Things.

> sleep is a thing of the past. i am having some serious issues falling/staying asleep. terrible.
> i'm being such a good housewife when i'm not working. gone are the days of 4 standard meals, here are the days of experimenting. this week we had stew and biscuits, chili and potatoes, ranch chicken and rice, and tomorrow is chicken fettuccine alfredo. mmm.
> i've started being so crafty! i love pinterest and michael's. watch for posts coming soon - i have to wait to post them because most of my crafts are gifts!
> i have stopped drinking diet coke. cold turkey. i know, it doesn't seem like that big of a deal.. but it's the equivalent of lisa and heather stopping dr. pepper. i've had some terrible headaches lately, but it's been 4 days since my last diet coke! yay me!
> i'm literally hungry all the time.
> i am not ready for winter.
> we bought a car! 2006 dodge charger. she is a beauty. carter gets to drive her to work, but sometimes i say 'hey, take the lumina and let me drive the beaut!' and he goes 'fine'. such a good husband.
> speaking of, he likes sleeping on 2/3rds of our bed. stinker.
> k bye.

We got family pictures done Thanksgiving weekend - this is a sneak peek.

Sometimes we try on Hallow's Eve costumes at Walmart.

Our baby!

Sad.

I know Christmas is a long way away, but my family is going away. As in, Carter and I aren't. And the reality of having Christmas without my family for the first time ever just hit me. Yeah, Carter's family will still be around.. But my family won't be. No Grinch on Christmas eve. No homemade Christmas gifts, no stockings, no board games until 2AM, no waking up at 4AM. No dinner. No afternoon naps in the living room. Growing up is hard.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Meghan the Mormon!

So today an exciting thing happened.

This friend got baptized!

I know, right? So cool.

BASICALLY it went a little something like this>>>

She came to our wedding (in February) at the Cardston Temple and was wondering why she couldn't come in with us. So we explained what we could, and she seemed okay with that. A couple weeks after our wedding, she hitched a ride with us back to SoAB to meet up with a friend, and during that whole 6 (+2 because we had a donut on the car) hour drive she asked us questions about the LDS faith -- what we believe, how we practice our religion, how the different auxiliaries are set up, etc. We answered them, and asked a few of our own about the Catholic religion. We didn't think much of it, but whenever we hung out with her she always seemed to have a couple more questions - and good ones! Ones that made us think about how to respond. Finally, in June (3 months after her initial questions), we offered her a Book of Mormon -- and she accepted! She started reading it, and she even came to church with us a couple of times! And enjoyed it! But she wasn't quite ready for the missionary discussions yet. At the end of July, after coming to church and reading the Book of Mormon, I passed a note to the missionaries in our ward (Elder Basinger and Elder Bowles) and asked them if they had a couple of minutes to talk to us after sacrament meeting. They eagerly agreed, and before Meghan could object we had our first discussion set up for July 31! It's pretty much history from there. She took the discussions, kept reading, coming to church, and within a couple of weeks, Carter and I knew she was ready to be baptized -- but she didn't. Eventually the missionaries had to pass her to the YSA missionaries (Elder Black and Elder Albright), but the discussions continued just as smoothly as before. Finally, she agreed to be baptized! YAY! So! Today, September 29, 2012, she was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!

Meghan and Carter

Elder Albright, Meghan, and Elder Black.

Elder Basinger, Meghan, and Elder Bowles.

Meghan and Kelsey (who came to a couple discussions, and took Meghan to church with her!)

Me and MORMON Meghan! :)

Mormon Meghan and the Edmonton Temple! :)

I'm so proud of her and the choice she made to be baptized, regardless of the support (or non-support) of her family. I know that she is doing the right thing and the Lord is going to help her to fight the challenges of this life and to help her family understand her choice. Her testimony is growing every day, and I know she is going to be a wonderful Mormon! Love you, Meghan! :)




PS -- If you're looking for more information on the religion Meghan has chosen for herself, go to www.mormon.org :)

The Notebook

My day went a little something like this.....

Sleep in.

Eat waffles.

Shower.

Find Pinterest hair experiment. 

Try Pinterest hair experiment.

Go out in public with Pinterest hair experiment.

Spend too much money. Again.

Make supper.

Burn supper (kind of. It was Carter's fault).

Clean.

Clean more.

Make Rice Krispie squares.

Take Pinterest hair experiment out.

Vow to never do another Pinterest hair experiment.

Clean more.

Do this.

Watch Honey Boo Boo.

Poke my eyes out.

Go to bed.

Sunshine!

My best friend Viktoria left on her mission last week (She reported to the MTC last Wednesday), so I'm sending her a box of sunshine!

Everything is YELLOW! I got her a yellow scarf, yellow flats, yellow deodorant, yellow dry shampoo, yellow nail polish, a yellow luggage tag, a yellow package of floss/picks, a yellow toothbrush, a yellow tube of mascara, yellow sticky notes, yellow package of skittles, yellow package of peanut M&Ms, a yellow Oh Henry, a yellow package of Maynards, a yellow package of Glosette peanuts, and yellow pack of Juicy Fruit gum.. and I think that's it!

Then I put a sticky note on each item telling her why I got it..

..Filled the box up with yellow tissue paper, wrote a quick note (in addition to the ''sunshine'' sign), and taped it all up!

I sure hope she loooooooves it. I think it's so cute. :)

'Tis The Season?.....

AND so it begins, making Christmas presents. Last year I wasn't as obligated to, but this year I have a dad, a mom, 4 brothers, 2 mother-in-laws, a father-in-law, 2 sister-in-laws, and a brother-in-law. And a husband. And 5 (or more?) grandmas, and 4 grandpas. Luckily, this year I learned how to scrapbook and be crafty (yay for being a house wife?), so this year we're going handmade and gift cards! :)

September.

Clearly our lives have been very un-exciting this last couple of months.. I honestly can't think of a single blog-worthy thing that has happened.

That's a lie. I have a few.

My best friend left on her mission last week. She reported to the MTC yesterday!

And this friend has been gone for a year (-8 days).

And this friend is getting baptized in a week (-2 days)!!

And I have some more big news but that has to wait until Thanksgiving when it's no longer a secret to our families (no, I'm not pregnant).

Sooooooooo yep.. That's about it. 

Oh, and my toes are cold.

Okay. That's all.

Bucket list!

Check out your bucket list and let me know if we're missing anything!! :)

Sunday Funday.

Nothing like some Star Wars on a Sunday.

August :)

Holla.....

If there's any of you that actually read this blog, you may have noticed that I recently took a hiatus. Reason? I don't have one. Busy? Not particularly. No internet connection? Nah. I've just preferred watching TLC after work, reloading my Facebook news feed, updating my Twitter feed, and taking naps to blogging.

Here we are. September. The ninth month. Only 3 more months until January 2013. That. Blows. My. Mind. A year ago, I was just starting school. I was new to the city of Edmonton and had no friends here. Now, a year later, I'm married to an amazing guy, I am working in my field, I have a calling in my family ward, and friends. Plus, I can get anywhere in Edmonton without even thinking about it (A+ for me!) 

Now. August. What can I even say about August! My last serious post was about the long weekend in August. A month ago. I'm gonna go back in my Twitter and Facebook to find out what we've missed.

--Meghan and I started the BBQ on fire. Oops.
--I decided that I want to try to become an advocate for free diabetic supplies to Albertans. Of all ages.
--Carter stopped working out of town.
--I turned 20!
--We went to Raymond for the labor day weekend.
--I was demoted at work (jokes, but I'm finally a casual position [what I was hired on as]).
--We went to a football game with Dad and Ryan - Carter's first ever CFL game! AND THE STAMPS WON AGAIN! HOLLLLLAAAAAA!
--Carter and I bought a "new" car - 1997 Chevrolet Lumina. Beauty.
--Carter and I towed the 1996 Dodge Neon - the first car I ever bought by myself. Sad day.
--We're car shopping again. Wish us luck.
--Today is my best friend's mission farewell.

Ready -- Set -- PHOTO OVERLOAD GO!

BBQ on fire. Oops.

Carter is homeeee!!!

My cute little birthday cake.

My present! I got a piano/keyboard and music!!

We went to Red Rock Canyon!

Ps. Totes chopped my bangs. 

In da canyon.

BBQ with Jesse and Michelle's family - Ffion!

Aylish lol

Shannon!

Ben :)

Me and Carter went to the park with the seesters.

Ryry.

Brookie

Hahah she's a terror.

Note to self - Save this one for her wedding.

We found this sweet giant wheel in Lethbridge. Haha

CFL game! Can you say nosebleed?

RIP Neon.

My best friend's mission farewell is today! I know she's going to be an amazing missionary.

Ninety Two Thingssss

92 Truths

NAME: Nicole.

AGE: 19. But I'll be 20 in ---- 8 days. WHAT!

BIRTHDATE: August 17, 1992. 

WHAT WAS YOUR:

1. last beverage = Diet Coke. 'Course.

2. last phone call = Mama.

3. last text message = Mama... haha

4. last song you listened to = As Long As You Love Me - Justin Bieber. (:

5. last time you cried = Tuesday morning when I dropped Carter off.

  

HAVE YOU EVER:

6. dated someone twice = Yup. Stupid me.

7. been cheated on = I sure hope not.

8. kissed someone & regretted it? Yup. A few times. The same person. Haaaaha

9. lost someone special = Nah, everything happens for a reason.

10. been depressed = It's possible.

11. been drunk and threw up = Nope. Why would you?

LIST THREE FAVORITE COLORS:

12. Purple.

13. Yellow.

14. Teal.

WITHIN THE LAST YEAR (2012), HAVE YOU:

15. Made a new friend = Yes! Meghan!

16. Fallen out of love = No! I fell more in love, as if that's every possible.

17. Laughed until you cried = Yep. Sometimes I act like a pothead.

18. Met someone who changed you = Yes, again - Meghan!

19. Found out who your true friends were = Mm. Nah.

20. Found out someone was talking about you = Yeah - and it resulted in the manager talking to me!

21. Kissed anyone on your FB friend's list = Yup!

GENERAL:

22. How many people on your FB friends list do you know in real life = All of them!!

24. Do you have any pets = I wish.

25. Do you want to change your name = I just did! And believe me, it is a pain n the butt.

26. What did you do for your last birthday = Nothing yet.. Hopefully it's good.

27. What time did you wake up today = 6:40. Same as every morning.

28. What were you doing at midnight last night = Schleeping!

29. Name something you CANNOT wait for = Carter to come home again..

 30. Last time you saw your Mother = Yesterday morning.

31. What is one thing you wish you could change about your life = My job....

32. What are you listening to right now = Freaking Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. What is wrong with me.

33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom? = I don't think so, actually. But I want to talk to HIM!

34. What's getting on your nerves right now = Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. Frick...

35. Most visited webpage = Facebook.

37. Nickname = Nick and Cole. That's about it.

38. Relationship Status = Married! Woah!

39. Zodiac sign = Leo.

40. He or She = I am very much a 'she'.

41. Elementary =  Ranchlands Elementary School. Stirling Elementary School. And Raymond Elementary School.

42. High School = Raymond High School.

43. College = NAIT.

44. Hair color = Blonde. 

45. Long or short= My hair? Or me? My hair is like to my shoulders, but I love me some 20" extensions. But I'm pretty tall.

46. Height = 5"7.

47. Do you have a crush on someone? = My husbaaaaand.

48. What do you like about yourself? =  My boobs. And eyes.

49. Piercings = Ears.

50. Tattoos = I kinda want one haha but that's not happening.

51. Righty or lefty = Right! 

FIRSTS :

52. First surgery= I've only ever had my wisdom teeth out. But they put me under for it, so I think that counts.

53. First piercing = Ears.

54. First best friend = Amber and Kimber.

56. First vacation = Europeeeee! Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

58. First pair of trainers = Iiiii don't know what that is.

RIGHT NOW: 

59. Eating = Nothing.

60. Drinking = Nothing.

61. I'm about to =  Kill myself if I keep watching freaking Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

62. Listening to = ..Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.

63. Waiting for = Myself to get off my butt and go get groceries.

YOUR FUTURE :

64. Want kids? = Yes!

65. Get Married? = Married life is the bomb dot com.

66. Career? = Medical Transcriptionist.

WHICH IS BETTER :

67. Lips or eyes = Eyesssss.

68. Hugs or kisses = Kisses.

69. Shorter or taller = Taller.

70. Older or Younger = Younger. ;)

71. Romantic or spontaneous = A spontaneous romantic!

72. Nice stomach or nice arms = ARMS!!! Mmmm :)

73. Sensitive or loud = Bothhhh.

74. Hook-up or relationship = They're both fun haha.

75. Trouble maker or hesitant = Both!

HAVE YOU EVER :

76. Kissed a stranger = Nope.

77. Drank hard liquor =  Nope.

78. Lost glasses/contacts = A billion times.

79. Sex on first date = Nope.

80. Broke someone's heart = Probably. Sad.

81. Had your own heart broken = Yup.

82. Been arrested = Nope.

83. Turned someone down = Yup.

 84. Cried when someone died = Yup. 

85. Fallen for a friend = Yup. And look where it got me.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:

86. Yourself =  Yes!

87. Miracles = Yes.

88. Love at first sight = Nah.

90. Santa Claus =  Always and of course.

91. Kiss on the first date = Yup.

92. Angels = Absolutely.

August Loooong!

Lucky for me, Carter was able to come home this weekend!

This is lucky for two reasons.

#1 - I miss my husband a lot when he's gone.
#2 - We had tickets to see Rascal Flatts at Big Valley Jamboree on Sunday!

So he got home on Wednesday and Thursday I had to work. After work we just went to dinner and came home because I had to work on Friday too, but I woke up at like 4 in the morning and I was really sick so I called into work. So Friday was pretty chill. We bought a couple of Ikea chairs and put them together, and then the missionaries came over to talk to Meghan -- that's a different story completely, I'll blog about that later! -- and then we went and bought a futon and put that together. Then Carter and Meghan decided that it would be a good idea to have an all nighter (I went to bed at 1:30. Crazies).

Saturday was Edmonton Heritage Festival! It was so cool! Basically, all the different ethnicities in and around Edmonton set up pavillions and they have cultural foods and dancing and crafts and stuff. It's really neat to see all the different ethnicities.

On our way like real Edmontonians -- we bused.

I was tempted to leave him there.. ;)

We found Wales! Lots of family in Wales.

And the Phils! Ethan is serving n the Phils!

Isn't he the cutest Kenyan woman you've ever seen?

Sunday was the day I've been waiting for since Christmas. Oh my goodness.

BIG. VALLEY. JAMBOREE. 

I've never been to such a great concert. I can't wait till next year (when Alan Jackson and Lady A will be there!!).

We went for Rascal Flatts, but also saw Michelle Wright and Kix Brooks (of Brooks and Dunn).

Yayyyyyy for Rascal!

This is what they call the 'concert bowl'. What you see is half of all the lawn chairs people bring to sit on during the concert. So. Many. People.

And this is what I woke up to.
Joe Don Rooney (the guitarist) of Rascal Flatts is following ME! on Twitter! Baaaaah.

Happy :)