what is different?

BEFORE 7:30 THIS MORNING


AFTER 7:30 THIS MORNING! NO MORE BRACES! YIPPEE!!!
what a beautiful smile :)

fun times.

i had a feeling today was going to be a good day when i turned north off of charleston onto buffalo, and never put my brakes on again until i was parking at steinberg diagnostics. that was a good ten minutes of hitting green lights and a sweet flow of traffic. how often does that happen in my life? it was magical!

i really wasn't going to post about this subject again this year, but in all of my cleaning out, i came upon my very favorite greeting card of all time, and i thought i needed to share it.




you might need to click on the picture so you can see the details...but there you have it. make sure you get your mammogram this year, don't delay. :) hope you have a magical day!

some of the sweetest things in life...

a pink flower from uncle tod, pink fingers and toes, a tootsie roll pop, and cinderella!



isn't he the cutest thing you have ever seen!




being mauled by your big sister! nothing better! (this brings back memories of kristen and tod...)



springtime blossoms!



taking a great picture at the right time!


an amazing bouquet of lilies!



a healthy, strong body and a quick recovery!


a day off work and a clean bedroom!



riding a harley in the springtime!



watching the lakers with my boys!
i did say, these are a few of the sweetest things in my life. :)

love at home?

these girls were being a little naughty tonight at dinner so i made them get out of the car and take a picture by the pretty flowers. they thought they would die of embarrassment if anyone drove by. no one did. (bummer!) i was hoping it would make them feel more loving toward each other. not sure it worked!

mostly i just wanted a new picture to come up every time i got on the internet. :)

my garage is cleaned out and ready for some new stuff on the tables, yippee! i'm four days behind my calendar outline, but i have been working! papers (files) are the hardest things to sort through. most of them are headed for the trash!

hope you are enjoying the beautiful spring weather! :) tootles!

sixty eight days...

yesterday i had a conversation with a very sweet friend. just before we hung up, she started talking about all the stuff karen albright was doing (also leaving on a mission when we are) to get ready to leave. i almost felt like i couldn't breathe. i really have accomplished so little. i am still spending my weeks busily occupied with the same kinds of things that always occupy my weeks. as of today, that is all going to change!

after hanging up the phone, and later in the day, i had a conversation with keri. dear. wise. keri. as i started to whine she asked, "you do have a list made of all that you have to do before you leave, don't you?" "no. i don't even feel like i know what should be on the list." sympathetically she didn't push me and we finished our conversation. gratefully, i did hear her words, and by the end of last night, i had two lists started. one for today and tomorrow. one for things i don't want to forget that i need to take care of before june 23rd.


then i thought i would take it one step further and give myself some deadlines to finish the cleaning/clearing out process. i printed three calendars. i'm sure i was a little off in the time i gave myself to finish my cleaning projects, but at least, i have a dead line to work toward! i feel like i can breathe a little better this afternoon.


also, for anyone who is interested, i have cleaned thru one of my storage rooms, and have filled some tables in my garage. if you think you would like to take a look, come over, and have anything you would like. or call me and i will put something aside for you! whatever is still in the garage tuesday evening, will find a new home at d.i. i imagine i will have to do this one more time when i finish my kitchen and other storage room.




i just love these big, wooden puzzles!


some boyds bears bunnies.


a set of dishes. also not pictured, two eyelet twin bed comforters.


two big evergreen garlands. in great shape. barely used. :)





lots of decorations, christmas ornaments, placemats, quite a variety of things!

here's to staying on my schedule, and accomplishing much! breathe susan, just breathe!

easter sunday and spring break in mexico

the whole family left monday, april 6th, to spend eight beautiful days and seven nights in puerto vallarta. we decided to try a new place (other than cancun) and no one was disappointed!





puerto vallarta! things we most definitely liked...

*the big beach- lots of sand and space
*the whole family together- not one chair empty :)
*being able to enjoy the sunsets every evening
*going to church
*the evening entertainment (mama mia, cirque (or as lauren called it "the circus", grease)
*taking walks
*more tours (just kidding)
1-sunset tour (aka drunken party on boat)
2-the city tour (if it had only been the city it would have been perfect)
*i think our family is pretty happy if there is sun and water!
*pina coladas, soft serve ice cream and popsicles ALL DAY LONG!
*stir-fry, guacamole and salsa, room service, food, food, food!
*golf (especially the new "phrase" learned that day)
*kristen snoring (very loudly) during her couple's facial with sadie
*the ocean
*every time i said thank you for something, the people who work there would say, "it's a pleasure!" (imagine mexican accent) i am going to try to incorporate that phrase into my vernacular.

what did we miss about cancun?
*the beautiful blue water
*brent and michelle :)

lauren and beau were great! they both had a little trouble sleeping a few nights (which made for tired parents), but during the days...they were the sweetest angels! all in all, it was a wonderful vacation!

it feels a bit like we are trying to do everything imaginable before we leave for santa rosa. i guess we're just trying to make enough memories that they will last us through the next three years! :) i keep telling myself we're not dying, we'll be back, but things will most certainly be different then, so i'm grateful we can have these times together now.

VIVA LA MEXICO!

princess lauren is a THREE year old!

i'm pretty sure i have expressed many times how much i adore miss lauren lucy! she is so excited to be three years old, and have her very own presents to open. :) she has the sweetest personality! but lately she has taken the liberty to speak her mind on occasion and have her wishes known. i believe it is good for children to have strong personalities as well as sweet ones. they have to be able to stand strong and firm in what they believe, making their voices heard for good! i'm glad she is starting young. :)

these are a few of my favorites from the past three years!







when i think we will be gone as long as lauren has been alive...it feels like a long, long time! i'm sure it will fly by though, right?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET PEA! we love you very much!

grandchildren :)

wednesday, thursday and most of friday we got to have lauren and beau stay with us! it was great! exhausting but great! lauren was so excited to have a sleep over and i agree with her, there is nothing better than a sleep over with your grandchildren...
*getting to cuddle and rock them to sleep at night
*holding them a little extra long just to check out every single piece of them while they are peaceful and still
*and then getting to see them first thing in the morning
*huge smiles, pure delight and happiness at the start of a new day...
there is nothing better!

beau is growing up so fast! he is truly mr. happy! any time you look his way, you get a huge grin from him. he rolls around all over the floor, gets caught under chairs and tables, and loves putting all toys in his mouth. he is just starting to eat baby food and sneezed a couple of times with a mouthful of rice cereal. it was a nice face mask for my wrinkled skin. :) trying to carry him around in his car seat made me feel old. :)



lauren keeps me smiling! she says the cutest things! she is very busy, and loves to play and watch "her shows", not "my shows" on television. she can concentrate like a mad woman when she is doing something! she likes to help me cook, she is careful to wash her hands (the backs and fingers too) every time she uses the potty, she loves taking care of her baby, and her newest thing - having tea parties. (instead of tea though she makes soup) we had a good time together. i like to french braid her hair - unlike my daughters, she doesn't take it out five minutes after i braid it. one day we jumped rope a lot. video footage to follow...



having said all of that, my hat totally goes off to ALL the mothers and fathers of little ones! i am out of practice! it was a huge accomplishment to get us all bathed and to the grocery store before noon! how do you get anything done? i slept very soundly last night. :)

i know i have said it before, but being a grandmother is just about the best thing EVER! i do love being a wife and mother too...i guess grammie susie is just the newest gig...and lauren and beau just love me so unconditionally...