Pie. Trees. Babies.

I can't believe I have missed 2 posts in a row. I am a terrible blogger. But I will make it up to you by sharing some fantastic updates of our lives.  November went by really fast and we really enjoyed each other's company trying to stuff in all the traditional holiday moments we could with one another. My favorite holiday outing was getting our tree! We got on all of our gear and hiked up the mountains in Ashton, ID. Just imagine all these trees having lots of snow. That's where we went. It is so beautiful in Ashton, I love it!

We found a Christmas tree after about a 45 min hike into the unknown. She may not be pretty but we worked hard to find her and dress her up nice!

Well then there was our Turkey Day.  Thanksgiving went great. Scott and I headed up to Shelley, ID . 

Yup. Pretty exciting stuff.

Actually, Carisa and Ethan were great hosts- we spent the afternoon like every other proud American- licking our plates clean of stuffing and turkey and ham and mashed potatoes and pie. OH THE PIE.  Later that night we watched SPACE JAM!!! Took me back to the good old days when Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny joined forces. It was a great day and I was able to ponder on a lot I was thankful for. 

Well a couple days later after Thanksgiving, I decided I just wasn't feeling like myself. So on a Monday morning, Scott and I sat in the bathroom staring at that little plus sign in silent disbelief. I kept trying to get this goofy grin off my face all day but it never happened. Actually it's still there. We are so excited and I'm now 6 and a half weeks along. Right now our baby's ear, nose, lips, and eyes are all forming! The heart is beating about twice as fast as mine and it is only the size of a grain of rice and it has done all of that already! We are so proud:) 

I am really, really sick right now but happy because it's for a good cause:) Suggestions for baby names, parenting tips, etc. are totally welcome at this point. I'll let you know when I get sick of them!  Right now we refer to "it" as our little "nugget". 

Told you I was going to make it up to you huh???

October.

I sooooo wanted to write October's post AFTER Halloween, but still write the post in October. Guess what?? The last day of October is on Halloween. Guess who was shoe shopping with her husband that night and didn't get on her blog to write the October post?!

Oh well... shoes are worth it I guess. (more on that later)

October has really flown by. I loved it! Talk about getting our fall back! We were scared when during the first weekend of the month it started snowing-- and sticking-- for about 2-3 days. But then things went back to "better" in Rexburg and we got sunshine and refreshing,crisp fall air. Loved it.

We did all the cliche things during October, tried to really live up the fall season.

We went to a cornmaze.

We carved pumpkins.

We made caramel apples.

We went to Mesa falls for a beautiful fall hike and watched the leaves change colors right before our eyes.

I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies and we drank hot apple cider.

We threw a Halloween party, invited all of our friends, and made homemade decorations for it. ** Disclaimer: The decor in the pics was taken a day after. So everything was a little torn up/not as pretty as when it all started. Also we decorated each room so the kids could trick or treat in them but forgot to take pics before we cleaned them up. Apologies to those who are disappointed. You can blame Scott.

Anyways, I love love love love love love fall and I will be sad to see it go (forecast shows snow this weekend) but I am so thankful to have had so much of it this year! Enjoy the pics:

We also got a new tv... Yeah it wasn't on the list but we did it anyways and it is beautiful, and huge (46") and GREAT for company, or just the two of us.

We also got an old washer and dryer for 100 bucks on craigslist, so no more laundromats for us! Booyah!

(I do not own the rights to this comic, but I definitely agree with it!)


Life has been surprising and fun and so, so enjoyable. Scott should never have to go back to homework again, I am enjoying his off-track with him way too much!

Joey left the MTC this month too. And I miss him like crazy. I try to write him once a week. He emails us all once a week. I am so proud of him and writing him letters is such a fun part of my week for me. I just had to share that. If anyone has any good ideas for care packages (on my college student budget- don't let the tv fool you, hee hee) let me know!

Last night

Pillow talk is one of my favorite traditions.

When Becky and I were just babies, we would climb out of our cribs at night and mom and dad would find us the next morning sleeping next to each other in one crib.  We didn't grow out of it through the years.  We'd sleep in each others beds at the age of eight. And then when we were thirteen. And even sometimes during our senior year of high school.  I loved these times with my twin sister.  We would just lay there and whisper about our new love interests, tell jokes, sing songs, and plan upcoming family vacations and what kind of candy we were going to buy for the trip.

I admit we weren't always this innocent.  We would often make up terrible lies and rumors to each other. For example:
One time Becky told me that Cindy Crawford was a famous drag queen.
Another time she told me that during puberty women's breasts are storing milk.
Another time she told me that her 4th grade teacher was dating the gym teacher.
One time she told me an entire plot to a movie that never even existed.  It was an action film about an Asian woman with one boob.  People called her Uno.

Becky could really be a writer. She is very persuasive.
Unfortunately Becky lives four hours away from me now, and even if we did still want to spend the night together, I don't think either of our husbands would appreciate it. 3 or 4 is really a crowd. 


Anyways, back to pillow talk.  Scott and I have been able to incorporate pillow talk into our night lives. It might not be as silly, or messed-up as my childhood version was, but it is definitely memorable and fun. And one of my favorite parts of the day. I was just sitting here thinking about last night. And our pillow talk.


There is something very intimate about ending your day laying on your bed and letting whatever is  still in your head out. If you haven't done it in a while, go find your spouse, a sibling, a trusted pet, and pillow talk.

Drowning worms...

One of the traditions we've started up is every time we go to visit Indiana (which has been a total of two times since we've been married but I'm still calling it a tradition) is going fishing with Scott's dad, John. I am probably the most fortunate wife in the world. I really do have the best in-laws on planet earth. John is one of them. He is so much fun to be around, always ready with a smart remark or a funny story. He's lived in Huntington just about all his life and I love the history he tells in his stories about growing up in Indiana. He loves his kids and him and his wife Renea have shown Scott and I so much kindness and support. I really consider myself lucky marrying into the Winkler family.

Enough cheese, the fishing is what I've decided to document about here. Scott used to take me fishing when we were dating quite a bit, most of the time because I would beg him to take me. So when we got married John would take the both of us- we go to private ponds in Indiana mostly because neither Scott or I have a fishing license. (Private ponds are really popular there- for those non-hoosiers reading this). We always have a great time together- John and Scott bate my hook and take the fish off when I've caught something, although I did do it by myself once. So I'm pretty spoiled.

There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process.  ~Paul O'Neil, 1965

“Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”

I started school here at BYU-I in 2008. I was 18, just graduated from high school and certain of everything I wanted to happen in life. I had everything planned out. I’m sure you have heard this story before.  

I’m now graduated from school. I’m 21 years old, I’m married, and I manage student approved housing for men.  I didn’t get to go on a mission, I didn’t get to study abroad, and I didn’t get to take the horseback riding class I was dying to try. About the only thing I did plan on that actually happened was graduating with my BA in Psychology and a minor in marriage and family.

The best part about this whole story though, is that it wasn’t authored by me alone.  My family, my friends, my fellow students, my professors, and of course my favorite person in the whole wide universe- my husband, helped write my story with me.  I am much more humble, much more patient, much more faithful, and much, much more happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.  And I have God and everyone around me to thank for that.

So the next time you sit down and think about what you haven’t done yet in your life, think about what you have done so far, who you’ve met, and most importantly who you have become. I wouldn’t trade my story for anything, now that I see it’s got a happy ending. I’m sure I will still try to write it all out by myself from time to time, but now I know that there are people that will come along and make their mark in my life’s story, leaving it a little more surprising and a lot more enjoyable than anything I could come up with on my own.

This is why we're hot.

My only complaint in Rexy right now: Not having any AC in 100 degree temperatures. SUCKS. 

Moving on because the good stuff is more fun to share anyways! We have been having so much fun lately. We celebrated the 4th with quite a bang- went camping with Scott's cousin and her family and then went to Rigby lake for a firework show over the weekend where we boated and grilled up some delish food + smores. On the actual Monday of the 4th we went to the Melaleuca fireworks show in IF with Scott's missionary buddy and his wife. We've had other camping, biking, hiking, shooting trips and it has been worth every minute! We love being outdoors and just having fun together. Here are a few pics of all of our most recent adventures: 

Only sometimes.

Sometimes I forget to pack a lunch just so I can just buy something instead.

Sometimes I leave my clothes laying around the house so long that you can see everything I've worn for the week.

Sometimes I imagine scenarios in my head where Scott is my knight in shining armor and saves me from a psycho attacker in a public park or something. lol... that one was hard to admit.

Sometimes Backstreet Boys music makes me really emotional and nostalgic.

Sometimes I leave glasses of water all over our floors and windowsills like the girl in Signs.

Sometimes I think I sound good when I use my deep, manly voice while singing.

Sometimes I take pictures of my face super up-close because I'm curious about what I look like when I'm about to be kissed.

Sometimes I make up raps on my way to work in the Impala.

Sometimes when I eat too much, I brush my teeth and do a few jumping jacks to feel skinny again. Works every time.

Sometimes I can't stop myself from rolling my eyes at people when they make me irritated- it's like a reflex.

Sometimes I turn on movies in the background just to feel like there's a lot going on in our home... even when there's not.

Sometimes we just have to give people the benefit of the doubt that they are sane. At least some of the time. 

Memorial Day To Remember

Happy Memorial Day... 

April Showers Bring May Flowers...

       It has been such a fun spring so far! Scott and I have enjoyed some bike rides together (finally) and walks.  I've been able to take a lot of my clients outside and work with them in the parks- yes it is such a hard job ;) We've been really busy with school though- especially Scott and so we are mostly enjoying the sunlight by studying with the windows open.

We celebrated our 1st year anniversary April 9th and spent the day recovering from Winter semester finals.  We had a Sandra Bullock marathon with: The Blind Side, While You Were Sleeping, and Miss Congeniality. We also ate the best cheesecake in the world! I got it off of a blog, it's called Reeses Cup Cheesecake and it is TO DIE FOR. Here's a link to the recipe: http://www.mmmmbrains.com/archives/2007_03.html#001218  


We also recently celebrated Mother's Day a couple of days ago and Scott bought me flowers for the first time!!! They are just beautiful and he knew what my favorite kind were too- Gerber daisies!!! He hand-picked them himself which means I have the most thoughtful and romantic husband ever.

      Scott and I have really gotten a lot closer this first year of marriage and I cannot imagine life without him now. We're not perfect and I know we have a lot to work on, but we're happy and in love and for that I'm grateful. We have a lot to work towards together and it's exciting to think about the adventures ahead of us. Life is so much better with someone to love. Speaking of which- Collette (my big sister), is getting married in 3 days! We can't wait to go to Portland tomorrow morning for her wedding, so more on that later!

   Well I will leave you dear reader, with a hot new review on a local fro-yo joint that just opened up a couple blocks away from campus: it's called Kiwi Loco. I thought I hated frozen yogurt until I tried their's- it's so great! Totally reccomend it as the service and atmosphere is fun and accommodating. We went there one night as an excuse to stop our homework...


After a winter like this last one we had here in Rexburg, I don't think I can ever take advantage of great weather ever again! I thank God when I feel heat from the sun now or taste the fruit in season right now, and it is humbling to remember how much He has given us. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, enjoy life!