November News

November blew past me this year! I love the month of November. Mainly because my favorite day of the year (my birthday) is in November. I love the chill in the air that gradually rolls through. I love Thanksgiving and hearing about every ones plans. I love the Christmas buzz toward the end of the month. I love the change that happens from October to November to December. Normally, I start my birthday countdown on October 23rd and remind my loved ones daily of how many shopping days they have left. This year I was busy "directing" my ward's roadshow. Before I knew it, it was November 8th and I was behind on my countdown! The roadshow, however, went off without a hitch! The kids did great and we didn't have any follies! Yeah us!

 My group of kids that I directed. I'm in the middle of all of them. This is right before our first performance.

 And then it was November 13th! Still no countdown. But I did go to a super fun garland making workshop in L.A. with my good friend, Camille! We met some new peeps, enjoyed hot chocolate and by the time we left, I was sneezing glitter out of my nose!

 The birthday celebrations began with my two favorite people on the planet! My parents took me to dinner at Bennihana.

 Then this motley crue took me to Farrell's for some birthday ice cream!

And sushi with Diana ended the weekend. All in all it was a wonderful birthday with lots of love, laughter, family and friends.

Not pictured but still close to my heart events: My primary class that I teach on Sunday's had birthday cupcakes with me.

Kaylene, Chloe and Terri took me to lunch at Panera complete with sweet gifts!

All year I thought back to what I was doing last year at this time. I was finishing my final days of University in London and getting ready to move back to the states. I still miss it so much. I often think about my old neighborhood in Kennsington and what color the leaves would be in Hyde Park or going to the movies at the Odeon Cinema down the street. I also think about the German markets on Southbank at Christmas time and the millions of lights that shine the way to Harrods. A big part of my heart belongs to London. London changed me. I can't believe how quickly the time has passed. I'm working on creating new adventure's. There is a big one out there for me, I can feel it. I've decided that this year is the year that big changes happen for me.

Susan "The Times They Are A Changing" B.

Let's play catch-up! Lots has happened, so here is a run down:

 This sweetie-pie and her parents came down at the end of July for a fun weekend.

 We took a boat ride around Long Beach harbor. The rest of the family was there too. It wasn't just the two of us or anything.

 My girls. They melt my heart.

 While everyone else was posting 1st day of school pictures of their kids, I posted this picture of my 1st day of work! It feels so good to be employed again! I really enjoy my job. I was hired at a marketing company as the social media specialist.

 Ice cream date.

 This handsome boy turned 10! We are into double digits people!

 This pretty lady celebrated a birthday too!

 And so did this goofy guy!

 I spend an afternoon at Tanaka Pumpkin Patch with some mid-single folks.

 I LOVE Halloween. It's my favorite and if there is a pumpkin patch to visit, I'm down.

 Corn maze? Kind of on the weak side.

Trunk or treat with my girls. Belle, Pink Lady and Alice in Wonderland.

 Orange you glad he was a banana? (see what I did there?)

 We dared him to put on his sister's old costume and trick or treat a second time to get more candy. No shame. BTW, that shirt on his head is acting as a wig.

Susan "More tricks than treats" B.

McKenna & Mike Tie The Knot

If you haven't noticed, I've been on hiatus. Not on purpose. Ever since I moved back from London, I've been working on becoming an active member (read: adult) in society. That doesn't mean I haven't been having fun and snapping photos of some important memories.

In September, my sweet cousin, McKenna married the love of her life in the San Diego LDS Temple and I was privileged to be a guest and witness them proclaim there love and vows before God and their families.

 San Diego LDS Temple. As beautiful as this photo is, it just does not do it justice.

My best gal, Shannon. The mother of the bride.

The cute couple after they exited the temple.

The beautiful bride showing love to all.

 McKenna sandwich! Father and brother of the bride embrace.

So happy for my sweet cousin.

Sibling love. 

I couldn't stand not being in the picture with these two cuties, so I allowed one finger to photo bomb.

Mother and grandparents of the bride. What a proud day for them all.

 First dance as husband and wife.

 Daddy/daughter dance.

 Newlyweds <3

 Susan " Someday, my prince will come" B.

Summer Time Adventures

It hasn't been hard to acclimate back to my California ways since being home. One of the things I miss about living in London is constantly seeing new places and visiting foreign lands. I do my best to do the same now that I'm home. Adventures in my own backyard, so to speak. 

 Richmond held an alumni reception in Santa Monica. As the most recent alum, I really enjoyed seeing others that graduated before me. It was so nice to visit with old friends, eat good food and be so close to the ocean.

 The 'rents took me to Bennihana for graduation dinner.

 Celebrating Destiny's high school graduation. Welcome to the real world!

 I landed a sweet summer job as a nanny for my best friend. I'm not one to sit around the house during the summer. I try my hardest to get the kids out and about. We took a quick trip to Tom's Farm one day.

 We have had a lot of pool days.

 We rode bikes on the Santa Ana bike trail and ended up at In N Out for lunch. 

 These two have become fast, best friends.

 Biking brood.

 We met friends at Chino's Children's Museum.

As a service project, we made cookies and delivered them to the Corona Fire Department. The men were so nice. They invited us in and let the kids climb on the truck and showed us how stuff worked. Darn the luck, all four of those men had wedding rings on!

 We take weekly beach trips. My ward has a beach day and it's so nice for the kids to have other kids to play with and I feel better knowing the women around me are watching each other's kids. The weather has been pretty good. There have been two days that were yucky and we left early to hit the pool.

 The kids and I met Kaylene for lunch.

 Free Slurpees from 7-11 on 7/11.

 We fed the birds at Magnolia Bird Farm.

We go to free movies or $1 movies at least once a week. The kids I watch are great. They are mostly well behaved and their momma taught them manners! I really enjoy hanging out with them and doing fun stuff. What a great job!

 I love the 4th of July! One of my favorite holidays. It is nice to be back on U.S. soil for Independence Day. This year, I was put in charge of our ward pancake breakfast. I think it went pretty well, if I do say so myself. It was at a local park and it lasted about two hours. We had almost 200 people show up. I thought it was a great way to kick off the days activities.

 My bff, Tammy and her husband came and partook of yummy pancakes

 As did these loves. My niece's sang a patriotic medley. I tried super hard to upload the video but blogger is being impossible.

 I made my very first pie, all by myself!

 Extra pie dough, sugar cookies.

 Daniela and Blake came to stay with me for the weekend! I was so stoked that theses two were coming into town and I had fun playing hostess. I sent them to Huntington Beach for the day and took them to watch Corona's fireworks at night. When we got home, we ate apple pie and visited a bit.

My cute cousin, McKenna is getting married next month, so we are celebrating her bridal shower. There is a lot of love in that Susan sandwich!

Susan "that's what a hamburger's all about" B.