Good Morning, SNOW!

I must admit, since Jared has been gone I have yet to turn the television on. Not one time, not even to check the weather. That was Jared’s daily ritual to check the weather. I personally thought it was silly, because the weathermen are generally wrong. I definitely didn’t expect this much SNOW today. I ended up not making it to the gym class this morning, and just hoped that everyone did the same, not go! I mainly wanted to post these pictures for Jared to see what he is missing back here at home! It was about 10-12 inches. I haven’t seen this much snow for years. Shoveling the driveway and sidewalks turned into our exercise for the day! It also made for a great sledding activity with our friends the Murphy’s. We all had a great time...well, until Alayna took her gloves off and fell into the COLD snow. Her hands were freezing! So sad, but it made for a great picture.

Grandparents leave a huge impression…

I’m sure my daughter isn’t the only one who can’t seem to get out of her mind… “Grandma and Grandpa are coming over!” On Friday she was nearly bursting at the seams to have Grandpa Randy and Grandma Nettie come over for dinner. They were so sweet to bring us Café Rio. I appreciated the free meal and company to join me (without the husband and all!). I don’t think Alayna could stand still. She danced, sang, rehearsed the first and second articles of faith, spouted her knowledge of the first presidency of the church, and laughed and giggled at them. She enjoyed their visit so much she had to have me draw a picture of the next time she would see them on our calendar.

Early the next morning I heard a noise in the kitchen. I was already awake reading, and usually Alayna comes running into my room to give me huggers. But this morning was different. I heard a chair being dragged across the hardwood floor and her singing and talking aimlessly to herself in her extra happy I can hardly stand it voice, saying, “I can’t wait for my “green” ice cream cone and my special date with Grandpa Randy & Grandma Nettie.” (The crayon we used was green to color the ice cream cone!) I couldn’t resist the moment of sneaking up on her to take a picture of her in action. Grandparents have a huge influence on these sweet little grandkids. I appreciate the time that all her grandparents spend with her. She is one loved little girl.

A Mommy in Training…

Alayna’s favorite routine in the morning is to burst into Jacob’s room and say, “Good Morning Brother, It’s wake up time!” This particular morning she decided that she would be “Mommy.” I had to see how this would turn out. She needed my help of course to get Jake out of his crib, but she insisted she got the first hug and kiss. She then proceeded to smell him to see if he was stinky. She then said, “Mommy, you get to do service for me and change his diaper!” Oh…I think the service word is going to be held to her advantage. After the diaper duty, she said, “It’s time for me to read stories to you in your rocking chair, Jakey…that’s what Mommies do…read babies stories…” It was just so cute to watch her place her arm around him and read softly to him. I loved the supported hand on his head! He couldn’t understand why there was a hand on his head, but he was very delighted to have a book read to him that early in the morning.

Jacob’s Progress…

Jacob loves this new crawling thing…He is no longer doing the “I am so strong push up!” It was so cute while it lasted. He is moving all around. He simply has to coordinate his hands and knees at the same time and then he will really be on his way. YIKES!

One Eternal Saturday…

It has been officially one complete week with out a daddy and husband. We have survived so far. The mornings and days are the same for me and the kids, because Jared would usually be at school before we arise for the day. The nights however are a lacking fun daddy tickles, stories, giggles, smiles, huggers, prayers and play time. The nights are especially lonely for me with out my husband! But thank heavens for my 22” computer monitor. (A great deal I found on the day after Thanksgiving…Merry Christmas to me!) With all my projects I have on my computer I have managed to stay up late each night…doing several different things. So, I guess I should be a little more grateful for my free nights to do as I wish. I must admit though I wouldn’t trade Jared for anything!

I decided to name this experience without Jared as “One Eternal Saturday” because on normal Saturday’s, Jared goes to the Mayan and works until about midnight. So I feel like I am living one long day from morning until night without him. I have become accustomed to this type of “Saturday” for nearly 7 years. So day after day, I feel that this “Saturday” (only 25 days long) is going to end and Jared will arrive home late and greet me after working a long day at the Mayan. As for him, he says he is enjoying this working experience far more than any minute spent working at the Mayan. I’m glad for that, or else he would want to leave and come home to his family.

I remind myself that this is simply two months of forever. I don’t for see anything in the future that would keep our family apart for this long of duration. Unless… I fly back to Hawaii and decide not to come back for two months. That I would consider! Ha ha ha

Midway...A nice break

We spent Tuesday – Friday morning at my parents condo in Midway with my parents, and two sisters. We missed you Angela, Grady & the twins!


We were trapped in tons of snow and we all managed to arrive safely. The unfortunate side to this mini-vacation, was that all of the children managed to get sick. Go figure! With the ultimate snowball fight and a little sledding, we had our fill of the cold. It probably didn’t help out our health conditions when we walked down the snow covered side walk in wet swimming suits and wet hair.



But my personal favorite was enjoying the luxury of Pepperidge Farms Mint Pirouette sticks and creamy hot chocolate. Oh…it was wonderful. Some how the coughs, and “I need another Kleenex,” and early morning wake up times were some how forgotten about. It was truly a nice break for us all. It was a good way to keep our minds off of missing our Daddy. Thank you Mom & Dad.

Jacob is on his way!

First, trying so hard to pick up that chubby little body…

Second, Oh…I think I can do a push up…I am so strong…


Third, “crash” down to the ground when trying to lift that huge noggin…

Fourth, “Success!” I am on my way to my toys…

Fifth, Well…not quite yet, but each day I’m getting better and better…

Goodbye Daddy!

How sad is that? The kids had to say goodbye to daddy for 24 days! And I had to say good bye to my husband and friend. He is off to California and we won’t see him again until we go there too. We have survived one entire day and one entire night. I’m sure by the time I have endured 20 days I will either be extremely anxious to have a husband and father again for the help, or I would have survived just fine? I’m not sure which one is going to be happening. I know that one huge blessing is that I have my family so close to me to help me endure the lonely times. It’s amazing though how much you take for granted of your spouse. I must give a giant compliment to my husband. He helps me so much, cooking, cleaning, reading books, laundry, shoveling snow off my car, driving in the snow, carrying Jacob up the stairs (his 20 lbs. plus the 7lbs of car seat is too heavy!), buckling the kids in the car, running errands, listening to me talk and talk, giving hugs to us all and so on and so on. Oh…we do miss you!

Jared and I were able to have one final date night before he left. It was fantastic to spend time together and celebrate both of our birthdays together since we will both be separated! We went to Christopher’s Steak and Seafood restaurant! It was heavenly. We then went to Enchanted, the movie. It was a silly, cute, and made you smile little love story.

The night before he left we had family and friends over to play Balderdash! It was a riot. We laughed and laughed until the night ended around midnight! We all said our goodbyes. Thank you too all of you who gave Jared his farewell gifts, cards, treats and goodies. I know he appreciated them so very much. Thank you to all who will continue to support us during the next two months. We will miss him so very much, but thanks to family who has little get-away vacations already planned for us, I feel that these next three weeks are going to fly by! (Just not at night for me! I will miss him too much!)

We love you Daddy…Enjoy learning and growing in your new experience. Especially enjoy NO snow in sunny California…He brought his mountain bike so he will not be lonely!!! Ha ha ha

New Years Resolutions...Something to think about.

Something to think about…

In our Relief Society lesson we were asked to think about Eternal Progression. I found a few comments very helpful.
1. With this being the New Year we find an added Hope in starting anew and making change.
2. The difference between New Year’s resolutions and Eternal progression. New Year’s Resolutions if not completed 100% or if completed you are done. Finished, and no more work is required. Eternal progression requires using the Atonement and continuously moving closer to our Heavenly Father. Which we will at some point fall short or mess up, but with utilizing the Atonement we will become closer to him and we can start again. And again and again. Work and growth is always required.
3. I loved the question that was asked, “What have I done or not done today which displeases Thee?” What in my life can I change to please the Lord?
I enjoyed thinking more deeply about these thoughts. As I create my “New Year’s” goals this year I am going to think more about making my progression more towards accomplishing things that will bring my closer to my Savior and towards my Eternal Progression and less on the all time favorite…loosing weight! Think about it...(Thank you Emily it was great!!!)

Christmas...until next year!

Christmas has come and gone…let the countdown until next year start again.

Tonight Alayna and I looked at the pictures of Christmas Day. Alayna said with a squeal and her hands to her mouth, “I love Christmas Day!” I think that expression was exactly how we all felt this holiday season. It was so much fun. We did have a few set backs, thanks to my Mom, but she has learned her lesson…Right? Other than that, it was wonderful.

The traditions started early on Christmas Eve with making my personal favorite holiday treat. What is better than holly and berry wreaths? Nothing if you ask me. You mix corn flakes, melted marshmallows, green food coloring and the best part, cinnamon candies on top. They are very scrumptious. Alayna and the cousins enjoyed taking turns putting on three candies per cookie.
The next tradition is a Suker tradition of giving a new Christmas book each year. I wrapped up two books, one for Alayna and one for Jacob. At nap time we decided to have her open her book. We figured the night events would be late enough as is, so she would enjoy her book then. She anxiously opened her book and then said, “Jakey, is sleeping can I open his book too?” She of course opened both books and fell asleep excited to wake up because it would be just a little closer to Christmas.

The next tradition is truly the one we count down till the following year. The food. I’m sure you all guessed that too. We have the same meal year after year. It is delightful. We all helped out to make it a great success. Chicken cordon Bleu, Rice, lemon sauce, raspberry blueberry cream cheese jell-o, gross green bean casserole (I have yet to enjoy this one!), Sarah’s salad, buttery yummy heavenly rolls with salad supreme sprinkled on top. Oh…it is so yummy. I wonder why we are only allowed to have this once a year? But for some reason it takes extra special on this night! It’s probably the tradition of all being around the table at candle light. Each year it has been fun, because our family group keeps growing and growing. Before we know it we will be having the adult only table and the kids table. This year we needed four high chairs – that’s a hard request to make. Thankfully, the babies did great and the food was just as good as previous years.

A new tradition added this year was the reenactment of the birth of Christ. We had King Harrod, an angel, Joseph, Baby Jesus, Mary, The Wiseman, a Shepard, and our narrator reading the bible story. It was a quick production and it was wonderful to have all the children play the different parts. I’m sure each year it will get better and better.

The very last tradition is the main event. It is what completes the holiday feeling of giving for us all. After dinner we gather all together in the living room at my parent’s house and my dad teaches us the importance of giving to others a special gift that they are unable to give themselves. It is special to look around our group and to see all nine grandkids sitting as reverently as possible listening to, Papi. This tradition started years and years ago with my parents anonymously giving a turkey to a family in need. This is the meager beginning and recently we have abundantly given to multiple families in need. It is a complete joy to share the spirit of giving to a needy family. We do the delivery anonymously, we ring the door bell and ditch. Except we hide. We hide to listen to the grateful hearts of the families in need. We have heard many thankful expressions, “God bless you... Thank you... It must be Santa... Oranges…Oranges…We get to have Oranges on Christmas.” In these moments of complete gratitude and humility our hearts have all been touched. We loose our thoughts and desires to have Christmas. We for a few moments long to keep giving and to keep sharing of our bounteous blessings. It truly is so emotionally moving and rewarding to do this each year. Each year we know the family. We know the needs, we know their hearts. We simply want them to know how much we love and appreciate them. We especially want them to know that the Lord is watching out for them and sending others to do what he would do for them.

The night was a late one. The children quickly found themselves sleeping snuggly in their new pajamas and huddled in their sleeping bags upstairs together. A tradition started years ago when we all (the four sisters, four brothers in laws and all grandkids) sleep in the same house. This year was especially special because it might be the last year we all gather and open presents together. (If I have any say in it, it will not be the last year! Even if we move, we can always come back!!) Out of convenience we gathered everyone together because all the grandkids are here in our house and two of the four sisters living here. We voted it the Christmas house. Not to mention Todd has the best and most decorations out of anyone. We all hope it will continue for years to come.

The excitement of the morning started early. Alayna was the first to arise and say, “Merry Christmas everybody!” Stockings were the first to be opened and for Alayna the stocking treats were lined up in a neat little order. Does this say something about her personality? Jacob just put his stocking gift straight to his mouth! The end result in gift consumption was overwhelming. Especially to Alayna, because she has received so many of her dream toys. Santa delivered graciously at our house this year. She asked for a play kitchen, food, games, and we can’t forget the Princess Dress Up. She was so lucky to get all of the above. She has enjoyed her princess dress up immensely. I found a great deal on a pop up princess castle at an early morning yard sale with my sister…$1. Yes you read me right! It was such a fantastic deal at one dollar. She has enjoyed placing her dress up treasure box inside of it, and has played for hours.

After a long but such fun morning we were on our way to the next house. Each year we finish up at our house around noon and then head over to Grandma and Grandpa Sukers house in Sandy. It is fun to visit with the Sukers and the Bloomers. After we are filled from Grandma Sukers plethora of food, we went to Grandpa Randy and Grandma Nettie’s house. It was so enjoyable to spend one on one time with them. Alayna was able to carry on one of her favorite traditions of setting up luminaries on the walk way. Even though she freezes she insisted to help Grandma Nettie set them up again.

It made for a very long night, but especially a fantastic day. The holiday season was filled with love, warmth and many new memories. Traditions have been so wonderful to share together as a family. Our traditions have continued to grow and grow, so much that I couldn’t obviously list them all. Thank you to all who were so generous to our family. We love visiting with you and sharing our family. We miss all of you who we couldn’t see because you weren’t in Utah…Maybe next year!

Suker Family Christmas Letter

MERRY CHRISTMAS...

This holiday season I have enjoyed so much receiving Christmas cards and letters from so many dear friends and family. I had wanted to send out another Suker family letter and picture, but I realized the time was slipping away from me too quickly. I must admit it was actually the .41 cent postage charge that delayed me! Thanks to all of you who spent that kind of money! This year I decided to take the cheap approach and simply mail it to you with out the high mark up costs! I hope you don’t mind. I know that our cute smiling faces won’t make it on your holiday card collection pile but at least you will know how we are all doing.

Our little family has accomplished so many things. Earlier this year we welcomed our little bundle of joy, Jacob Michael Suker. At the age of 7 months old, he is currently weighing as much as Alayna at one year old! He is chubby and squishy head to toe weighing in at 18.5 pounds! I’m not used to carrying around a heavy weight! I must admit we are all addicted to his adorable smile, laugh and very chill personality! He adores his sister Alayna. She wins the brightest smiles from him, even more than me.

Alayna Mae Suker is our bright and full of life 2 ½ year old. She has recently recovered from a broken arm. She managed for three weeks with her cast and was very reluctant to say goodbye to her “hot pink” arm. I think that is every little girls dream to have pink arms. Alayna is very imaginative. Her daily highlights are playing creatively by playing dress up, cooking along with mommy, doing anything with princess stuff and being with her daddy. She is currently continuing to be a big girl and being potty trained! Yeah. She has a very extensive vocabulary and an amazing ability to recall information. Her memory surprises us all. (It tends to get me in to trouble some times!) Lately she has become very interested in “our family.” It has been so wonderful for Jared and I to see her love being with just “our family.” She reminds us to read the Book of Mormon, have family home evening, and say family prayers. It’s amazing how much they understand about the Lords plan for our family. She truly brightens our days.

As for me, I am simply grateful to be home with my children. It is amazing that day after day I look forward to the next day. I am thankful that I have two bright, happy smiling faces that continue to teach me so very much. My free time is spent usually with my sisters and family having our famous, every other day parties. We truly are blessed to love each other so very much. These parties usually consist of yummy food and talking! I enjoy cooking, preparing my relief society lessons, scrapbooking, reading different book club books, exercising with ladies from our ward and especially not doing laundry. The biggest highlight of recent is my return from Hawaii! It was simply the best.

Jared is eagerly awaiting graduation from the University of Utah. He will be earning his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. As of this December he has completed and passed his “book work.” Now he has two months of an outpatient internship in California, and then another two months back here in Salt Lake City. He has worked so hard juggling family life, church life, school life and play so well. He truly does a fantastic job. I am especially excited for him to begin working and using all of his talents and abilities. He will do very well and we are very proud of him and all of his hard work. His latest free time talent and passion is mountain biking. He can’t seem to keep his mind off of it! I think it is currently ranking higher than snowboarding.

Our little family is continuing to grow in so many ways. It’s amazing to recap one entire year of blessings. We are truly thankful for all the miracles and blessing that have come to our immediate family and especially our extended family. My mother is doing well and is anxiously awaiting the return of her eyelashes and hair! We are reminded daily of her strength and courage. Thank you to all for your love, interest and support.

We are excited to see what the future holds for us in the upcoming year. We will have many major changes, location, jobs, kids, 7 years of marriage, dates, wards, callings, friends, etc. I’m sure the list goes on and on. We will be entering this new year with much prayer and faith.

We love you all and wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Idaho...

Jared and I have been discussing the idea of moving away. For the obvious reasons a job and money! We have simply been talking about it between ourselves at different times such as at dinner, in the car or just in conversations. Not realizing how much our daughter truly understands, we have only mentioned briefly to her that we are looking for a place to move where daddy will have a job. She has heard us mention “Idaho” and that it is far away from her cousins Olivia, Conner and Kierra.
The other night Jared and I were in her bedroom doing the night time routine with her. But we were talking amongst ourselves and not including her in our conversations. We were saying things such as “Tomorrow we will go and see what Idaho is all about.” “Do you really think we could move there?” “Who should Alayna stay with?” “She will stay here with her cousin Olivia…” It went on and on. Then before we realized that our daughter was standing there with the saddest slouching posture sobbing. She was sniffling and looking straight at us saying, “I want to live with my family…I want to go with you…I want to move with my family.” As I looked in her direction, I realized that she thought we were moving away and leaving her here. My heart broke inside. I felt so sad for those minutes that she thought we would simply leave her. Oh. We hugged and explained to her, that Mommy and Daddy were leaving on a “date” and we would come back to her. She then replied, “Oh, Grandma Lou will baby-sit me and you will come back when I’m already sleeping?” “Yes.” It was that simple. But it was such a great reminder to me that she might understand more than we give her credit and that we need to be more careful about the adult conversations we are having in front of her. Idaho was plain, barren and no mountains. Besides the beautiful new LDS temple being built the city is very small, old and quaint. It sure will be interesting to see what the future holds for our next place in life.

Santa vs. Mommy

Here is another cute moment from Alayna. I was kneeling beside her bed one night asking her what made her happy during the day. She said, “Well, what did we make together?” I laughed, saying, “What did we cook together?” “Yes” she replied. I thought was darling to think that her happiest moment was when she and I cooked dinner together. I had to chuckle to myself, because I thought for certain the highlight of her day would have been sitting on Santa’s lap and asking for her, “Princess Book and Princess Dress up!” I was pleased to know that making a jell-o with my daughter was the highlight of her day. Santa has nothing on me!

We Love Our Daddy!

Nice job Daddy!

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 was Jared’s very last day to attend the University of Utah! Can you believe it! He has taken his finals (and passed!) and he is ALL done with school work. Alayna wished him luck multiple times saying, “Good luck on your tests Daddy! I’m proud of you!” He has mixed emotions about being done most of which are because he really can’t believe he won’t have to go back to campus and study, attend class, hang with his buddies, and especially drive all the way up there again!

He has two internships back to back for the next four months. He will be heading to California for the first and then back to Salt Lake for the second. It is amazing that come May 2008 he will be a professional and hopefully employed!!! We are so very proud of him. He has been enjoying his time out of school by helping with the kids (giving baths! Hence the picture!), snowboarding, attending a celebration “were finished” party with all of his student buddies, grocery shopping, and going on a date! Some he has enjoyed more than others, but most of all he is feeling great that he is getting closer to his goals! We are grateful for his dedication and continued hard work. The kids love their Daddy and I love my husband! We are so very proud of him! We are counting down the days until graduation and a real pay check! We are almost there.

A Precious Moment...

As a family we were out enjoying the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. We decided to attend a free FM100 concert at the Mall. The concert was great despite it being a very busy place. It made me grateful my shopping was all done. We had a $10 off coupon that we just had to spend at a store, so off we went. Braving the crowds and sales we went to pick out some dress slacks for Jared. We were in the dressing room all four of us and the stroller waiting for Jared to pick the perfect pair, when Alayna said with a big happy grin, “I love my family!” She sat down right next to me and put her arms up on my legs and said with another great sigh and bright smile, “I love my family!” Jared and I were looking at each other thinking, “How cute is that!” I had to pick her up and just hug and kiss her. I told her we love being together as a family too. I think there really couldn’t be a better gift than to know your children feel safe, love and happy when we spend time together as a family. I am grateful for that precious moment this Christmas season.

The new life...

Alayna has received her "hot pink" cast! We had a day full of doctor appointments. The first was for Alayna to get her pink cast. She was brave. She endured another round of x-rays. The nurse just wanted her to go with her, so I stayed back with Jake. I thought Alayna would appear hesitant but it didn't even phase her. She walked bravely holding the hand of the nurse and didn't even look my direction! I was shocked. But then again I know her personality. She was glad to do it on her own. After parading her "hot pink" arm proudly around the hospital, we headed for the next appointment. Jacob has been sadly suffering with two ear infections in both ears! But just two days later he is doing much better! Thank heavens for medicine.

A few cute things Alayna has said, "Why do I have to where a grocery bag in the bath tub?" I explained that the cast can not get wet, but she continued to wonder why a grocery bag, because it is only for groceries! I just let her know that for the next two weeks this will be our daily routine! Bathing with bags on our heads. She then asked, "Oh, that's why you wear a grocery bag on your hair sometimes to not get it wet!" I laughed. She refers to my grandma looking shower cap as a grocery bag. Oh the confusing things we do.

The next cute thing was I asked her what she was thinking about while we were driving in the car. She responded,

"I'm thinking about Santa!"

"Oh, about what?" I said.

"I'm thinking about the special presents he's going to bring me and Jakey" she said.

I continued to ask her a few little questions and she replied,

"I just can't even stand it, I can't wait any longer for Christmas morning to come!"

I realized at that moment, the count down till Christmas must feel like forever! So to help eradicate that a little bit, we taped together a countdown chain and she has also started her advent calendar! But we still have several days left! I remind her though that we have lots of days to bake cookies, sing songs, make fun craft projects and spend time as a family. She was content with that! Until tomorrow I'm sure!

All the faces of Jacob...

Jacob is the best little guy ever! It has been so fun to watch him give us multiple different faces when you pull out the camera and ask him to "smile!" He learned what it meant to smile when we were in Hawaii. I was constantly taking pictures, and he eventually learned to muster up a few silly grins! I just wanted to share a few of his darling faces with you. Each of these pictures happened one after another!