Family photos

These are pictures that we took on Thanksgiving day!!!

Angel, Christian, and Tanner.

The West family

My kiddos. I love this shot of them!!!

All of us!!! I'm grateful for my entire family!!

Thankful to the man above.

The last few years have been really good to me and my family. Business has been good for both Paul and I. We have three healthy wonderful kids. We also have a beautiful grandson that gives the sweetest smiles that could brighten anyone's day!! We always have food on the table and a roof over our heads.

Sounds good right? Well there has been something missing in my life. I know what it is too. Since all these wonderful things started happening I stopped going to church. I stopped thanking my Heavenly Father for all that I have. How could that happen? He is the man that has listened and has answered all of my prayers. He's the man that has brought me confort when I've been sad. He's the one that has given me all the things listed above.

I've had the missionaries come over a couple of times and we've been invited to different events. I've been avoiding going. The other night Paul got a phone call from one of our members to invite us to our ward Thanksgiving party and Paul told him he'd talk to me about it. We talked about it and decided to go. It was by far the best decision we made. We enjoyed ourselves so much!! It was the first time that the entire family had been in the church building together in years! Yes, years! We had such a good time that I decided that night that I would go to church the next day. I asked my family if they wanted to join me and they all agreed!

I have not felt so much love in a room in such a long time. Every lesson taught was as if they were created for me. I know with out a doubt that this is where I needed to be. Sierra had a great time. Jeremy loved it. Angel was thrilled to be there with her family and I felt great sitting in a chair next to my husband listening to such spirital and inspirational words.

While singing a hymn I looked in front of me where my son was sitting (we had to many people in one row so we sat in two, lol) I saw my son who actually was singing as well. If you know Jeremy you know that he is as shy as they come. He never sings. It filled my heart so much to hear him singing such beautiful hymns. I couldn't help but take a picture with my phone. I made a decision that when ever I was home I would always be in church on Sunday. I am so thankful to my Heavely Father for what he has given me. Thanksgiving is just a few days away and I will be thanking him that day for everything and everyone that is around me. I am so blessed! May you all have a wonderful week!!!

Hugs, Suzy West

The quiet one in the family.

Everyone that knows me know's that I'm loud, I talk a lot, and am pretty open about anything. My two daughters are the same way. I think Angel and Sierra even talk in their sleep!!! LOL

Well Jeremy is a different story. Jeremy is the quiet one in the family. Not a lot comes out of his mouth but when it does it's usually to say something sweet or funny. There have been a lot of changes here the last 4-5 months. There is a new baby in the house and Jeremy started jr. high so I decided it was time to have "the talk" with him. Well that was the biggest mistake ever!!! LOL We were in the garage setting up for a crop and he was helping me tape down the paper onto the tables. I started talking to him about girls and "other stuff" and well it wasn't a good conversation because by the time we(or should I say I) were done with "the talk" he was taping the paper down UNDERNEATH the tables. He is extremely shy and doesn't like to talk about girls and other embarrasing topics!LOL So I decided not to have that kind of conversation with him ever again!LOL

It's interesting how all kids are different because if I were to have a conversation with my nephew who is a little bit younger than Jeremy he would tell me anything and everything. TO MUCH info. Everyone that asks jeremy if he likes girls he immediately say, "NO!"

So I made a decision that it's actually a great thing that Jeremy is still into toys and not girls.

SO I THOUGHT!!

I was taking him to school yesterday and I said to him. "Jeremy I was talking to a friend of mine who is a psychologist and I was telling her about how shy you are and that you don't like talking about girls or other things. She told me that it was totally normal and that when you feel like talking about girls you will. It's okay for you to feel shy about this kind of thing. So I won't bring up that conversation anymore. okie doke?"

He looks up at me and gives me this smile and says" okay I admit it, I like girls!" LOL

It was so freaking cute the way it came out!! We both start laughing and I ask him, "so why haven't you said anything before this?"

He says, "mom do you remember the time that you asked me about a girl a long time ago and I said she's my friend and you thought I said she was my girlfriend and so you took a picture of her? I never forgot that" LOL

We both started laughing again. I told him I would try my hardest to not embarrass him again!LOL

Since yesterday's conversation I can't stop thinking about the smile on his face yesterday. This morning he woke up and came right over to me when he saw me in the livingroom and gave me a hug and told me he loved me. He went to the kitchen to eat and looked at me. He didn't say anything but he gave me the same smile he had given me the day before in the car. No other words came out of his mouth until it was time for him to leave and he said "good-bye". I'm sure that he's going to continue to be shy and that's okay. I can see that he is a happy kid that doesn't care about all the worldly things and would rather listen than to say something. I am okay if he just smiles at me with out saying anything because that smile says a lot!!

I LOVE YOU JEREMY!!!!

Come cruise with me to Bermuda!!!

Hi there gals!!! I just got back from my awesome trip to Massachussetts and New Hampshire!!! I had such a great time!!! All three stores I visited were a blast!!! It was so great to meet so many wonderful ladies!! Thank you to Ink about it, Wholly Scraps, and Scrapbook Island for having me!!

While I was at Scrapbook Island (waving at you gals) I was asked to be the guest teacher on this wonderful cruise that they are planning. They let me know that I could extend the invitation to anyone that wanted to join us!!! So here's the scoop!!

The cruise is on July 29th-August 3rd. It will leave out of New Jersey and we will sail away to Bermuda!!! There will be tons of cropping time. On days we dock you can get off the ship and do many different excursions, there will be games and prizes, and classes from yours truly!!! It would be great for you to come!!! So if you want to join us please check out Scrapbook Island's site. Here's more 411. Scrapbook Island Cruise If you join us please let them know that I sent you. I will have a little gift for everyone that signs up from here. Spots are filling up fast so don't hesitate to sign up!!! $100.00 can sign you up and you have until April(?) to pay off your trip!!!! It's very duable (if you have never taken a cruise...all FOOD is included. Day or night!!! YUMMY!)
Hope you can make it!!!!
By the way, check out this ship and everything that you can do on it!! WOW!! Voyager family of ships
Hugs
Suzy

Tanner turns 4 months!!

I can't believe my Litter Tanner is 4 months old now!!!
He is the sweetest little munchkin ever!!!

He is so funny!! Everything ALWAYS goes in his mouth. Today it's the teddy bear's foot!! I love this picture!!

Christian and Angel are having a blast with him!! This was their family photo taken a few weeks ago. They are such a beautiful family!

Thanks for looking!!!

Busy busy busy!!! It's a good thing...

sometimes!LOL
Okay so I've been running around like a chicken with his head cut off but what's new??? I'm always like that. I think people would think there was something wrong if I wasn't busy.
If you have read my entries before this you know that we have a grandbaby. He's three months already!! (He is the cutest thing ever!!) Angel is getting married so we've been planning a wedding and I've been doing some traveling.
I'm getting ready to teach at three awesome stores back east!!!
Scrapbook Island, Wholly Scraps , and Ink about it. My friend Rocio is coming with me!! She is such a doll and I know we are going to have a blast!!
I'll be there the first week of November. This weekend I'm going to a scrapbook retreat where I'll be kitting for all the classes!!!! I hope to have everything done by then. CRAZY!!!
I haven't been scrapping much because I've been "creating" for classes I'm teaching.
I just came back from Memory Trends!! I had such a great time with Donna and Pattie!!! We laughed a ton!!! Donna is such a hoot!! I also had a great time with my awesome friends from Maine, Angela and Jenn!!!!
Let's see what else...
Sierra is doing so great in Kindergarden!! She LOVES it!!! Jeremy is doing good in school too!! He's in Jr. high now. He has a new cell phone and thinks he's so cool using it! He calls me a lot!LOL
I have other fun things coming up but I can't say yet!! Stay tuned!!!
Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure!!! LOL




Hugs
Suzy West

a girl, a boy, a wedding!!!

Anyone miss me? LOL I know, I know I have totally neglected my blog. I've been just slightly busy. with what you say??? planning a wedding!!
Angel and Christian are getting married!! We are so excited!! So here's the scoop:
The big day is on May 19th, 2007. That is 7 months away.
We were going to have a fun backyard wedding with some friends and family.
Well grandma and grandpa said no to that. LOL They want it to be "perfect for their princess!" So now it's gone from having it in the back yard to a beautiful place called the Century house in Fremont. What was going to be buffet has now turned into a sit down beautiful meal servers and all.
So now we are busy looking for a dj and a photographer.
It's been pretty exciting!! Angel and Christian are so excited!!
So that's the scoop!!!
Hugs
Suzy

My crazy life!!!

So for the last 2-3 weeks we have had craziness here in the West family home.
Sassy, our dog had to seizures with in a week. Last Friday was the first time he had a seizure. We thought that he had eaten something or maybe he was stung by something because the vet said his tongue was swollen and he couldn't breathe. They gave him a benadril and some steroids. He came home loopy and afraid. He just laid around. On Sunday he had the same thing happen. We took him to the vet again and this time they said they felt that he had epilepsy. For three days he did nothing but lay there. We would call him and he wouldn't respond. We fed him with a dropper. It was scary!! He is finally better and we hope he stays this way.

Angel has had many complications since she had Tanner. He is over 2 months old and she is still hasn't recooperated. She was in the hospital with in 2 weeks of having Tanner with a severe Kidney infection. She was very anemic, and had other infections. She's had other complications since then. The latest? Kidney stones and a fisure!! Poor girl has been in a lot of pain!!

Another problem is my poor daddy. He decided a few years ago he wanted to get braces. Okay, that's cool. Your over 60 you want braces. okay. So what's the problem? To make his smile perfect they told him they were going to need to break his jaw because he had an over bite. They were also going to need to wire his mouth shut to make it set that way. I told him that I felt he shouldn't do this because his jaw had been set for over 60 years. It could be very painful and there could be a ton of complications. Well guess what? there were!!! The day he had both upper and lower jaws broken and his mouth wired shut he was in so much pain that he ended up back in the hospital. he was in the hospital three different times that week. Once because of the pain, another time because he couldn't breathe, and the last, and my favorite...instead of taking a tylenol he accidentally took morphin! He was rushed to emergency where I had the great pleasure of seeing him high as a kite!LOL My dad has never ever been drunk or has never done any kind of drugs so that was a pretty site. My high as a kite daddy, with his mouth wired shut, in his pajamas and robe. Yeah, that was nice!LOL

So at the same time, my little Sierra started kindergarden, Jeremy started Jr. High, and Angel is finishing up her senior year at home.

It's been a crazy month for me!LOL I'm thinking I need a vacation. LOL

Thanks for listening to my crazy stories!!

Hugs
Suzy

Thank you from Sierra

Hi there gals! I would like to thank you for all your wonderful replies to Sierra. She has me read them to her all the time since we posted here.

She would like to say something so I'm going to type:

I would like to say thank you for writing all of these things about Diamond, me, and mommy. I love you too!
Sierra

Diamond, The little princess????

Once upon a time there was a little dog who was very lonely because she didn't have a mommy or a daddy. She was abandoned and wanted a home and a family to love her. One day Sierra's mommy was traveling and saw in a window a little puppy who looked very sad. Sierra's mommy went in and asked the little puppy, "what's wrong? Why are you sad?" the puppy replied, "I'm sad because I don't have a mommy or a daddy and I am all alone." Sierra's mommy said, "Would you like to come home with me? My daughter Sierra would like a dog and I think you would be perfect!" The little puppy was so happy!!! That night Mommy gave Sierra her surprise. Sierra fell in love with the puppy and they lived happily ever after!!!!

This is Diamond, our dog

I swear I'm not really crazy!! I was sitting here ready to blog about something and Sierra said, "mommy, why haven't you blogged about Diamond yet?" Well that sentence had me spleechless for a few minutes. First because I didn't even know that she knew what a blog was. Second, why would I blog about her stuffed animal?

Okay so bare with me but my darling five year old really feels that Diamond is a part of our family. I purchased Diamond on one of my trips(as you read in our really cool story) a year ago and they have been together ever since.

Diamond went through a couple of different changes in the beginning and then she decided Diamond was the perfect name. How did she know? Because Diamond told her.

Diamond goes EVERYWHERE with us!! He does EVERYTHING with Sierra. Sierra wants me to tell you the following:

Diamond sleeps with Sierra.

Diamond has taken a lot of photos with Sierra.

Sierra puts hats on Diamond. She looks really cute!

Diamond takes showers with Sierra and she dries her hair.

"I love Diamond! I play in the back yard with her. She is a good listener." She is my little princess!"

The gals from Scenic Route...

were so sweet to come and visit us at the garage. We had such a great time!!! There were about 20 of us. We hung out and had a contest. Two girls won a bag full of Scenic Route items. So much fun!
After the meet and greet many of us (including the SR team) went to Chevy's and hung out there til' they closed!! We laughed a ton!!
Thanks gals for coming to visit! It was a blast!!

Hugs
Suzy West

His smile makes me happy!!!

Tanner has an amazing smile that makes everyone else smile!!! I took these a little while ago!! He's so cute!!!

What do you do when your daughter vaccumes up the dog????

So what do you do when your five year old says she wants to "help"?

You say, "Yes!" right?

So I think to myself...what chore can I give Sierra that she can't hurt herself?

I don't want her doing dishes, doing anything with a spray bottle, and the bathroom is to much. So we got a new mini vaccume. Doesn't way much so it's perfect for her. Well not so perfect for Sassy!!

Take a look at what Sierra accidentally did to our poor dog (who at this moment is hiding underneath the table.)

She was vaccuming and who knows how but she managed to get Sassy vaccumed up. POOR DOG!!!

Sassy trying to escape.

Sassy putting her head down from embarrasment.

Sassy deciding to go to sleep because she figures the vaccume is here to stay.

Yeah, so Sierra is dusting now. LOL

I scrap...sometimes

I remember the good ol' days when I use to scrap a ton!!! Now a days I scrap every one in a while. I love when I get assignments because that means I HAVE to scrap!! It forces me to get my stuff out and do something. I go crazy at first because I don't know what I'm doing and then I get some mojo going and I complete pages/projects that I'm happy with.

I went on a scrapping retreat with some of my girlfriends. I had to teach one class while I was there and the rest of the time I spent it cropping. There were times that I didn't know what I was doing but when I got my groove on I started completing pages. Here are some that I did. I'm happy with the outcome.

Can he get any cuter???

I've had so many people ask me for pictures of Tanner. I can't believe I haven't updated my blog with new pictures lately so here are two of them.

I took these today. Isn't he a cutie????

Who wants to MEET the owners of Scenic Route this Thursday???

I am so excited to have the owners and Layle Koncar(lead designer) for Scenic Route Papers here. They are such awesome gals!!!!

I'm doing a meet and greet this week. Because of space and time we are only allowing 10 girls here. (sorry wish we could do more).

Anyways, if you would like a chance to meet these gals POST HERE. Include your name and a way to get a hold of you (email is great).

We will put your names in a drawing tomorrow. If your name is chosen we will contact you and give you all the 411.

Thanks and good luck!!

Hugs

Suzy

95% of the time

Sierra is such a sweetheart...95% of the time!!! She says the nicest things, she likes to give hugs, and gives the best eskimo kisses! Most of the time her personality fits this picture below. The other 5%....

Drama queen!!!

For example...yesterday...at Target...
She found one of her favorite areas...The $1.00 section. She grabbed a couple of items and asked if she could have them. I said, "Yes, if you behave! If you don't you can't buy those!" We were at Target for all of 10 minutes and the entire time she was running around and not listening so when it was check out time...guess what happened....I said "NO!" So that is when picture #2 look came out!! She started having attitude and then came the crying and screaming!

It was not a happy moment for Sierra and mommy! I went home looking like picture #2 too. I'm glad that she's like that only 5% of the time!!!!

A great find!!!!

Today I was at Target(my favorite place) looking for items for my scrapping get-a-way. I found this clamp/tray in the container section.

Guess for how much? $5.99!!! I love it!! I wanted something for my drink so I don't accidentally spill on my or someone else's drink. This is big enough for a drink and more!!!

The clamp comes off so you can attach it to the tray horizontal or vertically!!

Thanks May!!! YOU ROCK GIRL!!!!

Today we had May Flaum over at the garage. (Check out what she has to say about the event)She came over to teach a wonderful class using Fiskars, Heidi Grace, and Cloud 9 products.

MAY ROCKS!!!!

I'm going to New York and to Jackson, ca!!

I have a really busy few weeks!!!!

I'm headed to New York to teach at Creative Gatherings!! One of my most favorite stores ever!!! They are in a little town called Goshen. I'll be teaching Canvas Concepts classes. So excited!!! I will also be spending some time with Amy Goldstein. She is the owner of Pink Martini!! We plan on spending some time in New York city!! I can't wait!!!!

When I get back, I'll be home for ONE day and then I'm off to spend the weekend with a whole bunch of my gal pals at the Jackson Gotta Crop weekend. I'm teaching one class and then spending the rest of the time scrapping and hanging out with everyone!!!!

Hugs, Suzy West