Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanks

I’m sitting here alone on thanksgiving night… my last post said how interesting this day would be and I’m happy to report everything is well. Thanksgiving was my year this year, a.k.a. the year we spend with my family. Well because of schedules and everything my family decided it would be best to plan our family thanksgiving dinner on the Saturday after thanksgiving. Well, because my husband is not a planner and every time I mention something further than 2 days away, he disregards, I never mentioned to him that thanksgiving this year would be celebrated with my family on Saturday. So one night about a week ago he plans a golf weekend…yes the weekend of my family’s thanksgiving dinner. There were SEVERAL talks about what is right and what would make everyone happy, what is the best thing to do. I messed up because I didn’t tell Husband the plans. He messed up because he made plans before checking to see if anything else was already planned. We went back and forth about what should be done, and when it came down to it, we made each other happy. I am happier to spend the weekend at my mom’s without worrying about how to keep him entertained… he is happier golfing… so I’m sure we made some people mad but we did what was best for us. I HATE fighting with Husband, I HATE trying to make him do things he doesn’t want to do, I HATE trying to please everyone, when really in the end… does it matter that much? There will be other holidays, there will be other years, and there will be other things that are more important.
I’m watching “P.S. I Love you” tonight and I must say, the first 20 minutes of this show makes me laugh! I can relate to this so much! Husband and I FIGHT and sometimes over the stupidest things… but after all is said and done… we are still WE, we are still TOGETHER, we are still a TEAM, and we are still PARTNERS. I know he will do ANYTHNG to make me happy, and I know I would do ANYTHING to make him happy and the most important thing is, I know even if we fight, we are in this FOREVER. I am so happy to sit here alone tonight, enjoying MY TIME. I thought this Thanksgiving was going to be such a wreck, but in the end, I know I have family that loves me and understands, I know that there will be MANY more years to do “my year, his year” but right now, we are doing “OUR” year. We were together on turkey day, but for the weekend, I am happy to spend it without him, and he is happy to spend it without me… absence makes the heart grown founder…… right??
I am THANKFUL, that I have a Husband that loves me, I am THANKFUL that I have THE MOST AMAZING FAMILY, I am THANKFUL I have a house to be alone in, I am THANKFUL that I am not alone in that house and that I have my kids, Brody and Tink. Maybe someday we can add to our family and I can be THANKFUL for so much more, but for right now, I LOVE that we can do what WE want to do without having anything to tie us down. I am THANKFUL that we are able to TRAVEL right now, I am THANKFUL that we have the money to travel and do the things WE want to do, I am THANKFUL that WE work HARD for that money and I am VERY THANKFUL that WE are SMART with our money and can manage and do the things we want to do!

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

STRESS


I love and HATE the holidays! Things were so much eaiser years ago before we added spouses and kids and work schedules and everything else! I hate that not everyone can make it and not everyone can prioritize to make it! I hate that I feel gulity and I ABSOLUTLY hate when everyone is not happy! Holidays are suppose to be happy! This year will be interesting to see what happens over Thanksgiving, I can't wait for it to be here and gone and then we will be off to HAWAII! I need a vaction really bad this year! I need to get away from stress! I hope that me and the husband can get away and have some alone time while in Hawaii but if not it will be okay too. We are heading down to Hawaii on Dec. 10th with Chris' dad, sister and her BF. I'm sure it is going to be a great time and I can't wait! Once we are back to reality we will be heading to my parents house for Christmas, at least that is the plan for now. I hope everything will work out for CHristmas because trying to plan and make everyone happy for 2 holidays might just be the death of me!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Happy Birthday!

So almost 3 months ago, Cory and I were shopping at Kohls and I found this picture that I fell in love with! It’s hard to explain but it is a picture of the ocean in black and white and would look really amazing on my blue wall in my bedroom. The picture was VERY expensive and I just couldn’t bring myself to spend that much. So I took a picture and sent it to husband told him the price and asked if it was worth it. Of course he said no. But after still thinking about it months later, I finally got a coupon for 30% off from Kohls. So this weekend I was going to go by it as my happy birthday to me! why not, Chris is after all ditching me on my birthday!
Well last night Chris got home from work and told me I should go get dinner. I had already changed in my PJ’s and really didn’t want to go anywhere but he insisted I go get Panda…. So off to panda I went. Their drive thru takes forever! ! ! I get home we have dinner and start a movie. My feet were cold so I run upstairs to grab socks, Chris paused the movie, “which was weird I was going to be really fast” but I flipped on my bedroom light and there my picture was…. All hung up and everything! ! !! I, of course scream with excitement and run back downstairs where he is just sitting smiling!
Its little surprises like that, that remind me that I do have a cute husband that I love so much… so even though he is ditching me on my birthday, he made up for it for getting me the best present! Plus he is going to buy me new shoes too… he doesn’t know that yetJ


this picture was taken with my phone so it isn't very clear and doesn't really show how cool the picture is.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Happy 2 Years!

Better late than never; we officially made it to the 2 year mark. I've heard it is easier here on out....guess we will wait and see. This year was much better than our lame anniversary last year, but I was worried it was going to be a repeat of last year. For months I had asked Chris what he wanted to do for our anniversary. I told him that I really wanted this year to be special. 2 years is a long time and many people don't even make it that long. so for months I told Chris ideas of things we could do, of ideas I had, and for months all he would say is, "I don’t care what we do" it was getting extremely frustrating. Every day after work I would tell him about good deals on KSL or discounts I can get through work and everyday was the same ol thing... I don't care. I would text him during the day and say I'm going to book this or schedule that and he wouldn't ever give me the go ahead... he always said, no that doesn't sound fun or let’s see what else there is to do. So finally one day after a very frustrating day at work I asked him if he wanted to go to Oktoberfest or snowbird or anywhere... again, he didn't care... I blurted out; well maybe I will just go on our anniversary alone!! This is the part where I say...open mouth insert feet! Yes feet...I felt soooo bad when he responded and said.... I have already booked the homestead, we are leaving Sunday...so needless to say, I felt like the biggest brat and the most ungrateful wife in the world! I am a planner! Always have been and probably always will be... I HATE surprises and really hate when people don't have a plan! So my cute husband was just trying to get me to loosen up and be surprised and not have a plan for once.
So after I apologized a million times and told him that trying to surprise me just isn't a good idea, we were off for our night at the homestead. We were able to leave the kids with my sister and her husband, thanks guys for taking them last minute, and we headed up the canyon Sunday morning. Saturday night we went out with some of my friends from work at keys on main and had WAY too much fun so Chris was not feeling the best on the drive up there but we made it. I was so glad he was driving because the ride up there was beautiful! The fall colors were amazing! The bright pinks, the deep reds, the golden yellows it was so fun to look at all the colors but of course my camera once again proves how horrible it is.... it nowhere near gave the colors justice!
Once we arrived in Midway at the homestead we weren't able to check in till 4, four o’clock! We were there at like 1! So there wasn't really anything we could do because someone didn't make a plan or reservations, so we ended up golfing.... yes golfing on my anniversary. I was semi okay with this because I was still feeling guilty for throwing such a fit about not having a plan, and there really wasn't anything else we could do. We only played 9 holes and then it was check in time.




Us in the golf cart




Chris got this little suite for us and it included dinner and breakfast! So once we checked in we were starving! We headed off to dinner. We spent the night hanging in the pool and hot tubs, then we went to the room watched TV and ordered room service. It was such a fun and relaxing night away! Although we missed our kids it was nice to get away and not be responsible for anyone.
A picture of our cute little suite! It looked like a little house from the outside.




Anyway after all is said and done, the last 2 years have been amazing. I love my husband a lot "most days" but really I can't wait for many more years together!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

YELLOWSTONE

At the end of August we decided to go on our first road trip in the motorhome! We had planned a mini-vacation to Yellowstone! I had never been and I love the idea of Yellowstone so I was super excited! ! ! I wanted to see a bear, up close, well not too close but I was so excited to see a bear! I LOVE black bears. I think they are so cute and my kitchen is decorated with them because I love the looks of them so much! Coming along with us on our road trip was Chris’ dad Richard, Chris’ little sister Melissa and her boyfriend Trevin.
We stayed in a RV park right outside of west Yellowstone the first night and it was really pretty! We got there close to dark and didn’t have much time before bed but we were excited to be there and ready for the next day! The next day we pretty much crammed everything cool about Yellowstone in one day! We seen old faithful, all the geysers, and a lot of buffalo/bison, not sure what the difference is, and had a complete blast in the motorhome with everyone! It was so nice to have these HUGE windows to look out and be taller than cars and other vehicles.
We decided to take our kids with us and I’m so happy we did! They had such a fun time! Brody would make these awful sounds when he would see the buffalo on the side of the road and all he really wanted to do was run out in the fields with them and chase them around! Tink loved to just be there. She is so calm in the motorhome and as long as someone was scratching her or paying some sort of attention to her she was happy! We were able to take the dogs on a lot of the trails but some they had to hang back in the motorhome. It was nice to be able to leave them in there. just turn the a/c on and made sure they had water and food and they were good!
One of the places we weren’t able to take them was on Uncle’s Tom’s Trail. This is a trail that takes you down 300 plus stairs straight down the mountain to the lower falls of Yellowstone! This trail is HATEFUL! I thought I was in okay shape but this trail made me think otherwise. On the way down I knew it was going to be tough back up but I thought I would do okay.. I … WAS… WRONG! I literally thought I wasn’t going to make it back to the top! These stairs never ended! When I thought I was getting to the top more stairs would still be there! it was awful! I am so happy we did that trail though because it was good to get out a hike and it really did feel good once I reached the top… and it really motivated me to work harder when I work out! to truly push myself!
The next day we took it easy and drove alot more than walking. we were all tired and beat from the stairs. All in all it was a great trip and I’m so happy we went… even though I never saw a bear… maybe another time.


the buffalo right in front of us! they refused to get out of the road


before Uncle Tom's trail, I looked so happy!

The stairs going back up the trail! UGH! so many and they were STRAIGHT UP!

My family! didn't the dogs pose soooo cute! we are such a cute little family!


and last but not least.... OLD FAITHFUL...

Friday, August 12, 2011

Birthdays and Summer Fun


My mom with her mom on her 80th birthday!





My Grandma’s 80th birthday/family reunion was on July 24th. It was a hot day but filled with fun. We went to a park where we had great food and good entertainment! We played minute to win it games which were hilarious!





trying to get the cookie from your forhead to your mouth using only your face muscles!

I can’t believe she is 80! Then the next weekend we celebrated my mom’s 50th birthday! This party was at our house and it was a true success! Most 50th birthday parties are focused on being old with black balloons and such. We decided to do something way better than make her feel old! We invited family and a few friends and on the invitations we put, Jenene’s turning 50 but lets not dwell on numbers and balloons that are black, instead we will celebrate by bringing childhood back! We had pictures of her famous hotties from back in the day, pictures of her when she was a teenager, and of course Charlie’s angels, posted around the yard, had old school games to play and princess décor everywhere! We had oldies music playing and they all had a blast from the past. We play pin the tail on the donkey and potatoes sack races! It’s amazing what old people will do after a few glasses of sangria! Pictures to come later!




July came and went WAY too fast and here it is almost the end of August! We have been enjoying summer and I really don’t want it to end!





Chris skiing!




We have had a lot of fun on the boat and I even went to the Zoo with Jax and my sister. Baby Zuri is the cutest little elephant ever! Everyone should go see her and her cute tricks!

I told Jax to smile and he smiled at the giraffes! such a kid!



Baby Zuri sitting in a tire!
Chris’ work is finally slowing down and that is a good thing but also sucks! it’s nice for him to have a break from being so busy but it defiantly sucks because that is the first sign of summer being overboo! Since he can finally take a break or have some time off of work we are planning a trip to Yellowstone! I am really excited because I have never been there and I am ready for a little break from work myself! It’s going to be fun to take a road trip in the motorhome and hopefully it will be the first of many road trips! We are still deciding on whether or not to take our kids just because of the bad experiences we had the last camping trip, plus there are bears in Yellowstone and they both are so friendly I don’t want them to get ate by a bear! We have been waxing the motorhome after work at night and it has been surprising fun! I love spending time outside in the warm summer air and doing projects together! It is starting to look really shinning and we get to watch the sun set every night! Sun sets are so pretty but they have made me really aware of how sucky my camera really is! Maybe for Christmas Santa will bring me a new one!