Life on the Mason Dixon Line » Sydney

Happy Birthday Sydney!

Susan — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:22:37 +0000

Birthday girl passing out balloons, one of the party favors.

Cutest girl EVER?!

Susan — Mon, 23 May 2011 09:59:02 +0000

On the beach in San Diego

San Diego Children's Museum. CHEESE!

This is Sydney, my niece. How cute is she!??!?!??!

Halfway point

Susan — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 01:48:22 +0000

I am starting the 3rd week of my 4-week “sabbatical.” Wow, time flies! But after this glimpse of retirement, it really seems like it will agree with me. I have been kind of puttering through a variety of things. Most fun so far has been hanging out with Sydney last week in Cincinnati.

At the park after our jog. How cute is she!?!

Elli is such a great mom and really makes it look easy. She and Sydney always look SO cute, plus she works full time AND actually reads the book for her book club! Below is a classic picture of Elli as a mom. She was still in her work clothes through dinner, ice cream, bath time and bedtime. She didn’t flinch about the snot on her cardigan, easily brushed off the mystery food and wasn’t fazed by the water from the bath down her left side.

The rest of the time, when I have been in town, I have been making a pointed effort to leave the block each day so I don’t get overwhelmed by inertia and waste my time off. I think I am going to reverse that focus to knocking out some projects at home. Here are some top projects on the list:

re-paint patio furniture
set up pot/pan holder in cabinet, reorganize
re-paint kitchen table and chairs
install 2nd shelf in laundry room, reorganize
install new baskets for additional storage on pantry door, reorganize
patch nail punch-outs in bathroom, re-caulk around tub
repaint bathroom walls, ceiling

That should be enough for today, right?

Good to know some things never change!

Susan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:50:54 +0000

I know it doesn’t look like it, but she really did start it. I am an innocent younger sibling.

We are back from our trip to Syd-cinnati. What a cute baby girl! I posted more pictures (scroll half way down, when the images change to non-numbered ones, you are on the 2nd half–I think it starts with Michael snoozing on the couch with Sydney).

It is always great to see my sister, but this was definitely one of those weekends where you see time marching on before your eyes. I am 35, she is 37. I am a step mother of 2, she has a newborn. The miracle of all of this is that my parents have not seemed to have aged. They are still mom and dad!

OK, enough deep thoughts for today. Off to read before bed–back to work tomorrow. BTW–I gave in a started the Twilight series. AWESOME. I was worried I would be scared, but I am not. Also, Elli–I also took your book, Atonement. Will you add that to my Scarpelli library card check out list?

4th of July With Sydney Olivia!

Susan — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:20:01 +0000

Happy Independence Day!! Paul and I are in Cincinnati with Elli and Michael and their latest addition–Sydney Olivia! Here are some photos.

Paul drove us out on Thursday, we arrived about 4:30pm. We have been chilling and hanging out, trying to help Elli and Michael where we can. My mom and dad are coming today for the 4th–they should arrive anytime.

Paul and I ran yesterday and this morning. It was brutal. I did some crunches yesterday and made Paul do some w me this morning. He did not like that. He said, “Why do I have to have a fitness nazi for a wife? Why can’t my wife be lazy like everyone else’s?” Cracked me up. Elli was up by the time we were finished and I told her what Paul said. She laughed too and said, “Yeah–you married the wrong sister for THAT!!”