a year!

WOW...yep it's been a whole year since I have last posted a blog....pretty sad!
SO I thought I might wrote just some random life stuff, since I'm too boring to think of anything else right now.  But life has been great!  I'm still loving Idaho, can't believe we have been here over a year.  It's gone by fast for sure. 
So today for the first time I saw Addison as a big sister.  Duh I know she is going to be one whether I see her as one or not.  But this morning as I went into the kitchen to do the morning cereal bowl dishes only to turn around to my cute girl, holding up her cereal bowl up to me like here you go!  It was an "oh my goodness you are getting too big for your britches moment".  My little baby girl, isn't a baby anymore.  Then Brinkley came over with Briley tonight so we could split our Zaycon chicken order.  I found them in the laundry room and said, "probably not a good place for baby girls to play."  So Addison grabs her hand like okay Briley this way!  Like a big sister would do.  I'm so excited to see Addison with little Lincoln.  I know how much I love my siblings and can't wait to see them together, (I dread the fights, and whinning) but I know it's going to be fun!

Guess what!?  We aren't going to be the only Show Low, Arizona kids in MH anymore!  We can't believe it.  Del and Amber Frost are coming here next week.  Kolton and I are definitely excited to have them  so close!  Kolty and Del were neighbors growing up, maybe they'll get to be neighbors again.  It'll be good for Kolty to have a friend that he can go play with and know they he won't be too hung over on a Sat. morning to go golfing!  Then Ricky Newton, a good friend of mine I graduated with is also coming here!  Small world!

This weekend Kolty is working 12's from 8-8, that's like when Addison wakes up to when she goes to bed.  SO LAME.....but at least it's not like that ALL the time, I'd be pretty upset.  She is going to go through daddy withdrawals for sure.

Okay I need to talk about something worth reading about....
I am so grateful for good friends.  I am grateful to have wonderful friends from grade school, high school, college, work, sports. and now my wonderful friends here in Mountain Home that have made living here so much fun.
I definitely miss my friends that I don't get to talk to all the time, but so grateful for being able to keep tabs on each other though technology.  To know they are doing good, and when they are in need of prayers we can know to include them in our prayers.
As for my friends I have met here, it's so nice to have people around that you feel like you've known your whole life.  People you can trust with your kids and not worry and call them for anything.  I definitely miss our families SO much but I'm grateful for the friends we have made here that feel like family.

I am guilty of wanting to jump on a plane last week just so my mom could watch Addison while I get some sleep.  Pathetically, I know it's going to be way worse when Linc comes.  (we can't decide on Linc or Link for the nick name) (we'd love feedback?) I didnt sleep like two nights in a row from just my back hurting SO bad....then with Addison being sick and getting up every hour I thought I was going to die during the day.  I was on a very short fuse that's for sure.  That's when I really want to be closer to family, you don't have the luxury of dropping them off at the grandparents while you can do whatever you want!  Plus I miss our parents company and our siblings.  I can't wait till Jud's homecoming!  But terrified at the same time not knowing when exactly Lincoln is coming.  I'm grateful we get to go though and that Kolty will be able to bless him with all the family there :)  Kolty is going to be 24 next month!  But I guess I'll save that for another blog!

Okay well this is a pretty lame post, probably would have been better off not posting at all.  I didn't even put any of my pinterest projects.
Maybe my next one, hopefully it won't be another year.
 I'm exausted.....Good night! 
 

Just say it, just do it

Okay, I am terrible.  I always think of nice things to say to people or things to do.  But I hardly ever act on it.  Like on Easter coming home from Church I wanted to give the nice little guy checking ID's at the gate some Easter candy, but didn't because I was afraid he'd think I was weird(okay Kolton was driving, I didn't want to embarrass him ha)  But I think that would have made his Easter a little better, having to work and all.

"I can live for two months on a good compliment." -Mark Twain

I love that, I found it in my old EFY notebook as I was cleaning out some stuff.  It's true, when you hear good things it makes you want to live up to those good things and makes your day, week, or even month a whole lot better.  I know I have blogged about this before.  About being the person to turn someones day around, but we all need reminders.  I know I do, so I challenge the few people that might read this.  Give at least one compliment a day for a whole week and see how it goes. (:

Now I just need to clarify on my last post.  I in no way meant that you have to have babies right away.  I was not intending it to sound like that.  I look up to those who are getting their education first, and doing things they want to do first.  I also look up to those who are able to fight the baby hunger. (I lost the fight ha) It's so smart to do school first then babies, because you would not be able to focus on school as much with a baby that you want to hold all the time. (I did go to school and work, just not as long as most) :) 

I only meant to let people know how enjoyable being a parent is, that babies are SO fun. Just sometimes movies make it seem like your life is over when you decide to have kids and I wanted to correct it.  But I guess everyone knows it's just starting a new chapter.  Anyway--just wanted to clear that up :)

April Nonsense

Addison is down for bed, and Kolton is in Florida for the week.  So I guess it is me and my blog tonight!

I know I go on an on about Addie, but it's for her!

Addison is just such a good baby, Kolton and I feel so blessed.  She is just a down right happy, giggly, fun, cuddly, okay just a seriously good baby.  When people say, "have as much fun as you can before you decide to have kids." I don't know why they say that.   Babies are SO fun!  I know things are easier without babies.  It'd be easy not gaining 30 pounds and pushing something out of your body.(we are lucky to have epidurals)The pioneers giving birth in the snow, ya that's easy!  Like it'd be easy to travel without them.  It's also a lot easier running without having to push a stroller.  A lot of things would be easier, but I think babies make things so much more fun.  But it's like that saying, "I didn't say it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."  Addison is so worth it.  We are having SO much fun being parents, being able to see her learn new things, grow, eating new things for the first time(hilarious) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUvHVPEbynM 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4gcGTjW2Uk 
and just seeing her love for life already makes me love waking up to her smiling face!  We love having our little girl and just because something isn't easy doesn't mean you can't love it. 

I think sister Hinckley said that, "Mothering is hard, but it doesn't mean you can't enjoy it." something to that affect?  

Anyways after you're a wife and a  mother I think you change in a lot of ways. You become a less selfish person.  You aren't always thinking of what you want but what you want for your husband and kids.  Not just want you want to learn, but what you want to learn so that you can teach them something.  Anyway--I love being a Addie's Mom and Kolton's wife.  (Just for the record though, Addison is a way easy baby!)

I know Kolton and I have been away from each other way longer than a week, so I wasn't too worried.  Nothing like 7 months or anything!  But man, I really love having him come home to Addie and I every day.  So it's a little weird...Addison is going to be sick of just Mom all week!   We'll see how it goes!

Easter was great!  Got to take some really cute pictures of Addie after Stake Conference..We got to hear from Uchtdorf and other people(don't remember the names) But it was a good stake conference:)

Then we got to go to my friend Melanie's house (with all her family) for dinner, it was delish and just a dang good day! :)

I feel so blessed to know that my redeemer lives and loves us so much.  So grateful for Christ and his atoning sacrifice that he made for all of us, I love Easter!

We colored Easter eggs Friday night, and to our surprise I dropped one of the last eggs we were coloring and ha well it was a raw egg.  We had colored the wrong carton of eggs!  It was pretty comical, so we got to color a twice as many eggs!

Addie kept trying to eat the eggs and her mouth and tongue turned blue.

talking to her daddy

Can I tell you how much I love thrift stores?  Well I love them, a lot.  Normally when I spend money I get this poopy feeling of whether I should really buy it or not.  But this last weekend Kolty and I decided to hit up one of the local thrift stores.  You know how it's always hit and miss.  Well we hit it at the right time!  We LOVE homemade ice cream and have been craving it big time.  Kind of hard to fill the void when you don't have an ice cream maker.  Anyhow we found one!   We got Marry Poppins, Hurcules, Lion King, You Got Mail,Top Gun, and Rush Hour( VHS but so what! We need movies) all of those and the ice cream maker for 24 big ones! Yep that's all! That is guilt free shoppin'!  I actually felt good about spending money for once, kinda.

 

cleaned it all up and it looks new! Big 6 quart one!

 Before we got our couch...then after we got it:) it's so nice to sit on :)  I know my walls are pretty bare, but I'm in the process my making some more stuff for the walls and getting better pictures for the frames and stuff so oh well!I don't want to have too much either because if we are moving a lot, might make it difficult!

I love the socks my mom sent ha

Wic presents lol

 oh and............

• My brother Troy left Saturday for his 6 month deployment, keep him in your prayers pretty please.
• I love having a brother on a mission, Jud is awesome!  Such a great missionary.  He strengthens my testimony with every letter each week. 
• Bret is now 16! It's crazy, girls stay away ;) Just kiddin' Bret's a smart boy, I'm not too worried.
• I'm so excited for summer!  I can't wait to have visitors, mostly because I want you guys to spend time with Addie, she needs her Grandma's, Grandpa's, Aunties, Uncles and cousins!!  Hopefully we'll get to fly home for a bit!

oops..random babble

Ignore the last accidental post! I pressed control p think it was paste..no it was control post..ugh my bad

This post doesn't actually have a point to it, just for journaling stuff for Kolty and I to remember when we are old.  In otherwords not that exciting!

Okay...so funny story, during our daily scripture study Kolton out of nowhere while he was reading said(in his Josh Turner sexy voice),
"Behold, my beautiful wife, I say unto you, I love you."
hahahaha it was funny, and sweet.  But then we just started saying everything in scripture talk form.  For example:
  And it came to pass that our daughter did begin to grow hair, and the hair thereof was exceedingly fine.  And she laugheth not at the jokes of her parents. (I was laughing forever!!)
I do not write save it be that which is pleasing to my faithful nonexistent blog readers.  (what if we really did talk like that!!
It must needs be that we go down to the commissary that we may obtain food for the sustenance of our family.
-Anyway we came up with a lots of funny stuff, try to have a whole conversation like that..It's entertaining!
But on to Addison.  Poor lil one had to get shots again on Tuesday, and had her 6 month well check.

Her face was like she knew the shots were coming:(

She is doing great, healthy little girl!  15lbs(that's where baby girls at 6 months normally are) and can do everything on the checklist. She is starting to grow hair for real! Not too visible in pictures but it's there! lol  Then I got to go to the dentist Wednesday for the first time sadly since maybe sophomore year?  The ladies in there we SO nice they wanted to play with Addie(she was being hilarious I guess)they all just loved her.  That made my appointment fun just being able to relax and know she was with nice ladies..Luckily! I don't have any cavities, but that means I don't get to go back(pathetic but I was looking forward to laughing gas)I don't even know if you can do that while nursing?

Another funny story! Kolton and I took Addie to the BX last night and ate before we did some shoppin.  Well Addison loves sitting in high chairs and ripping apart napkins(and cracking up about it the whole time), I wish I would have recorded it to post! Her laugh is so contagious. (We made everyone want a baby in there)

She is such a big helper in the kitchen!

finally put her pink crocs on!

lol I put her in the wagon at wal-mart and buckled her.

She was like okay Mom let's go for a ride!

okay but that's not the story this is..We were walking around the BX Kolty and I weren't even looking at Addison and we hear a"snap!"  Then she screams!  She had pulled her  bow and snapped it in her own face! (one of the workers saw her do it)  As Kolton picks her up and consoles her, we honestly couldn't help but laugh..and laugh
We can't believe how much she is changing, Kolty always tells her you are getting hair with your old age,  your getting even cuter with your old age. You're getting stinky with your old age.  You're getting silly with your old age, you are getting strong with your old age you're getting pretty smart with your old age and so forth it's quite adorable.

Okay..(almost done)  I am SO excited about my calling.  I am the new Relief Society literacy specialist.  I get to find good church books, talks, articles.  Then present them/share them with the sisters..Oooh I have lots of fun ideas and can't wait.  I am open to ideas and help so if you have any talks or books you have read that you feel the need to shoot my way, I'd love that.

Kolton get's to go the temple with all the men in the ward.  Needless to say I'm a bit jealous!  But SO glad he gets to go:) okay I think I'm done babbling!

PS 

Our couch comes Tuesday hopefully, we had hoped it was this week.  But no :(
Then maybe I'll actually post pics of everything. I'm also still in the process of sanding and painting stuff so we'll see! But I'm SO done with this futon..

Half Birthday!

I can't believe our little girl is a half of a year old today!  I have been so in love with her from the day I found out I was pregnant.  It is crazy to think that 6 months ago I gave birth to her.  Kolton and I knew she was going to be cute, but man! Addison blows us away how precious she is.  She is our perfect little baby doll.  I have learned so much about being a Mom in a short time.  (I know I have lots more to learn)  But the Mother's instinct starts when you find out there is a little human inside of you.  Then after you give birth it's SO weird not having one in your tummy, although you get them in your arms.  It was SO weird waking up and grabbing for my non-existing pregnant belly.  I didn't think I would ever feel un-pregnant.  I'm pretty sure you Mom's know what I'm talking about......anyways!  All back to normal and oh how I love being a Mom.  Looks like I need to start child proofing.  Anytime I turn around and turn back, Addie has something in her mouth or crinkling it with her tiny fingers..(keep your scriptures away from your babies!) lol I got lucky she didn't rip out any pages, just a glue in. I love my glue ins :(  She chewed it to pieces! Little toot is learning to whine and cry when I take things from her(like she thinks I'll give it back or something) although her cry/whine is adorable..nope, sorry Addie girl.

Kolton and I always talk about how we would or should act in certain situations.  Like if we see something that someone does with their kid at the store or at church. We try to see what we would do differently or be like, "go Mom" to each other when they handle it well.  (not in a mean way, we are just trying to learn from others)  We are so grateful to have such good examples to follow.  Our parents, siblings and people in the ward.  We have gone to 4 different families houses since we have been here.  Each time Kolton and I were like yay! They are nice to their kids and to each other.(it's so important) If your mean to your husband your kids probably won't be that kind to you...Because kids are watching all the time.  It's all how you handle situations and I love reading and learning from others.  Like on Kendyl's Blog no use crying over spilled milk and so much more other good stuff (but all in the same sense of things)  


Kolty and I were looking through pictures and it is CRAZY how much Addison has changed in 6 months!!!  This is a poopy collage just thrown together. Hopefully I'll get one done of one month, two month and so on, we will see!

Oh Addison James, how I love you SO...I can't get over how adorable and fun she is.I mean come on, look at all of her epressions although she can't talk yet. She knows what's up.  I know it's definitely going to get more challenging.  But bring it on, I feel so blessed to have her and Kolton.  Kolton is such an amazing Daddy.  Happy Half Birthday to our little baby doll Addie!

ps
I'm so excited for easter..
1. to take cute Easter pictures of Addie
2. DOVE dark chocolate
3.Of course to celebrate the Atonement :) (last but not least)
pss
Camille seriously I can't believe how long it's been since it's been on, it's sad I'm looking forward to the 31st for it to be on again! It's upsetting really.

That sad-sick feeling..

Yep that sad-sick feeling. I won't even lie.  I honestly got it for the first time yesterday since I have been here.  I miss family, friends, Mom's food, and well I guess that is code for homesick.  I've been away from Kolton longer that I have been away from my parents.  (Now that is sad and a little pathetic).  But that was a totally different level of sad-sick feeling. 

I thought I would feel it sooner than this..But we got here and I was always doing something either with boxes or cooking or just playing with Addison.  I thought to myself, this is definitely not as bad as I thought it would be. Especially with all of this amazing technology. Skype and our trusty cell phones...(although half the time I don't know where mine is) I don't know what I'd do without it! I got to the point where I was like pch..I don't even think I'll get home sick. (wrongo)

I spoke to my Mom yesterday, Scott and Jep are in town with my niece, Alyssa and my nephew Ben... My beautiful sissy Tracy is home, Jared and Jen are there...Nadine, David an Carter.  Obviously my Mom and Dad...  All under one fun wii playing roof, may I add chocolate cake(tear)...  Only Troy, Kolty, Addie and I were missing.  All my "people" That's when I would rather just not hear all the fun details.  But I'm glad I felt it.  (No I didn't ball hysterically or anything) Just had that inner gut punch feeling with an almost a tear in the eye. It's good though, because it means we have people.  

I love my family, all the Wagner's and all the VanWinkle's.  I don't know when we get to come home to visit.  But I love you guys so much and we are SO lookin' forward to good ol' Show Low :)

Don't get this wrong! I love it here. I love being able to finally be a little family of our own.  We have a blast together.  It's so cute how excited Addison gets when she sees her Daddy, and I've noticed I get just as excited. lol I love my gorgeous husband and baby girl, I mean come on look how sweet they are :) 

 

So Many Sweethearts

 

 Life has been so good.  It seems as if there has been so many sweet people lately.  Okay so there are always sweet people around.  But I am actually taking the time to truly notice how nice people can be. Like if you look for the good in people you'll find it and vice versa.   If someone does something not so nice, I just need to not bite back and just consider that maybe they aren't having a good day and try to help them instead of making it worse for both of us.  In other words I need to not be so quick to be offended.  I know these are things that we are taught at a young age but I've always taken rude things to heart when someone wasn't nice to me. I'm a ball baby too, so I would even take it to the level of crying over it.  I know pathetic huh... sometime we can't help these feelings.  But these feelings can be fought. We just need to choose for ourselves and then ask our Heavenly Father to help the negative feelings go away.

In RS this last Sunday our lesson was on Service.  I always always always love the lessons in RS and could probably write about all of the lessons we have.  But I won't ha... they asked us to share ways sisters have helped to serve them or even  just a random person.

So many sisters had amazing stories, and even the most simple stories had an effect on the way I think.  One Sister said she had gone to the commissary with all five of her kids. Something she is definitely not fond of doing.  But she was shopping away an this handsome clean cut black man was at the end of the isle talking to her kids, giving them high fives and everything and when she got to him.  He looked at her and said, "Mama you're doing good."

I thought that was beyond sweet.  He could have blatantly ignored her but he didn't.. He served her by just those kind words.  He doesn't know what kind of affect he had on her.  But it did affect her, made her more positive about her day and so much more to even tell the RS sisters about it.

I too have a story that just happened this week at the commissary,  I parked at the BX to get Kolton some snow pants then went with Addie over to the commissary.  So on my way back with all my groceries I realized that the cart coral was all the way in the other parking lot.  I had already put Addie into the car.  So I could either look like an idiot by leaving my cart there or look like a bad Mom and leave my Daughter in and unattended car.  I couldn't decide.  Little did I know there was this nice lady sitting in her truck...she got out of her truck in the cold and said "I'll take it for you"  I was so grateful..she could have sat there and watched me make a fool out of myself.  But she was sweet and made such a huge difference in my day.

I have seen so many examples of service lately and it's so nice seeing people do good sweet things.  My husband is the biggest sweetheart of all.  Man I love him, he is always such a big help in everything and has taught me so much just by his actions.  So kindhearted and always a solid example to me. He's always getting me water (very important when your nursin) taking Addison downstairs so I can sleep a bit longer or anything else I need.   I have so many sweet examples to me.  My Mama is too sweet, I love getting her packages.  She doesn't have to but it's so nice. Feels like a get a little of home in every box.  Kolton and I are so excited to get a couch thanks to his parents for our belated wedding present.  Again they didn't have to but they did and we are so grateful.

I want to be the person to make someones day.  I know that when you are prompted to do something, you need to act on it.  I hope I can get over my sometimes shy, too scared to talk to strangers attitude and be able to say something nice when I think it.  Or if someone is rude I want to be the person to help make their day better.  I want to look at things in a more positive manner.   Instead of being selfish and asking to yourself "Why couldn't they ask someone else" I need to say, "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve" ( We had/got to give talks in our new ward on Sunday..

okay I will quit my rambling...But I am SO  grateful for all the sweethearts in my life.

A Heart Like His is a book that our Relief Society read last year and I love it so much, I need to read it again.  All of this has reminded me of it and I could probably use reading it again.   

p.s.  I miss going to the Temple, if you live by one and have a baby sitter I hope you are going!  I can't wait till I trust someone enough with Addie so Kolton and I can go together!  Tried to go every week while Kolton was gone even made it there the day before my water broke, so I miss it!!   I'm so excited to see what the Boise Temple is like.