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..

Before and after.

Remember the small kitchen fire MONTHS AND MONTHS ago.. Well we have the kitchen back to normal. and even better..

Here are some "before" pictures. The picture on the right is of it set decorated for the eHarmony shoot so there is A LOT of stuff on the counter tops but we did not have a lot of just kitchen pictures.

Now here are the after pictures. We have not gotten new appliances yet so I was going to wait to post them but wanted to now.. So I will post pictures of a new fridge and stove when we get them. We upgraded many things and the things I love most... MY NEW SINK... LOVE IT.. and my tile backsplash... I think it makes the entire room.

A GREAT Gift!!!

It is soon to be my Birthday and as we get older these birthdays just seem to kind of run into each other and becomes just another day. Dont get me wrong, I like to celebrate birthdays but I have been holding at 39 for 5 years now heh.... no need to celebrate 39 again. So I really don't expect much for presents or anything but Debbie has had something on her to do list for me for some time now. I have been asking for a collage of pictures for my office at Maverik of our family and memories. I came home from work on Thursday and kissed Debbie and sat on the couch with her to visit and she asks "do you want your present now????" with a huge smile on her face. Now how can I resist that as I take my clothes off thinking I know what I am getting right? (I am kidding of course) I said sure and she said wait here.
She brings up this huge frame with pictures of memories all over it. I sat with her and looked at this for a long time talking about each one. Some of these pictures you may recognize being on our blog. Just gives me warm fuzzies and smiles when I see this. Memories of when we first met, family, Mexico, Kentucky, the cabin, kids, Red Fish Lake, eHarmony shoot...... there is one pic in there of last year at Red Fish Lake with me kissing Debbies forehead a few days after her accident... black eye and all. I was so happy to have her with me I almost lost her.

Anyway...... Debbie I know you spent days working on this so THANK YOU SO MUCH for the most wonderful gift. I LOVE IT.

socks!

I am having a Monday.. BAD at my house. I hate Monday's.. It's the days I grocery shop, do laundry, clean up after the weekend and today... and today my complaint is SOCKS..

After I got up and cleaned up the usual stuff like the chewed sunflower seeds my daughter had sat at the computer and dropped on the ground (SERIOUS?) It's laundry time... I gather the laundry, I sort the laundry, wash, dry, and fold. It's the kids duty to put the laundry up.. I will ask them on Monday evening to put the laundry up and the grumble and complain than take the clean nicely folder clothes and SHOVE in the closet or in a drawer they can find that will fit them..

IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE THAT MAKES A STAY AT MOM HAPPY.. Like when you take off your socks could you turn them right side out before you have me wash, fold, and try to sort 678 white socks that are inside out.... same with shirts, pants, shorts and pajami's..

k thnk!

MacCools... a cool place

Every week Debbie and I go on a date night. We usually go to Logan and have dinner with our good friends up there for a few hours. This week we were invited to attend a Food a Beer pairing dinner with some friends at MacCool's in Layton. I have heard of these types of parties with wine and food but never beer...... so we went. Now this is an Irish Pub so the food is a lot of lamb. Here is a link.
http://www.maccools-utah.com/

All the beer was from Wasatch / Squatters in Park City. Here is their link
http://www.utahbeers.com/
I wish I had the menu with me to give you more detail but the first appetizer beer was a jalapeno cream beer. I know.... sounded sick to us too but DANG it was soooooo good. We went on to have several other micro brews with 3 different salads. What a great combination.
Then to top it off we had a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert with a chocolate beer. Now I am not a chocolate fan but taking a bite of the cake then drinking the beer brought the flavor all together... I was quite amazed.

I had so much fun and ate WAY too much... but fantastic date night!!

Big or Small.. "LETS SAVE THEM ALL.

Salt Lake City. Race for the cure.. 20,000 people showed up.. I think EVERYONE loves boobies! All the survivors that raced!!! Each face has their own story. What strong women.... and.. there are no boobs required to be in this group... *hmmm!
survivor walk.. I seemed so tall.. I walked with the group 11 -15 years and even though I was about 20 years younger than most of the women.. I met "breast" friends!!

My cute hubby lookin' like a hippy.. My good friends Cheri and Bart to the left!
I don't know if you can see but the lady holding this little baby is a survivor and that is HER baby.. Cheri was looking at her and said to Sam.. "look how sad that is with her having that little baby..." and then Cheri said.... "SAM, THAT IS HOW OLD BROCK WAS WHEN DEBBIE HAD IT"!!!

My cute girls.. Taylor and Cassidi!!

Tay numbering Sam up!

There were signs like this all over!!

Hiking for Hooter team... I think in total we raised a little under a thousand dollars (Sam raising most of that)...

they had all sorts of activities!!!

The day of the race was my 11 year 9 month and 3 day clean date.... I not only walked for me I walked for my sister, Michelle, who is a survivor and I walked for my girls and I walked for you!!! Here is to the next 11 years 9 months and 3 days...

"FEEL YOUR BOOBIES AND SAVE A LIFE!!!"

In other news!!

1. Brock found his first arm pit hair.
2. I am trying to make a grocery list for next week. My kitchen remodel will be complete by the end of the week... What do I feed my family from Monday - Thursday.. With no sink, microwave, counter tops or cupboards!!
3. We still have not eaten at our new table.. I am scared to eat on it.
4. God LOVES me and wants me happy.. The weather for the "Race for the Cure" on Saturday is 70 degrees... GORGEOUS.
5. Nolan gets to go home from the hospital tomorrow.
6. We rented a tent trailer for our annual trip to Redfish Lake. Lets hope it goes better than last year!
7. I got a new hair cut and color and I LOVE THEM BOTH!! Life seems to go better when you love your hair!!! (It's a girl thing)
8. I have found a homeless man on one of the corners in Layton that I love. Cassidi and I have a fund in our car and we give him money every time we see him.. He has been missing the last couple weeks and I am afraid he has died... I had to make a promise to Sam that I would never bring him home for dinner and not give him a ride anywhere!
9. I miss my Mom and Dad. It seems like we are all just far enough apart that seeing each other takes an entire day. :-(
10. Cassidi's new car is the cutest thing I have ever seen.
11. I have felt REALLY REALLY good the last couple weeks. My doctor put me on a new medication and it has made a huge difference.
12. I am slightly addicted to the Real Housewife shows.
13. We are having taco soup for dinner.
14. I hate the commercials that play the sad songs and show abused animals!! It makes me sad!
15. I think Biggest Loser is truly inspirational.
16. Sam and I went to the South Town mall last weekend with Joran, and even though I HATE to shop... That mall is pretty damn impressive..
17. and I think I fell a little more in love with my husband this week!!!!

12 year old boys!!!

I caved!! I did something I told myself I would NEVER do!!! NEVER!!!

Brock is now a proud owner of NOT just one air soft gun but TWO... Yes to all those worried mothers out there I bought my 12 year old son TWO airsoft guns.. So he and the rest of the neighborhood boys can go around the neighborhood shooting dogs, birds, cats, and cars that are driving by!!! They sure the hell better not any of the above..

However most evenings you will find Brock wearing safety glasses and hanging with a handful of other juveniles having airsoft wars!!!

*sigh.......

Time to make some memories.

Jordan and her boyfriend were here last weekend. We had a great time with them and when they left I said to Sam.... "YOU DID NOT TAKE ANY PICTURES!"..
Jordan seems very content and happy... It was so nice to see her that way.
Josh came over and we all played games and had a big dinner.... As I was getting ready to serve dinner I said... "Lets have our last supper on this table". (we knew we would be getting a new table and chairs this week)..
I LOVE OUR NEW TABLE... LOVE LOVE LOVE.. It is gorgeous. I am way excited for the memories Sam and I and family will have around this dinner table and I am sure very soon you will find all of us hanging out playing Farkle, Sequence, and at Christmas time you will find us all gathered around putting together puzzles!!! And some day we may even have GRAND children sitting around this table with us.... So here are to the memories to come!!

In other news.... I bought these little glass sculptures at Pier One.. I have no clue why I am so in love with them but I ADORE them... We named them.. (WE NAME EVERYTHING)

This is Rooster!! (I know original)

and this one is named Boise... named after the blue birds that live in Idaho!

We will be getting our new counter tops next Monday, Our tile back splash on Tuesday and than they will grout (spelling) on Wednesday!!! Then everyone I am so so so happy to announce... WE ARE GETTING A NEW FRIDGE.... Have any of you ever heard me complain about our fridge... HA!!!!

Step Dad.

If you have a weak stomach do not continue.. GRAPHIC.

I don't have a ton of time today but wanted to update everyone on my step dad... He is still in the hospital and they went in and removed a LARGE chunch of skin and muscle last week. He is having surgery this afternoon again..

He is still smiling and my Mom is hanging in there also... I will update more later in the week..

This picture just makes me cringe!

out with the old..

When I met Sam Cassidi was just 16 and in need of her first car. I could not afford to buy her one so Sam was nice enough to let her take over his little truck. In all aspects Sam "gave" the truck to Cassidi. IT WAS A GREAT little truck for her. It was cute and sporty and did exactly what a first truck should do.. Time went on and now with Cassidi going off to college she wanted a car. So Cassidi bought her first car (I will post pictures soon) and so we had no need for the truck..

We sold it and its gone..

Thanks little truck for getting Cassidi through those high school years and taking a beating and being painted on time and time.. Egged a couple of times and I am sure a lot more things that I don't even want to know...

CASSIDI'S LAST DANCE!

Cassidi's final high school Prom was Saturday night. They went out with a bang. Their prom was at Utah State Capital building and they looked like movie stars..

I hope they always remember it.... (tears in my eyes thinking dances are done...)

Wow is she really this old. As I was getting her ready for this prom I said to her..

"Cass.... The next time you get ready like this will probably be your wedding!!"

although I hope and believe that is YEARS to come the thought brings a pretty surreal feeling to me.. no one told me that having your kids grow wings and finally starting to use them was going to be this hard on Mom..

SHE LOOKED SO SO PRETTY!

REMEMBER NOT TO TEXT AND DRIVE!!!

Mothers Day.

This year we are starting a tradition in our family for Mothers Day. We are going to make a team and start running in the "Race for the Cure"..

Most of you know that I am a breast cancer survivor. It has been years and years since I shed a tear about my surgery, or my scars or any of the emotional stuff that went along with breast cancer. However... When I watch this clip from Salt Lakes "Race For The Cure" and listened to the words of this song.. I CRIED.... it moved me and I wanted to share.

You can donate to my team by following the instructions below.. Or just google Race for the Cure Salt Lake City and my teams name is "HIKING FOR HOOTERS"..

I am going to tell you a story I don't know if I have ever told anyone.. and I have no idea if my Mom remembers it or not. She has never said anything if she does!
The Saturday before my surgery my Mom took me shopping to buy pj's and soft things to go on my chest and slippers, Stuff that you need when you are about to have a double mastectomy. We were in the lingerie department of Fred Meyers and I was looking at bra's and what I might be able to wear AFTER the surgery and a flood gate open.. I started to cry and I mean cry to the point I had to put my face in my hand and cried surrounded by underwear, bra's and slips!