Travel and Family

Whew, what a vacation -- Trains, taxi cabs, a ship, a floatplane, lots of buses, and then more trains and airplanes! This Alaska cruise and vacation is something John and I have been planning for a long time. It started on Thursday, September 2, 2010. We got up early and had Hayley drop us off at the Pedley Metrolink Station. We took the Metrolink into Los Angeles' Union Station. We got our Amtrak tickets and then walked across the street to have breakfast at Phillippe's. Back on the train, everything was great. Because we upgraded our tickets to include a sleeper compartment, we were able to spend a lot of time in "The Parlor Car". As a part of our package, we also got all three meals a day in the 1st Class Dining Car. Going to meals for the two days it took us to get from Los Angeles to Seattle was the highlights of our days. The scenery was fantastic all along the way -- from the city to the seaside of Central California and then into the mountains and forests, we...

Krause, A descriptive German surname meaning "with curly hair," from the Middle High German "krus," meaning curly. A descriptive German surname meaning "with curly hair," from the Middle High German "krus," meaning curly. The name Todd originates as a surname deriving from the Middle English “tod” or “todde” meaning “a fox.” The surname probably derived to describe those who were fox hunters. In Scottish, the name “Tod” means “clever” or “wily.” So, if our family were true to the orgins of our name, we'd have red, curly hair and, of course, be very clever!

We love the Los Angeles County Fair! ....we had most the whole family together this year (except our son in law, Ned this time.) We always see the cows and other farm animals in the Big Red Barn, buy ice cold chocolate milk from the cows there, eat corn dogs, barbecue something and ALWAYS share a strawberry & whipped cream funnel cake. We take at least one run down the huge slide and visit the flower exhibit build ing, and will usually stay for the free entertainment at the end of the day. Demolition Derby -- True White Trash Fun!! For the last 2 or 3 years, we've timed our fair visits to be on Demolition Derby night. Its always been my dream to be in one. Maybe for an upcoming family activity, we can all get a beater and just go at each other....then I could die a happy woman (and get buried in a Dodger casket)....scroll on down. Ryan and Carter, my sweet little pets. Wes and April (my daughter) My "corny" grandson, Asher Carter, Ryan and Ell...

Half Dome Hike, Annette, Danny, April and Wes -- We made it to to the top of the world! The Cookie Jar Song, “Who stole the cookie…. ” Bagel Sandwiches, Bagel Sand wiches, Bagel Sandwiches “That’s what she said….” N n n n n n n n, NO! The Indian Village at the Visitor's Center Sandwiches at Dengen's Deli Riding the Yosemite Shuttle -- Usually at the back of the bus Taking photos at the Ahwahnee The Brobergs’ fancy new Nikon Rafting and Tubing down the Merced River – (sneaking the rented raft to camp and trying to lose the ranger on horseback to get a longer & more exciting ride) Moving campsites (218 great base most of the tim e) Claire ditching her sh oes Swimming in the Merced near camp Baby Ducks and Mama Ducks Ned chasing a bear in the middle of the night (the o ne that stole and shredded Heidi’s pack) Shopping at the General Stores in Curry and Yosemite Villages The Brave (or crazy ones) Jumping off the top of Swinging Bridge into t he Merc ed Ned and Dan...

I'm still unpacking boxes from our recent move, and while doing so, ran across some old photos from the couple of times that we purchased a packages from Olan Mills. This one must be from about 1981, Annette, John, Heidi and Danny. Heidi didn't get any hair till she was almost 3 so I used Karo syrup to stick little bows on her head. (Back then, if you'd put a big ribbon around a baby's head, it would have looked crazy like something from the 1920's...that trend just hadn't resurfaced yet.) Danny's face looks a LOT like his little daughter, Claire's in this photo. Here's one of the Todd kids in 1989. Danny, Heidi, April and Hayley. Oh, I loved them all so much then, and love them all still. These were fun and sweet days. Nobody else wanted or needed their photos taken and I had one more "free" photo on our plan so, not wanting to waste it, I took this photo. I was just getting ready to go back to college in 1988 and used this for m...