Ode to my GIRLS!

For the longest time it has been a dream of mine to go to Education Week with all of my daughters- I used to go when they were younger and see moms with their grown-up children and think how much fun it would be to share that as a family. So by some miracle it worked out this time!! Since three of the girls are now in Utah it of course made it much easier. I flew up Monday night, Whit flew in Wednesday, and we spent Thursday and Friday enjoying classes all together and did a little bit of shopping on Saturday before we flew home. What a blessing it was to have this time- a big thanks to Lynn who sacrificed not only being alone in the office but dealing with a sick Trixie and having to give her medicine! He never once said it would be hard to deal with everything, but just how happy he was that we could go- he is absolutely the best! We learned lots of great things in lots of great classes, but the most important thing we learned more about was each other and how fun it is to be together. I of course got lots of Emma and Sopie kisses too!! So thanks girls for being willing to join me this last week- it was awesome!

I LOVE BLOGGING!!

Okay, I know I haven't been the best at keeping caught up with my blog, but I love being able to check up with everyone! I think about how great it is- if Mandy hadn't started all this I wouldn't have been able to:

1. See pictures of my sweet grandbabies
2. Hear about the funny, sad, frustrating, sweet, inspiring stories from everyone
3. Keep in touch with friends I love who've moved far, far away
4. See what mischief my children and others children are up too
5. Watch pregnant bellies grow
6. Watch children grow in pictures when I wouldn't have the chance to see them
7. Share pictures and stories from my family
8. Reconnect with lost family members I've always loved
9. Feel lots of love from others and know people care
10. Read about the adventures of Grandma Hand

So, thanks to those of you I love for sharing your lives- you're an inspiration to me!! I'm off to Arizona tonight to help Chelsea pack her house for the move to Utah- didn't we just move her in??!! Love to you all- Susie

CHAPTER FOUR: The Day Before!

Okay, I have been a total and complete slacker about blogging- to my defense in the four weeks since the wedding I've had a bbq for 23, 3 days at girls camp, helped Whit and Ryan get settled, a trip to San Francisco, and the 4th of July! Oh, and I read the 6th Harry Potter book! So back to the wedding. Chelsea and Lindsey felt bad that they didn't have a chance to do a shower for Whit so they arranged a little party for the day before. Chels made dozens of trips to Old Navy and got shirts for everyone then had them printed with a cute saying. We all (17) went to our favorite nail place and had "ManiPedi's" (as Aunt Debbie calls them) then lunch afterwards at the house. It was a really fun day to spend with sisters, aunts, bridesmaids, cousins, and friends. Emma totally loved having her nails done- she is such a girl! Whit's bridesmaids Sydney and Kat had sweatsuits made up for them too- I think it was a great way to spend the day before. So thanks Chelsea and Liz for the great time!! So finally next- THE WEDDING!!

CHAPTER THREE: Whitney Goes to the Temple

It was such a special day when Whitney went through the temple for the first time. It was the Wednesday before the wedding and everyone in both immediate families were there except for Ryan's brother and sister-in-law who were in Atlanta. It was great being there with everyone (except Liz of course) and so nice to share it with the MacLaurin's. They are an awesome family and we're so happy to have them to share Whitney and Ryan with! It was so funny when we walked out after the session and I looked at Karen and we were wearing almost identical outfits: white linen skirts, white shirts, and orange vest or jacket! Afterwards we went to Tommy Bahama's for dinner and just enjoyed the calm before the storm!


























We're off to San Francisco tomorrow for the weekend with everyone- except Emma who'll be staying with Aunt Marcia- to fulfill a life long dream of Lynn's- visit Alcatraz!! So it will be a few days until CHAPTER FOUR: The Day Before!! Until then, love to all!

CHAPTER TWO: Parties, parties, parties!

The Bridal Shower: So what would an engagement be without some showers?? This is Whit and all the bridesmaids. Some sweet ladies in our ward gave Whit a bridal shower where she received lots of fun things. All the girls but Chels could be there and we missed her lots! This is the game where everytime she got an answer wrong that Ryan had said she had to put a piece of gum in her mouth- she didn't do very well!!

The Bachelorette Party: The week before the wedding Whitney's friends Sydney and Kat planned a last evening out. Her high school friends and her sisters had a limo pick them up and they went out for dinner and then to Dave and Busters. I think her sisters had the most fun just makeing fun of themselves- notice their name tags on the pic below!














So tomorrow...Chapter Three- Whit goes to the temple.

AT LAST!!!

So I have finally decided I cannot slack off any longer- it is time to start blogging again. Who knew a wedding could take so much time and emotional energy, you would think with this being the third one I've had to deal with I would have been prepared, but not me. I think I've really just wanted to enjoy remembering how special the time was without having to look at pictures and write about it all!! So, I'll start at the beginning.....

CHAPTER ONE: The Beach Bonfire for Whit's 20th Bday

I feel like the wedding parties started on May 19th when we had a bonfire at the beach for Whit's birthday. It was so cold, but the guys got a blazing inferno going which warmed us all quite well. Everyone was home and the Penney family joined in as well as Sydney. You just can't go wrong on a great California evening with a party at the beach!









The cute birthday girl and Ryan, all the cousins together

Aunt Marcia and Emma









Dan- the master marshmellow toaster, others trying to imitate him!
Miss Sophie at her first bonfire.

I had every intention to write a 10 great things list for Whit on her birthday, but time got away from me and now here it is a month later! So I'll end Chapter One of the Wedding Saga with

The Top Ten Reasons we Love our Twitter Bug:
10. She finished our family not with a whimper, but with a roar!
9. She can truly burp louder than anyone I've ever heard and still look cute!
8. She is stubborn and strong-willed which used to be tough when she was little, but is great now!
7. She is the absolute best auntie in the world and is always willing to play!
6. She married Ryan and made him a part of our family!
5. She loves her dad to pieces and is always willing to spend time with him!
4. She is a loyal and loving sister!
3. She has a great sense of humor and makes the best comments on life!
2. She still looks like our little 12 year old we thought would always stay our baby!
1. She makes life fun for us all!

So, stay tuned, Chapter Two next- The Shower, the Temple, and dinner!

I Think my Husband has Lost It!!!

So....those of you who knows us very well know that my husband Lynn has issues with motercycles and ATVs. Why just last year he about killed himself by rolling- yes rolling- a very large ATV over himself while trying to ride up the side of the Y mountain in Provo. This was just the last in a series (I can say series because there were more than three incidents) of accidents he has had while riding motorized vehicles too fast and recklessly. We had a long talk after the accident last year and he agreed that he probably shouldn't ride them because he likes to go fast, very fast. Imagine my surprise when I got into the office on Tuesday after being gone for over a week to find a brochure for Vespas on my desk. I thought maybe Marcia had been looking at them, but when I asked her she told me that no, Lynn was looking at them. So I asked him and he told me he had stopped at the dealership and had looked but not much else. Even more to my surprise I found out Thursday that he and Lindsey were going to the dealership to pick out colors. So, today at 6PM the doorbell rang and when I answered it there was a nice man with a big grin on his face saying "Here are your Vespas!" The kids are thrilled and even with the many rules- no riding out of our development, always wear a helmet, no riding at night, no speeding and so on. They are pretty fun to ride and I somehow feel very European zipping around the block on it!!