Suzi in the Springtime

Jenny and Suzi at Grandma and Grandpa's after church.

Suzi was glad to share her goodies.

She borrowed her daddy's tie.


She enjoyed all the Easter cards she received.
She loved the sticker activities in this one from Aunt Lila.

Suzi has a style all her own.

Suzi's Response to Daylight Saving Time

Suzi didn't really care much for Daylight Saving Time this morning. When her dad brought her in she just kept on sleeping. For a while she slept on the loveseat, then in Grandma's arms and finally in Grandpa's arms. When she finally decided to wake up it was almost 10 am.

We are so fortunate to be able to have her with us almost every day. We are thankful that we can watch her grow, hear her speak and see first hand all that she is learning each day. Few grandparents are so priviledged. We are truly blessed.

What Suzi Said . . . to Grandma and Grandpa

One day last week we took Suzi to Ashley Dearing Park for a little while. She was having a great time on the swing and all the climbing toys that she really wasn't ready to leave.

















When we finally insisted that it was time to leave the park, she definitely didn't agree. When Grandpa put her in her car seat she wasn't exactly happy about it. See what I mean?
She arched her back and pushed her tummy out so that he could hardly fasten her into her car seat. I just had to ask, "Young lady, What do you think you're doing?" And she gave me a very honest answer, "I pitch a fit!" For what good it did her, she really did pitch one. But Grandpa and Grandma proceeded to latch her in - fit or no fit. She was asleep in her car seat before we had been a mile. She has a lot to learn . . . . .

Grandma's Little Helper

It has been so cold this week that Suzi, Grandpa and I have spent a lot of time at home. She and Grandpa have played with the barnyard, and her orange and purple "feet"ball and enjoyed watching her new "Winnie the Pooh" movie. She told me she wanted to "clean-up" and did a great job on the kitchen floor with the Swivel Sweeper. We baked oatmeal-raisin cookies using the recipe inside the lid of the Quaker Oatmeal box, adding mini M&Ms to part of the batch for Suzi to take home as a treat for her mama. Jenny enjoys her chocolate as much as Suzi loves enjoys cooking. She wears the little apron I made for her with Sesame Street characters on it - fusses when she needs to take it off.

Jenny told me the other day that while reading up on child development she had found that most children Suzi's age have a vocabulary of around 50 words. I started a list of the words Suzi uses and so far there are way over 100. She uses sentences like: "I don't like that!", "I've got it!" and "Get that out now." She'll tell you in a skinny minute exactly what she wants to eat - anything from French toast to waffles, pancakes, eggs, yogurt, apple, banana, chicken, donuts, "choc-lit" and, of course, macaroni and cheese. Her drink of choice is iced tea which (don't panic, Jenny) she only gets when we go out to eat. She has no trouble expressing her opinion . . . .wonder where she gets that?

Breaking in New Toys

Suzi, Grandpa and I have enjoyed breaking in

some of her Christmas toys this week. She has

enjoyed the big cardboard blocks (made in the

USA by Melissa and Doug Toys).

How on earth am I supposed to teach
her to cook when Grandpa is teaching
her to beat rhythms on her new bowls
with the measuring spoons? Maybe
we're helping to raise a future

percussionist . . . .

Suzi and I took our weekly trip to the library

on Thursday for storyhour. We went early so

that she could try out some new puzzles before

the songs and stories started. Then she did

her art project. Suzi always takes her art project

very seriously. She's learning to name the colors

and trying hard to get the right grip on that crayon.

She's in the scribbling stage, but loves to use all

the colors.

Today we gave her a chalkboard (also a Melissa

and Doug toy made in the USA)for the first
time. She is already teaching her baby.
Boy, do I wish I had a video of the conversation!

Suzi Had a Wonderful Christmas

The postman brought her packages.

She made a stocking during story hour at the library.


She opened gifts.

Santa brought her a big red wagon.

She and her cousin Olivia posed for a picture together.

Then they opened more gifts.

Suzi sampled the M&M's while we made gingerbread men.

She ate some and shared some with her mom and dad.
Hopefully I will be a better blogger in the new year. One thing is for sure . . . Suzi and I will be busy. There will be lots to share.

50 Uses for Vinegar

I cannot claim credit for today's blog. Instead, I must thank my college roommate, Nancy, for sharing it with me. If you read my daughter's blog you know that she enjoys using vinegar to rinse her hair. I have tried some of these uses and have been pleased with the results. I intend to try more of them as the need arises. Vinegar is so much better for the environment and so much less expensive than the products I have used before.

1. Kill grass on walks and driveways...
2. Kill weeds - spray full strength on growth until plants have starved...
3. Increase soil acidity - in hard water, one gallon of tap water for watering rhododendrums, gardenias, or azaleas.
4. Deter ants - spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known...
5. Polish car chrome - apply full strength...
6. Remove skunk odor from a dog - rub fur with full strength vinegar; rinse...
7. Keep cats away -sprinkle vinegar on areas you don't want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on...
8. Keep dogs from scratching his ears - use a clean, soft cloth dipped in diluted vinegar...
9. Keep chickens from pecking each other - put a little in their drinking water...
10. Tenderize meat - soak in vinegar over night...
11. Freshen vegetables - soak wilted vegetables in 2 cups of water and a tablespoon of vinegar...
12. Boil better eggs - add 2 tablespoons water before boiling eggs, keeps them from cracking...
13. Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting - dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching...
14. Relieve sunburn - lightly rub white vinegar; you may have to reapply.
15. Condition hair - add a tablespoon of vinegar to dissolve sticky residue left by shampoo... fight dandruff, after shampooing, rinse with vinegar and 2 cups of warm water...
16. Relieve dry and itchy skin - add 2 tablespoons to bath water...
17. Soothe a sore throat - put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, then swallow...
18. Treat sinus infections and chest colds - add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer...
19. Feel good - teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavor, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling...
20. Deodorize the kitchen drain - pour a cup down the drain once a week, let stand 30 minutes and then flush with cold water...
21. Eliminate onion odor - rub on your fingers before and after slicing... 22. Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards - wipe with full strength vinegar...
23. Remove fruit stains from hands - rub with vinegar...
24. Cut grease and odor on dishes - add a tablespoon of vinegar to hot soapy water...
25. Clean a teapot - boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot, wipe away the grime...
26. Freshen a lunchbox - soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it sit in the lunchbox over night...
27. Clean the refrigerator - wash with a solution of equal parts water and vinegar...
28. Unclog a drain, - pour a handful of baking soda down the drain and add 1/2 cup of vinegar, Rinse with hot water...
29. Clean and deodorize the garbage disposal - make vinegar ice cubes and feed them down the disposal, after grinding, run cold water through...
30. Clean and deodorize jars - rinse mayonnaise, peanut butter, and mustard jars with vinegar when empty...
31. Clean the dishwasher - run a cup of vinegar through the whole cycle once a month to reduce soap build up on the inner mechanisms and on glassware...
32. Clean stainless steel - wipe with a vinegar dampened cloth...
33. Clean china and fine glassware - add a cup of vinegar to a sink of warm water, Gently dip the glass or china in the solution and let dry...
34. Get stains out of pots - fill pot with a solution of 3 tablespoons of vinegar to a pint of water,Boil until stain loosens and can be washed away...
35. Clean the microwave - boil a solution of 1/4 cup of vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave, will loosen splattered on food and deodorize...
36. Dissolve rust from bolts and other metals - soak in full strength vinegar...
37.Get rid of cooking smells - let simmer a small pot of vinegar and water solution...
38. Unclog steam iron - pour equal amounts of vinegar and water into the iron's water chamber, turn to steam and leave the iron on for 5 minutes in an upright position, then unplug and allow to cool, any loose particles should come out when you empty the water...
39. Clean a scorched iron plate - heat equal parts vinegar and salt in a small pan...
40. Rub solution on the cooled iron surface to remove dark or burned stains...
41. Get rid of lint in clothes - add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle...
42. Keep colors from running - immerse clothes in full strength vinegar before washing...
43. Freshen up the washing machine - periodically, pour a cup of vinegar in the machine and let in run through a regular cycle (no clothes added) Will dissolve soap residue...
44. Brighten fabric colors - add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle...
45. Take grease off suede - dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot...
46. Remove tough stains - gently rub on fruit, jam, mustard, coffee, tea. Then wash as usual...
47. Get smoke smell out of clothes - add a cup of vinegar to a bath tub of hot water - hang clothes above the steam...
48. Remove decals - brush with a couple coats of vinegar, allow to soak, wash off...
49. Clean eyeglasses - wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar...

I must add #50 - from my junior high school English teacher - spray vinegar on windows,wipe them with newspaper and they will sparkle!