Reagan Romans turns 5

Here is my adorable granddaughter Reagan ( Jordan's daughter) who just turned 5. Her mom wrote a cute thing about her on her blog which I will copy so you can she how sweet she is. From her mom: "We love Reagan! I don't know what I would do without her. She is so sweet and smart and funny, but not everyone knows that about her because she lets Ellie be the entertainer most of the time. She is such a great big sister. Maddox loves to play with her and she is always the first one to ask if she can hold Tess. Today she held her for an hour while I was getting ready for her party.
She always wants to help me and hang out with me and I love it. She likes to tell everyone that "me and my mom have a crush on Christian Bale". She loves to play barbies and house and is so proud that she can skip (even up the stairs). She just galloped until recently. She loves us to tell her how she looked like a chimp when she was a baby. She really is my favorite 5year old in the whole world. We love our Reagan Monkey!"

We love Reagan too. She really turned 5 at our family reunion at the beach so we celebrated there...and she had 2 more celebrations when she got home. I think she is pretty special to have 3 parties.

She is so sweet and easy going. She just goes along with whatever and is nice to everyone.
She is going to be a "heartbreaker' Grandpa Greg says...watch out Christina Bale.

Happy Birthday Reagan.....we love you and miss you. xoxoxoxoxoxoxox Grammy Suz

I think I could have been a stand-up comic

I saw this and thought it was funny. Then I actually thought, this could have been me.
Who said, a midddle to older age peri-menopausal woman can't be that funny? Enjoy!

Felix Alexander Wood: The Chess Champ

Felix, my first grandson ( 5 years old) asked his mom today when he was going to be on my BLOG. I was so flattered didn't even know he knew I had one. So here's a tribute to my little Fifi ( his baby nick name)

Felix is all boy.....loves to run and jump and tease his little sister. He is smart and funny and can be very sensitive and sweet.
He is a chess champion. He taught himself to play by learning it on the computer. At out family reunion, he beat several of the adults. He was also teaching his younger cousins how to play. He wanted to play all the time. It was great because it kept his active, creative mind busy. Some things about him remind me of Clayton when he was young. He is a great athlete and is afraid of nothing. He is on the swim team now, learned to ride his bike this year, loves to go to pre-school, climb the wall at track-out camp and anything where he can be active and use his skills .And he loves to play games on the computer. He is learning to read in the afternoons with his mom and loves to do workbooks and learn new things. He also loves money...everything about it. He was thrilled when Grandpa Greg sent him a picture of a whole street ( city block) of money in NYC when we were there at Christmas. He called our phone and left a message saying " Grandpa can you take me to where all that money is'?

Felix had lots of talents..even singing. He had lots of confidence and makes friends fast. He is a pretty tough little guy and won't let anyone push him around. He is surrounded by girls, but is a boy all the way. I always think of him with "Kanga" his little stuffed friend.... but he only holds him at night now. He is definitely growing up and it is fun to watch him.

Felix, we love you and are proud of all the good things you are and do. Be a good helper for your mom and dad and kind to your sisters. They adore you deep down inside. I adore you too. Love you, Grammy Suz 143

Family Reunion a la DUCK!

We just had the most fun family reunion in Duck, North Carolina( the Outer Banks) for a week. It was Greg and my 35th anniversary and what a way to celebrate with all of our kids and grandkids ( 21 of us under one roof ) We rented an awesome house with 7 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms...so we had plenty of room. We had a pool, hot tub, and volleyball court in our yard and just out our back gate and down a path we had the beautiful beach.

Chelsea and Dana were in charge this year and they did a fabulous job. We had a family talent show, road rally relating to our 35 years of marriage, crafts everyday for the kids, a baby shower for Melissa, boys day to the movies, a visit to the aquarium, games every night, wonderful meals, Reagan's 5th birthday, and on and on. I think it was best one yet....Probably because we were all under one roof. The kids played amazingly well all week. Felix challenged everyone to chess and won several times. We got to meet our new grand baby girl ' Tess Annabelle" She was adorable and so sweet. The best was just hanging out with everybody and just watching the kids interact. We feel so blessed to have great kids, in-law kids and wonderful grandkids...everyone adds a something special to our family.

We are sad we have to wait another year to have them all under one roof again.

Family is what is it all about and we think we have a great one. Please hurry 2009....we miss everyone already.

Georgetown Graduate

Well a week ago we watched Clayton Tyler Romans walk across the stage and get his law school diploma. He and his good friend Diane, who also came from BYU. They have been really good friends all through law school and graduated together. It was a crazy day. Just as we found the parking garage to park, the rain poured down. So plan B went into effect. Luckily we had umbrella's and a shuttle took us down the hill in the rain. They had a tent for those without tickets and the rest of us went into a building. Each graduate was only allowed 2 tickets. It was supposed to be outside so everyone could come, but the weather didn't cooperate. Chelsea came with us and several of Clayton's friends. But they saw the speaker on a monitor and then we walked to another building to see the Law school graduates receive their diploma's. The school had a nice reception afterwards outside under a tent for family and friends. We all went out to dinner at one of Clayton's favorite places in DC, called " Matchbox" . We have heard about it for years and finally got a chance to try it. It was good. The picture Clayton is holding is one Dana painted with Chelsea's inspiration as a gift. An "R" for Romans or for 'Ruffy" or whatever.......is can hang in his new office. He loved it.

We had to drop him off at home and hurry back to Richmond. We left for our family reunion( Clayton drove down Tuesday) the next day after we cleaned out Walmart and Costco for groceries. Greg and I helped Chelsea with all the food( she was in charge this year)...we were packed to the sealing of the van. The 3 of us barely fit in. We drove to Duck for the reunion after lunch....that is a posting for another day.

We are very proud of Clayton and happy he is finished. He ended up doing really well this last semester and finished school on a high note. He is now crazy studying all summer for the bar. He has had a few different job offers and is still trying to decide. He wants to work for the government right now and explore different possibilities. He was chosen as a "presidential management fellow" which gives him some options to intern and see what department he likes best. Right now he is leaning toward the department of Homeland security doing negotiations with Mexico. It sounds interesting.
So the student life has almost come to an end, and real life is about to begin for him.....working a real job everyday. He has worked hard in school and has a pretty good idea of what his new commitment will be like.

We are excited he will still be in DC and able to come home occasionally. We love every chance we get, to see our kids and grandkids. Guess that is a sign of old age..the clock is ticking faster these days.

Congratulations Clayton for a job well done. We are proud of you and love you very much.

35 Years of Wedded Bliss ?

Well in a few days in will be May 19, 2008, my 35th wedding anniversary. Being the California "Valley" girl that I was, who would have ever thought I would have moved to Utah ( BYU) , married a boy from Nebraska, moved to Nebraska, moved to Illinois, moved to Alabama, and ultimately moved to Virginia ? When I was 17, I predicted I would marry someone from California and live there, be the oldest in my Laurel class to get married, travel the world, and become a dental hygienist. None of that happened.

I was one of the first girls married in my laurel class ( too young in my opinion now) to a guy 7 years older than me. I decided dental hygiene was not for me, after interning as a dental assistant in high school. I became a nurse instead but decided I didn't want to do that unless I really had to. I have ended up doing a million different things over the years and now have a notary signing business with Greg and work as a program manager for seminars the last several years.... in our semi-retired state.

I have become an east coast girl and love the beautiful green, change of seasons, and old architecture and history. I still hate the humidity in the summer but accept that is the price I have to pay for this lush terrain.

I have been able to travel quite a bit..... not the whole world but a good part of it. I have been in 49 states of the good, old USA. Alaska is on my list before I die. Greg and I have some great memories of fun places we have been......like flying over the rain forest in a gondola in Australia when we went to get Jordan from his mission... and then seeing the Great Barrier Reef. Or going to Europe with our whole family to pick Denton up in Austria from his mission. It was a THRILL. Or all those trips across the country in the van to Nebraska and on to California with my darling, always well-behaved kids :) Disneyland and the Beach many, many times. I will leave all my "girl's trips out of this post. Some of our most fun have been just been weekend get-a ways doing simple things. But now I say just take me to the IMAX.....you can see everything in it's fullest with no hassle.

Life is so unpredictable. So much goes down.

Greg and I have had many interesting and exciting experiences over the years. We have had the highs and lows with all the experiences of life, like most people. I thought the fire and losing the business were the worst but I have to say his cancer scare in the last few years has been one of the most unnerving. We are so grateful he is cancer free thus far....knock on wood.
It really brought me to my knees and helped me appreciate life more fully. We have survived it all so far and are still living to talk ( and whine) about it. Our temple marriage and activity in the church has been the glue that has held it all together. A highlight of the week was Greg bringing me breakfast in bed and 2 very fun gifts ( An Elvis DVD and an " eat your vegetables" plate) for Mother's Day......something he is always good at and I appreciate.

Probably the thing we have done the best together is raise 5 great kids.... and gain 4 in-law kids.....who have produced 10 beautiful grandchildren to date. Greg has been a good father and now grandfather . It is one of the things I love about him and I know one of the things that he values most. I also put family first on my list. I love the quote : "Other things might change us, but we start and end with family". I am so grateful for the example of both sets of our parents who have had long, strong marriages and taught us how to solve our problems and work things out.

We are going to spend our anniversary with our immediate family (all 21 of us)... for a week at the beach for a family reunion. And we can't think of a better way to celebrate 35 years of wedded bliss :)

In honor of marriage, you have to watch this funny video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWH-VToohro

Mother May I?

In honor of Mother's Day, a mothering post.

The weird black and white picture is a picture of my mom on her 50th wedding anniversary that I scanned. It was a color one but I must have done something wrong. I need my computer teacher, Lindsay Marie, to help me. But at least she is on there because she is my main tribute today. She has been gone almost 10 years now. Every year I choose someone to remember in honor of my mom since I can't send a card to her anymore. But I know she is watching over me and knows how much I love and appreciate all she taught me and did for me. Greg's mom , Kathryn is next, then,me and the grand-girls, and my big girls.

" All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” I have always loved this quote by Abraham Lincoln and I have it in my house. These words explain my feelings about my own mother. I believe it is true and many people feel the same way.

Another one of may favorites that I also have posted in my home is by David O. McKay.

Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first that stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakens a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world.”

And yet another one I recently saw and posted in my house.

" Mothering is like getting pecked to death by a chicken"

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal. — Bill Cosby



My friend Judy says "mothering is not for the faint of heart." So true.

I have many mother's and grandmother's I want to pay tribute to:

My mother Jane, who I think was the smartest, and taught me so many valuable things.
Greg's mother, Kathryn, who taught Greg many good things that bless my life and the life of my children.
The mother's of my in-laws kids who raised wonderful spouses for my children to marry.
My grandmother's who raised my wonderful, loving parents. And all grandmother's who love and bless their grandchildren.
My daughter and daughter in-laws who do a wonderful job of mothering my grandchildren.
All the women who served in primary, nursery, sunday school, YM/YW, scouts,etc. who helped me raise my children and are helping other mother's to raise their children.
The school teachers who spent a huge part of their life with my kids teaching them.
My wonderful friends who have mothered my children right along with their own And those without children who love and nuture kids and adults alike.
All the women of the world that make a contribution to my life or the life of my family.

"The women that rock the cradle, rule the world." I believe mother's are the very foundation of life, the individual and the family. Mother's make the greatest contribution to the world. Their love and sacrifice is tremendous and far-reaching.

I appreciate my own mother and all that she did to help me become who I am. There isn't a day that goes by, that I don't think of her or something she taught me. I appreciate her example of being a loving, devoted mother and making me want to be a mother and have a family of my own. Of all the things I could have done with my life, mothering my children has to be the best choice I could have made. It is one of the hardest but most rewarding. And now I am enjoying the fruits of my labors and the labors of many others as I admire my 5 wonderful children, their spouses, and my 10 beautiful grandchildren.

A shout out to all mothers.........you are loved and appreciated by many.

The Graduate

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” Henry David Thoreau

Clayton graduates from Georgetown Law School on May 18th. We are really proud of him and are excited to see him walk across the stage. We are excited that he will be working in DC so will still be close enough to come home for visits. if you want to give him a shout out.....you can post on my blog...he wouldn't miss reading his dear old mama's blog:)
Clayton you are awesome.........we all love you very much and wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

Baby Blessings

Yesterday our new granddaughter ,Tess Annabelle Romans, received her name and blessing. We were sad we were unable to be there but are glad Jordan could give us a review. And we are glad they had so much family support. There were mostly Grider's( Melissa's family) but we had a few from the Romans' side there. Our nephew, Stan Rosen, was able to be in the circle representing the Romans boys. Greg's 2 sisters, Phyliss and Cynthia and a few of their children also came. It sounded like they had a lovely day. I think Baby Tess looks so adorable and we are so excited to meet her. We are so happy and proud of Jordan's family and love them all very much.

We also had a nice day here. I flew home from Atlanta Sunday morning just in time to make it to testimony meeting. Greg and Denton were asked to be in the circle for a baby blessing for our friends, Christian and Ashlee Hansen and their baby Carter Lee. The cool thing is that Greg stood in the circle when Christian, the daddy, was blessed in Illinois. Lee, his father was the Bishop and Greg , his counselor. When the ward split, Greg was called as Bishop of the new ward and actually went to work with Lee. They were very good friends. I was friends with the wife Nancy..she served as the stake YW secretary to me when I was Stake YW president. But I actually knew her when we were 17...we were debutantes together in California. Imagine my surprise when she showed up in my ward in Moline, Illinois. And then imagine being even more surprised when Christian and Ashlee moved into our ward in Richmond, Virginia. I used to babysit him. Lee, his dad, died of a brain tumor when he was 12...the week we had the fire. So it was really awesome for Greg to be in the circle for the grandson of one of his very good friends who had passed away. And I felt like I was there for Nancy. Lee would be so proud of his kids...they all turned out really great. I felt his presence yesterday. Christian, Ashlee and I all bore our testimonies. Christian home teaches Denton. He is our ward clerk and Denton is the stake clerk. So amazing, Who would have thought all this would happen when those little boys were sliding down the indoor slide of my basement jungle gym when they were playing together 28 years ago. I don't know all the method to the madness but I know there are many connections that are more than circumstance in this life. I know Heavenly Father has a plan and we don't always know why people cross our paths. I am grateful to be a part of the plan. Blessing babies that have just left heaven is a good reminder of Heavenly Father's love and goodness.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Here we are... not really. But this could have been us at one stage or another. We like to say "We are still HOT, only it comes in flashes now".

Today I am flying to Atlanta to meet my peeps. I have been going on trips with these girls for 22+ years. We usually meet somewhere in the US and party hardy for a few days. Great food, lots of talki ng, a romantic comedy or two, shopping... and everything else girls like to do (without kids or husbands) We will miss Angie this year... at the last minute she had to attend her niece's wedding and festivities. Hopefully sh e can use her ticket for another fun get-a-way. We have figured out over the years that short weekend trips are the best without a lot of scheduling. We once went on a road trip to Bar Harbour, Maine (and many places in between) and almost killed each other after a week in the car. Although, we had the best clam chowder ever... at many different place along the coast. After all these years, we are like sisters... and you know what that can mean. But all in all, we love each other like sisters and have been through a lot together. At our last gathering, it wasn't our usual fun and games. It was the funeral for Theresa's (one of the girls) 26 year-old son who died of leukemia and left a wife behind. It was a very sad occassion but we were there in force to support Theresa in one of the hardest things of her life. She was an amazing example to all of us and has weatherd the storm well. This year we will be celebrating her new title-to-be: Grandma. We are so excited she has some happy news and will have a new little person to love. So wish us luck and I will post when I return.