THE POWER OF TWO

Tying a knot and hanging on!

2012-01-30T07:02:00.010-07:00

Everyone that knows me well knows the last month has been tough. It is so refreshing to me to have my "go to" people that Love me, care about me, and are always there for me. I have a group of them that every time I am kind of at the end of my rope I pick up the phone and call. A, S.O.S,. call of "hey, I am not doing really good right now". So if your one of those people thank you from the bottom of my heart for last week. I am still standing!!!

Then on the flip side of the people that love you, you have the people that DON'T. The people that rub salt, judge fast, and are very busy telling you how wonderful they are and rotten you are that they may forget, that believe it or not, I also have true feelings. I always have been pretty resilient to this, not letting things get to me, not letting "those" people that truly believe I am the spawn of Satan take me down. Well I didn't do such a good job of that last week. It got to me, BAD.

I am not perfect, however, my intentions are good. I do not sit home and plot nasty revenge against people. I truly am just trying to help my family the best way I know how. If that is not good enough for you then I am sorry for my short comings.

I write this blog not to tell you how rough last week was, or to air dirty laundry. I write this blog for 2 reasons. 1. To remind all of you that "WORDS FRICKEN HURT" be careful how you use them. 2. To let you know why I am not on Facebook. I will be back, I have just deactivated my account till I can get my feet on the ground, and stop feeding the "haters" fire. Taking a break and just loving my family and trying to figure out exactly to do next, and to try to do what is right.

Sam and I am still standing, maybe leaning a little bit but at least we have each other to lean on, but never the less Still Standing! :-)

MAKE THIS... TONIGHT.

2012-01-18T15:17:00.002-07:00

*disclaimer: This is not figure friendly!
I am not a huge mac and cheese lover. However my husband is (It's the Southerner in him). I ran acrossed this recipe by Paula Dean. I tweaked it here and there and let me tell you.. It is YUMMY.. It is rich, and it is fattening but it is awesome. I love crock pot meals, this one you have to stir quite often but it is Heaven sent. Go get this stuff and make it. I doubled the recipe. That will be about a big crock pot full.

GO BUY THE STUFF BELOW, DON'T BUY FAT FREE ANYTHING, DOUBLE THE RECIPE AND EAT IT... RIGHT NOW!!!

CROCK POT MACARONI AND CHEESE

2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

4 TBL butter

2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup sour cream

1 (10 3/4 ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup WHOLE milk

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon black pepper.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put Crock pot on high and put butter in crock pot while Macaroni is boiling. Just to get it melted a little. (doesn't have to be entirely melted)

2. Boil the macaroni in water for six minutes. Drain

3. Combined all ingredients into crock pot and stir stir stir till mixed together (either melt the butter a little before you put it in the crock pot or cut it up into 1 inch pieces).

4. Cook on low for 2 1/2 hours. stirring occasionally.

Do not buy the pre grated Sharp cheddar. Grate your cheese yourself, it is just better cheese. AND remember this is all about the cheese... buy good cheese. But remember this is a rich rich recipe to begin with so don't go haywire buying richer cheese. Just good Sharp Cheddar Cheese works dandy..

Home Base!

2012-01-08T13:44:00.003-07:00

You know when you have a really really bad day, week, month... etc.. and you just want that place to land. That place you know your loved, that you know they will take care of you??? I know that place and it's usually where my Mom is.

To say the LEAST this week has been rough and to make it rougher my Mom and Nolan have moved to Vegas for the Winter, and my Dad and Judy have gone to Lake Mead for the winter. So I don't even have a place to run. I have Sam and I have my kids and I have my home but sometimes you just need your Mom!!!

so I was given some motherly advice and boy does the shoe fit this week... My Mom is still my home base.

BE HOME BASE!
You are home to them. When they learn to walk, they wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When they try something new, they will look for your proud smile. When they learn to read, they will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When they play sports, they will search for our face in the stands. When they are sick, they will call you. When they REALLY mess up, they will call you. When they are grown and strong and tough and big and they feel like crying, they will come to you; When their hair is turning grey and they miss their Mom, they will think of you!

so here is to your home base!

The rest of the Holiday

2012-01-05T06:52:00.005-07:00

One of our hardest thing to do over the Holidays is get all of our kids together in one spot. We were able to do it for about an hour 2 years ago but I would someday really like to get a family picture lol. So this year Josh, Sarah and Jordan couldnt make it to Christmas day but we were able to see them before the year ended. We saw Josh the day after Christmas at Peggies party and he is doing great.
We then went to Sheridan Wyoming to see Jordan and Sarah. They are doing great as well and have busy lives. We had dinner with them before we left. Sitting next to Sarah is her friend Cole. We miss all of our kids and love them all so damn much!!

The last picture is New Years Eve with a bunch of the buddies in Sheridan. Great time..

Another Christmas come and gone......

2011-12-28T13:34:00.010-07:00

It always surprises me how fast the years go by. Kids are growing up and getting their own lives started and it getting harder and harder to get everyone together in one spot. We appreciate the time we do get and as you can see from the pictures, we have LOTS of fun hah. We were able to get Brock, Taylor and Cass in our house all at the same time. Josh had to work in Payson, Jordan and Sarah had to work in Sheridan. We were able to see Josh the day after Christmas and we will see Sarah and Jordan before the year ends. We love them all very much!!
Peggie and Nolan came up Christmas Eve night and we ate LOTS and played games. If you ever get the chance to play Guesstures do it... so much fun and we laughed and laughed at each other trying to act these things out.

Here are just some random pictures of the last couple of weeks over Christmas. Our blogging lately has been scarce.

You can take the girl out of the city, but...

2011-12-11T13:22:00.003-07:00

It has been years since I have lived a small town life. As most of you know I was raised in a VERY small town in Southern Idaho, Population 6,000 or something like that. I knew everyone I graduated high school with, knew where they lived, what their parents did, and at one time or another probably dated someone in their family. I hauled hay, chased cows, and caught mice in mouse traps... SMALL town.
Now Sam and I live in big city... We don't really know our neighbors, I don't know where they work, what their kids names are, I don't know where they grew up or what they do on the weekends. I do not have mice, I do not SEE cows, and if one of my kids had to haul hay they would look at me like I was crazy, they may not even know what hay looks like. I DO have everything I want at the tip of my fingertips. Professional sports teams, huge shopping complex, airport, gourmet restaurants, art galleries, world class medical teams, unbelievable schools and Universities, and endless opportunities for the kids. We make big money, we spend big money, and I pay more for a pair of Levis and way more for a pair of shoes than I EVER thought I would. I am more and more city girl and less and less country girl.

So Sam and I have the conversation a lot if we would want to go back to small town living and we both agree that there is something about a small town that calls to us. I know I would not be content in TOO small of town and I have to be somewhere that I could buy a really expensive pair of shoes and have somewhere to wear them. I am more of a city girl now than I ever want to admit and Sam laughs occasionally about how I would stick out like a sore thumb in some of the places he has lived. However, he forgets that I have lived in a small town and there are a lot of things I miss.
You probably will never see Sam and I moving back to Preston, Idaho, Sheridan, Wyoming, Le Mars, Iowa or Winslow, AZ... but we may be planting our roots somewhere smaller than this concrete jungle of Salt Lake City, Utah.

So how big of city is to big??? or how small of a town is to small??? We are thinking somewhere with 100 to 200 thousand people.. That sounds just right to us! and you?

Where have we been???

2011-12-01T07:04:00.015-07:00

As our busy lives seem to get even busier through the Holidays we keep saying we need to blog more. We were reading through a lot of our old posts the other night and such great memories are kept here.
We had a great Thanksgiving, we have been to a couple of Hockey games, shopping for the Holidays...... but the reality is we work so much right now that we try to squeeze things in and by the time we hit the bed at night we are exhausted. We are still having lots of fun however!!!
Here are a few pics of some memories over the last month or so.

ITS HOCKEY TIME!!!!!! Even Grizzbee knows who the hottest woman in the crowd is.

We reserved the Maverik Suite for our lil party one night.

WE are now playing " GUESS WHO THE HEADS ARE" lol

Debbie, Judy, Allison, Sally and Michelle - YOUR RIGHT!!!!

Allison and her friend Brandon

Brock and his friend Rylee

Thanksgiving was awesome!! We didnt get tons of pics but we had about 15 people with lots of food and great company. They even had an activity... building Ginger Bread Houses. My wife built the best one.. but they were all great.

Little Morgan was playing with our snowmen. She was pressing the play button on all of these at the same time haha.. cute!!

Cassidi, Josh and Taylor. 3 of our brady bunch was there.

Kyley, Morgan and Taylor

Bad Bad Mole!!

2011-11-14T14:35:00.009-07:00

This past Spring Brock went to the doctors to get his Physical done so he could go to Scout Camp in the summer. While he was there the doc looked at his back and took a pen and circled a mole that he said needed to be removed and to bring him back at the end of the summer. Debbie looked at it and thought "why is this mole a bad one???" Little tiny mole about the size of an ink pen dot. So on we went with the summer.....
About a month ago Debbie took him in and the doctor did a punch hole operation and took the core out of the mole (1st pic). Super thick skin on the back... couldnt believe it.
So they sent it off for tests and to make a long story short, it came back as questionable so he had to go back in and get the whole area taken out and that came back as melonoma!!!! Debbie about fell out of her chair, started cold sweats and almost a panic attack. The doctor calmed her down and said he will be fine and it was caught so early that he will live a long healthy life. He just needs to be careful in the sun and watch all of his moles in every phsyical.

So to all of you.... be very careful of your moles

Yearly Family Pumpkin Carving Contest!!

2011-10-26T17:57:00.005-06:00

Another Fall has come and we have faced each other once again in our contest... trash talking.. name calling... you know how that family competition thing goes lol This year Brock said he was an amature and there was no way he could win. We posted the picture on Facebook as usual for voting and he not only won but kicked BOOTY! He won by 15 votes. NICE JOB BROCK!!

Top left was Cass, top right Debbie, bottom left Sam, bottom right Brock. Yeah he smoked us but I think Cass and Debbie had the most detailed pumpkings by far.. my vote was for Cass.

Happy Anniversary.

2011-10-13T09:52:00.001-06:00

Monday was Sam and I's 3 year anniversary. We spent it at dinner at Tuscany in Salt Lake City (one of my FAVORITE restaraunts). Here is to the next 30 years.

Nightmare or a Blessing???

2011-10-02T15:52:00.006-06:00

I don't really know if this blog is about step families, raising kids, or a parents melt down, or maybe all of the above.

We have had a interesting year with our kids. We have had ups, downs, highs, lows, jealousy, anger, hateful, happy, sad, frustrating, terror, and fear all wrapped up in this family of 8.

I don't live in la la land and I knew that Sam and I's past would have some scars on our kids, divorces, moving, jobs etc. etc. etc. We knew they would have some jealousy with Sam and I's relationship and that if Sam and I didn't put each other first that the family issues that accrue with most step families would put us under. So from the beginning Sam and I's mode of operation was we marinate our kids in love and they can follow or not but our kids will not LEAD this family. Well this year has proven to be tricky in this department. Sam has had his ass handed to him to turn around to see me get mine handed to me by our kids. It truly has taken a tole on this family. So Step Families a nightmare or a blessing??? I am going to go for the blessing part. I would not give up one of the kids for another, I would not change thing, and I sure the hell don't want to go back. I just hope that at some point we can look back at this and say "it really wasn't that bad"! I also know that I am not perfect, I can't speak for Sam but I know I have so many faults, and have made so many mistakes that I can't even begin to write about them and I have had no clue how to be the world's greates Mom. However, I am trying and I can't undo all my mistakes and all the scars etc. etc. etc. all I can do is work on today forward!

So this is for Sam who ALWAYS has my back, , is one of the most patient men I know, and hasn't let this year of parenting ruin our relationship. With both of us we can do this "The Power of TWO"!

I truly am in love with this man I call my husband.

Idaho Trip

2011-09-22T09:39:00.004-06:00

Working for Maverik I do a lot of road trips through out the year. This week I ran through Western Idaho to nearly all of the Maverik stores over there. I kept a camera close because I was taking pictures of competitors and our parking lots.
Anyway....... I love driving through the back roads and getting off the freeway now and then and stumbling on to things like this pic below. I didn't get a picture of the whole thing but look at all the potential hot rods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some of these are obviously junk but there are more beauties behind that old blue van on the left. Like 1930 and 1940 somethings. They need complete restoration but some of these could be worth a ton of money just as they sit.
This particular road is between Burley ID and Kimberly ID.
So if you ever get a chance to hit some random back roads in Idaho and Wyoming do it...you never know what you can find.

Here is another random picture of a great business idea!!! It certainly got my attention.

Still kicking and having fun!!

2011-09-19T06:55:00.005-06:00

What a crazy life these days. With Debbie working hard in her new career and with mine we keep very very busy!! We seem to get home from work, do a few chores to keep things up then crash in front of the TV about 7 then in bed by 9:30 haha... yes 9:30!!
On the weekends we have as much fun as possible. This last weekend we went on a bike ride with the buds from Logan. (below pics). It was a perfect day to ride.

In other news, Cassidi moved back in with us after 3 months of renting a place with a friend.
Brock is enjoying school...... and GIRLS.

More blogs to come..... now that things are settling down a little....

The Buds with a mid day refreshment in Coalville

We made a new friend in the parking lot at Taggarts near Morgan when we stopped for lunch. Even birds like Victorys

High heels and Hospitals.

2011-08-30T19:04:00.003-06:00

So from the post below ya know I have went back into the work force. I wanted to update real quick about how much I LOVE my job. I love working with Elderly people, they are fascinating and have the most amazing stories. I run around A LOT, spend a lot of time at Assisted Living homes, hospitals, doctor offices and in peoples homes. I am putting a lot of miles on my car and my car is now my office and taxi.
Brock is now in 8th grade and back in school, and I am working so this house is an entirely different animal than it was the last few years, but I think we are getting the hang of it. I have truly found a job that was custom made for me.. LOVE IT!
However my feet hurt so bad tonight I may have to crawl tomorrow. My feet have forgotten how to walk in heels 8 hours a day!

2011-08-15T15:25:00.003-06:00

For those of you that know us you know that Debbie had a terrible accident 2 years ago... almost exactly 2 years ago. Here is the link to one of our blogs about it back then -
Accident

About a month or 2 ago Debbie was in the back yard with me cleaning up some yard work. She bent over to pull a couple of weeds, which normally over the past 2 years she would have nearly fallen over because she gets so dizzy. This time she stands back up and says "SAM.. this is the first time that I have not been very dizzy!!!"
From that time on she has been toying with the idea about going back to work. She put her feelers out in a few places and started interviewing a few weeks ago just checking things out trying to find out what she wants to do now. We both agree we don't want her traveling all the time but we tried to keep out options open to what really was a good fit for her. 2 weeks ago she was offered 3 jobs in as many days.. back to back to back. She accepted each one not knowing what was going to happen with the other ones. Each offer that came through was a better job with better money. The last offer was a perfect job for her right here in Kaysville with great wages and benefits.
Today she started her first day in Marketing for a Home Health Care\ Hospice company. She is so excited and will do a wonderful job!!!
Debbie I am so proud of you and to see you healthy again and ready to take on the world is an awesome sight.

Nevada City Wedding

2011-08-11T20:05:00.033-06:00

Lauren and Tyson have been planning their wedding for some time now and we could not wait to go. We had no idea what we were in for. We drove clear through Nevada (and hit several Maverik Stores on the way) and by the time we hit Reno it finally started getting pretty. We exited off the freeway 40 miles through the trees and come upon this town nestled in these HUGE pine trees... so huge that GPS systems would not work. Nevada City is such a unique place.

Our first day there we hung out, explored a little and did some wine tasting... well it IS California... wow such great wines. If you get a chance to go to Nevada City DO IT!!

We have so many moments and stories we just cant tell them all in a blog. These few pictures say a lot so I will leave it at that... Congrats Tyson and Lauren!!

A quiet moment while Tyson and Lauren release this into the air in rememberance of our family members who have passed. Miss you Mike Dahle!!

On the way home from California

2011-08-11T19:40:00.013-06:00

After the wedding and of course, the reception party, we trekked back home. There are so many things I love about Debbie and one of them is she is adventurous. The night before we left to head back she wanted to go see Lake Tahoe since we were so close.... so we did.... and had a blast for a few hours. Truly a beautiful place and HUGE lake. I had no idea. So we get to town and see a mini-golf place and stopped so I could kick their butts. After that we took in lunch by the lake and hung out by the dock and skipped rocks for a while. What a great place and great day.

So about in the middle of NOWHERE... I mean smack dab in the middle of Nevada on the way to the wedding we caught sight of this strange building and I said "what the hell was that????" and I quick and looked at the exit in case we wanted to see it on our way back. Well we did and we were.....surprised??? hmmm strangely haunted by being here?? We were all alone off the freeway about a half mile on a dirt road. Have you ever seen anything like it? Its actually a historic site but also says "enter at your own risk". It reminded me of several horror or slash movies.. you know... innocent tourists are suddenly ransacked after pulling over for a rest. Anyway... here is the link if you want to read more about it. Just click the words below -

Thunder Mountain Monument

I bet you didn't know..

2011-08-05T12:56:00.003-06:00

both of Sam's parents
have their PHD in Psychology. Yep they are BOTH Doctors of behavior and mental processes.

While we were in Kentucky, Sam and his parents
joked about him being "studied" his entire life, and always being asked "how does that make you feel?"..

So am I right, I bet you didn't know that!

Red Fish 2011... the best place on earth

2011-07-15T07:05:00.019-06:00

What a crazy summer but we ALWAYS look forward to our yearly Redfish Lake trip. This year didn't let us down at all and even blew us away a little. The weather was awesome hitting in the 70's every day and MY WIFE TURNED 40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! while we were there. (just had to throw that out quietly lol)

Sarah came for the first time this year, had a blast and will be back. Tyson brought a few friends from California and had his bachelor party in a camp ground. We rode horses, kayaked, hiked to Lily Pond and the falls and just had an incredible time. Too many pictures to post and too many fun things happened to mention them all. Each set of pictures has its own story worth its own blog post but just not enough time or room to post it all. Enjoy the pics. I cant wait for next year!!! Love this place!!!

Dog Knapping!!!

2011-07-06T19:11:00.003-06:00

So Sam and I have been gone for a week on vacation and we told a friend of ours that we would watch their dog, Cowboy, when we got home.
So on the way home Sam said..
"We have to go get Cowboy as soon as we get home, they left today and Cowboy is home alone."
so being the great friends Sam and I are, we rush over to their house.

Go in their house,

take their dog,

notice bags laying around and said to each other "they must have forgotten a bag".

Cowboy runs to our car, he did not put up a fight at all, in fact he JUMPED in.

We take him home.

Think to self, maybe we should text Jeff and let him know we have Cowboy so he does not worry about us forgetting him.

Text Jeff... "We have Cowboy"

then, we go outside and leave our phone inside.

Well they were NOT on vacation, they had run to the store and spent the last 2 hours looking for Cowboy and had their neighbors looking for Cowboy also.

they left for vacation this morning and Cowboy is safe and sounds with his dog knappers...

This would ONLY happen to Sam and I.

Just a Harley???

2011-06-27T14:36:00.003-06:00

The guy that bought my brothers Harley just came to pick it up. Well in my head I was thinking "This is just a bike, this is NOT my brother, this is just a bike, this is NOT my brother". When that man started that bike up and I heard that rumble I seriously wanted to chase him down the road. Like a little kid chasing his parents in a car. My heart told me "THIS IS NOT JUST A BIKE". The man that bought it was so nice. He told me he understood and was HONORED to have it and he knew he would always have a guardian angel when he road this bike. So I have had my Meltdown for this week.
We are paking to head to Redfish and I hope all the memories of Mike and I around that lake does not have the same "melt down" effects on me. However, I think that a good melt down is good for me!!! Happy Riding!!! :-)

Five Days.

2011-06-21T16:20:00.008-06:00

Ya know when you go on a "family" trip and you think. "This is going to be great to see everyone, and get to meet some of Sam's cousins, see family we hadn't seen in almost 3 years, and just enjoy some quality family time". Well that is kinda what I thought about this Louisville, Kentucky trip. I knew it would be great to see everyone and etc. etc. etc.. but I had NO idea how much fun we were going to have. We had a RIOT. Brock was charming, and so fun to have on this trip with us. We might as well taken him half way around the World, He was so excited to see, explore and was A BLAST.
Here is our trip in pictures, minus all the wonderful moments we didn't capture by picture.

This is Sam's sister Coye ann, and his Aunt Shirley (Shirley is married to Norma's brother, David and they live in Louisville). Shirley has always been so good to us. She treats us just like her own and is such a sweet woman. Shirley came to our wedding so I had met her before and I had forgotten how much I love her.

Brock getting ready to head to Louisville. I can not say enough wonderful things about Brock this trip. He was SO MUCH FUN! He brought life to everyone that spent this five days with us. Most of the trip Brock was the youngest by far, but he made the best of it and was spoiled ROTTEN the entire trip.

Brock and Sam at the Louisville slugger museum in the batting cages there.

We went to David and Shirley house on Sunday for a bbq. We got to see a bunch of the cousins from that side, they were so good to us. I ate an ENTIRE pint of Pimento Cheese at their house, and I made Sam go to the grocery store and buy us some Pimento Cheese to bring home with us. I gain 4 pounds on this trip.. Way to go Debbie!!!

I have the best husband on Earth. The more I get to know his family and extended family etc.... I realize how lucky I am. They love me, they treat me like I am their own, and truly have raised such a great man that I am lucky enough to call my husband. Sam and I have so much fun and I LOVE his family!

We went to Mammoth Cave. It's the World's largest cave. We went on a hike that seemed to have steps to the center of the Earth. It was so much fun. Sam's Mom even went with us. on Saturday Brock, Sam and I went into downtown Louisville alone. We had worn out Sam's Mom and Dad the previous 2 days. So we went on a paddle boat ride down the Ohio River.

left is Sam's Uncle David (Sam's Mom's brother) he lives in Louisville, Sam's cousin Gary he lives in New York, and Sam's Dad. Sam had not seen Gary since 1981. It was great to get to know him and spend some time with him.

More Mammoth Cave pictures.

We went to the Louisville Slugger museum. It was very interesting and a fun day!

Sam's Mom, Norma, and Sams cousin Samantha (that lives in Louisville). I had met Samantha, she came to Sam and I's wedding. Brock LOVED the way Samantha talks, she has a HUGE southern belle accent! Sam's Mom again, with Sam's Aunt Norma and Uncle Dickson, they also live in New York. Brock LOVED Dickson, he kept saying that "Dickson is my buddy". This was the first time I met this side of the family. Norma is Coy's Sister. Brock and I filled up water balloons and had everyone come out and play a tossing game with them. I sure if anyone looked out the window they would have thunk we had an old folk home playing a game. As simple as a water balloon game is it is one of my favorite memories of this trip. We all laughed so hard!

more Mammoth Cave pictures. This is Brock and I and Sam's sister Coye ann. Coye Ann spent a lot of time with us this trip and I love being around her. We laughed and cried and got to know each other a lot better. I miss them all and wish we didn't live across the country from one another!

Brock was SO excited to see fireflies. It was so much fun to catch them and every single night we were there I couldn't wait for it to get dusk so I could go watch them. I LOVED those little things. Brock caught them in a jar and we played with them for hours.

Sam's Dad makes and plays Dulcimer. He played it one night and it was so fun to watch.

Sam and I go a LOT of places, and see a lot of things, and have a lot of fun, however this truly was one of my most memorable trips EVER and we had a BLAST. Thank you so much to Mom and Dad Campbell and I can't wait to see you guys again!!! HUGS!

Can you guess?

2011-06-14T14:35:00.005-06:00

Well it's official summer vacation has begun here at the Campbell house and now let the dash to get everything in before summer ends begin. (left, Brock and I even set up a tent in the backyard.)

We have been running like crazy people the last cpl weeks. Mostly adult stuff, Brock has been gone to his Dad's the last few weekends so Sam and I have played hard. Mostly on the bike. We went to Park City on the bike last Saturday and we had a GREAT time and by the post below ya already know we did our first "overnighter" on the bike to Idaho Falls and that was SO FUN! We really have a great group of friends. (right. one of our biker stops on the way to Park City, we stop about every half hour or so if we don't our legs cramp)

So now its time for the family vacations to start. The end of this week you will find us in Louisville, Kentucky with Sam's parents and then the week after that off to my favorite place on Earth...any guesses where that is?

SIMPLIFY???

2011-06-09T17:18:00.002-06:00

What a week, month, hell what a year so far. Its like we can't get and keep our feet under us. We live this busy complicated life with kids, dogs, house, deaths, friends, sickness, etc.. etc... etc... AND I AM NOT COMPLAINING ABOUT MY LIFE, our vacations, my home or kids, I just miss a few things and wanted to share the things I miss.

MY BROTHER!!!

Sam not working 12 - 14 hours a day. ( I am so proud of Sam and his career accomplishments but sometimes its hard to share every minute of our life. Sometimes I am selfish and want him all to myself)

Little kids in my house. We have all these grown kids and the pitter patter of little feet sound so fun right now. *disclaimer...this does not mean Sam and I are having any ideas about a baby or does not mean we want grandkids right now.

A clean house. (I don't really need to say much more about this other than the word REMODELING)

home cooked meals. (we have been going full blast since January I don't cook like I use to, I cook a meal here and there but we are never home so the chef in me is GONE.)

ignorance. Sometimes the things you don't know are the best things!!!

sleep. (What is that?)

well now I have to go because Sam should be rolling in any second and we are taking off to a bbq at Sam's boss's house. ...

Adult Weekend.....

2011-06-07T14:03:00.015-06:00

For the past week or so we have been packing and painting and trying to get our house back to normal. As projects go, it always takes longer than expected so we had a MESS of a house this past weekend. We had an opportunity to take our bike on a road trip with a bunch of friends on their bikes to Idaho Falls and the 2011 Beer Fest. We had an absolute BLAST. We got into town, checked into the Hotel and took a shuttle to the place and WOW there were a lot of people. I thought the lines would be so long there would be no way to get a taste. We got in the place and there were so many different vendors we could have all the drinks we wanted at any time... if you could just get through the crowd... hah.
While we were there we learned that a friend of ours, Tim Barns, earned a couple of awards with his brews. Its Black Tooth Brewing from Sheridan Wyoming!! Congrats Timmay!!!!

Anyway.. Here are a few pictures from our adventure. What a great time with the buds.. and the frothy buds as well!!!!!

We Finally Get to Paint!!!!

2011-06-01T08:25:00.004-06:00

Well I say "We" loosely because "We" are not painting.. we are hiring it done because there is SO much to do.....and we want our lines straight hah. I think our worst fault with both of us is we are not patient at ALL. So when we start painting a room we get the first few strokes done and say "I HATE PAINTING... WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING THIS FOR" ... so we hired this job.

Monday we de-decorated and packed up just like we were moving. Talk about a chore... but it wasn't as bad as we had anticipated. We packed in shifts and hauled things to the basement. The painters came in yesterday and started mudding and taping. They will get after it today and hopefully be done by Friday. As expected when we get into a project like this, we say to ourselves "while we have this apart lets do this... and lets do this... and lets do this" so we are going to replace our front door, re-tile the fireplace, replace our ceiling fan, bathroom lights etc...

Debbie why do we do this to ourselves... lol.. it will be so nice when done though. We will post more pics of the finished job soon.

Mourning.

2011-05-18T14:09:00.005-06:00

I know I am not suppose to say things like this, that it does not "help" or make people have warm fuzzies, etc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah.

However, I AM NOT DOING VERY WELL.

So I ask??? Is there a correct way to mourn? Am I suppose to be doing something I am not, and not feeling Angry, lonely, lost, emotionally unstable, withdrawn, and questioning almost EVERYTHING in my life? Am I not suppose to be doing that? Because that is right where I am.

So this girl is getting an "F" in the mourning department of life. A big, Fat, Hairy F, and franky I don't really care!!

Congratulations Sarah!!!

2011-05-15T19:15:00.007-06:00

On Saturday May 7th our daughter, Sarah, graduated from the University of Wyoming in Laramie with a Bachelors Degree in Special Education. We are so very proud of this woman... so driven, focused, fun, loving and loves life. After she finished everything she needed for her degree she decided to move forward towards her graduate degree in the same field so she decided she was not going to walk for this graduation since she was not done with school yet. We wanted her to walk SO bad to celebrate her accomplishment so we bribed her. We said we will give you a laptop if you walk.... she said YES. hah.. I love bribes..

So in the middle of crazy sadness (as you see in the below blogs) we attended a well deserved celebration and had a great time being with Sarah. We went to dinner in Fort Collins, Colorado and we all decided we want to live there. Absolutely beautiful place.

We love you Sarah and are so proud of you. Debbie ALWAYS says "Education buys you freedom" so keep plugging away your almost there!!!!!

a blur....

2011-05-13T12:36:00.010-06:00

The last three weeks is a complete whirlwind to me. I stayed with Mike's ALOT the last month and most of the last two weeks of his life with him, . . It was a precious, bitter, unforgettable time and I can't even begin to write what it was like. I would never take that time back. Sam and my kids haven't had a home cooked meal or had anything that resembled a "normal" life for almost a month but they were so supportive of me being up there with Mike. I love them even more for it. Mike had a HUGE turn out to his funeral, HUGE!

I wanted to share a few pictures of Mikes funeral with you

These are Mikes riding boots, jacket etc. We had several of his "personal" stuff around the funeral home. This is the flowers Mike's sisters got him. Its a wheel with a missing spoke (meaning someone is missing) These are Mikes gloves and goggles and bandanna he use to ride with. after the funeral we walked outside and there were a bunch of Harley's parked in front of the Hearst, they were there to escort Mike to the cemetery. It was one of my favorite parts. We were right behind the harley and the hearst and pulled into the cemetary and there were a line of cars so far that we could not see the end. It still gives me goosebumps. We walked out and all the Harley riders were standing there with hats off and waiting for their fallen brother.
The flower's at Mikes funeral were GORGEOUS. The day before he died my Mom, Michelle and I went out and found his gold panning pan in his shed with his horns and his pheasant feathers, we gathered them and had them put in the spray that layed on top of his casket.
This is the only (bad) picture we have of all of Mike's sister during the viewing.
Mike's kids, Jack and Janae, with Brock and Taylor.
The flowers from Mike's nieces and nephews. That is Mikes fishing pole in the flowers.
My cousin, Sally, made a video of Mike with 100's of pictures. This is Brock watching the video remembering his Uncle Mike.
This is the first time I have lost someone this close to me and boy, what a heart wrenching experience. Mike and I planned his funeral the week before he died, we tweaked it a little here and there but I know Mike would have LOVED it. I am home now and I go places and can't believe life is just going on, I kinda want to stand in the grocery store line and scream at the top of my lung.. 'HOW ARE ALL OF YOU GUYS GOING ON, MY BROTHER JUST DIED'...

So if your calling me and I don't answer, or if you are emailing me and I don't reply, I am just trying to get back amongst the living.... I am getting there a little bit each day.

Love you Mike!

Michael Dean Dahle

2011-05-07T19:09:00.004-06:00

Michael Dean Dahle

February 16, 1962 - May 6, 2011

After a heroic 5 year battle with Multiple Myeloma (cancer) my brother passed away surrounded by family and friends. I was lucky enough to spend most of the last 2 weeks of his life with him. I will miss him. This picture was taken about 5 days before he returned to his heavenly home. I LOVE YOU MIKE!!

I hope the fishing is good, and I will see you on the flip side Mike, LOVE YOU!

Surreal...

2011-04-21T13:46:00.007-06:00

In Jcpenny and over the loud speaker you hear. There is a severe thunderstorm outside right now, you can get a flashlight at the front counter in case we lose poser.

(thought to self) "Wow it must be bad"

my phone is going off like CRAZY in my bag.

(thought to self) "let me just buy these few things I have for Sam and I will get my phone, where am I going to go if it is raining like crazy and SEVERE thunder storm"

Phone still going off like crazy. It's my sister Michelle.

(Michelle) "I just heard from Mike (our brother). His cancer has won they give him less than thirty days if his calcium does not drop, and zero - six months if it does. It's spreading fast and they are not giving him any more chemo. They are getting hospice in to start working with him to die."

(thought to self) I can hear the hail hitting the roof now and the lights just went out in JcPenny and I can't see a foot in front of me, my brother is dying and I just bought $86 worth of stuff for Sam and I have no idea what I got him.

Looking out the front window of JcPenny I start running to my car as tree's are getting knocked down, my ear is full of water, and I am in heals and trying not to cry because I just got the news I knew was coming any second.

(thought to self) What do I do? Do I go to Preston, Do I sit here and cry, or do I try to get the hell out of the storm that is hitting Layton like the plague.

Tears start falling down my face, like gracefully falling, not like the ugly cry I usually cry, just pouring off my chin. A piece of cardboard from the storm of the century is stuck on my windshield so I am trying to get it off.

on the radio...
"Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6, like a G6"

Call my Mom. Trying to drive in this storm from hell, process everything and avoid tree branches that are falling down.
say to my Mom crying "I am just so sad, Mom, I have to get home, I will call ya later."

Have an overwhelming feeling I HAVE to talk to Mike right this second, I mean not in 10 minutes when I get home but right this second. Call him... no answer. Sitting on the freeway between Layton and home because there is a traffic jam from this storm. It's hailing again now. BAD!

radio:
"Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard
When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard
Sippin sizzurp in my ride, like Three 6
Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6
Like a G6, Like a G6
Now I’m feelin so fly like a G6"

Get home, let the dogs outside and our shed door is on the patio, shed is blowing over, neighbor ladies garbage cans have blown all over, go try to help her get the garbage cans in. Still gracefully crying tears off my chin.

from her daughters car I can hear. "Like a G6, like a G6."

Today is a shitty day!

tip tuesday!

2011-04-19T11:38:00.004-06:00

I owe this tip to my Mom.

Ya, know the junk you get in your liquid laundry detergent cup. The coagulated junk that dries and coats that nice little plastic number you pour your detergent into your washer with. Just fill it up and place the entire thing in your washer with your dirty clothes and wash away and it comes out sparkling clean and no funk around your cup.

OOOOO.. simple pleasures!

funnel cake or fornicate?

2011-04-18T14:43:00.010-06:00

Sam and I were at the hockey game with some of our friends on Saturday night and there is nothing better @ the Maverik Center than their funnel cakes.. I am a fan. Here is how our conversation went.

Debbie: "Sam, will you PLEASE go get me a funnel cake???? PLEASE?"

Sam: "Yes" and than he stands up to get past people ya know how ya dowhen you are sitting in a crowd, making EVERYONE stand up so you can slip by.

Alison: "Sam, Where are you going?"

Sam: "Debbie, Wants a funnel cake?"

Alison "You are going alone" raised eyebrows and giggle.

Debbie: "Yes, he can go alone, I can't go my feet are KILLING me!"

Alison: Well, that should be fun for you Sam, have a good time?" sam walks past everyone else..

Sally to Alison: "Where did Sam go?"

Alison: "He said Debbie wanted to fornicate, so he is going somewhere?"

Debbie: Laughing HARD... "He did NOT say Debbie wants to Fornicate he said Debbie wants a funnel cake.."

well I got my funnel cake and it was about as good as fornicating!

Family!

2011-04-17T16:37:00.005-06:00

There are times in my adult life that a lot of time goes by and I don't see my Mom, Dad, Sister, Brother or Nieces and Nephews etc. etc. etc. and it's not that I don't think of them every single day, and that I don't want to see them it's just that life happens. I have been very very lucky lately to be able to spend some time with them. I have forgotten how wonderful it can be and how amazing these people I call my family are. Here are a few highlights of my last couple of weeks. I truly was handed a pretty damn good deck of cards with my family cards. It was Nolan's 75th Birthday. My Mom had a party for him. It was fun to get to see and meet Nolans family again. Nolan is recovery slowly but surely and he is so good for my Mom.. We love him! He also had the cutes centerpieces EVER for his party!

Cassidi and I rocking the juicy red lip trend going on right now! This is a TERRIBLE picture of Nick and Brock at the Jazz game. Nick sporting his new jersey and Brock sporting his new mouth full of braces.

Grandma and grand daughter and cute little Grand puppy, winnie!

Three generations.. This is my Mom, who I am her child 100%. I can go in her kitchen and open a drawer and know exactly what will be there because my kitchen is the same way, I worry about the same stuff she worries about and let me tell you my Mom and I NEVER leave our house with out our dishes done or our bed made because that's what my Great Grandma Taylor always use to tell my Mom.. I love this lady and I love who she has made me. Cassidi has no idea that she is also going to be JUST like the other two women in this photo with her.

*side note. look at these cute centerpieces that my Mom and myself made for Nolans 75th birthday party. I KNOW THEY ARE SO CUTE!

Blogging Blues!!

2011-04-13T14:02:00.003-06:00

I don 't know if I have blogging blues or a boring life. Yes, stuff has happened the last few weeks I just can't think of anything charming and cute to say about them so...
stay tuned..

p.s. Cassidi wrecked my car while hers was in the shop getting fixed. This family needs a money tree right now!

Wood..

2011-04-08T11:41:00.004-06:00

How much wood could a wood chuck chuck, if a wood chuck could chuck wood!!!
or
How much wood could Brock and Debbie chuck if Brock and Debbie could chuck wood? the answer. NOT VERY DAMN MUCH.
For Spring Break Brock and I went and spent 2 nights in Idaho with my Dad and Sister and Brother. One morning I went over to my brothers Mikes to help him.
*side note. Something that I don't blog about much is that my brother, Mike, has terminal cancer. He has multiple myeloma and to put a long story short he is very very sick and has a hard time doing most things let alone chop wood.
So Mike can't really swing an ax right now and he needed some wood split to burn. Well Brock and I did about 20 pieces of woods and let me tell you it was so hard work and I have not been able to move for two days because I have been so sore!!! Brock and I had a FABULOUS time in Idaho with my family. I can't believe how much fun we had up there in the home of Napoleon Dynamite. Things we did.

toured a Mink Farm.

went to the hot pots.

played Mexican train. (my Dad won every game)

went to my sister's Michelle's

helped my brother Mike, (Brock even dusted)

sat in my Dad's truck while he got a speeding ticket.

ate to much

any way it was a fun different Spring Break for us and it was WONDERFUL to spend time with my family, however next time you chuck wood.... take advil!

Random Days...

2011-03-29T07:48:00.018-06:00

This morning I was thinking to myself that since we got back from Colombia our lives have been kinda quiet and non eventful... then I thought... wait a second... the hell it is.. haha. Our "quiet" is very busy compared to others I know. Here are some random pics with a few words about the last couple of weeks since we got back from vacation.

Debbie has always wanted to paint our bedroom and bathroom. We finally broke down and painted what she calls "sand" color and gloss white trim and flat white ceilings. Whatever color it is it looks wonderful... she has quite the eye and incredible taste... I have none so we make a great match lol. The 2 pictures below she just had matted and framed a couple of weeks ago and now we have a home for them. The first one is one we bought in Colombia... tons of art work with chubby people for some reason down there. The second picture is artwork from a trip Debbie made to Fiji several years ago.

Our lil Brock had his 13th birthday!!! He is now officially a teenager... man how time flies. He is quite spoiled.... he got a flat screen TV from us and his dad bought him a Kinect for his Xbox so he has been playing video games for weeks with that new set up. Debbie took him to IFly in Ogden Utah. Its a wind tunnel and they teach you how to fly... so to speak. Here is the link.. it is the coolest thing. Ifly Link

Of course its St Patties day in March and we always celebrate with our buddies up in Logan. We love our little pocket of friends up there. It makes for a great date night to run up and have dinner with the buds.

Its starting to get a little warmer so I took the flannel nighty off my little yellow rocket (Victory Hammer), cleaned it up and shot around the neighborhood for 10 minutes vibrating every window as I roared by. LOVE IT... but it was too cold for this fair weather rider... back in the garage it went.

Poor Cassidi had an accident a few days ago and crashed her car. Cass is fine, thank goodness, but her car is NOT. She called me crying right after it happened and I said "have you called your mom" she said "NO" so I called Debbie and she drove down to the accident.. it was only a mile down the road by Brock's school. I found out later she called me first because "I am nicer and was afraid of mom" haha. So Cass is driving Debbie's Yukon for now and poor Debbie is stuck at home with out transportation. But tonight, we go get the Mercedes. Super fast car with a big V8 stuffed under the hood. Debbie wants to race me on the bike... she thinks she could take me... I laugh in her face.. bring it on...

So last night, Monday, we were sitting in the living room and decided to go shopping at Costco. We bought a few things and we lost Cass for a few minutes. She was hiding from us as you can see... crazy girl. Quick note about Costco.... I dont think we have EVER left that place with out spending at least 100 bucks... we are suckers when we go here.

After Costco and after Sushi... Cassidi and her boyfriend Alex said "lets all go bowling" so we went and Cassidi kicked some ass and Debbie tied me at 120. The W is Debbie.... she has a stage name.. Wanda haha and I call her Wicked Wanda. Everywhere we go where they ask her name for food or whatever she says "Wanda" so when the clerks come out with food and yell "WANDA!!" we know its her... she cracks me up. (we have a friend named Wanda so if you read this it has nothing to do with you) :)

In March every year gas prices go CRAZY and so does my work. Debbie calls it "Maverik March Madness". She found a couple of places she wants to send me to during this time every year... one of them is a man convent up in Eden that she threatens me with HA. My phone rings constantly and I work 7 days a week for a month or two. I feel bad but it is what it is and always happens this time of year... and I probably have hitmen in 8 states after me. Debbie has actually been very patient with my work this year and its been UGLY as you know.

So this last picture is a depiction of exactly how we feel after the last number of weeks. Winnie... we feel the same way!!

In other News.

2011-03-24T15:33:00.002-06:00

This and That...

We painted our Master Bedroom and Bathroom. LOOKS FABULOUS
Brock turn 13. For 10 months of my life all 3 of my kids are teenagers.
I have had a bad bad stomach since we have been home from Colombia. I probably have a tape worm.
My hair is blond again and I got my Spring injections. Feels so good! :-)
For dinner tonight we are going to the Brazilian grill at the Gateway in Salt Lake. It's a business thing.
We are trying a new church this Sunday with some friends from Layton.
I have eaten Sushi 3 times this week. Maybe I have been poisoned and that is why my stomach is so bad.. Nope I am back to the tape worm from Colombia.
Cassidi got her itinerary for Costa Rica. She is going to have the best time.
For Brocks Birthday we took him to Ifly in Ogden, Utah and it was the bomb. It is a wind tunnel and you kinda sky dive.. COOL.
My Mom has to have back surgery on April 11th. I am going to go spend a couple weeks with her and Nolan to help her out. My poor Mom.
George may be the World Worst Dog.
Steven Tyler is really really sexy on American Idol. He is my guilty pleasure.
We got all new door knobs and light fixtures for our bedroom and they also look FAB.
It feels SO SO SO SO SO SO Good to be at home for a couple weeks and not do ANYTHING.
BYU plays tonight against Florida in the NCAA. and it is hard for me NOT to cheer for BYU because they are a Utah team but I really dislike them enough that I am on the fence.
I went to lunch with my cousins and my childhood friends yesterday. It was so fun.
I walked through Lowe's with my zipper undone on Sunday. I mean I walked ALL THE WAY THROUGH LOWE'S FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

so now you know!

Name Change.

2011-03-14T15:28:00.002-06:00

So, I waited about 3 years to legally change my name to Campbell, because I wanted to make sure Sam and I worked out.. ha ha. That is not the reason, it was because we are always going out of the Country and I didn't want to send my passport in and not be able to go on a trip. Well little did I know if you wait longer then 2 years after you are married it is just a bigger headache. So now I am knee deep in Social Security, Passport, Bank, and DMV paperwork...

I know don't be jealous!!

Welcome to Fantasy Island.

2011-03-10T13:40:00.007-07:00

and the trip continues. The last leg of our trip was on the Island of Mucura, at a resort call Punta Faro. It an entire different blog to tell you of the adventure of getting there in a boat. We got soaked and let me tell you. If you EVER find yourself going on a small boat for 2.5 hours to an island with 40 of your husbands co workers and on a sheet of paper you read sometime it mentioned "you may want a rain coat for the boat ride", by all means take a rain coat and DON'T wear ALL WHITE WITH NO UNDER GARMENTS!! It is a little too Spring Break 1987!

Sam and I getting ready to ride a boat to PARADISE. Me in my shiny cloroxed white nautical outfit looking all fresh and ready for a beautiful small boat ride. HA HA HA LITTLE DID I KNOW!UMMM, about 4 minutes into the boat ride!! :-) The other thing to remember is we took this boat ride to the island during the day but our return boat ride was at 4 in the morning in a pitch black ocean and 8 foot waves!!! Now that was even more interesting! and OMYGOD, Welcome to every dream you ever have about an Island getaway. I seriously could not quite talk when we stepped off this boat! It is THAT gorgeous! The service in Colombia was the best I have ever had. I did not EVER touch my luggage once it was packed. It was put in our rooms for us, taken out of our room and just magically appeared where ever we were. It was the bomb.

Our first few minutes onto he island. We didn't even get our luggage before everyone hit the beach and had our first happy hour. We were the first Americans to be at this resort. It was AMAZING. there were bells on our cabanas that we rang and they brought us drinks. PARADISE! They have a no key policy at this resort. NO locks on your room doors, loved it. No keys to worry about and we had NO problem at all!A LITTLE MORE PARADISE!

The culture. This island is in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most densely populated island in the World. 1500 people on an acre YES, an acre!!. It is a little hard to look at and a little hard to imagine living like these people but they are happy and they don't know a difference. Most of the people that live on this island work on the surrounding islands at the resorts. It is a lot more bizarre to see it in person. 800 kids live on this island...

The food, MORE SEAFOOD... lol. Some of our group did not like seafood, I have no idea what they ate for 2 weeks! The local village.

My sweet husband. I have to say right now that Sam and I have spent A LOT of time together the last month. On top of this trip remember we did Amtrak through Colorado so in 3 weeks we spent almost every day ALL day together and Not one argument, not one dis agreement. We are the best traveling partners you have ever seen not to mention life partners!

Sam went and toured the island with out me. I don't want to complain because I was in Paradise but I got SICK on this trip, Pneumonia sick. So I was in bed coughing up a toe nail and Sam was off kissing this turtle somewhere.

the rooms!!!

So without going on and on and on about this vacation I will end it here. I seriously could write for weeks about our experiences and the fun stories and the beautiful scenery and the great people but I think you probably get the point. Priceless vacation, priceless people, and priceless memories. Thank you Maverik, what a GREAT experience!

Cartagena?

2011-03-09T14:08:00.008-07:00

Who would have thought Colombia, fun as hell, spectacular food, architectural wonder, SAFE?

Yea, NOT what we thought when they threw Colombia out of their hat. We thought, drug lords, guns, kidnappings, etc.. etc. about every bad thing you could think of a place. Ten years ago that was a pretty vivid picture of Colombia but now it is pretty much a mecca of everything you want. I have simply never been so surprised of how charming and up to date and wonderful a place could be. It was far better then I EVER imagined. However it is hard to communicate, order food, or shop because it is few and far between to find someone that speaks English but who cares when you are in paradise! The 3 nights we spent in Cartagena was by far the most up scaled. The hotel we stayed at was the nicest in town, it was like a 5 star hotel in Los Angeles. Had EVERYthing and then some.

It was Amazing because we would be walking down the street and think this is the neatest street in the entire place and we would turn the corner and it was even more charming and more beautiful. Seriously!!! Colombia!!!

this is a picture of Sam and I with the "new city" of Cartagena behind us. We stayed in the "old city" which is surrounded by walls. The new city is a CITY, a HUGE city and we were told that it would be safest if we stayed in the old part of town. So we did and it is so charming and unbelievable. What a great, luxurious 3 nights we stayed here. LOVED IT! I seriously felt like I was in Spain, these really small streets with vibrant building on them. I walked down these streets and tried to picture it back in the pirate days and how rough it could have been. It has a real New Orleans feel to it.
Tracey and Larry at La Cevicheria. I loved this food.

The pool 2 the Sofitel. It was so darn hot during the day this is the only place to hang out. Cartagena is on the ocean and has a HUGE beach all along it but we did not venture to the beach. They say that you get so harassed by vendors that it is not worth going to the beach in Cartagena. So this part of the trip we pooled in!

the food was to DIE for..Colombia has a real African feel. So take Spain, Africa, and New Orleans and mix it all together. I have never been any where I have felt so foreign. There are very few white people around and the women in Colombia are GORGEOUS. It is hard not to stare at these people because they are so pretty. The Merchandising group at the Yacht club for the last lunch in Cartagena before we went to Punta Faro!

The "old city" of Cartagena is surrounded by a wall. With forts and cannons and stuff all around it. It was to protect it from pirates in the old days. Now they say if you stay within the "old city" of Cartagena you are safe and when you go out side the walls it is a HUGE city.

More pictures of our hotel. In the 1600's it was a monastery. Carriage ride around Old City Cartagena at night. Was one of my favorite things to do. The city comes ALIVE 2 night. People ALL over just walking and eating and drinking and dancing and sitting in parks.

I am leaving so much out of this blog but how do you put into a blog of one of the best places I have ever been and tell everyone how wonderful it is. If you ever get the chance to go to Cartagena, Colombia don't just go... GO and marvel at every second spent!

the difference between all three places we went was so broad that it seriously felt like we had been on 3 different vacations. The bus ride between the first place we were at and Cartagena was brutal, 6 hours, but it wouldn't be an Adventure if it was easy!

Voted off the Island!

2011-03-07T11:29:00.011-07:00

We leave for Colombia at 1:00 a.m. in the morning, fly to Atlanta, fly to Miami, have a HUGE layover in Miami and then fly to Baranquilla Colombia, so I don't need to tell you there was a LOT of exhausted people. So we get to Baranquilla and we find out we have to go by BUS in the dark in Colombia 3 fricken hours to Santa Marta where we will be staying the first night. Let me tell you there were some melt downs, I love a good melt down as long as it is not me. :-) So, we make it to a great beach in Santa Marta have dinner, sleep, have breakfast and get back on a bus to tour Santa Marta and go by bus another "who the hell knows how long" to Tayrona. So we make it to Tayrona and to make a long story really short. They have 8 huts @ Tayrona and we have 10 couples. So 2 couples volunteered to go to some UNKNOWN location in Colombia. So everyone that knows Sam and I knows that we are always up for an ADVENTURE so we volunteered and we were lead off like 4 outcast members to a alternate location. After we PUSH started the car that was taking us to where ever we were going and with a driver that did not speak a any English we were off like a wedding dress.

We ended up here at Playa Koralia. I am the first to say that this resort is not for EVERYONE but it was for Sam and I. WE LOVED it. It was very remote (so much for staying with the group for safety reasons while in Colombia). It has NO hot water. The toilets and showers are OUTSIDE of your room. It was seriously one of the neatest experiences we have ever had. Now Maverik feeling bad about the mix up compensated us VERY well for this stay. I wont go into details but we pretty much got paid to stay at this place for 3 days. SERIOUSLY?

A hut or room where people stayed. They were painted all cute!

This is the reception center. You can not wear shoes into any building and most people that come to this resort is looking for a "nature" experience. They said a lot of Yoga retreats.

I fell in love with this little doll. It was not for sale! :-( This was our outdoor shower. Seriously your head was just outside.. If I can pick the worst part of the 3 days it would be that we had NO hot water, and I am not talking cool water I am talking COLD. The beach!!!! No one around for miles and miles and miles. You better enjoy each other's company because that is pretty much all you got! a River that runs through the resort. You did not order off a menu, You ate what they brought you! Big breakfast and lunches and very small dinner. It was the best food of the trip! The food in Colombia is to die for, but I can't believe I am about to say these words. "I am quite sick of seafood"

The bathrooms off the dining tent.. How cute are they.

Our hut. I love hammocks.. LOVE hammocks!! Give me a hammock and a drink and an ocean and I am a happy girl.

Well this is a strange perk of our trip. We had FROGS everywhere. I mean everywhere. I lifted up the toilet many times to find a frog in the toilet. So Sam wanted me to just pee on the frog and I told him NO WAY.. So the shower drain became the bathroom for me for a couple days.. LOVELY!Our bed, with bug net included. The bug nets work. At night we would let the bug nets out and sleep inside them. We saw FIREFLIES. We watched one the first night weave in and out of our thatched roof of our hut. LOVED it. Made me so happy! This leg of our trip was the most romantic by far. Just Sam and I and Larry and Tracy and the ocean roaring and fireflies, coconut drinks from a fabulous outside bar (picture of Larry, Tracy, and I at the bar). So it was Marvelous, It was not what we had planned those 3 days but non the less marvelous. Sam and I had massages, Tracy and Larry floated down some river.

The hard thing about Colombia is NO ONE speaks English. NO ONE. But how much Spanish do you need to know when sitting on a beach eating, and ordering drinks. NOT VERY!

To be continued...

p.s. When I was packing for this trip I threw in a little flashlight. Brock said to me "Why would you pack that?" my response. "I guess I never know where I am going to end up!" ha. That flashlight saved our lives. It was the darkest I had ever seen it. You could not see an inch in front of your face. It was quite unnerving how fricken dark it was.. Did I mention it was DARK!

Adventure

2011-03-05T18:21:00.006-07:00

remember that Maverik's slogan is... "ADVENTURE'S FIRST STOP". and boy did they give us an adventure, or an ADVENTURE!

I am exhausted from the travel of getting there and getting back, however would not be a surreal experience if it was easy. I will blog a little each day about the trip rather than doing one huge blog so I am starting with the trip there.

We had a flight to Atlanta, a flight to Miami, and than the flight to Baranquilla Colombia, and that was just the way there. The layover in Miami was VERY long so we went to South Beach. I had never been to Miami and I am so glad we did this.

South Beach walking trail!

Johnny Walkers on Ocean Drive

Ocean Drive with cute little boutique hotels

Jeff and Carrie at the airport, Do they look tired. I think we did not sleep for about 30 hours!

after Miami we went back to the airport and got ready for the most wonderful two week! There were some bumps in the road, some experiences that I will never forget, and friendships that will span a lifetime.to be continued...

Bon Voyage

2011-02-20T13:47:00.004-07:00

If anyone needs Sam or I the next couple weeks please check one of these places.We may be here, the Island of Mucura, staying at the Punta Faro hotel,

and also try here, we will be applying a lot of sunscreen and drinking fun drinks with umbrella's in them. If you don't catch us at the Mucura, try...

the Sofitel Hotel in Cartagena, Colombia. We may be sitting around this pool

or maybe strolling down these charming Spanish streets, shopping or we will be in this horse buggy and seeing the sights that way. And when you don't find us in the busy streets of Cartagena, go to Tayrona National park and try these little ecohabs, where Sam and I will be staying.

and last but not least check out the World famous beaches at Tayrona National Park, or try one of the many beautiful views.

We are so excited and can't believe it is finally here. Bon Voyage!!! WOOT WOOT

Amtrak 101.

2011-02-17T11:04:00.009-07:00

Things to think of before you take a 48 hour train trip across the country.

This is looking down the hall to our bedroom. Each room has doors on them and curtains so you can do anything you want in that little room... you just have to find the room!

If anyone we know wants to do an Amtrak trip this is the one thing I would tell you. UPGRADE. Get a sleeping car. When you upgrade you get all your food included and you have a private room. We played a lot of cards, ate a TON, drank some really really bad wine we smuggled on the train (they have alcohol but it is very expensive).Remember its a train. The sleep is not great and through Nebraska it was quite rough. Pop a sleeping pill and sleep when you can. You are not going to feel like it is the best sleep you ever had in your life. This was our sleeping car when the beds were laid out, and Sam laying on the bunk underneath me. You have a room attendant that comes and puts down your beds and puts them up and wakes you up if your train arrives when you are sleeping. ITS WONDERFUL!Dining car. It kinda starts feeling like you plan your day around your meals. The food is actually VERY VERY good and the service is wonderful. You have what they call community eating, meaning if you don't have 4 people in your party they seat you with people. We got to meet all sorts of people that way. We even sat with a Amish couple, they loved Sam and I. The views from Dinner one night in the Dining Car. OMYHELL it was gorgeous. This canyon is called Gore Canyon and the only way you can see it is by rail or kayak. It was so gorgeous. We saw Bald Eagles, elk, deer and it was breath taking. They have a viewing cart you can sit in and the entire car is windows. GORGEOUS!Sam in the viewing cart. They would announce over the intercom which side of the train would have the best views. So if our room was on the wrong side we would go up to the viewing car. Get your sea legs on because it is kinda hard to walk, but that makes it an adventure!They stop along the way and sometimes you can get off the train. This is in Glendwood Springs, Colorado.

So that is an abbreviated lesson on Amtrak. If anyone ever decides to go give us a call and we will tell you the "in's and out's". You should put going by rail across the Rocky's on your bucket list. It was gorgeous, relaxing an a experience of a lifetime. LOVED IT. But give your riding partner a gas pill because gas and a small sleeping car is pretty brutal. :-)I had to throw this picture in. Its a picture of Sam in front of his high school in Le Mars. I was so surprised how small Le Mars is and how FLAT everything is. This was the first time I had been to Nebraska or Iowa and it was a treat for me to see some more of this beautiful country we live in.

Now Sam and I are getting ready to go to South America on Tuesday.. CAN'T WAIT!

Memories to last a lifetime...

2011-02-16T12:34:00.003-07:00

I don't quite even know where to start this blog. So I guess I will just dive in. I am going to do this blog in 2 parts. This part about the experience that Sam and I have went through that is so wrong on so many levels and so right on so many levels that I have to share and then later I will blog about Amtrak, being in Sam's hometown, and all the other stories of our adventure.
We went on Amtrak to Le Mars , Iowa where Sam was raised to say good bye to Sam's best friend. It was heart breaking but I cannot tell you how warm, gracious, and wonderful John's family was to us. They fed us, laughed with us, cried with us and made me feel like part of the family. Here are a few pictures of the celebration of John's life and I will never forget how wonderful everyone was and how heart breaking this experience was. This is John's parents, Ned and Wanda, Sam calls them Ma and Pa Ma Comb. Ned said to Sam when we were leaving "Having you here Sam was just like having John with us". *sigh!

John's family also asked Sam to be a Pallbearer. Nichole (John's wife) exact words to Sam was "Will you be a Pallbearer with the rest of his brothers!" *bigger sigh

Sunday night after John's visitation the family (while all together) decided to get Tyler (John's son) baptized. Nichole invited us along and after we went back to the MaCombs and as everyone sat around the table and cried, looked, at pictures, and talked Sam snapped this picture. PRICELESS. Sam wanted to be at there house every last second we could.

By the back door of Ma and Pa MaCombs house all the nieces and nephews had taken their shoes off and there was this big pile of shoes.

This is Nichole Johns wife. She is the cutes littlest spit fire you have ever met and I love her, hurt for her, and deep down inside know that she is going to make it through this!

Johns Family!!

What a wonderful, emotional week we have had. Sam said to me at one time sitting in the funeral home "Deb, I have never been so sad in my entire life!" and I think that is part of the grieving process. John was buried just like he wanted. In a Minnesota Vikings T-Shirt, a beer in his hand, and surrounded by people that love him.

and by the way. Sam and I are now the biggest Minnesota Vikings fans you have ever met!!

see you on the flip side!

2011-02-11T14:53:00.003-07:00

This week has been a tough week. Sam got one of those phone calls that brought him to his knees. Sam's best friend John MaComb died on Wednesday morning. It has been a surreal experience and Sam has the "highlight" reel of him and John's life going through his head.

So Sam and I are headed to Le Mars, Iowa tonight (we will be back in time to go to South America next week). We are getting there by Amtrak and I am sure that John has a grin thinking that he wanted to send Sam on an "adventure" just one last time.
So here is to John MaComb who truly shaped the man my husband is today. A 24 hour Amtrak ride to Omaha, NE, a 2 hour car ride to Le Mars, Iowa and a Celebration of life we would not miss. Our prayers are with you Nichole and kids.

Goodbyes are not forever.
Goodbyes are not the end.
They simply mean I will miss you,
Until we meet again.

See you on the flip side John!

FAT that is with a "f" and not a "ph".

2011-02-07T13:09:00.004-07:00

Sam and I had a Superbowl Party and I can not even begin to tell you the amount of food we had. I am quite certain I ate my body weight in food.

Thanks for the memories again guys!!!

Tip Tuesday!

2011-02-01T15:41:00.004-07:00

When it comes to furniture everyone that is about to buy a piece of furniture should ask Sam and I what NOT to do.

For example the beautiful table we bought last Spring. We love the looks of it but the chairs cost us a small fortune and they are entirely to heavy, and there is a decroative etched edge around the table that catches every crum, water and anything you have on it. This table has brought me more anxiety than any other piece of furniture I have in the house (well almost) I am so worried about it getting scratched or dinged because of the amount we paid for it I have not enjoyed it at all. So for a formal dinig room this table would have been PERFECT but to use in a breakfast nook like we do, IT WAS NOT THE BEST CHOICE!

Okay now on to my second furniture mistake. In our family room (the one we use ALL THE TIME), I wanted a kind of african feel so we also spent entirely to much money on this sofa and I simply HATE IT. If you are as anal as I am DO NOT buy a couch that has throw pillows as back rests. I feel like all I do is arange these pillows every day, all day, all night, all week, all month. I am arranging pillows.

So my tip for you this Tuesday is when buying furniture don't buy it because you love it. Make sure it works for where it is going.

Now I must go and arrange pillows and make sure noone is eating on my table.

Great Accomplishment!!!!!

2011-01-30T14:08:00.003-07:00

The Two Sterling Scholars

The other night I was driving home chatting with Debbie on the phone and she said "Have you heard about Sarah????!!" I said "NO what?" Debbie said "She made the President's Honor Roll at University of Wyoming!!!"
I am so proud of Sarah for her hard work in college. She has been getting good grades for the last 4 years but to nail straight A's her senior year is incredible. Working a job and going to school full time and playing (just a little) is fantastic.
Our surrogate daughter Kelsie Inchauspe, Sarah's best friend, also accomplished the same honor.
Great job ladies... way to have fun and make it happen as well. We are so proud!!!! Love you

mini vacation!

2011-01-28T15:50:00.003-07:00

Sam, Brock and I took a mini vacation to St. George, Utah.. It was UNBELIEVABLE weather and it was a lot of fun. Sam had to work and was up and going about 5:30 a.m. and you can see that Brock and I lounged by the pool ate a lot and loved the 70 degree weather..

We did have a little bit of a "Debbie moment". We had Mexican food and I had some fish tacos or something like that. So we start heading home and stop at a Maverik and I go to the bathroom and walk out and Brock is looking at me really strange and says.. "What is on your face?" I said to him. "I don't know but my faces really itches." at this moment Sam comes over to me and said.. "OMH, lets get you some benadryl..." he is running to the medicine and opening the package as fast as he could.

I obviously had an allergic reaction to something I ate.. I have NEVER had an allergic reaction before... but as we all know if you hang out with me long enough you should expect EVERYTHING to happen in a matter of time!

Now I am waiting for our REAL vacation to Cartegna, Colombia.. 3 weeks.. WOOT WOOT.

I hated this place.. It is some kind of dinosaur grave yard... Yeah right it was a bunch of rocks that had some marks in them.. I expected the entire dinosaur..

formaldehyde

2011-01-25T16:13:00.007-07:00

It's INEVITABLE.. You have to trade your old car in on a new car even though you don't want to. You have enjoyed so much NOT having a car payment but you have started to notice that you are paying more on maintenance on the old clunker than you would on a new shiny model. Well.... this is how I feel about aging, and I kind of start understanding how the hell hard it is for a women in her 40's to "keep up" with her once slender, non hairy, non stretch mark, non grey hair self.
So as I sat and got a manicure today I realize the last year has been a WORLD WIND for me trying to make this old clunker like new. I am the FIRST to admit I am in a mid life something or another.. Crisis? I don't know but SOMETHING. I turn 40 this year and however I LOVE where I am emotionally, spiritually, with my family, husband, etc. etc. etc.. I would NOT go back to my 20's for nothing because I love who I have become the last couple years. A more polished classier version of my old self. However what I would do with a body of a 20 year old.. DUDE, WHAT SAM WOULD DO WITH A BODY OF A 20 YEAR OLD WOMAN. HA.
So as I pay the amount of a small country in the South Pacific to preserve what is left of my skin, body, hair, etc... I wonder what I am going to try next.. maybe formaldehyde!!

Is that my Underwear?????

2011-01-21T12:27:00.007-07:00

I get up yesterday morning and think to myself. I am just going to put these yoga pants that I wore the night before that were laying on my floor in our bedroom. So I jump in those yoga pants pull my hair back and head to the gym. I walk into the gym and there are two body builder type men lifting weights and I hang my coat up, get my ipod and head to the treadmill. I am walking on the treadmill with a couple other women and was watching the women that was vacuuming the floor and cleaning the machines.. I notice something in the middle of the floor relatively close to the two body building men that were lifting weight. It looks like a rag bundled up that someone had dropped and I am staring at it about the same time one of the body builders starts walking over to it..

ABOUT THIS TIME IT HITS ME LIKE A TON OF BRICKS.. OMG, they are my underwear that I had wore the night before!!! Obviously when I put on my yoga pants the underwear I had on the day before was in the leg of my yoga pants and now has dropped out in the middle of the gym. SHOOT ME!!! NOW.

The man that was walking over to the underwear picks them up and yells.. "these are somebodies drawers"..

"OMG"

So as I was telling Sam the story above he said to me.. Did you tell the guy that they were yours???
I think we all know the answer to that.. "I DIDN'T SAY A WORD"..
*UGH.

letting go...

2011-01-20T11:31:00.003-07:00

Lets talk about the old saying "Love you kids enough to give them wings" shall we?

Well this does NOT make sense to me..

"Love them enough to go into the big bad World and make the same mistake's (and Maybe WORSE) and not open my big fat mouth and tell them my opinion?"

Do the people that made this "Word to the Wise" know me??? AT ALL?

Ya, I didn't think so.

Cassidi turns 19 years old this week and she is studying to become a Registered Nurse. She is going to school at Weber State FULL TIME... Working FULL time as a CNA caregiver to the elderly, and playing full time.

The opportunity has come up for Cassidi to study abroad this summer. Yep, OUT OF THE COUNTRY.. With no Mom to lecture her and take care of her and feed her and love her and make sure she is wearing earings, and lipstick. Just her and the big bad country of Costa Rica.

So guess what.. this over protective Mom is sending her daughter to the Caribbean to study and learn to become bilingual OUT OF THE COUNTRY.. HOLY COW..

So please help me as images of her meeting some Latin Lover, never coming back to the States, opening some beach bar, never owning a pair of shoes again, growing dread locks, and my grand babies will speak Spanish rather than English flash through my head...

I LOVE "LETTING GO!!!!"

Last week in pictures...

2011-01-16T15:23:00.014-07:00

Once every couple of months we like to go to Sugarhouse in Salt Lake City. We love that area and we like to go to Fat's Grill and play pool with Brock. He loves to play and is getting better each time we go.

Earlier in the week we took Brock bowling at Boondocks in Kaysville. We love coming here and playing around a bit and its only 5 minutes from our house so its quick entertainment. As you can see from the first pic... Debbie thought she could beat me... she almost had it. (the W is short for Wanda.. her new nickname lol)

Brock has been playing Basketball with the boys in his "Ward" Thursday nights but its the boys in his Boy Scouts that is the team. He has been begging us to come see and he finally had an early game and we went and LOVED IT. We wish we would have went to all the late games as well. Brock was the biggest scorer of his team with 8 points and they won. Great job Brock!!

Friday we did our typical Hockey game at the Maverik Center with Jeff Courter and family. (no pics this time :( )
To finish the fun week off we went out with some friends on Saturday night to
The Melting Pot in Salt Lake City. Its great food if you like Fondue and a fun atmosphere. Jerry and Nancy Couch with Jeff and Melissa Arnold.

Tip Tuesday!!!

2011-01-11T13:53:00.005-07:00

Every one that has been in my house knows I am kinda OBSESSED with clean baseboards.
OBSESSED..
I mean seriously have a problem. I use to clean baseboards almost every single day.. Yeah I need a 12 step program to get past this. However, since my head injury one of my lingering problems is I cant bend over or put my head down for any amount of time or I get dizzy, I get sick to my stomach because I am dizzy, and than I throw up (honestly I really don't think that will ever go away) any now my obsession of baseboards have taken a back seat to my injury. SO I give Brock a thing of Clorox wet wipes and he cleans my baseboards for me. Cassidi will even clean baseboards for me.. So get a tube of Clorox wet wipes and experience the simple bliss of clean baseboards!!

Fast Offerings!

2011-01-07T22:02:00.005-07:00

As most of you know I was raised Mormon, and Sam was NOT!!! I still harbor some "Mormon Guilt" and the story belows will tell you a kinda of humorous story about living in a Mormon world and the guilt that I harbor!!!

On the first Sunday of each month Mormons have what they call Fast Sunday. After church they send two young adult males around to collect Fast Offerings. This is money used for various things in the church (yes on top of the tithing that is so notorious with the Mormon religion). So these young men come to your door and give you an envelope and you put money in it and they leave, end of story. Sam and I have NEVER had them come for Fast Offerings.
Sunday Sam and I were in our front room taking down our Christmas, and sure enough I looked outside and two boys about Brocks age were walking up the side walk. and this is how our conversation went.

deb: "Oh, It's Fast Offerings."
sam: "WTH IS FAST OFFERINGS?"
deb: "you give them money"
sam: "FOR WHAT?"
deb: "I think for things needed in the ward"
sam: "like what?"

Sam then opens the door and they hand him the envelope and Sam says to them. "I am sorry I don't have anything right now." and he send them on their way..

WELL this sent a rush of anxiety through me like I had just ran over a batch of small kittens.

deb: "YOU CAN'T JUST NOT GIVE THEM MONEY!!!"
sam: "I just did."
deb: "I will go to hell, or we will die in a firey crash or something terrible"
sam: "ARE YOU SERIOUS!!"
deb: "yes, Sam I have HUGE guilt over this"

at this point Sam is looking at me like I have 3 heads. He said I will grab some cash and run it over to them. I told him he could not do that either that it will freak them out..

*Please keep in mind as you read this we live in a neighborhood that is about 95% Mormon and they don't EVER deal with people that aren't aware of ANYTHING about the Mormon religion.

So Sam puts on his shoes and gets some cash and keeps looking at me and saying.. "YOU ARE SERIOUSLY BOTHERED BY THIS".. I then explain to him how those boys are Brocks age and we have had a hard enough time "fitting in" in this Mormon town and Brock goes to Boy Scouts with these kids and how strange it has to be for them to have someone just send them away and how Brock is ostracized to begin with for not being Mormon and etc., etc., etc., etc., blah, blah, blah, etc..
Well at this point there Sam stands in his pajamas with his tennis shoes on looking at me like I had just explained to him the theory of evolution. He said to me. "so what would you like me to do?"
deb: "nothing it is to late now!!!!"

Sam still standing there with his cash in his hand looks out the window and chases the poor boys down and pays them FAST OFFERINGS..

So everyone will be happy that I am not going to hell!!

Perks!!!

2011-01-04T12:40:00.005-07:00

One of the most fun things about Sam's job is the perks... The fringe benefits. It's a fabulous place to work and they really do treat their employees GREAT. We get tickets to ALOT of stuff. Hockey, Concerts, College Sports, Professional Sports, almost everything!!! However nothing really beats the tickets we had last night. We went to the Anheuser busch Hospitality Suite at the Energy Solution Center. Not only was the suite the most gorgeous suite we had been in, they had diner, appetizers, and dessert, and all you can drink BEER.. the Budweiser people were truly great to us! Does it get better?? Brock was in HEAVEN!!
I am a stalker.. At the Jazz game Ryan Seacrest and Julianne Hough were there. This entertained me TO DEATH!!! (below) she is in the black striped shirt he is to the left. DUDE!!

New Years Resolutions!!

2011-01-04T12:19:00.005-07:00

It is so much easier for me to make others peoples New Year Resolutions for them than it is to make ANY for me.. Why is that?
Here is a few pictures of our New Years Eve..

We went to Preston, Idaho and stayed at my Dad's house for a couple days. Not only was it fabulous and my Dad and Judy made me feel completely at home, I did not want to leave. The above picture is of one of my life long besties, Alison, and a friend Brandon.
Voted by my friends as a member of the "ELITE HUSBAND GROUP", Sam, looks great and handsome even in pink. Love this guy!!

Michele, Alison and I grew up across the street from each other. Some of my best times have been with these girls. We are at Linda's house Alison and Michele's Mom.. GOOD TIMES!

My Dad to the left, and my sister, Michelle, to the right. Obviously I was very captivating because they are both obviously engaged with other peeps.

My cousin Sally, her boyfriend, Jay and I had to be in the picture..

SWEET... *mental note! when going to Idaho for New Years eve and taking 20 people to the Elks lodge don't EVER volunteer to be the designated driver!!! especially when they are playing 80's heavy metal and they are smoking like a chimney in the lodge, and it -20 in Idaho. It was a VERY long night and I learned my lesson well. Alcohol would have made the night much easier!

Sarah stayed with us for about 10 days. I hated to see her go home. We are so proud of Sarah and she is officially a teacher, she started yesterday.. YOU GO GIRL.. I think my Dad fell IN LOVE with Sarah. He was so so so impressed with her.

Good good times!!!

Fun Christmas

2010-12-27T17:23:00.006-07:00

We have had a great Christmas. Sarah came over from Laramie, Taylor came down from Logan and we just did a lot of goofing off. We talked about memorable Christmas's and we really don't remember gifts much but we always seem to remember the Christmas's that we had a lot of family at or had some very special times.
Peggie, Debbie's mom, had her Christmas party again this year and she cooks for everyone and we play Bingo, Ping Pong and many other games. Debbie decided that we need to wear crazy sweaters to the party this year and see if anyone notices. On the way to the party we had to stop in Costco and get pie and a few things and man did we get some looks haha. At the party the family really didn't know what to say. My wife is a hoot.
I wish Jordan could have been here as well.
I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

GEORGINA~

2010-12-13T14:19:00.003-07:00

Poor George is loosing his boy parts tomorrow. He will no longer be known as George but he will be Georgina~~

Tip Tuesday~

2010-12-07T15:28:00.003-07:00

My tip for this week is go to the store and purchase an Amaryllis..

I got mine that has multiple bulbs in it at Costco for $25 but you can buy less expensive bulbs ANYWHERE..

I know this is kinda a strange tip but it truly is one of our highlights of the Christmas year. My kids mark it and see how much they grow each day and they truly are a wonder... and I promise you will love it and buy them every year!

fun fact: the only living thing that grows faster than an Amaryllis is the antelors of Elk...

Just a normal Saturday lunch

2010-12-04T17:03:00.003-07:00

On Saturday we ran down to Lehi to see Debbie's mom Peggie and swap vehicles with her so they could go to Vegas (a completely different story that is blog worthy in itself).
So we were deciding what to do for lunch after we went to IKEA since Brock said he was hungry about every 10 seconds. Debbie said "Lets go to Hooters" and Brock stumbed on his words for a second and said "Is that a family friendly restaurant???" haha we laughed about that for a bit and guess where we ended up? Great wings there by the way......
As you can see... Brock HATED it there.

Crazy Lives... busy times and lots of fun

2010-11-29T19:01:00.012-07:00

Its been SOOO long since I have posted a blog. Life is super busy but lots of fun too. I will give a quick update on the last week or so. I will try to keep it short....
Debbie worked so hard at decorating the house for Christmas so it would be ready for Thanksgiving dinner. She does such a great job of decorating I HAVE to take pictures. Even though she doesn't want me to take any and post them I will sneak one in anyw
ay.... this is MY post heh.

Debbie also found new crafts to do for gifts. She makes drink Coasters. Tiles, napkins, glue and some handy work and there you go. She is so good!
During the day Wednesday I got a phone call from Debbie... she said that her "Happy Place" (Medical Spa) has a special on a face chemical peal. She said she set up an appointment and away she went....we will save more comments for anther blog after she gets done pealing haha

Wednesday night I got tickets for a Utah State Aggies basketball game from one of our vendors. They were playing Utah Utes and I had never been to an Aggies game and I was blown away by all of their chears and chants.... "WINNING TEAM LOSING TEAM WINNING TEAM LOSING TEAM" "I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN" I guess you just have to be there (or look it up on youtube). Our seats were the best in the house right behind our team. I had a great time and want to go to another game.

We we had Thanksgiving at our house and 17 people. We watched football and played card games all day and night and Debbie taught crafts. Great people, great food!

Friday, Debbie and I took Taylor bowling and had fun. Debbie has been wanting to go bowling for a long time so we took in 3 games and one blister. We told one of our friends that we went bowling and he said "your married and went bowling together?????" haha I guess married people don't do that?? We just like to do date things I guess

Saturday we got tickets from another friend for the Utah Utes VS BYU football game. It was a super cold, cloudy, hazy day with out any sun at all and we got tickets to outdoor football... haha... now I am no wimp but DUDE I got cold during this game. Poor Debbie felt bad for me and got me out of there. She was disappointed we left but I think she saved my life. It was a great game and Utes won with a blocked field goal. We know this only because we watched the rest of the game from a warm Wingers restaurant. I really liked the pregame tailgate party though I would love to go back for another warmer game someday. Poor Debbie.
Sunday I got tickets at the Maverik Center Suite for the Radio City Rocketts for Debbie and her friends. They said it was a wonderful performance and had a great time while Josh and I went to the new Harry Potter.What a great few days.

ding ding~

2010-11-23T14:14:00.004-07:00

For the first time I remember the entire state of Utah has a blizzard warning in effect from 3:00 p.m. today (Tuesday) till 9:00 a.m. tomorrow morning. So my Thanksgiving grocery shopping is done, I have stew in the oven and we are hunkering down for the winter storm of the century.

remember that 67% of families have Thanksgiving fights BEFORE dinner ever starts.. So I am also shining up my boxing gloves!!! *ding ding~

this and that:

2010-11-19T15:51:00.003-07:00

Dear Holidays;

I love you more than any other time of year. I love the warmth of the decorations, they smell, the first snow fall, the food. Please keep the holiday weight I will gain to a minimum and let all my family be safe and healthy.

SO EXCITED,

DEB!

Dear Hair:

Where have you gone??? Why are you missing. I find you on the floor, in my brush and all over. Lets stick with each other and stop this abandonment. I think its just my new thyroid medication and you will be better in no time. Until than I will continue to do this really cool version of an old man comb over.

Please come back soon, I miss you.

Love,

Deb's head

Dear Christmas presents:

I hope you make the way under the tree this year. Please be expensive, wrapped nicely and I like ribbon not plastic bows.

kthnk

Deb

Dear abs and thighs;

I know its the holiday and you love to bulk yourself up this month, but lets remember I am headed to Colombia in February and that will require a swim suit.. So lets remember where the gym is, keep the egg nog, Carmel corn, mashed potatoes, etc. etc. etc. to a minimum.

Regards,

Deb

Dear Dumb As#es that text and drive:

For some reason I have found it my civic duty to prevent you from doing this. So if you a dumb enough to text and drive remember that it is up to a $2500 fine and you can do jail time (most 1st time offenders get off with $900 and no jail time). I am sorry if I come up to the side of you and find it my responsibility to roll down my window and yell at your stupid ass..

HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS... TEXT AND DRIVE IF YOU WANT TO MEET HIM.

Hugs,

Officer Deb

Dear friends and family;

I hope each one of you know how much you mean to me. We have had a GREAT year and lots of great memories. I think the best thing about this year for me is I am back in touch with all of my life long friends. I have such a great husband and I truly believe the BEST husband on Earth. I know I drive the kids crazy and I snoop, stalk, and get in business that is probably NOT mine. But remember I am your Mamma and it's because I love you and I car.

LOVE YOU GUYS WITH ALL MY HEART,

Deb

Make this!

2010-11-17T11:30:00.005-07:00

1 Turkey breast (I would assume you could use Turkey roast and dbl the gravy)
1 can whole cranberry sauce
1 package Lipton onion soup mix.
1/2 cup Orange juice.

Put everything in crock pot and cook till the turkey is falling apart (several hours). The sauce makes GREAT gravy... LOVE THIS RECIPE!! Serves about 5 or 6.

I served it with country crock potatoes.. the one you buy in the refrigerated part of your grocery.. I LOVE THEM... I think they are the mashed potato bomb for a fast fix!!!

Dear Mom...

2010-11-14T15:45:00.003-07:00

Dear Mom.

I know you have been sick with MRSA staph infection in your chin. Staph infection was NOT bad enough for you so you had to get the Mother of all Staph infections. It was fun spending a couple days with you and making our way to the hospital, that was 40 minutes away, and get your IV antibiotics, and than come back to your house (40 minute drive) and do the entire thing over in just a few short hours for 3 days. I especially LOVED the part when they had to lance your chin and let all that infection drain from it. I am sorry I couldn't stay in the room with you because I may have passed out so I am glad Sam was brave and stayed in there with you..

It actually was very nice spending time with you while I was there. I will never forget the walk you, Nolan and I took around the neighborhood. I am sure you remember.. YES, that is the walk. The one where Nolan stubbed his toe and he bleed all the way home and you and I thought we were going to have to take him to the hospital and get stitches in the end of his toe.. I was so glad you have all those medical supplies at your house so we could fix him and literally tape his toe back together.

The best part of my stay with you was driving your DARLING 2 seater Mercedes around. I felt like such a sportser in that car. I am sorry that you wrecked it this weekend when you were on the way BACK to the hospital because you had broken out in hives all over your body.. Those were some hives... like hives I have NEVER seen in my entire life. It was kinda really strange because they covered your ENTIRE body. Now you have a wrecked car, hives all over your body, a husband that is sick, AND oh yeah I almost forgot... MRSA staph infection.. O' what fun memories!

I just wanted to make sure you and Nolan were getting along okay since I have been back home and wondering what you have in store for me this week..

HUGS AND KISSES,

Deb

P.S. I have attached a copy of one of the pictures of your chin...

Tip Tuesday.

2010-11-09T09:53:00.003-07:00

Sam and I were getting ready for Halloween and we swung by Hot Topic, in the Mall, the real truth is I shop there ALL THE TIME and I am embarrassed so I am using Halloween as an excuse! Any way, as we were checking out I grabbed some of their wing tip eyeliner. Showed to the right!

I didn't think much of it because it couldn't possible be GREAT eye liner at $3.99 and come with a skull and cross bones on it.. Well guess what.. Move over Maybeline because Hot topics eyeliner is the BOMB!!!..

LOVE IT, RAVE ABOUT.. NOW YOU CAN BUY IT HERE. HOT TOPIC

Halloween Fun

2010-10-31T12:18:00.006-06:00

After I grew up I always used to think that dressing up for Halloween was kinda dumb. "Why would we want to be something we are not" I always used to say to myself. Then I met Debbie and along with most things in my life, she changed the way I think. I look forward to Halloween.... from carving pumpkins, decorating AND dressing up. I remember the first time I came home to her in the condo in Logan just after she decorated and it just put a smile on my face and felt so homey.

So for a couple of weeks (and probably longer) Debbie had this plan on what we were going to be and how we were going to dress. So put it all together Saturday and went and had some fun with our friends. Debbie helps keep me young :)

Tip Tuesday.

2010-10-26T14:36:00.002-06:00

When we bought our house every bathroom in the house had paper towel holders on the inside of the cupboards. I had no idea how much I would LOVE this. It's the best cleaning tip I could give anyone. A roll of paper towels does a hell of a lot of clean up in bathrooms.. DO THIS TODAY IT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY!

and the winner is...

2010-10-25T17:12:00.002-06:00

numbered top left to bottom right.

1. Sam with 12 votes
2. Brock with 11 votes
3. Jeff with 3 votes
4. Debbie with 18 votes
5. Nick with 16 votes
6. Jeff (again) with 8 votes
7. Melissa with 2 votes (but everyone loves Jesus)
8. Josh's with 11 votes.

So by a inch Debbie wins.. DEEEBBBBIIIIEEE WWWWIIIIINNNNNSSSS....

It didn't really matter if I won I just wanted to beat Sam.. AND BY A LANDSLIDE I DID.. ha ha ha.
Thanks for the fun folk.

Utah Family Weekend.

2010-10-24T20:11:00.007-06:00

We did our annual pumpkin carving contest today (Sunday). We don't know who won yet but that really isn't the fun. I LOVE to carve pumpkins and it was as fun this year and even more so.. WHY? It was just me and the boys this year.. Cassidi was at work, Taylor was suppose to come but she ended up not coming down.. So just me and my boys this weekend.

and this pumpkin head!!!

That is a table full of FUN!

We had some of our friends come over and that made it a lot more fun than other years!

Sam and I look like we planned our outfits to be Halloweeny!!

Lots of talking and laughing

and food...

and concentration

and scariness!!

Was a great day and lots of memories made.. On Saturday night me and my boys (Sam, Josh, and Brock) went to a Utah Grizzly game. I had never been to a hockey game and I LOVED it. It was so much fun.

It was "Pink on the Rink" night in honor of breast cancer survivors. We had GREAT seats..

Sam and I cuddling because hockey games are COLD!Brock took his friend Carlos to the Hockey game with us. They LOVED it.. especially when the hockey player got in fights!! BOYS!!!

Friday Night Brock had a spook alley, or haunted house and a dance at Junior High. He set up for the haunted house and then went and had a blast. Brock and his buddy Ryan before they went and spooked the house!!

What a fun weekend...

Travel Tip Tuesday!

2010-10-19T13:43:00.004-06:00

There are very few things that make me happier than pulling out and dusting off my passport... It means I am headed to a foreign land (in case you are dense) and that I am about to embark on a new adventure..
We were at Barnes and Noble the other day and we were reading a book on Colombia and the places we will visit on this trip...and I thought this travel tip was one of the best I have ever heard.

Obviously I have always taken a "copy" of my passport with me but I have never thought about scanning it in to the computer and emailing it to myself.. DUH... this means I could pull up a copy of my passport any where I am in the world..

I am not always the sharpest tool in the shed but I know a good idea when I get one..

Countdown to Colombia.. 4 MONTHS.. woot woot!

Pillow Hoarding!!

2010-10-17T17:52:00.002-06:00

My poor husband has a problem... He gets emotionally, mentally and physically attached to pillows.. I mean the gross, flat kind that probably has more dust mites in them than fibers.. The one that you cringe when you look at them.

I throw pillows away and they show back up and I don't mean just pillows from our bed. Throw , body, new, old, square, round, big, small, feather, fiber.. You name it my husband is attached.

Please help my husband "let go"...

2 years and counting......

2010-10-10T17:39:00.006-06:00

Today on 10-10-10 my wife and I had our 2 year anniversary. The day Debbie and I met I sent my parents an email telling them I met the most beautiful woman in the world ( I still have that email). Today I feel the exact same but more. Debbie is fun, exciting, sexy, beautiful, loving, caring, supportive, great cook, loves all of our kids and I could go on and on. I cant stand being away from her for any length of time and want to share every life experience with her. I am so lucky, thankful and blessed that our broken roads met. (thanks eHarmony :) )

Here is a song I love and would have played this for her 2 years ago.. enjoy
Marry Me!!

Happy Anniversary honey!! I love you more every day.

Its never to late to live Happily Ever After...

2010-10-08T12:13:00.002-06:00

6 months before Sam and I met we were both in some pretty rocky relationships. I guess all I can say is it is pretty hard to be 40 and not have a "story" about your love life. Well Sam and I both have "stories".. and not like those easy to read picture book stories they are like those Moby Dick 549 page chapter books that are kinda confusing and you need a dictionary to figure out some parts.. Yeah it was that bad...

So Sammy here is to 2 years of the easiest relationship I have EVER been in and here is to the rest of our lives living HAPPILY EVER AFTER..

now come home..

Part dos!!

2010-10-06T12:01:00.002-06:00

I get asked all the time.

"is Sam REALLY this nice"

The simple answer is YES..

Is our relationship perfect.. HELL NO.. but I can honestly say Sam and I do NOT have a roller coaster relationship. We have never been in an argument that has made us not talk to each other, and we have never broken up. From the second we met it was GO!!

Sam and I had an argument about something (i don't even remember what Now) and Sam said something that hurt my feelings and right away he knew he hurt my feelings. He walked over to me and gave me a hug and said "THAT BROKE MY HEART!!!" He always says he remembers that moment when I looked at him and he could tell that he hurt me and he HATED that feeling.. Ya he is truly this nice!

...but he chews ice!

We did.. NOW WHAT???

2010-10-05T12:18:00.003-06:00

So this week marks Sam and I's 2 year wedding anniversary. The unofficial end of the "newlywed" era and onto the meat and potatoes era of our relationship.. So we have said our I do's and OKAY??? NOW WHAT?

The other day Sam and I were driving home and I said to Sam. "So we are just an old married couple"!!! I know that sounds a little Mayberry but it's exactly how I feel. We know each other's quirks, we have pressed out the wrinkles in our relationship and it is kinda like wearing an old pair of jeans... VERY COMFORTABLE. and to everyone that has been single or in a bad relationship recently COMFORTABLE IS A VERY VERY GOOD THING..

so this week I am going to dedicate my blogging to Sam and I.. and our relationship and things I LOVE and things that we don't quite have perfected yet.. (probably because I have nothing better to do because Sam is in Atlanta, Georgia for the week and I am a little bored)

Todays:

If Sam and I were boats in the ocean.. Sam would defiantly be the great big cruise ship.. Slow, steady and right on pace. Knowing exactly where it's going, when it has to be to its destinations, and know exactly how to get there.. I would be the jet ski... Fluttering around, jumping the cruise ship waves, and wanting to slide into the beach doing mock 90.. but damn would I have a great time while doing it..
This is Sam and I.. If things aren't exciting I usually don't want much to do with it... and Sam loves excitement but he is probably to cautious... So this works for us. Sam always says that my spontaneity keeps things fun and fresh and I always say I need someone EXACTLY like Sam to keep my jet ski on track... cuz I seem to zip away occasionally if I don't have something to "anchor" me...

So here is to the rest of our life of happy "boating"!

October already!!!!!???

2010-10-04T09:43:00.003-06:00

Where did the summer go?? I have been so busy with new responsibilities at work (and some fun) this summer I lost track of time. I have again neglected my blogging duties but as you can see in the below posts... Debbie does a great job at posting and a fantastic job of stirring the pot haha.

NACS LINK

Its that time of year again for NACS. I leave for an entire week and its the longest time that I ever leave Debbie and the kids. I hate leaving for that long. So being in the Convenience store business I get to go to the largest trade show of its kind. NACS has thousands of vendors set up booths and try to sell their product. Since I am over Petroleum Services at Maverik I get to look at anything and everything to do with Fuel Pricing, Dispensing, Price Signs, outside customer service items like Red Box, Air Machines, Pay Phones (yes we still have them), Propane tanks, Car Washes, Garbage Cans, Windshield Wash etc.... Oh yeah I am also in charge of the Automotive items in side the store like Oil, Additives, Air Fresheners etc... Yeah its a good thing I have 2 assistants to keep me organized (they are awesome)

So hear I go again. The only thing my family looks forward to is I bring back enough samples of anything I can cram in my suit case from Candy, drinks, sun glasses, air fresheners, t-shirts... you name it, its there.

So here is to another trip.... I love you Debbie and I will miss you and the kids. I will bring back lots of goodies for you.

ruining the world one Botox shot at a time!

2010-10-01T13:42:00.008-06:00

This post is in regards to the comments I received about the Botox blog (below) and my response. If you have not read the post below start with the post below and read the comments and than come back to this post!
I ask if you get offended easily or are my Mom or Mother in Law that you may want to stop reading right now because I am on a soap box.
So getting Botox and people like "me" are what is wrong with American women today.. hmmm.. okkk... where do I start.. I don't know how to so I will just tell you a few things about this arrogant "bitch" I think I was called...

FIRST I AM NOT THE ONE JUDGING OTHER WOMEN.. I think the obvious comments below is people judging women who don't do EXACTLY what they do.
I had 3 kids by the time I was 30 years old.
I had BOTH breast removed due to breast cancer at 27.
I had a hysterectomy by 33.
So if you don't have boobs or a uterus does that still make you a woman?
I have been divorced not ONCE but twice. So really far from a "perfect" life.
Sometime in my mid 30's I had a couple years I went off my rocker... seriously think complete mental break down and had to redefine myself for a few years.
the Botox post was NOT about weight.. It was about wrinkles between my eyes!!!
I have stretch marks, cellulite and am 10lbs heavier than I was in high school.
I stay at home and cook dinner almost every night and do all the laundry.. Just because I don't work out side of the house does NOT mean I don't work..
Yes I have lost some weight the last year but I struggle with weight just like most women.
from my chin to my hips I look like Frankenstein.. I have had things tied, taken off, put back on and all together removed.
I have chin hairs and toe hair..
My girls and my step daughters are beautiful women no matter WHAT SIZE THEY ARE, and if they decide to do chin implants, boob implants, and butt implants... good for them if it makes them feel efing better about themselves... GO FOR IT!

I think you get my frustration with your comments (some so bizarre I did not post). So if a little fricken botox and hair dye pisses you off..... YOU CAN KISS MY SIZE 8 ASS!!!

Grow old gracefully...... SCREW THAT!

2010-09-30T15:54:00.005-06:00

The fact that I am about ready to admit this.. shows you how big of fan I really am.. I am in LOVE.. I think it's the best invention since sliced bread!!! I will take donations, and you should send your money every 4 to 5 month.... What is this new Love I have found...

BOTOX!!!!... BOTOX!!!!....BOTOX!!!!....

I know, I know, I know.. I am now going to hear all the bull shit that comes when you admit to things like this.. HOWEVER, I am a firm believer if it makes YOU personally feel better than here is to you and do what ever you want (well almost whatever).

The last year or so my furrowed brow started getting worse and worse and every time I looked in the mirror I saw a permanent "11" between my eyes.. not to mention watching commercial after commercial with it looking like I am squinting.. So after complaining about it and trying every wrinkle cream you could think of, I bit the bullet and got my first injections of Botox... Notice how I say "first" it is NOT my last.. When I came home from getting my injections Brock called me Madonna the rest of the week!!!

my before picture.. see the "11" between my eyes...my after picture... no 11 and hardly ANY wrinkles... LOVE! Yes the side effects of Botox are true.. Such as you wont be able to move your eyebrows as much, and your expressions are not as EXPRESSIVE.. I can not squint and furrow my brow when I am mad but Brock tells me he still knows when I am mad because I clench my teeth.. The doctor explained it to me as a "pleasant" look so that is what I say to Sam all the time.. "this is my pleasant look!"

So here is to growing old with Botox, hair dye, teeth whitener and nips and tucks as needed!! WOOT WOOT!

*DISCLAIMER.. Sam is NOT a fan that I do this.. but he is getting use to the fact. He tells me all the time I am beautiful without it.. (such a nice guy)!!!

Fall...

2010-09-30T11:04:00.002-06:00

I always tell Sam I think I will die in the Fall. I know what you are thinking "that is kind of morbid".. It is not morbid for me at all. Fall gives me the sense of peace and tranquility.. The glow in the sky, the cool nights, the leafs turning colors, football, pumpkins... and the smell of all things peach cooking in my house.. I have a peach crisp in the oven and it just reminded me of how much I LOVE FALL!!!

Ring around Wyoming!!!

2010-09-27T10:48:00.002-06:00

Sam and I just spent the last week making a BIG loop around the entire state of Wyoming.
There were parts very pretty, parts VERY ugly, and parts that I never want to go back.. but all in all it was a great trip. I am afraid I am more of a city girl than I want to admit and I don't think I would "thrive" in Wyoming. It surprised me because I am from small town USA but I kinda feel like I am a fish out of water there.

Here are a few highlights of our trip.

Mineral pools in Thermopolis
Seeing Jordan's apartment.
The Big Horn Mountains
Dinner at Sanfords.
Seeing some of Sam's friends.
Going to a U of WY football game.
Seeing Sarah's house.
Adult slushies.
I slept in a car.. (I NEVER DO THIS)
Car Bingo..

Here are some of the things I have seen enough of to last for a lifetime..

SAGE BRUSH... SAGE BRUSH.. SAGE BRUSH..
semi trucks.
Antelope.
Run down towns.
4-wheel drive trucks.
liquor stores (1 on every corner)
2 lane highways that go FOREVER.

any way you get the basic of the trip. Sam worked and we stopped at EVERY single Maverik between here and there and I read (A GREAT BOOK, The Hunger Games).

It was so much fun to see Jordan and Sarah's lives and have that much windshield time with my husband but let me tell you.. WE ARE GLAD TO BE HOME!!!

Colombia here we come..

2010-09-19T16:20:00.003-06:00

Yes as in the Country in between Ecuador and Venezuela. We are headed there for 11 fun filled day in February.

The company Sam works for give incentive trips and we chose to go to Colombia and we are so dam excited. I wanted to share with you some of the fun things we will be doing.. For the first 4 day we will be staying at Tyrona National Park.

I am the most excited about this part of the trip. We stay in little huts in the jungle and hang out on some of the Worlds best beaches and eat till we are fat happy and silly!!

Than for 4 days we will be in Cartegna.

All I can think about when I think Cartegna Colombia is what EVERYONE else thinks of... INDIANA JONES.. We will be staying in the hotel picture above and we will get to visit old town, new town and the walls that surround this once very dangerous city. It has a European feel to it and they say that the city seems like you have been dumped in Spain...

Than we are off to an Island for the last leg of our trip. We will be staying at Punta Faro.

I am sure at the end of this trip we will have a ton of stories and a ton of memories. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS TRIP I CAN'T STAND IT. I have never been to South America (Sam has been to Brazil) so it will be an entire new experience for me. Sam and I will be able to tell you if it is true that Colombia is a different and SAFE place (we all know the stories in the 80's).

I am sure I will be blogging a few more times about this trip as our countdown STARTS..

Plantar Fasciitis!!

2010-09-14T12:18:00.003-06:00

Sam has been hobbling around complaining about his foot hurting most of the summer. It was mostly in the mornings and then... he started to play softball, and NOW he can't walk.

We went to the Doctor and he told Sam he has bone spurs and gave him the name to a podiatrist and told him that he would not "hurt" his foot if he used it, that it would only hurt him. So...

Thursday night rolls around and Sam decides he is going to play softball. So he runs to his short stop position and I could tell after the first ball was hit that Sam was HURTING. So he plays the game limping the entire time and we get in the car and I said to him..

"how is your foot?"

Sam: "Dude, I heard a loud pop and then my entire foot went flush!"

So at this point (note. Sam has now struggled with the foot for MONTHS) he makes an appointment with the podiatrist. I knew it must be really bad if he was willing to go to the Dr. That is just a very novel idea *wink.

So over the next few days he iced it, limped, and stayed pretty much off of it. He goes to the dr. and find out that is Plantar Fasciitis. The "pop" he heard in his foot was his tendon tearing. The Doc said it is your body's way of making more room in your foot when it is as inflamed as Sam's is.

What do you do for Plantar Fasciitis...???

YOU STAY OFF IT... YOU BABY IT... AND if by next week it is not better.. They will put Sam in a Cast... Poor Sam is getting old!!

Lordy Lordy look who's 40!

2010-09-12T19:53:00.004-06:00

This weekend Sam and I went to Wendover, Nevada with a bunch of my lifelong friends to celebrate Sally's 40th Birthday. It had been a long time since I spent a lot of time with all these girls and it was great and seemed just like old times. Happy 40th Birthday Sally and here is to 40 more!! What a fun adult weekend! All the girls. We grew up together and O boy the stories we could tell about each other!!
PRINCESS!!!

Happy Birthday cupcakes!

Red cups and cup cakes!

There she is "princess Sally"!!!

Roses and Sunshine!!!

2010-09-06T18:45:00.004-06:00

I am not pompous enough to keep a blog and only write about our most "shining" moments. Sam and I have life pretty darn good but right now things are not all "roses and sunshine".

Without going into great detail or getting into a very very deep blog I am just going to say that every struggle our children go through hurts all of us and it is one of the most gut wrenching things a parent can do is simply have to watch their child go through a terrible time. As a parent, and step parent, you feel helpless, frustrated, angry, concerned, and so many other emotions that you cant seem to wrap your head (or heart) around it. WELL THAT IS ABOUT WHERE SAM AND I ARE AT THE LAST FEW WEEKS. However, the one thing I have realized in this struggle is how proud I am of this step family. I think the first thing that can happen to make a step family fall apart is drawing blood lines.. and there is definitely no blood lines drawn here.. So as you go to bed tonight say a little prayer for the Campbell family and especially Josh.

in other news... I stubbed my toe really really bad and tore off my toenail!

War of 2010

2010-08-29T18:27:00.011-06:00

Friday Aug 27th, Debbie goes shopping while I wait in the parking lot and make work phone calls trying to catch up on a few things... Debbie said she has a surprise. So we load up and head home... Debbie unloads the treats out of the trunk and heads to the back patio as I head up stairs and get changed out of my work clothes. Debbie yells to us all "come to the back yard and get some treats I have a sweet tooth and a surprise for you"

We all come out and see ice cream, several pies, whip cream, several 2 liter bottles of soda to make floats and a few odds and ends like cup cakes and twinkies all over the table. We were so happy and surprised so we all sat down at the patio table and Debbie gets the big spoon out and dips a large scoop of whip cream and acts like she is putting it on some pie...... then WHAMO she chucks it at Brock right in the chest then she scrambles and hits two more of us with whip cream and a pie before we could even understand what the heck just happened... haha. Then Brock catches on and starts grabbing pies and handfuls of ice cream and we all entered into the largest food fight ever!!!! Josh and I were wimps and ran after we chucked a couple of handfuls but Brock and Debbie trashed each other and chased us around. Just about that time Cassidi came home from work for a quick lunch break all dressed up and poked her head out of the back door and said "WHAT are you guys DOING". Just then Josh grabbed her and carried her outside while Debbie and Brock chucked food and soda all over her as she screamed "I have to go to work I have to go to work... this isn't even my shirt!!!!!" haha oh man I wish I had it on video. The saddest thing of this all is we didn't get even ONE bite of ANYTHING. All weekend we were hungry for pie and ice cream.
So here are a few bad pics of the War of 2010. My wife is one crazy woman... LOVE her don't you? :)

These are our people.

2010-08-16T10:35:00.005-06:00

These are Sam and my peeps.

The ones that have seen us and we have seen them through many many happy times.
The ones we tell our problems to and don't have to be "embarrassed" because YES This is happening to us!
The ones we have cried with because of what they are going through.
a hell of a lot of beer.
The ones we don't always agree with but that is okay by ALL of us!
The ones we help move (that is true friendship), and help us move.
I am POSITIVE nursing each other through one to many hangovers!
We have went through deaths.
and a hell of a lot of beer!
different hair colors. (now mostly.. HOW ARE WE GOING TO COVER THIS GRAY?)
some really really good fricken food!
We have went through weddings.
Break up's and hook up's.
fabulous vacations
everything that has to deal with teenage children..
New jobs, lost jobs.
mistakes and miracles!!
did I mention... a hell of a lot of beer!!!

and I could go on and on.. I love this group of people and know they have Sam and I's back where ever we are. Thanks you guys. WE LOVE YOU!!

Sam and I after a 4 wheeler ride to the waterfalls. I love this picture because Sam and I look like
we have been dusted with dirt, and guess what.. WE HAD!! Our eye's even had dirt in the corners.

The 4 wheelin' group dusted in dirt!!

Makin' memories for a lifetime!

2010-08-09T16:04:00.002-06:00

If you read our blog you will know that Brock spent a week at Camp Loll in Wyoming at Scout Camp. He had a great time. I wanted to share some of the pictures his leaders brought back for us. He earned 6 merit badges and did the polar bear.. The polar bear is where you sit in a FREEZING cold water fall for a minute (you will see pictures).

He will remember this camp for the rest of his life! FUN FUN TIMES!

2010-08-08T20:03:00.002-06:00

Sarah was here for a few days!! We love to have her come! Pictures say it all ENJOY

Our Puppies!

2010-08-03T20:53:00.002-06:00

We are loving these puppies to death.. I will be so so sad when it's time for them to go to their new homes. We are not keeping any of them, Sam says 2 dogs are enough and I have to agree.

Summer..

2010-07-28T15:04:00.002-06:00

Reasons I LOVE Utah summers.

It reminds me why I should NEVER pay the extra money for leather seats in the car.. THEY SUCK AND THEY ARE HOT IN THE SUMMER AND FREEZING IN THE WINTER!
Sam knows EXACTLY what "I" would do for a klondike bar!
Rodeo's (we went to a rodeo last weekend at it was a BLAST)
Carnival food!!! (and people watching.. THE BEST)
summer camp for kids. (mom gets a week break) and at least a couple kids every year get lost and everyone in Utah watches tv till the poor little dude is found!
I can use the excuse that its "just to hot" to cook.
I don't have to pay for lunch money, and I can feed Brock .15 cent corn dogs!!!
my bedtime is extended till 10:30 instead of 8:45!!
I get third degree burns on my hands because our front door faces West!
We get to turn our neighbors into the irrigation police because they water every other day for 12 hours and flood our lawn. (they now don't speak to us)
mosquito bites.. wait I am quite sure it was not a mosquito but a pterodactyl.. you should see the size of them.
boob sweat!
and so so many more!

Our puppies are a week old!!

2010-07-21T08:27:00.008-06:00

Wow one week GONE already. We are obviously starting to hold them more and Winnie is getting a little more relaxed with us playing with them. I think she is actually getting sick of them haha. This is so much fun having these around I cant wait until they have their eyes open and they can harass George all day. We will post another update next week and lots more pics as they get older.

Brownie (aka Dirt) and Ebony chillin out. Brownie was the 3rd born and by far the chunkiest. She almost died in my hands and Debbie had to walk away. I had to pull the lifeless body out of her breech and it took forever. A minute or two later she finally took her first breath... scary.

The 2 brothers Bokchoi and Shotgun Willie sucking away on Winnie.
Debbie named Willie that because how fast he came out. He was last born and came out like a shotgun. He is also the smallest. Taylor named Bokchoi before they were born because he was the most active...inside and out.

Our first born... Ebony is the calmest thing in the world. Never makes a peep. Debbie is now wondering if she is retarded haha.

George is sniffing his first born Ebony.... I think he is still wondering why the hell we are holding and petting these rats.

There is Brownie relaxing on Debbie's boob again... I know Brownie.. its comfortable there

Fun Weekend!

2010-07-20T08:39:00.004-06:00

What a great weekend we had. We have some good friends up in Logan Utah and they invited us up to go camping. We had enough time for one night so we headed up. Now I say headed up but Debbie worked for 4 hours or more shopping, packing, making up the bedding so I get home from work and we headed up lol.... Debbie is so good to me isnt she??? All I did was pack a change of clothes, towel and off we went.
So Friday afternoon Bart and Cheri are already there so Jeff and Michelle get there and unload and we finally are all sitting down next to the fire telling stories. There is nothing like sitting next to a fire in the mountains.... so much fun.
So our friends have all their 4 wheelers unloaded and ready to go so about an hour before dark all of us take off on a ride. I have to tell you... I have not had that much fun in many years.. I felt like kid giggling while I am riding through the woods with Debbie on the back. We now HAVE to get some 4 wheelers... although I was really impressed with the Polaris RZR but we need a camper first hah.
Anyway... after camping a couple of times this year we have decided to get a camper next Spring and do it more often. We need to always go where Cell Phones don't work!!!!

One of the rules we learned is NEVER leave clothes behind on a camping trip. The below picture is Bart wearing Debbie's swim suit she left drying in a tree... haha... Bart is so dang funny

Being a housewife and a Mom!!!

2010-07-19T11:28:00.004-06:00

Sometimes it feels like a thankless job.. and quite frankly I have been a TERRIBLE house wife the last 2 weeks. It was like when we got home from vacation I was officially DONE and Brock left for a weeks so I have taken a two week hiatus from COOKING... I did not grocery shop ONCE and I used the excuse that is was too hot to cook because I did not want to heat the house up.. Well I think I will try to do better the next couple weeks..

Make these they will make you and your kids Happy!!

FAT RASCALS!!

Cut a slit lengthwise in all your hot dogs, but don't cut completely through. Spread slit with mustard (or skip this if want). Stuff with a thing finger size piece of cheddar cheese. Wrap each frank with a strip of bacon, spiral fashion and "pin" on with a wood toothpick. When ready to serve, you can cook on sticks over fire, turning as the bacon gets done. Then eat them on hot dogs buns that are partially split and buttered and toasted the same way you are cooking your hot dogs.. These can also be cooked in the oven, over a grill... You can also pre make the fat rascals and cook them later that day!!

Scout Camp

2010-07-13T06:52:00.005-06:00

The past week or so has been a little hard on Debbie. Brock joined Scouts this year and she has been planning and packing for Brock for days. Debbie is very protective of her kids... especially Brock! For her to send her boy off into the wilderness for a week with out cell service or contact of any kind for that long is putting her into fetal position on the floor.
All week long we have heard -
"What do you do if you get lost?" the answer is nothing you stay put of course
"and??" blow the whistle you bought me
"Stay with the group Brock"
"Every year a Scout gets lost somewhere you HAVE to be careful"

Thats just a few things of what we all have heard for weeks.

Then comes the weekend to pack the bags. After shopping for every detail that is needed from the Scout list (and a few other things for him) they start putting things out on the floor. Now I have packed for a week long camping trip before and a lot of us have gone to camp as a kid. I say this with all the love in my heart.... I have never seen a mom with so much detail in packing lol
There is a Monday wallet for the trip, a sealed envelope with lunch money for the trip back on Saturday so he would not spend it, then a wallet hidden somewhere in the 100 pound gym bag that the clothes are in for his spending money during the week.
EVERYTHING gets labeled and stacked appropriately for time lines. Cass helped with this labeling project.
We finally get to packing and while she was packing his clothes she went over the week several times, looked at the weather, pulled out the clothes again and said.... "ok Brock I need more room". She said she had 3 hoodies and 1 jacket..... I said "I think you can take away one hoodie for room... haha" making fun of her (it a loving manor though). She starts packing his out fits for each day in order all with matching colors and color coordination then gets to the last stack and says... "Brock we need more shirts!" I said "didn't you just put a stack of shirts in there????" She said " those were his jammy shirts that match his jammy pants" hahahaha.... ok at this time I broke loose in laughter. Don't get me wrong I love my wife dearly and support her always and during this whole time I was right along with her getting him everything he needs. But matching jammy outfits for Scout Camp?? hahaha my hell that is awesome.

The night before Brock left I told him a couple of times.... Brock... you really need to be thankful and appreciative of what your mom has done for you. Not many moms take care of their kids to the extent that Debbie does. I hope some day Brock will realize this but in the mean time.... he had a smile on his face and was the most excited I have ever seen him. He will have a great time with a life time of memories to think of.... I remember my camps as a kid and I am WAY old heh.

Debbie I love you and how you take care of your family! I have so many stories to tell about you :)

Debbie's sad' look as she is packing her boy away

Brock got a new hat for camping and big enough to put the mosquito net on

Packed and ready

the puppies are here!!

2010-07-11T16:50:00.006-06:00

Sam and I are proud Grand parents to 4 of the cutest puppies EVER.. They are like a little melting pot of colors and personalities!!
This is kinda how our evening went... We knew that this was not going to be a fun delivery because Winnie is so tiny and we were warned.. NOT TO LEAVE her at all during labor.

Sam and I had to go to a Maverik thing at 2 in the afternoon in Salt Lake and it was obvious that something was "up" with Winnie.. So we put Cassidi on baby alert and we were home by 4 and there was no puppies.

At 8:53 p.m. The first little puppy was born.. Winnie did not take her out of her bag so we had to get her out.. We just used our fingernails to get the baby out of its bag.. The puppy came out and took a big breath and I said to Sam... THE PUPPY IS BLACK???? Yep the first puppy born is all black.. Jet Black.. and it is a girl.. We have named her Ebony!!

At 9:39 the next puppy was born.. and this puppy was breach.. We had to take it out of it's bag also and this puppy is white and brown spotted.... and is spunky.. I mean spunky... we are callin HIM, BOK CHOY... at 12:48 a.m. the third puppy was born and it was frankly TERRIBLE.. the puppy came breach and was to big to come out.. So Sam had to pull and pull and pull and the puppy was stuck in there.. So we pulled and pulled and everything was out but the head... I was sure the puppy was dead.. So when it was born we hurried and cut the umbilical cord (with thread) and Sam sat with that puppy and coaxed and coaxed it to take a breath!!! I thought it was dead and I left.. but Sam rubbed it and rubbed it and let Winnie lick HER and lick HER and Sam said to me.. Did you hear that?????? It took a big gasp of air... This puppy is all Brown.. we have been calling her brownie or dirt.....

and then 4 HOURS later
the last puppy was born... YES 4 hours.. at 4:22 a.m. a little Brown and White and Black spotted BOY was born.. We call him Willy because he came out just like a bullet so his name is officially... WILLY...

We love them and are excited to post more pictures as soon as we can!!

and we are back.

2010-07-07T12:10:00.002-06:00

We had a great trip to Redfish. No falls, no life flight, no head injuries..

Sam and I were going to walk down to the plae of the accident but NOONE in the family wanted to go down there. We did see the place from the boat and we all said.. "look there it is.." BUT we never made the walk to the rocks.. So I think maybe we made giant leaps in our minds..

Here is a "Cassidi and crew" slide show of the trip. Sam and I forgot a camera and Cassidi was trying to be in EVERY SINGLE picture.. I think maybe we got a couple without her in it but she did a pretty good job...