Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Grandma Peggie's Christmas Party.
Left is me, and my two sisters and my Mom. We don't see Jill (far right) very often she lives in Austin and only comes home about once a year. The other picture is the sisters with our Daddy!!! (nice expression Dad)
Sarah, Taylor and Sam's sister Jenny went to the party with us (Sam, CassidI, Brock and I). Oh and Cassidi's boyfriend, Brian.
Love this family picture. *missing. Josh, and Jordan!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Santa found us!!!
Santa found us!!
Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and spent it with the ones you love!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
bed time..
Monday, December 21, 2009
The Shack!
Friday, December 18, 2009
just a letter.. left for Brock.
I hope EVERYONE "believes".
Dear Brock,
I know you’re going through a time right now when you’re not sure if I am real or not. I know most of your friends no longer believe in me. But I know you want to believe for yourself, and for the sister's you have. Well, I hope I can help work out some of the confusion you might have.
I am Santa. I may not exist like the story goes. I am not a single man who makes millions of toys each year, and gives them all out in one long night on a sled pulled by 8 (or 9) magical reindeer. I am not in thousands of malls and Wal-Marts all at once throughout the season. But, make no mistake, I am real.
I am as real as the love in your heart. It is love that has kept my story alive all these many centuries. I am as true as the spirit in your soul. Santa’s spirit is the giving spirit of all of those who care for others. My magic is the miracle of reaching out to someone else and bringing joy to their hearts.
I do not see every thing you do. But someone does. I do not know when you’re not asleep at night. But my friend, I hate to break it to you, your mom and dad do. I do not know if you’ve been bad or good, but you know. So for goodness sake, be good to yourself and others. It shows. And how you treat yourself and others and YOUR MOM is so important. I will not reward you for good, but your mom, dad, and Sam will. And you will soon find that internal reward of your own conscience. You know, that feeling you get when you’ve made someone else feel better, or done something nice for your Mom or your sister?
As you grow older, I hope you’ll learn to more appreciate the real gift of Christmas – The gift of Jesus. For without his love, spirit and miracles, I would not exist at all. It is time now for you to realize the magic of Christmas and Santa is nothing more than the miracle and gift from God. This is the message I want you to carry with you.
You can teach your friends and family about God’s love through me. Showing him kindness and love throughout the year, and helping him find the magic in Christmas is how you keep me ‘real.’ Teaching him and others, by example, about God’s love for each one of us, and demonstrating kindness and giving to all in need will be how you share the spirit of Santa.
You’ll always find gifts under the tree from me as long as you believe in what I represent. You’ll always see my magic and feel my spirit at Christmas time when you make that miracle of selflessness and giving. And may you know the blessings and Peace of God now, and forever.
Sincerely,
Santa Claus
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
My favorite!!
THIS IS FOR YOU SAMMY!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
from 1924~ My Grandma Millie!
When my Mom sold the house I grew up in the cedar chest needed a home and I said to my Mom that I would take it. So the cedar chest has sat in my bedroom, pretty much untouched, it is covered and has family pictures on it.
Well tonight I got in the cedar chest looking for some sewing items. I could have DIED when I found this certificate. It is kinda hard to read but it is my Grandma Millie's (she died when I was 4) and it is dated the Second day of May, 1924. It's a certificate for
Neither Absent Nor Tardy during the entire term.. (if you click on the certificate you can read it better)
WHAT A FIND.....
I have to tell you that I don't remember much of my Grandma Millie but I do remember my brother and sisters talking the first Christmas after she died. They had made a "deal" with Grandma that if she ever died that the first Christmas eve she should hang out at the top of the Christmas Tree so that they still got to spend Christmas together. I don't know if Grandma ever met at the top of the Christmas tree but this certificate has brought her into our home this Christmas Season!!!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Christmas Cheer...
Debbie has decorated our home and done most of the Christmas shopping. I should say ALL but I have bought one or two gifts. She has done all the wrapping and planning of gifts. Speaking of wrapping, she never used to wrap gifts from Santa until she met me. She used to take the Christmas Eve gifts after the kids went to bed and put them under the tree unwrapped for the family. lol.... I had never heard of that. So now she wraps them all just for me.
We have decided to not buy each other gifts or anything for our stockings this year. Instead, we are going to Mexico in February sometime as our gift. We love it so much there and DREAM of the day we get our ass in the sand and toes in the water. (a country song right?)
Debbie thank you for taking care of all of us the way you do. I appreciate and love you very much. I should say it more.
I have to remind myself from time to time what Christmas is all about (hence the picture on this post) We all get tied up in shopping, frustrated with traffic and maybe flipping a few people off..ha.. and tend to forget why we are doing all this. So... close your eyes... take a deep breath and remember what Christmas is really all about.
Merry Christmas everyone and be safe.
Monday, December 7, 2009
mid life crisis?? Or a real need?
Sam and I would LOVE to have another baby. I know I know I know. We are 40ish. That would make us 60 (Sam even older) when the baby graduated from high school. Not to mention I am out of my "baby having years, not to mention I don 't have a uterus which I think is a MUST in child birth. So what do you do with a 40 something husband, and a uterus less wife???
You look into adoption. So I started to look at attorney's to adopt a baby. A private adoption. Ya know the kind you meet the birth Mom. Pay for her medical bills, living expenses etc. I had a little image of turning our guest room into the best baby room you have ever seen. I envisioned our lonely weekends being full of running our new baby around, sleepless nights, and bottles and onesies.. HOWEVER...
When I got digging really deep I realized that the chances of Sam and I getting picked by a birth Mom is a chance in a million and it probably would be a waste of money, energy and a lot of emotional bull shit. Why wouldn't we get picked.. Let me tell ya the reasoning I got.
- our combined ages would be in the 80 and above bracket..
- We have both been divorced.
- I have had medical problems.
- We are not in the desired income bracket for Adoptive Parents, (this is NOT a joke) most birth Mom's want their baby to be placed with a couple that makes more than 500,000 a year.
- and most adoption in Utah are for Morman couples.
Any way so as I read that and read the retainer amount for an attorney I decided that maybe our needs are more like mid life crisis, so we are now looking into a Chevy Camaro (a yellow one)!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Random Thoughts.
- I believe Christmas presents should be open on Christmas morning NOT Christmas eve.
- I love imitation crab meat.
- I married a man that does not fish. (Yes, he doesn't fish??? How did I do that?)
- I have never lived anywhere that palm tree's naturally grow, (yet).
- Next to Redfish lake Idaho my favorite place on earth is the Caribbean.
- I want a new fridge and stove.. BAD. (hmmm. hint)
- I have only mowed a lawn a handful of times in my life.
- I am the baby of my family (so is Sam).
- I have a big bin of unmatched socks in my laundry room. I have NO clue what happens to their mate.
- I am kinda OCD about my counter tops being cleaned, bar and kitchen chairs being "tucked" in and the lighting in my house, I hate OVERHEAD lighting, lamps only.
- I don't wear underwear.
- I have been in the hospital on St. Patricks day 5 times.
- I love Christmas eve.. LOVE Christmas eve.
- Sam does not cook AT ALL.. I mean at ALL, and I cook something almost every single day. Right now I am cooking ham hock and beans, pinto beans that is.
- Sam can put a rim of a glass completely in his mouth. GREAT PARTY TRICK.
- I hate acrylic nails and acrylic shoes. I think they are both tacky as hell.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
SERIOUS?
Well, let me tell you!!!
I love the fact that I have a husband that works so hard that I am able to stay home. In my beautiful house and cook and clean for my family, but today I feel more like a maid, and less like a house wife. I normally don't feel this way but also feel like when I ask my kids nicely to do something such as
"Clean your room".
"hang up your towels"
"vacuum".
They don't take me serious until I get really pissed.
WELL I AM OFFICIALLY REALLY PISSED.
How about my kids come home from school, read this post and get to work....
*disclaimer.. This was a hint to the kids at the Campbell house... Tomorrow it may not be as nice.. :-)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving Memories '09!
- a ham.
- a turkey (named Fred).
- Debbie had a back ache.
- Taylor's giggles.
- Sam being the FIRST out in 31.
- "Mom, Where is the stuffing?"
- Our "outdoor" fridge.
- Eggnog.
- A HELL OF A LONG ROAD TRIP FROM KENTUCKY
- Breakfast Casseroles.
- 26 people for Thanksgiving dinner.
- First time EVER eating on paper plates.
- DID I MENTION I HAD A BACK ACHE?
- Our parents met for the first time.
- all our kids together for the first time.
- We went through more cream cheese than humanly possible.
- ELECTRICAL KNIFE.. (in love w/it)
- George taking over the house.
- Church
- Boondocks (and laser tag)
- Shower schedule
- Air mattress'
- Refrigerated olive oil.
- Dunken Dounut Coffee.
- Dexter Marathon
- Yep, I still had a back ache.
- Iggie's, BYU, UTE game.
- Coyeann singing.
WHAT A GREAT START TO THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THANK YOU EVERYONE!!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving was kinda a mad house around the Campbell house, we had 26 people, but it worked out better than I thought it would.
All of Sam and I's kids had never been together ALL at once, we finally got a family picture with us all in it.. YEAH..
Sam and I will post more pictures of Thanksgiving. Everyone made it and Thanks to my Mom for helping with the food..
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Christmas decorating continues.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE these little elf shoes!
Penguin teapot and friends!
This is the hardest thing for me. Our Christmas stockings do not match. We let all the kids pick their own, I had a TERRIBLE time with it last year but it is growing on me this year.
This is our front living room Christmas tree. This one is my favorite. Sam's favorite is the one in the blog post below..
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Christmas Decorations So Far
I LOVE what she is doing with the house.....it is coming together so well and is getting me in the Christmas spirit.
She is about half done and does a little each day. I will post the other half later on when its all done. I will let the pics speak for themselves. Awesome!!!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
HOME SWEET HOME!
- That is has nothing to do with the "accident" and has everything to do with I am just getting older!
- That I was single for years and left my kids a lot while I was single, I had to work a lot, I also played A LOT. I was dating (usual some nightmare of a man) and I know I spent a lot of time away from my kids and I think I have Mother guilt. (NOW I DRIVE THEM NUTS, AROUND ALL THE TIME, trying to make up for anything I did wrong because I was a single mom) and trying to make everything "perfect" for them in case something happens to me!
- That I was not doing anything dangerous in the accident. I tell Sam all the time it would be easier for me emotionally if we would have been sky diving or doing something "dangerous". So now I have a small fear of leaving my house.
- I don't drive from the accident yet. It is scary. I have a black spot in my eye, I get dizzy when I look over my shoulder, so that kinda puts a damper on going places.. DUH!
The other thing that has changed is probably a good thing. Everyone that knows Sam and I, knows we are not shy about saying we are going to have a beer, or open a bottle of wine, and we have been known to party. That has changed for me in LEAPS AND BOUNDS. I don't drink very often any more. I might have a beer every couple of weeks but I don't drink nearly like I use to. I think the reasoning for that is because I am still a little dizzy, and I feel very very full all the time, so I don't want to drink because I am to full and I don't want to feel "tipsy" AT ALL. I think I am boring Sam to death.. TO DEATH!! :-) The honest truth about the alcohol is that I DON'T MISS IT, I feel great, have lost 12 pounds and I don't miss the alcohol AT ALL.
So to all my friends, my husband, and family. I know I am at home A LOT, and I know that baby steps are what I am taking to move on and get over this. Until then I am at home and get your asses over here and visit me!!!
or I may be at Bear River Mental Health because they just might come take me away because I am crazy!! Who knows!
:-)..
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Lee?
When Sam was born his parents named him Lee Samuel Campbell and expected him to be known as Lee. In the hospital he was in the nursery with a lot of little baby girls and the nurses started to call him "BIG SAM", and it stuck. So Sam's parents legally changed his name.
I just can't see my Sammy as a Lee.. Can you?
Monday, November 9, 2009
It has begun!!
Our Christmas decorating season has now begun. Debbie gets this happy, crazy look in her eye about this time every year. Yesterday she gets a little smile on her face and down she goes into the storage room and brings up a couple of boxes. She started decorating our TV family room. I love this.... last year I wanted her to leave up the lights because I love it so much. Her response is "If I left it up all year we wouldn't appreciate it so much during Christmas" She has a point.
So this two week decorating process is quite fun for me. I come home from work and she has something new unpacked and decorated. This year she wants more Christmas trees... one in our bedroom and one in our basement family room. This is asside from the two we already have.
Last year was my first experience I had with Debbie and her Christmas. She has the most incredible taste and when the house if fully decorated with all the trees and the Christmas Village it looks incredible. I know this attached picture is a little blurry but I will take more pics and post them as she decorates. I was in awe last year.......
I love you Debbie and SOOO love your Christmas spirit.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Sick, Sick and more Sick.......
Debbie said I brought something home from Vegas... apparently what happens in Vegas does not always stay there...... sorry honey
On a lighter side.... we had fun on Halloween. I normally dont like to dress up or anything but we decided to make me a red neck and Debbie dressed as my slutty, redneckish, 80's style girlfriend with the g-string hanging out the back of her pants... haha. I have to tell you.... Debbie is a hot hot woman anyway and when she dressed like this my jaw hit the floor... haha. All of our friends know Debbie doesnt dress like this at all therefor is a funny outfit but others probably thought this is the way she usually dressed... lol. We stopped in Kaysville Walgreens to pick up some crazy lipstick for her and she almost caused accidents on the roads as we walked into the store. We then stopped in a truck stop to get a drink and a snack on the way to Logan and had one guy following her... she didnt even see him. WOW
Anyway.... Debbie and her 4 inch heals were a hit. Most of the people I talked to said I look like Larry the cable guy and fit the outfit perfect.... I guess I am a true redneck at heart. Dang.....
What fun times... at least before the cold and cough hit.
Monday, November 2, 2009
S...O...S...!!!
I am WAY under the weather. I think I have swine flu or some other kind of flu. Sam and I have been coughing, fever, runny nose, sick to my stomach, NO ENERGY and just laying around all day. I think Sam brought home WHATEVER I have from Las Vegas. I just said to Sam.
"I want my Mommy. I want her to come over and take care of me. Cook me sick people food, service it to me on a sick person tray and give me a bendy straw. Do my laundry, fold it, and clean the house just the way she knows how. I want her to clean my sink.. she knows the way I LIKE IT DONE.".
So I guess I will see you in the morning..
LOVE,
Deb..
P.S. Please wear a mask and bring some anti bacterial wipes. K! thanks.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Make this. It will make you happy!!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
and the winner is!!
Regardless of win or lose we ALL had a great great time. It took us a couple of hours and we sat in our kitchen and smack talked, laughed, and made a hell of a mess.
Cassidi actually said to me during the process.
"Mom, I think Sam is "on" something tonight!!"....
Monday, October 26, 2009
PLEASE VOTE...
Monday night. and beef brisket recipe!
So I told the kids last week that "NO PLANS are to be made Monday night".
We are having a family dinner (rare we are all here any more), and then.. LET THE GAMES BEGIN. I will post pictures and announce winner this week!!
We are having bbq beef brisket tonight and as I am sitting here typing this I can smell it cooking in the house. It SMELLS wonderful and thought I would share the recipe.
Ingredients:
4 or 5 pound beef brisket. I had to ask the butcher at the grocery store and he cut one up for me.
4 oz. liquid smoke
4 oz. Worcestershire
garlic salt
celery salt
onion salt
1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce
Place brisket in a large, shallow pyrex or directly in roaster if you are not refrigerating overnight.
Add the liquid smoke and Worcestershire sauce all over.
(the entire bottles)
Rub brisket with lots of garlic salt, celery salt, and onion salt. ”it will look like you have ruined it!!” and do both sides. Cook with the "fat" side up because it makes is more moist. Trim the fat off after you cook it.
Refrigerate overnight or as long as you have I don't always refrigerate mine at all.
Bake in a covered roaster at 325 degrees for 3 hours.
Add one cup of your favorite BBQ sauce and cook uncovered for 30 minutes.
Let cool 1 hour before slicing and serving.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Winnie and George
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
LOVE THIS!!
They are probably going to kill me for posting this. Sarah and Jordan have WONDERFUL voices and Sam really can pick a guitar but they were just messing around, the acoustics suck in my kitchen and this was them just messing around but I still wanted to share how fun it is..
Sam's Mom will always say to him. "are you still picken?". He comes from a VERY musical family and I LOVE it. I wish he played more and I wish the girls came to our house more often so I could just sit and listen to them.. LOVE IT GUYS!!
Vegas Widow!!!
Here are some of Sam's rules while he is gone..
1.. O' wait it's Vegas.. I would never know what he does.. WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS!!
Have fun Sam and see you on Friday night!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
HOLY HOLY CRAPERS!!
- My biggest lingering problem is my eye sight. I have a black spot in my eye that I can't see out of. It's about the size of a nickel and I also still see very very blurry out of my left eye also.
- My next biggest problem is my dizziness. I am DIZZY if I lay down, or tilt my head (they said this may last a year).
- I also struggle with my stomach. I am always a little queasy.. ALWAYS.. I don't know if that is from my eye problems or side effect of the head injury.
- I also have terrible anxiety sometimes. The doctor has put me on some med's that has helped but I still struggle with it and this is very very very new to me. Anxiety is not a great feeling.. It's a sick panicking feeling that I hate. I don't sleep great even on ambien and I dont sleep at all without it.
- and I struggle with memory. I sometimes can't recall the easiest words, or I have a hard time trying to explain things to Sam. I definatley hope they can help me with this. i know what I want to say and Sam is so good trying to find the word for me. I want it fixed..
I don't know for sure if I will get all my sight back into my left eye, and frankly I feel very very blessed that I am healthy enough to be writing this blog. There for a few weeks I had a few break downs and said to my sammy that I can't do this, that I could not continue feeling the way I was.. Sam and my family has been great with me and hugs me and says.. It is going to take some time... I am learning that A LOT...
I
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
TIME MARCHES ON
I listened to the message...THEN MY HEART STOPPED, I got tears in my eyes and Sam thought someone had died..
This is kinda how the recording went.
"To the parents of Seniors at Davis High School (Cassidi) we will be ordering cap's and gown's and graduation announcements on Wednesday."
That was about the entire recording.
I cried, I got sick to my stomach, and can't believe she is that old and grown into such an extraordinary woman..
She came home from school and we talked about it and she also got big tears in her eyes.
I THINK ITS KINDA A SURREAL FEELING FOR EVERYONE HERE...
TIME MARCHES ON...AND ON... AND ON....
Monday, October 12, 2009
Great Anniversary Weekend
Debbie and I had the perfect anniversary weekend. I reserved a room in Park City Utah at this fancy place
Hotel Park City
and wanted to play around town Saturday and Sunday. I had no idea what we were checking into. We got there and walked in the front room to check in and was blown away. Absolutely beautiful place. We took our things to the room and was in awe. Fancy place, perfect atmosphere with sexy music playing on the Bose sound system already. We immediately decided to stay in the room for the entire time. I went and got some snacks, wine and diet coke while Debbie stayed in the room enjoying the place.
While I was gone she texted me and said "hurry fast I have a couples massage scheduled at 5:15 in our room" and I got a big smile on my face. I hurried and we got in our robes and ordered room service to be delivered right after the massage was done.
After the meal we took a romantic bath in the jacuzzi tub and from then on........ we watched TV...... haha yeah right. Anyway... moving on....
We slept in , ordered room service breakfast, checked out and went shopping at the outlet mall on our way down the mountain.
What a perfect way to spend an anniversary weekend!!! We promised each other that we would do something like this once a year to get away and relax. I think every couple should do this.
Happy Anniversary Debbie!! I love you and am the luckiest man in the world to have you by my side. Thanks for a wonderful weekend.
PS - the dogs did great while we were gone.... thanks Brian and Cass for babysitting....lol