume that I resurrected from the girls birthday party. The girls of course were "Thing 1 and Thing 2". Complete with "crazy" hair made of feather boa and nylons.

Look at that cute little face!

Just thrilled to be walking about.

Last Monday was the Ward Halloween Trunk-or-treat. It's always a great event for everyone. It starts with dinner and some carnival games. Then a costume parade and finally finishes off with the trunk-or-treat. The candy Myles collected from that little 5 min. activity was more than enough. He is still working on it.

Then Saturday was our Block party. It was a great event where we set up carnival booths around the common area and had the kids pumpkin bowl, pin the nose on the pumpkin, a fishing pond, cookie decorating, a fun foam craft, and a station for face painting/balloon shapes/magic tricks, and a doughnut eating contest. Then later the adult men had a game of broom pumpkin hockey. It was quite a day. The kids had a great time and I think it was a hit.

After a long afternoon of fun and games, this is part of the group we had.