War of 2010

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.

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!

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!

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

Our Puppies!

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..

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!!

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!

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!!!

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

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!!

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.

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...

Red Fish Lake Idaho here we come again... this year be kind

Wow what a busy summer so far. Its already time for our family vacation to Red Fish Lake. After last year I have some anxiety about heading up there. I am not sure how I am going to handle it or even if I need to handle anything. I almost lost my wife in my arms by the side of the lake last year so yeah... I have some issues but am planning on having some fun and hopefully putting some closure to last years emotional roller coaster from Debbie's head injury. Debbie has been through a lot and is STILL healing from that.

Have a great 4th of July everyone... we will post again when we return to life and get back to normal

Just the two of us...

Last weekend was the first time that Sam and I were EVER home alone. Cassidi went camping with friends, Brock was at his Dad's and Sam and I were home all alone. I kinda am starting to understand the "empty nest" syndrome....

I always tell Sam that men who are middle aged gets a younger, prettier model of a wife, an old corvette, and starts using Just for Men hair dye!!! Sam asked me what a woman does when she hits her middle age crisis.. and I told him "They want bigger boobs, and a 22 year old guy".. at that point Jordan (Sam's youngest who is 19) said "I must be in a middle age crisis because I want boobs and a 22 year old)..

Things I have learned!!

Sam and I have officially been together for 2 years. On June 21st it was the mark of our two years together. I have learned a lot about Sam, family, Wyoming, Kentucky, Maverik, Me, and Marriage and step families.. Thought I would share.

"I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future"

• Step families are NOT an event... It is a process!!
• Wyoming has drive up liquor stores... YEP.. and they give you cups if you ask.. ARE YOU SERIOUS?
• WARSH is a word in Kentucky...
• Sam requires a hell of a lot more food than I do! (and so does Brock)
• Don't make decisions based on your children. Sam and I decided to live our life according to what is best for "Sam and Debbie " and hopefully the children will follow.
• I think the best thing a Mom and Dad can do for children is love each other.
• Never wear a live mic. when you go to the bathroom.
• Head injury's are TERRIBLE.
• You can never have to much insurance or toilet paper!
• Kids grow up.. and you better have made some kind of relationship with your spouse because that is who you have!!!
• Utah's women are different than those in Kentucky and Wyoming.....
• Sam will not sleep outside just for fun. He like HIS bed!!!
• my favorite "mom quote" is LOVE THEM, LIMIT THEM, AND THAN LET THEM BE!
• I have learned what a super charger is and how to tell the difference between a v6 and a v8. (and I still don't care)
• and that it is NEVER OKAY TO TEXT AND DRIVE!!!

SMART!

My husband is smart man. Obviously in business, in finance, the way he deals with people, with patience, all and all in daily life he is intelligent. No one would ever deny or argue that.

However he has figured one simple thing out that every man should live by.. Just 4 words.. 4 simple words... HAPPY WIFE, HAPPY LIFE!!
There are many many things Sam wants in life that I think are not necessary..

• A turbo for his motorcycle that already goes o - 60 in 5 seconds.. I don't see why he would EVER need a turbo.
• another hot rod.. preferably a 2010 Camaro with a turbo and a lot of chrome and some other crap on it that I don't understand.

any way there are MANY other things my husband WANTS...
but he lives by those 4 simple words..

I love this new fridge.. I LOVE IT.. It has made me very very happy.... SMART SAM!

We are having BABIES!!!!

Winnie is pregnant and is due right around July 15th...

When Sam and I got the dogs we said 1 batch of puppies.. So here is our 1 batch wish us luck.

Winnie has had morning sickness and has been really sick. (who knew dogs got morning sickness?) She has not been eating good and sleep A LOT.. We went and got her some vitamins and she seems to be doing better...

Winnie and George were such cute puppies these should be DARLING!!! I am hoping for 3 puppies and Sam says 5!! so we will see! Mix the puppies below Together and they are going to be the CUTEST things... I will want to keep them ALL!George about 3 months.. He just looks naughty in this picture.. and guess what... HE IS!

Winnie at about 10 weeks.. Winnie only weighs 5 lbs now....

Dirty little secrets!!!

WE ALL HAVE THEM.. Ya know the little things you do that you don't want anyone else to know about and you wonder if anyone else does or has it.. Well here are a few of my dirty little secrets..

• I have chin hairs... I pluck them all the time!
• I exfoliate my face by shaving it.. I accidentally shaved one of my eyebrows OFF one day.
• I drink to much beer.. I know I do!! I am on day 10 with no beer at all because I am cleansing my system and I don't miss it.. So why do I drink it in the first place????? hmmmmm.
• I know my boobs are to big.. I did not choose the size.. The doctor did.. (now before you go into the "THAN WHY DID YOU GET FAKE BOOBS?" lecture.. It was reconstruction.... and the last surgery last March.... my boobs officially got "to Big".
• I swear A LOT...
• I let my dogs eat off my fork..
• deep down inside I think it is a man's job to keep my car clean.. (and yard work is also a man's job)
• I have a passionate HATE for science fairs.. I think its a slow painful torture for parents!
• I gargle with peroxide EVERY day to keep my teeth white.
• I believe in nip and tucks when needed.. If God wanted you to age gracefully he would not have put plastic surgeons on Earth (or hair dye)!!!

So what are you dirty little secrets?????

Class of 2010!!

742 Graduates.. 742!!!! and the best part of it.. They did the ENTIRE graduation in less than 2 hours!!! As we watched the graduates walk in I got a lump in my throat and that was the only moment I was a little sad at all.... I made it through the entire ceremony without a tear!!!

As we sat there my Dad said to me. "High School Graduation is a significant change in people's life's. Nothing they have ever known before will ever exists AGAIN..."

I thought that was pretty profound... Yes, Cassidi's life is different now... We wont go school shopping, We wont have proms... We wont have Christmas Vacations, Spring breaks, late start, early out, tardies, locker assignments, assemblies, spelling lists, science projects.. any of it.. We will have a young woman that has learned almost everything she will ever need to and the rest is just "fluff".... The education up to High School Graduation is mandatory... the rest of her education will buy her freedom... I tell her that all the time.. EDUCATION BUYS YOU FREEDOM... She will graduate from College before Brock does High School.. We are so proud of you Cassidi... The world holds great things for you, it's just your job to GO GET THEM!!!

CONGRATS CASSIDI...

Parenting....

If you know me AT ALL, or don't know me and follow our blog.. You know that Cassidi is my oldest.. and this week Cassidi graduates from High School.. I still can't believe it.. I MEAN I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.. I feel like time is slipping through my hand like cheap satan... I CAN'T BELIEVE IT..

When I brought Cassidi home from the hospital I remember that very first feeling of UNCONDITIONAL love that a parent feels. and then I remember thinking..

"WHAT THE HELL DO I DO WITH HER NOW?????"

So here are the things that worked EVERY TIME with me as far as parenting goes!!!


1.
2.
3.


yep, ABSOLUTELY....... NOTHING..