Leo learns the 13 Articles of Faith

My granddaughter Leo Caroline Romans ( Denton's little girl) just finished learning and reciting all 13 Articles of Faith in primary at church. Our ward primary has a program where they come up and say them every week until they do them all. Leo just finished and she is only 5. We are very proud of her. We even made her a certificate for her room. Way to go Leo!

We hope some of our other grandkids are learning them too.... we think they probably are....just haven't heard yet.

Grandma Romans "Hot" (as in awesome) Hot Cocoa

This is some kind of good hot cocoa. The original recipe came from Greg's mom. But I am Grandma Romans too. I make it all the time and love it. So put on some Christmas carols , have a cup, and prepare for a long winter's nap.

Grandma Suzie’s Hot Cocoa

In pan Mix 6 tsp. cocoa
3/4 cup sugar

Add 1/2 cup hot water

Bring to a boil

Add 2 cans evaporated milk
and 2 cans water

Stir, simmer, serve

Winter Blues?

Who Needs Pockets?

Christmas Lights

This story isn't Greg and I...mainly because he doesn't golf...we would have to change the story to" reading".

[Received from a friend recently]

Hi Sweetheart,

I am sorry about getting into an argument about putting up the Christmas lights.

I guess that sometimes I feel like you are pushing me too hard when you want something.

I realize that I was wrong and I am apologizing for being such a hard-headed guy.

All I want is for you to be happy and be able to enjoy the holiday season.

Nothing brightens the Christmas spirit like Christmas lights!

I took the time to hang the lights for you today and now I will be off to the golf course.

Again, I am very sorry for the way I acted yesterday.

I’ll be home later.

Love you……

I believe in Santa Claus

I loved this story a friend sent me. I thought it was a great way to teach a child...and a grown-up.

"I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her. On the way, my big sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"


My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her "world-famous" cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus?" she snorted .... "Ridiculous! Don't believe it!

That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain
mad!! Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous cinnamon bun.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars.

That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for. I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, the people who went to my church.
I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class. Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out to recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough; he didn't have a good coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat! I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that.


"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down."Yes, ma'am," I replied shyly. "It's for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me, as I told her about how Bobby really needed a good winter coat. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag, smiled again, and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) in Christmas paper and ribbons and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it. Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy.

Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially, one of Santa's helpers. Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going." I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his door and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma.

Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.

Fifty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the coat tag tucked inside: $19.95.

May you always have LOVE to share, HEALTH to spare and FRIENDS that care...And may you always believe in the magic of Santa Clause."

Christmas Caroling with Grandma and Grandpa

It has become a tradition to take Leo, Fischer and now Rocky caroling to dad's home teaching families. We don't usually call ahead because we want it to be a surprise. Most of the time it works out ok. This year we went in the rain. We found out on the way home that all Fischer wanted to sing was POM POM POM. So when we got back home to his house, he did an enthusiastic rendition for his dad. Leo, Greg and I tried jingle bells at all different speeds......we never did get it together. So we switched to
" We wish you a Merry Christmas". We did ok. No matter what.... we had cute little baby Rocky smiling from ear to hear trying to figure out what in the heck was going on...so we were a hit regardless. We had hot fudge sundae's at McDonalds and even sang to the workers there ( Fischer's idea except he didn't sing...if we had only known Rumpapapum.) And we always go to see some lights, especially the tacky house lights that the kids love. All and all it was a fun night and we love that we have this tradition with the Richmond grandkids. Maybe next year, we will have some others join us.

Invisible Mother

I got this from my dear cousin, who I adore. It got me to thinking about my mom and all the things she did for the world. And I mean the world. She was good to so many people. I don't think you ever appreciate your mother to the extent that you become one yourself. And now after 35 years... I really get it. You do begin to feel like you are the mother to the whole world sometimes. But it is a good thing. I can't think of anything else I would rather be called except for maybe "grammy". Suz

I loved this.

Invisible Mother......

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response,
the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone
and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor,
or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me
at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of
hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you
open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a
clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer,
'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right
around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the
eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude
- but now they had disappeared into the pean ut butter, never to be
seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of
a friend from England ..

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on
and on about the hotel she stayed in.

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so
well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a
beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe ..

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To My Dear Friend, with admiration for the great ness of what you are
building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would
discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after
which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of
their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes
of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the
cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a
tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man,
'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that
will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the
workman replied, 'Because God se es'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you. I see
the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.
No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake
you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are
building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will
become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a
disease that is erasing my life.

It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is
the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As
one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see
finished, to work on something that their name wil l never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could
ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing
to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend
he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom
gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade
pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses
all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or
a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then,
if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're going
to love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if
we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only
at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the
world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM!

Hope this encourages you when the going gets tough as it sometimes does.

We never know what our finished products will turn out to be because
of our perseverance.

Crabs

A man boarded an airplane in New Orleans, with a box of crabs.

A female crew member took the box from him and promised to put it in
the crew's refrigerator, which she did.

The man firmly advised her that he was holding her "personally
responsible" for the crabs staying completely frozen, and proceeded to
rant and rave about what would happen if she let the crabs thaw out.

Shortly before landing in New York, she announced over the intercom
to the entire cabin, "Would the gentleman who gave me the crabs in New
Orleans, please raise your hand. Not one hand went up.

So, she took them home and had a lovely dinner
by herself.

Men never learn.

Suzie's Christmas table

My niece Stephanie always loves my tables. She takes pictures of them. So I decided to post this one for fun. I added some new cocktail glasses from Crate and Barrel this year. They are fun for shrimp cocktail...which I have already served in them.

You know how much I love dishes.....and you know how much I love Christmas....need I say more.

The Doghouse...a good reminder for the men in your life.

This is too funny: http://www.bewareofthedoghouse.com

1st of December Presents....Oh Jingle Bells!

I started a tradition years ago when my kids were little that my kids got to open a present on the 1st of the December. They were so excited when we put up the tree.... they could hardly stand to see the presents without getting to open one. So I started letting them open one to kick off the season...usually something related to the holidays..like something Christmas to wear or use. But it can be anything. So for many years we have continued it. I have some fun memories of things the kids did for me or for each other. I started doing it for the grandkids and some of us still continue the tradition. It is fun and I loved opening my little gifts today. You may want to try it.

So Happy 1st of December to all and to all a good day.

Thanksgiving a la Romans

We had an Italian Thanksgiving at Denton's this year and then a traditional meal at my house on Friday.
Denton cooked up a storm with some very delicious dishes.We all contributed something.....he gave us some of the recipes to make. These are pictures of his table. There were 11 adults and 7 kids. The orange and yellow plate are my roasted vegetables by Denton's rolled stuffed turkey breast. We also had yummy italian olives with a white bean dip, a homemade cranberry relish, homemade pumpkin ravioli, gnocchi, spinach supreme, a grapefruit based fruit slush, homemade bread and rolls, pumpkin cheesecake, an apple streusel thing, and a chocolate torte. It was all very delicious.
Chelsea made copies of all the recipes for all of us which will be so nice to have.

We also had our first annual Run this Thanksgiving...one for the kids and one for the grown-ups.
Chelsea planned the day at the park with a nice lunch and crafts for the kids.

We had a little bit of sickness going on over the weekend but had a nice time nonetheless.

Chloe takes another 1st and goes on to state in Reflections

I got this email from Chelsea tonight. Chloe is asleep and doesn't even know she won yet. We are proud of her and Felix for both doing a bang up job their first year.

Greetings Wake County PTA Reflections Chairs:

After MANY hours of work, the Wake PTA Council Reflections Committee is excited to announce the winners of the 2008-2009 Reflections Contest. Please remember that all entries you submitted to Wake PTA Council on November 19th, with the exception of the winners listed below, must be picked up on Monday, December 1st. You may pick up entries at NBC Studio, 1205 Front Street, Raleigh, between 8am and 11am --OR-- between 1pm and 3pm on Monday, December 1st.

Winning entries listed below will be held until the Wake County PTA Reflections Celebration in February. First place entries in each category will be submitted to the State by the Wake PTA Council and will advance in the competition.

Please know that the judges had a really rough time making final decisions. The talent in Wake County is absolutely INCREDIBLE! Please join us in celebrating ALL entries, not just the winners. More information to come on the Reflections Celebration.

...And now, here are the winners:

PRIMARY (Pre-K through Grade 2) VISUAL ARTS:
1 - Chloe Wood (grade 2) - Salem Elementary
2 - Ashna Patel (grade 2) - Carpenter Elementary
3 - Neha Vangipurapu (grade 2) - Fuller GT Magnet Elementary

25 Reasons I Owe my Mother

25 REASONS I OWE MY MOTHER   



1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE . 
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside.
I just finished cleaning.'


2. My mother taught me RELIGION. 
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'


3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL . 
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock
you into the middle of next week!' 


4. My mother taught me LOGIC. 
' Because I said so, that's why.'


5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC . 
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck,
you're not going to the store with me.'


6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT. 
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in
case you're in an accident.'


7. My mother taught me IRONY 
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.' 


8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. 
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'


9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM . 
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!' 


10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. 
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'


11. My mother taught me about WEATHER. 
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.' 


12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY. 
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times.
Don't exaggerate!'


13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE . 
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'


14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION. 
'Stop acting like your father!' 


15. My mother taught me about ENVY. 
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have
wonderful parents like you do.'


16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION. 
'Just wait until we get home.' 


17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING . 
'You are going to get it when you get home!' 


18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. 
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are
going to freeze that way.' 


19. My mother taught me ESP. 
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know
when you are cold?'


20. My mother taught me HUMOR. 
'When that lawn mower cuts off your foot,
don't come running to me.'


21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT . 
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'


22. My mother taught me GENETICS. 
'You're just like your father.'


23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS. 
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you
were born in a barn?' 


24. My mother taught me WISDOM. 
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'


25. And my favorite: My mother taught me about JUSTICE 
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they
turn out just like you.'
 
 

Happy Birthday Lindsay Marie!

My baby turns 24 tommorrow. It is hard to believe she is so grown-up. She turned out really well, if I do say so myself. I can't take all the credit but I can take a little. She is a hard worker and a very saavy shopper. I am so impressed with all the deals she gets.
She is a very sweet and wonderful girl and will make a very good mommy someday. The children of the world love her.

It was she that inspired me to start this blog...she helped me set it up. So thanks to Lindsay's technical and motivational abilites.....you get to read my BLOG.

Happy Birthday Linds! We all love and adore you. 143 xoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday Maddog!

Maddox Alexander Romans turns 3 tommorrow. He is a cutie...reminds us all of Jordan as a little boy. Especially those electric eyes.
He is a fun little boy and has fun playing with all his sisters. He loves being a big brother to Tess. It was so fun to see him a few weeks ago. His Halloween costume was so awesome..it even lite up. He is getting so big already. We are excited to hear about this birthday party. Hope it was good. We love you buddy! Grandpa Greg and Grandma Suz xoxoxoxo

Thanksgiving Divorce: Old age and deception

A man in Phoenix calls his son in New York two days before
Thanksgiving and says,'I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your
mother and I are divorcing; forty-five years of misery is enough.

We can't stand the sight of each other any longer,' the father says.
'We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you
call your sister in Chicago and tell her.'

Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone. 'Like
heck they're getting divorced,' she shouts, 'I'll take care of this,'

She calls Phoenix immediately, and screams at her father, 'You are NOT
getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm
calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't
do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?' and hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife. 'Okay,' he says,
'they're coming for Thanksgiving and paying their own way.'

Morris Code VS Texting!

Reflections Winners!

Chloe won 1st place and Felix won 2nd place in their school "Reflections" contest. It was so exciting because Chelsea was in charge of it this year but none of the judges knew whose projects were whose. They cannot have their name on anything on the front and the judges didn't even know her kids were in it. Chloe was worried about how it may look...but Chelsea reassured her it was fair and square. I can see why they won..their projects are so awesome.

Chloe did the painting of all the kids (inspired by Modigliani). Her idea was that the world could be more WOW! if children could teach grown-ups to make friends with everyone (regardless of age/color) all over the world.

Felix said "Look what happens when a Mexican and a blondie get together: Me! Wow!" And he did one of him by himself with his missing tooth.

Congratulations little Woods. Your dad's artistic genes are coming through loud and clear.

Mr. Sandman

This video reminds me of my kids when they were little sometimes. Especially Denton in grade school. They had to get on the bus by 6:45am in Alabama...by dinner Denton just couldn't make it sometimes. He fell in his food a few times we remember.

Mormom Synchronized Swimmers at Summit Ward Talent Show

http://www.ldsmag.com/youtube/081106swim.html

A Night out with the Girls to see High School Musical

I didin't want to be the only girl in America who hadn't seen high school musical. Some of my grandaughters and daughters had seen it, along with most of the USA, so I roped some of friends into going to the late show one night. Other than the fact the theater was freezing, we had a good time. It is a little cheesy but fun nonetheless. Thanks to Laurene, who is an awesome blogger and always has her camera with her, I have a picture of us all. Just wanted prove I am still having fun in my old age:)

Halloween with the Romans Grandchildren all over the country

Here are all kinds of pictures of my grandkids all over the country. The Denton Romans in Richmond , Va, The Jordan Romans in Salt Lake City, Utah ( Jordan made the robot costume and it lights up.....following in his dad's footsteps), and the Dana Woods in Raleigh, NC. They are all so cute. I think they love Halloween as much as I do.

I placed in a cooking contest!

I took this cornbread to the ward Halloween party last Friday night and won a prize. I actually copied it from another blog via Southern Living.I always love their recipes. There were about 30 other cornbreads there so I felt pretty good this one won.
Denton was one of the judges but didn't even know I had entered. it is so easy to make...my kind of recupe.

Sweet Texan Cornbread

½ c. butter, melted
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix
1 can cream style corn
1 egg
1 heaping Tblspn. sugar

Melt butter in 8 X 8 pan (or I’ve used a pie dish, or round cake pan).
Mix together egg, creamed corn, and cornbread mix.
Mix well and add sugar.
Pour into pan and stir into butter, until just blended.
Cook at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

BBQ Rules

BBQ RULES

We will enter the BBQ season again in several months. Therefore it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity

When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:

Routine...
(1) The woman buys the food.
(2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert.
(3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces,
and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill - beverage in hand.
(4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

Here comes the important part:
(5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL.
More routine...
(6) The woman goes inside to organise the plates and cutlery.
(7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beverage
while he flips the meat .

Important again:
(8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN.
More routine...
(9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table.
(10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

And most important of all:
(11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts.
(12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed 'her night off.' And, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

Noah's Ark

I thought this was amazing. I can't imagine having the patience let alone the resources to do this...unless the Lord had commanded you to. I guess he feels like it is his mission. WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

Man Builds Noah's Ark (exact scale given in Bible)

Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opened In SCHAGEN, Netherlands . The
massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened the first
crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's only a
replica of the biblical Ark , built by Dutch Creationist Johan Huibers
as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible. The ark
is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds
the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.
Life-size mo dels of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras,
bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical
Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and
with occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in May 2005.
On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for the opening -
will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and chickens, and goats, and
one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said
Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband
while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local
landscape.
'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so
big.' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater
where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark.
Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest
in Christianity in the Netherlands, where church going has fallen
dramatically in the past 50 years.