Monday, August 23, 2010

Back to school


well even though 9th grade is still in the Jr High.. its tough acknowledging that i have a High Schooler.

of course I didnt take a picture, so I'll have to do that later today (end of first day picture) or tomorrow morning when I take him down to school.
sadly, I felt more unprepared for this year in terms of supplies, schedules, etc. We were looking at his schedule THIS MORNING and looking to see where classes were on the online school map. He noticed he has one teacher he says Hates him, I'm sure its just not that extreme... but we all know teenage drama is much worse than it really is.
He has a teacher for advisory that he cant stand, he says the guy has his advisory just sit and talk or play games... I asked "this is a bad thing? " so then I pointed out, its only 45 minutes a day with him, and I'm sure he can find someone to talk to or can entertain himself for that time frame.
He has alot of teachers that he really enjoys, so I'm hoping that it will all balance out at the end of the day.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Doing MUCH better/Jason coming home

I've had a few people ask how things are going for me now since my melt down. I'm doing much better. Its hard to explain, but it was kinda like I needed that melt down to in a sense "cleanse" myself of all the hurt and ups and down from this summer. I've had two days of smiles, lots of hugs and time with friends, and its all been very theraputic. I knew i needed to get it out of my system before my son came home, he doesnt need to see mom like that.
I'm out on a few dating sites, and have the word out to friends that I am single and looking :) we'll see.

on another good note: my kiddo comes home in 10 days, I soooo cant wait to see him. Its been a long summer without him. I know he has had a blast, and that he has had the chance to rebond with his dad. all great things for him. I've been able to talk to him some (not lots because he's been busy) but some. I've just missed his smile and his sarcasum if that is at all possible. He starts 9th grade on the 23rd, and its just crazy weird that my baby is old enough to be "high school" age. I met his dad when we were this age, so I've told my ex that we are in BIG trouble now :)

anyways, really... life is good, I'm okay. I hate the idea of being alone, and it does get lonely. But this too will pass, and I'm surrounded by loved ones and friends.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

melt down



Last night i had myself a good old fashioned melt down, the tears started and just wouldnt stop. nothing I did, made them stop. in some cases the tears and crying got harder. I was just so very lonely last night, and just wanting a good man to wrap his arms around me and tell me it would all be okay.
I knew i just needed to get through the night, get some sleep and things would be looking up in the morning.
I really hate nights like that, but the good news is that these nights come far and few between now.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Long story short

Long story short.... this has been my summer in a nut shell
Don and I split, and I moved out in February. We attempted for a few months to go back to "dating" and in a sense rediscover us. things were okay for awhile, it was on and off. We took a few trips together and had a great time. We officially broke things off for good about a month ago. Its been hard, and we didnt end of the best of terms. The reasons are not important, but its a good thing for both of us. We are on cival speaking terms (after all, he is my trusted Mechanic) He's moved on, I've moved on and we have been able to talk about each others future with others this weekend. It was nice, there was no hurt, no tears. Just two friends talking. giving each other the perspective from the opposite sex.

the trips I've taken: went to Colorado (which I still need to blog)
many camping trips, a trip to lava... all of which i need to catch up on here.
Its been a long enjoyable summer inbetween all the rotten stuff.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

WOW, way over due

wow, its been a LONG time hasnt it.
lets see, update in a nut shell.... I moved back home, and stress took over for a bit.
yep, that about says it all :)

so now, we are heading into summer, I'm still unemployed but watching my friends kids for some income. Jason is heading off to Washington for the summer, and is excited about it.
I am just going to be plugging right along the best I can.

I just returned from a fast trip to Vegas for a wedding, and getting ready to head out to Colorado for 10 days.

so I'll post about Vegas, and then when I get back from Colorado, I'll post about that :)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Deans list

WHOOO HOOOO... I've not been this excited for such a long time.
I received a package today, it had no return address, so I didnt know who it was from.
When I opened it, I saw this

I knew what my grades were in my classes, but my brain didnt connect it to earning a place on the Deans list. (IT DOES NOW)
It had two letters, one from the Associate Dean of Business and the Executive Director of the Online Division. Very nice letters encouraging me to keep going strong

I didnt do this well in High school, and somehow this time around is so much easier.

There will be some celebrating tonight.... cheesecake, a nice dinner, and a night off from school

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Hot Tub Date

As some of you know, we got a hot tub about a month ago. We've used it quite a bit...we love having it.
Don and Jason have bee working in the back where the hot tub sits to make it a really nice area. It has been screened in so that we have some privacy. We have a nice outdoor closet for towels and the chemicals, on top of which we have put a radio.

This past Saturday, life was busy. We were on the go all day and got home, had dinner and my three nieces were dropped off for the night. (their parents were heading out to a send off for a soldier buddy of theirs that is leaving for Iraq on Thursday) I was pretty sure that there would be no date this week because after all, we did have the three additional kids (4 months-6 years)
but man was I wrong....so for our date, after I had the kids in bed, Don handed me my swim suit and asked me to meet him outside when I could. I asked my teenage son to listen for the kids, and told him that we would be just in the back yard if he needed us.
I walked outside, and was pleasantly surprised to see candle light and bottled water sitting just outside the hot tub.
It was so quite and peaceful. We didnt talk at all for probably the first 15 minutes. Just enjoyed the noises around us, relaxed and cuddled. He knew it had been a long and busy day for both of us, and that the kids were going to have me up early the next day.
We only stayed out for about 30 minutes total, it was after all 10:00pm and he was due into work at 4:30am.
It wasnt a regularly long date this week, but it was enjoyable all the same. It was just enough time to reconnect and to relax.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Free out of towner


Don's company had a mandatory District meeting in a nearby ski resort town. The spouses/significant others were invited to join in for dinner and stay overnight on Friday night. whoo hoo... free dinner and out of town date night all completely paid for by the company.
So because the meetings were to go on all day on Saturday, and I needed a way to get home the following day.....we did drive two different vehicles to the restaurant. we first stopped in at the Hotel to drop off his company truck, and so that we could ride together to the restaurant.

We arrived at the restaurant... a real restaurant with linen table clothes, linen napkins, wait staff at our every whim. We sat and visited with everybody for a bit before ordering. We each had an amazing salad (one of the best I've had)


and ordered our 30 and 40 dollar steaks. I cant even think of a time I've ever had a steak or any meal from a restaurant that cost more than $14.


The area manager ordered 1 of every type side that was offered, which was then brought to the table and served family style.
It was great company, AMAZING food!!!
After dinner, we just sat and visited before heading back to the hotel.

We were able to relax in a nice KING size bed, we layed there just talking, catching up and enjoying each others company. We shared goals and plans for the rest of the year. Its been a long time since we've done that.
We decided to order a movie, it was one we've seen before but really enjoyed..so we ordered 2012.

Because we didnt get the movie until about 10:30, I didnt make it all the way through the movie.
The following morning when Don left for his meeting in the conference room, I was able to relax in the hotel room until about noon before heading home. So I took my time waking up, then went down and picked up breakfast, got in the shower, and curled back up under the down comforter until 10:30.
It was nice just getting away, and even better was that it didnt cost us a cent.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Over Used Recipies

Over-used Recipes Swap

okay, so here's what you do....
take those recipies that you make entirely to often, and type them out on your blog. Click on the link to www.simplymodernmom.com and link your recipe to her blog.
Her goal is to gather 365 recipes in one week from all around the world.
How fun huh...

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Date Night

Let me start by saying.... I HAVE NOT LAUGHED SO HARD IN SUCH A LONG TIME...

okay, so when I gave Don his gift (Date of the month) this weeks date was already planned and paid for.
We do our dates on Saturdays, because frankly, its the only day of the week he doesnt work. He works during the week, and then on Friday night and Sunday morning he works a second job. He works so hard :) so anyway, Saturday is our day to relax and spend together.
so like I was saying, this date was already planned and paid for. We were introduced to a fun theater down the street from us that does "spoofs" of different shows. I was on their website and saw that they also have Comedians and other performers in a different area of the theater, complete with a full dinner buffet. He's always talked about going and seeing a comedian live, so I thought...great idea.
I knew nothing of this comedian, but they did have a you-Tube video of him that I watched and giggled at.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0cfTAzk-nM
He is an impressionist, and performs mostly through music. doing impressions of great people like Jim Carrey, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Louie Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, Ricky Martin, Cat Stevens, The Temptations, U2, Guns n’ Roses, Coldplay, and Alvin & The Chipmunks

So I bought the tickets, which included the dinner.

go visit www.jasonhewlett.com



he was funny, and witty, and it was just so amazing. He had the audience singing along to most songs, and had us all doubled over in laughter.
On our way out of the theater, we were talking and decided that tonights show was better than anything we had imagined. It was a really great evening. It was good clean humor, it was something I would totally sit and watch with my child.
On our way home, we just talked (more about the show of course) and he pulled into 7-11 and picked up a couple of ice cream bars for desert. it was such a cute and sweet thing. (ha ha, no play on words intended) He looked all through the case to find a chocolate ice cream for me that did not have nuts of anykind (he knows I dont like nuts touching my treats)
we had to stop by the warehouse he works for on Sunday, and he felt bad at first... wanting to make sure out Date night was over, and that he wasnt ruining it for me.
I assured him it was fine, and we could just "pause" the night so he could pick up his vehicle for the next days work, and that I would meet him back at home.

it was one of the best nights we've had out in a long time.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Birthday weekend

After spending the day on Saturday (my birthday) with Don. Breakfast and errands.
Then dinner and Olympics
Sunday (Valentines) Don was working, but I spent the day with J. We got some chores done, and relaxed.
I made treats because my family came over for cake and Ice cream that evening.



Now let me tell you the funny thing about that Bundt cake... of course when I pulled it out of the oven to cool, I'm standing there holding it, and the line from "my Big Fat Greek Wedding " came to mind. You know the one... the two families are meeting, and his mom is offering her mom a Bundt cake, and the greek lady is just not getting it... and she finally gets that its a cake, but then comments that it has a hole in it. I totally love that show.
anyway, back to my story, it cooled down, but then wouldnt come out of the pan. so half came out, half didnt. oh well :)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Birthday Date

Project 52: Date Nights logo

This week was my birthday, (Saturday the 13th). Our date this week was a nice breakfast out together. we went first to Johanna's Kitchen.... but they were crazy busy, about a 40 minute wait.
so we left there and headed to a cute place called, Jim's Family Restaurant. We spent the time during breakfast chatting and just catching up on our busy week. we enjoy working on the Suduku puzzles found in the newspaper, so we worked on that in between talking and of course giving our waitress a hard time :)

After breakfast, we needed to get some errands done, as we are working on our backyard area where we just put up a hot tub. So we headed out to Lowes

where we walked and talked about what we both saw happening in the yard. we planned out a patio area, and garden area (of course our taste was more expensive than our budget allows).. we did buy some things that we needed, and priced others.
We left there and I wanted to look at plants and flowers, so we headed next door to

Garden center. I dont think we purchased anything there, but we did walk through the whole store and just talked and talked.
We did have something we wanted to buy, and the only place we found the deal we wanted was at

so that was our next stop. We didnt spend as much time there, mainly because we knew exactly where to go, make the purchase and took it home. Once home, we got some chores done (me in the house, and he and my son outside)
but that evening, my two guys made me a wonderful steak dinner... the only thing I was asked to do was to dish up my own plate :) We then all gathered around the TV to watch the Olympics, and enjoy the down time.
It was an amazing birthday, and an even better day spent with MY MAN.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Saying goodbye...never easy

I said goodbye to a dear friend today. Sunday early evening, I received word that my friend Steve had lost his battle with cancer. I sat here watching the Superbowl with tears in my eyes, trying to stay composed. (I've mentioned him in previous post)

He's been battling cancer for a few years, and I've had the privilege of being friends with him and his wife, and teaching 3 of their children in church. I have loved this family for 6 years now. Its hard to imagine that he is really gone, and will only have his smile and hugs in my memory for now.

It was difficult today at his funeral, sitting kiddy corner from his family. His oldest daughter kept looking back at me and kept trying to smile, but all I saw were tears poor thing, I just wanted to reach out and hug her.

It was a very draining day, however it was a nice service. Lots of fun memories were shared, and many laughs. Steve will be truly missed by many people.



Steven M. Mott 1973 ~ 2010 MAGNA- Steven Matthew Mott passed away peacefully February 7, 2010 in Magna, Utah.He was born August 4, 1973 in Denver, Colorado to Paul and Marie Walsh Mott. He married Jennifer Blundell September 14, 1996 in Bountiful, Utah; their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple May 14, 2005. Steve was a loving husband, father, son, and brother, and he truly cherished his children. He loved spending time with his family, especially trips to Southern California and the ocean. He will be greatly missed by us all. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; children, Dylan, Desiree, Aimee, and Emilee; parents, Paul and Marie; 10 brothers; three sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

He LOVES it

so the package arrived at our house today, and I was not home when he got here, so I didnt get to see his reaction (darn it). I got a text message as I was getting closer to home that he was crying, and that he loved the gift.
He has spent most of the evening either telling people about it, or raving to me about how awesome this gift was and how he's never gotten anything as amazing as this.

He was excited about many of the dates listed on the brochure. He is telling me that I should totally market this as a business or at least a hobby. He was convinced that it was a real business, and even thought for a minute about how mad I was going to be to find out some girl enrolled him in this "club" then once it was opened, he discovered that the some girl was me, and that I did all this for him.

I'm so glad that he liked it, I was really worried that he wouldnt like it as much as I wanted him to.

Breakfast date

Project 52: Date Nights logo

Dennys was having their annual free breakfast this morning before our day started..... so we went to breakfast. (sorry, no pictures)

on another note: his "date of the month" should be showing up here today or tomorrow, and I'm excited to see what he says about it.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Date of the month club gift

okay, thought I would post pictures of the finished and completed product before I stuck it in the mail tomorrow to mail to our house. I'm so excited for him to see it. I hope it goes over as well as it does in my head.

Its going to be presented in a nice folder



inside will be the brochures I made





and then there is also the Date card, on which he will tell me what dates and staycations he wants to do..... also February's dates are already planned for him, and there is a flier and a gift card for those dates in the folder.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Don's gift

I got an idea after reading a friends blog.. which took me to another blog, and finally landed me on yet another blog. It was this last blog that really got me thinking, and got me excited to mix the ideas from that first two blogs with the last ones.

so my idea is going something like this....
http://loveactually-blogboutique.blogspot.com/2010/01/date-of-month-club-digital-kit.html

My goal is 2 dates per month minimum. He will get to choose what those dates are and which months. (with the exception of February- I've chosen those already)
I'm getting mine put together now. See the pictures below of my final project.
first I got all my ideas together on paper, and on the computer (including an idea of cost)
then I started typing it up into a brochure style. typing up his "membership letter" which will explain what he gets to choose from.
I've included a page with each month labeled, then he will write what dates or "staycation" he wants to do. (he can choose 4- 1 per quarter)
my staycations include:
*B&B (I'll create a B& B right here at home)
*Camping (I'll set up the tent trailer outside, and we'll cook and everything outside)
*Mountian adventure (drive up to the mountains, see the leaves change, or picnic or hike)
*Utah State Fair (pretty self explanatory)
*Vegas (this again will be at home. I have a couples only casino kit (dice, cards, and rules to play some steamy vegas games) we'll have a fancy dinner, rent a vegas movie like 21, or honeymoon in vegas, or maybe a vegas style "show"
*lava hot springs (one of our favorite getaways, and its close enough to make this a real overnight outting)

all of this will be boxed and sent through the mail (yes, I'm having this sent) the business (return adderss) will be "date of the month club" po box 143
I love you, Utah 84047
I cant wait for him to get this package in the mail and see what kind of fun dates we will be going on this year.








http://www.simplymodernmom.com/2010/01/project-52-date-nights-announcement/

another great site



check out this site..... I've added a button to my blog.... (its over there on the left)
TONS and TONS and TONS of fun ideas to get the romance back in your relationship without the cost.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Fun Valentines or other gift idea

My Mix of Six: Husband Gift Idea
I was told about a fun gift idea from a friends blog....
This allows you to give your Husband/boyfriend a gift that you yourself can benefit from too. a full year of dates. Takes the guess work out of the situation for the guys, and you both get a great night out.
You dont have to spend tons of money on these, just have fun together.

you basically put a date idea into an envelope for each month of the year. The above blog, has gift cards and other things in her envelopes... My friend Summer has created really adorable cards, with love poems and quotes with her "date" idea.

some ideas I have started to put together are: dinner theater tickets, symphony tickets, dinner and a movie, picnics in the mountains, overnight camping trips, free concert series in town, game nights at home...etc... I cant wait to get the finishing touches all put together and give this to Don.

Friday, January 1, 2010

MaNiC MoMMy™: GoT BLooD? iT'S THaT TiMe aGaiN!!

I follow a few blogs from around the country. I found this one a little over two years ago and every year she has done a virtual blood drive... I've linked her site here so that you can go check out the details of how it works, and how to get yourself entered into the drawing for PRIZES :)

MaNiC MoMMy™: GoT BLooD? iT'S THaT TiMe aGaiN!!

Happy New year everyone. 

Our evening was a little unusual.  I drove out and attended my nephews family birthday party, had some cake and ice cream, and visited with family.  Came home and watched a few movies with Don, talked to my son on the phone (who is visiting his dad for the holidays this year) before turning in for the night just after midnight. 

I woke up at 5:30 this morning and haven’t been able to go back to sleep.

So from us to you…. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!