Utah Family Weekend.

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!

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!!

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......

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...

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!!

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???

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!!!!!???

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!

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!

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...

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!!!

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..

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!!

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!

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!!!

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

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.