Along comes baby #1

On May 6, 1968, little Susie Lucek was born. I was at the hospital for 20 minutes when she made her entrance! I didn't have labor pains so I didn't realize I was in labor. A week or so before I did go to the hospital I had false labor and went to the doctor. We lived quite a ways from the hospital so your dad said that if this wasn't the true thing I would stay with grandma Lucek until you came since they lived closer. We didn't have a name picked out since you were supposed to be a boy. Your dad said how about Susan and I just agreed.

2 months old. When you were born we had no idea how to take care of a baby! I was always reading Dr. Spock. I guess I did ok since you just turned 40!!

5 months old and you were bald!! You didn't get hair until you were almost a year old.

Notice the table! It's the same one that I use now! Also your high chair in the background. We used that for Matthew and Lauren when you came to see me.We were playing cards with Rob at this time and it was getting late but you didn't want to go to bed so I let you stay up and help me play my hand. I've been told a few times that you were a little stinker at this age and we let you get away with it but look at how you turned out!!

This was taken at Susan's 1st birthday party. We invited a lot of relatives and most of them came. The picture above is of Sue's mom & dad, her paternal grandparents and paternal great-grandparents. The picture below is of all her grandmothers living at the time-great-grandma Stella Lucek, grandma Madge Lucek, great-grandma Anna Munson and great-grandma Hazel Gulgren. You were the first grandchild and great grandchild on both sides.

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Happily Ever After Failed...

My friend, Marilyn, and I went to the McDonald's (it was the local hangout) in Crystal lake, Il. one night and that was the first time that I saw your dad. I told Marilyn that I would like to go out with him. I felt something the very first time that I saw him. Our first date was on my 18th birthday. Your dad turned 17 11 days later. These 2 pictures are from when we first started to date. I never went out with anyone else after that. I was your dads first date and first girlfriend. We went to the Crystal Lake drive in and saw Mary Poppins. I remember him trying to hold a cigarette and match in one hand trying to light the cigarette. I don't know why since he didn't smoke.

Another picture from the picture machine from when we first started dating.

We went to your dad's senior prom the spring of 1967. Our song was Cherish and the theme of the prom ended up being called Cherish. We didn't go to a restaurant for dinner before - we went to McDonalds! The prom was held at Lake Lawn Lodge, which was a beautiful place.

This was the best day of my life when we got married. I loved your dad very much. The wedding was at St. Thomas Catholic church in Crystal Lake with Father Vlaz performing the ceremony. The reception was held at a place called carpenters union. My uncle and aunt worked there so they got it for us. I borrowed my aunt Carol Dingle's dress. It fit perfect!

My aunt Carol's topper was on top of the cake. The top of the cake stayed in my aunt Janet's freezer until our first anniversary. We went to a very nice restaurant for that.

Until we went to our first home on our wedding night, I never saw where we would live. We had no idea where we would go after our honeymoon! My aunt Janet came to the rescue again when she found a nice place. Your dad went and saw it and took it. He even carried me over the thresh hold! I was little then! It was a winter home for us. The owners lived there during the summer because it was right next to the lake. We moved out after the winter and moved in with aunt Rita and her then husband, Bob. When the summer was over we moved back into our house. By then we had Sue. The first time we lived there the rent was $50 and then it went up to $75. The owners remodeled it. They made the 2 bedrooms into 1. It was a really cute place.