Hello Stranger....

There is a somewhat dim, hazy light that I THINK I can see at the end of the tunnel...
I'm aiming for it :)

Things are calming down (a little) so I find as I sit here at the computer working on the take home portion of my Biology test, I would MUCH rather update my blog.
It makes total sense when you really think about.

I DID get the boot at work, but wasnt too worried about it on account of my school loan and unemployment getting me through. Um, thinking honesty IS the best policy and maybe it would actually HELP, I marked that yes, I was indeed going to school when I applied for the unemployment. Well, I got denied, BECAUSE I am going to school full time and therefore they could see no possible way that I could also work full time, and if I couldnt work FULL time, there would be no help. (Picture steam coming from my ears)
Now I'm freaking out.

Summer semester is over, got an A in both classes (thank you very much). Fall semester started last month and lets just say I have been having flashback after flashback of days in my younger years when I was teased (by family mind you) of how I was NOT the sharpest crayon in the box. It has been 15 give or take years since I went to school and I am Strugglin'! Things are not registering in my little brain and it will be all I can do to pass 2 of my classes with a C. Thank goodness for my medical terminology class, that class I love and its the only class during the week that I dont want to throw my notes, book and pencil up in the air and walk away!

We now have both the hubby's kids living with us, the boy is 12, the girl 9. Being a step-mom is hard, I'm more than a babysitter, but not their mom and finding where I fit in, and what my boundaries are has been a challenge. I'm grateful for Patrick and his understanding, compassion and love for me. He's awesome.

Lets lighten this wah-wah fest shall we?

Fall's almost here :) Fall is my FAVORITE time... halloween! I've already decided and prepared for my October treat making, get ready! Speaking of treats, this weekend the kids were at the moms and I had a nice quiet house. I made TWO things I have never made before. First, friday I went to a backyard get together for the YW in my ward, I made Recees cup peanut butter cookies. YUM. Then today, I made... wait for it.... homemade soft pretzels :) I didnt like the way I was making the knots so I made little pretzel bites. Double Yum.
Both recipes are going into the recipe box!

It makes me so happy!

So many things, so little time...

I know, I know, it's been quite a while since I blogged. I KNOW! Here's the thing, school, work, family, other family.. I'm busy! (thats not an excuse, I know everyone's busy) OK, I'll work on it, I'll do better! ConsidHow are things going? Dont ask. Lots of trials right now...

But everything is fine and things will get better!

Its the least I can do to tell ya the highlights, right? OK....

Summer semester started and is done in a little over 2 weeks. I thought I'd be able to finish my nursing pre-reqs by fall semester but it looks like I wont be done till spring, I somehow managed to save all my bio and chem classes till these last 2 semesters.. Good job Stepharoo!!
I cant wait to be done!

Work. Work is a pain in my you-know-what. I'm 75% sure I will be getting laid off at the end of August, we'll see.

Church... I love going to church, its peaceful. I just got a calling as the Laurel advisor. For those of you that dont know, that means I'll be helping teach the 16 & 17 year old girls in our ward. I'm excited, ok, maybe not excited, but I do think it'll be fun and interesting.

Did you know that a mother can file for child support even if she doesnt HAVE the kids? And did you know that your husband can have that said support garnished out of his check whithout any say from you? Did you also know that if this mother did this fraudulently that you and your husband then have to file charges against her, work with an investigator and jump through hoops even though YOU are the honest ones? You didnt? Me either... until now.

Home. Its my favorite place to be. I love being home, making dinner, cleaning the house and spending time with my hubby, its my favorite.

Speaking of home, the boy started football yesterday. Football practice, football games, sitting in chairs watching and cheering. Its kinda cool.

Still speaking of home.. we're trying to have a babe. Frustrated with Dr's who arent on top of things and are real 'busy'. Gimme a prescription pad, I learned how to read one so I can write my own now thanks :)

The heat. Oh the heat. How you torment me with your fiery rays. Did you know that the airport is 10-15 degrees hotter on the tarmac? Yup, I feel it. Oh, and they said that buying us ice is no longer in the budget. Um, ok, maybe if a passenger isnt going to finish their drink I can have it. (Hahaha if you know me, you know I would'nt do that in a MILLION years! haha)

What else... OH!
What do you do if the boy has somehow 'lost' the drumsticks to our RockBand and your brother-in-law and sons are commin over to play?
Answer:





I came to a conclusion. I love cupcakes. I've always loved cupcakes but then it became 'in' and 'cool' and I didnt want to admit it. It started with this shirt on this baby:

My name is Stephanie and I love cupcakes.
There, I said it. I gave in and went to a cupcakery. $2 for a TINY cupcake? Please!
Gimme $1.00 and I'll make you a normal person cupcake, promise.

What else.. Oh, here's a good one; Ex got evicted from his apt and is dodging them so they went back in the contracts to see who the last person was on them with him... ME! So I got a letter from my work about an intent to garnish $3,500.... Um, NO. Patrick and I went to the court and requested a hearing...Waiting for the court date... Talked to idiot Ex, he's aware. They are SO not going to get a dime.

See, I tried telling you there was alot going on... you didnt believe me did you?

Did you know that when your muffler is 'going out' it can make your sweet little mini van sound like a street racer with a condition?

They came out with coconut M&M's..... you can only eat a couple every few days otherwise you cant taste the coconut. AND, the candy coating's too thick. Consider yourself warned.

Ok, I'm tired.
Dinner's ready and I'm now going to make some brownie cupcakes with a cream cheese peanut butter inside. Oh Yeah!

Updates and General Info.. zzzzzzz

Things are busy. crazy, good & bad so I decided to give you the jist of whats goin on over here....

Where to start? Oh yes yes, YES... My sweet husband surprised me with a massage! At a Japanese spa! Be quiet! I have never had a massage in all my days and WOW that was SOOO relaxing! Work is kicking my butt on a regular basis and this felt so, so nice! Unfortunately the efforts of an awesome massage chick were quickly wiped away the next day :)





I finished Spring quarter at school with some pretty good grades and just started Summer session last week. Let me tell you I DO NOT like pre-req's! They are a pain! I'm fine takin them but you cant register for them until the grades from the 'pre' part are in and by that time the class you want to take is full, so even though I can register for fall classes now, I have to wait until summer classes are done and grades are turned in to be able to...aarrrgghh. (Ok,vent over)

Speaking of school, the boy (which we lovingly call him) graduated from 6th grade! I find it interesting that they dont call it a graduation but a Promotion... He's been promoted to middle school in the fall, whoo hoo! We're very proud of him:

And to round out the last few weeks, Pat has been on a mission, a BBQ mission. More specifically he is searching for the perfect rub, sauce, smoke, cooking regimend that will give him the BEST bbq! Watching the Food Channel, looking at how to's on Youtube and recipes online. WELL, last week he decided to give it a try, a dash of this, a sprinkle of that, rub rub rub... Oila! BBQ!
He was SOO excited!
He bbq'd for HOURS!


Yeah, they burned lol BAD

NOW I'm working :)

They laid off 235ish people from my work.. I BARELY made the cut. Along with all those getting the boot, they got rid of my position which was going to Delta planes, grabbing our bags and running them to our planes. SO, as of Friday, I am a ramp worker, meaning I only work with our planes now; bringing them in, unloading the bags from the cargo bin, loading new bags into the cargo bin and pushing the plane out. Let me just say that I'm sore in places where I didnt know I could even GET sore, I'm sweaty, REAL dirty and have ALOT of bruises on my body! But its good; for the last 2 years I've been afraid of getting that up-close and personal with the planes; What if I ran the plane into the bldg!? What if I ran a plane into another plane while I'm pushing it back?! (ok that one ALMOST happened, good thing I had brakes lol) Anyways, I'm glad I'm on the ramp, its a GREAT workout, I get to be outside for HOURS at a time and its summer (which I LOVE).
Winter will be another story... we'll see what happens :)

Routines... Patterns...

I was washing dishes yesterday, thinking about things that had happened and things that were going to happen, people I had talked to, errands I needed to still take care of and homework that was waiting for me.

Then I noticed the dishes, I wash dishes in a certain way; plates, bowls, cups, small containers, big containers and bowls, and last, the silverware (I hate washing silverware).

I thought about other things I do in a certain order; Shower:
Shampoo hair first, then put on the conditioner and let it soak in while I wash everything, then shave everything, face gets washed last, then conditioner rinsed out of hair.

Most of the ironing I do is with my left hand, getting the sleeves and ties (if there are any) ironed first

When I fold laundry I make piles; tops, bottoms, towels, then socks (socks are always done last) and in those piles, the biggest items go on the bottom and the smallest on top.

Why do I do things in a certain order? I think its because its just that, order. I feel in control when things are done in a certain way, and I think things go smoother.

Thats all, just something I was thinking about :)

On a side note, being married to Patrick is wonderful!
I'm the happiest I have ever been in my entire life....

I'm no fool...

I dont like this day, nope not one bit.

Patrick on the other hand TRIED to get me, twice.

First time he put toothpaste in some oreos... too bad it was blue toothpaste :)

Second time it was conditioner on the toilet seat, fortunately for me I ALWAYS look at the toilet seat before I sit down because I live with 2 guys :)

Nice try brotha'

Here comes the.... lol

Last Monday Patrick and I got married...

This man is THEE best thing that has ever happened to me.
He makes all the past pain and hurt worth it.
He makes me feel so good and warm and happy.
He's funny and smart and very kind.
I am a lucky and blessed lady.



We just ran over to the Salt Lake Courthouse... quiet and small. In a year we will be sealed in the Temple and then we will have a big party and invite everyone! Mark your calendars!
In addition to becoming a wife, I also became a step-mom to two kids; Libby is 9 and Ako is 12. Oh, I will be a cool step-mom, dont worry. :)

I'm very happy!