Looking back on 2008 looking ahead to 2009

We have had a great year. Here is a list of the highlights of 2008.

Travis and I moved to Rexburg to our hallway home
I got the 1/2 tuition academic scholarship
Travis turned 22!
I got all A's in Winter 2008
Travis got 25 sales one week in March at Progression
Anna chopped my hair into an A-line Bob
The doctors got rid of my stomach problems
We signed up for Summer sales
We moved to Indiana then to Virginia
We got a puppy
We played on the beach the EAST coast
We drove across the United States twice
We made a ton of new friends
We moved back to Rexburg
I became the Enrichment Leader for our ward
We spoke in church
Travis got a job at Lexington Law firm and switched to working nights
Travis started school
Travis was the number one draft pick for the school football team
Travis was the quarterback, kicker and defense for the Wolverines
I survived my hardest semester yet at BYUI
I worked 20 hours a week at the advising center aka the best place to work
We went to Seattle twice i went to Seattle 3 times
We went to our Friends wedding
I turned 21!! whoo hoo
I renewed my Lisense in Idaho
We bought and decorated our first Christmas tree
We had a happy anniversary i got flowers for the fist time
We spent Christmas here alone together
We had a very happy Year

What Courtney is looking forward too
finishing my last year of college
Paying off the blasted jetta
Redecorating the hallway home
finishing off more goals off my list
Playing the Wii
Seeing all my friend's new babies when they have them
Becoming a better person
Traveling to Seattle again and again
Sewing on my new sewing machine
Learning new talents
a trip to Minnesota

What Travis is looking forward too
Getting through another year of school
getting through another year of marriage
Taking Football theory 2 more times
Coaching or playing football again
buying a TV for the bedroom
Watching sports

We hope you all have a wonderful New Year!!
A note to my mother: I am glad that i will not be home so i will be missing that delicious sauerkraut i gag on every year. Travis is disappointed. We will be having pork so we can be prosperous though!!

Merry Christmas from the Mattoon's

We stayed in the little town of Rexburg for our little family Christmas!
I woke up super early only to find Travis still awake playing his Christmas present a Wii! He broke a couple of days ago and we have been playing it together. He was surprised so i guess that is what matters.

So we went back to sleep and woke up around ten and i made cinnamon rolls for our new Mattoon tradition.



I got a lot of clothes which is my favorite thing to get so i was very happy to get a wardrobe update. Travis also got me a curling iron that he picked out just for me.



Travis got the Wii the 4 seasons of the Office. a few games and some WSU clothes. I made him pose with everything or i was taking it back ha ha. new christmas rule.
We are getting a lot of snow here so we had to walk to over to our friend's house because we couldn't get out of our parking spot.


Oh and just a couple more holiday decorations. Travis bought me a Seahawks stocking so now we are very sportif. When we have some children they will probably get some Mariner stocking but never a UW one i am sure of that.
And we got a nice star and some more colorful ornaments for our cute little tree.


We are now going to relax the rest of the break playing the Wii and watch the seasons of the Office. Today we played the office on the laptop while playing the wii so if you want to party stop on by!! we will be here all year!
Merry Christmas

One Year ago...

I became Mrs. Mattoon.
Travis and i have been married for one year.



Later today (when the cake isn't frozen) we are going to eat out cake top and hopefully it will be tasty since all i got at my actual wedding was it up my nose and down my dress.
I just want travis to know how much fun i have had this year and how much i love him. He has made me such a stronger person. He has taught me to stand up for myself and to be selfless. I am so lucky to have him by my side. We joke all the time and are just so sarcastic with each other but we love each other more everyday.
We make a great team and have been able to make it one year so i think we must be set for eternity lol jk but really i am so set for the journey ahead. I love you Hun happy one year. OH our first milestone how CUTE

Our First Christmas Card!

The Mattoons in 2008

It’s been a year since our little family begun
And we’ve got to admit we’ve had a lot of fun.
At the beginning of the year we were living like kings
From all the wonderful gifts we received, we had all sorts of things.
Travis thought being a paralegal full time was pretty cool.
Courtney was getting really good grades in school.
After school was out we thought we’d try something new
We traveled across the country to sell home security and sold a few
We lived in Indianapolis and then Virginia Beach
And got a Maltese named Nieko that we didn’t get to keep.
When the fun was over it was back to Rexburg to relax a while
We enjoyed the Sun and the outdoors and couldn’t help but smile
We took a trip back to good old Washington to see the fam
We had a lot of fun, and reminded me how grateful I am.
Now we are both going to BYUI this fall
Our classes are tough but we learn from them all
We love you whether you are near or far
We hope all is well where ever you are
This a great time of year for a lot of good reasons
So count your blessings and have a wonderful holiday season.

Family Trip with the not so happy return

Long but i promise it is a good story.

For my Christmas present this year Travis gave me a trip home to see my family. So the night after finals i was on my way! The way there was great (well besides the broken windsheild wipers in the snow storm and driving by braille the whole way on the rumble strip!) My cousin Brittney was on the same bus and flight so we had a great time chatting and waiting in the airport, watching movies and also catching up on some much needed sleep. But we made it safe and sound and it was SO fun seeing my family.
I went to escape the snow only to be disappointed because it was snowing in Seattle. My siblings got an entire week off because of it! but it was still great to see my parents and siblings. My in-laws gave me a birthday party and i got to see my niece and nephew and guess what? another is on the way. My sister in law Melissa is pregnant again so that is so exciting for her.
I spent the week shopping with my mom and then again for my mom with my dad, drinking eggnog, eating boxed cereal and name brand string cheese, making christmas treats to deliver, visiting my grandma and aunt, winning monopoly, looking out on the lake and wrapping presents for my siblings. I couldn't have had a better week. But the ride home was MISERABLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! that word is actually an understatement for how it actually went. Let me explain


1.) too much snow so my dad had to bring me to the airport at 5:30
2) I miss the earlier plane so i have to wait for my original plane at 9AM
3) That plane is delayed... only then to be cancelled because Spokane airport is closed.
4) So i miss my connecting flight to Boise and have to wait in a line for a new flight for 2 Hours
5) My new flight is at NOON going straight to boise. and oh wait it is delayed too
6) 2 hours later they finally have a plane and a crew and they board us on the plane.
7) we are set for take off but no we loose radar and sit on the plane for another glorious hour.
8) so finally at 3pm PST we take off and land in boise at 5 pm MST
9) my shuttle to Rexburg comes at 6 and so i hurry to catch it. i sit down to finally relax
10) this is when i know my luck sucks. THE BUS BREAKS DOWN
11) we drive on the shoulder at a whapping 25 miles per hour and it quote "solves the PROBLEM" so thus we travel in the snow at 25 all the way to Pocettello. a trip on average lasting 3 hours now took us 7.
12) so i miss my connecting bus at Pocetello. LUCKILY the only gracious thing that happened on this trip home the midnight bus waited for us to pull in at 12:30AM so that I did not have to wait until the next bus at 8 am!!
13) so then we made record time getting from pokey to rexburg we pulled in around 1:20!
14) but only to find out that someone getting off before me too my luggage on accident.
15) so around 3am MST a lady and her husband return my stolen luggage to my lovely hallway home. finally i could go to sleep and i never slept so good in my entire life.

So if you actually read through all that you can see how horrible the return trip was. But it was great to come home to my baby. He claims he missed me more than i missed him but i am doubtful of that ha ha.
Thanks family for the great fun filled trip!! i miss you all already.

Family Photos

When we went home for Thanksgiving we got our pictures taken professionally by Yuen Lui a place my family has went for years and years. This year my parents and travis were in it too! i don't know if it is copyright to put these pictures up so just don't save them and reprint them k.



I love this family one because my dad is actually smiling. He really is a happy guy but he has such a hard exterior it is sometimes hard to tell!! the other thing i love is how you can tell that travis is my husband. He sticks out with his dark hair and olive complexion. i sure do love him!!



This is a great picture of both of us! i was so excited because he was smiling so naturally. I can't believe we have been married a year already!

Santa Pictures With My Siblings

I went and saw Santa last night with my brothers and sisters. I thought i'd share the picture!

A merry Christmas from the Mattoon's

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

21 years of life

Being alive for 21 years is pretty exciting so i thought i would just put a little time line of me growing up. Being an "official" adult i has really got me thinking of my life and how wonderful it has been. So i chose a few of my favorite to share.




This is a picture of me and my Aunt Tappy. when i was a couple months old!




This next one i was a couple of years old and did some modeling pictures. It is funny to look back at all my child photos because most of them are professional! the perks of being the first child




This is when i was 11 and got a Spice girl Barbie for my Birthday. I was so excited ha ha i think it was my favorite birthday growing up!



Then finally a old picture of me and my cousins. I thought it would bring a smile to their faces. Anna did our hair all fancy one thanksgiving.

It was a good birthday. Thanks for everyone remembering. I went to the DMV to see how to renew my license and they didn't believe me that i was 21. At least i am not going out drinking so i won't need to be carded ha ha

Thanks Mccall for taking me out to dinner while Trav was at work.

Opal you are the greatest i LOVE my present you are so sweet!!

Our First official Christmas

So now that we are back from our fabulous thanksgiving break its time to decorate for CHRISTMAS




First here is our Christmas Village. Travis loved this growing up so we started our own.


Travis' parents gave us this tree stand. It plugs in and lights up! i love it




Here is my favorite piece so far it is a father and son with a tree in this little wagon! so cute little porcelain figurines

And Finally the Baby Tree



Yay christmas. i love this time of year. My birthday is on the 5th! then our 1st anniversary is on the 21st and then christmas on the 25th!! month of Celebration!! yay!!

Farwell to Elder Wirthlin

Elder Wirthlin, The oldest living apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints, died last night peacefully in his sleep. I always loved Elder Wirthlin. He was such a cute kind old man. He always spoke of loving everyone no matter their appearance or circumstance. This has really inspired me in my future profession as a special education teacher. I just loved this man and thought that we could all be a little better and follow his example of love and kindness towards everyone. You can read my favorite talk at the following link click here .

Morph thing again

SO a while ago i did this morphthing picture thing to see what our future offspring would look like but we used our grown up pictures and it was quite frightening (see August's post "regretting having children..." So while i am home i decided to try it with 2 of our baby pictures. It is a little blurry because cameras weren't very high tech back then but it looks much better so i decided to re post it!! so here it is the future baby mattoon!!










We are having so much fun hanging out with our families!! i will post pictures soon!!

Digital Scrapbook

I have been digital scrapbook since my Aunt taught me how in the August. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. But i am not too good at it so i am kinda nervous to share. So here are some of my favorites of few that i have done. The first one is using my Aunt Shari's design (http://sharingcreations.wordpress.com) the second one is from SYA'S BLUEPRINTS by Aisyah Roslan. and the last one is my friend Elise's design (PixelGypsyDesigns.com) So enjoy!! leave comments if you like them because like i said i am nervous to put them out there because so many people out there are SO talented!!

Do i look like a teacher?

This is the Picture everyone will see as i apply for student teaching!! i just signed up for my 2nd to last semester at BYU-Idaho. I am going to graduate in July!!! yaay!! I can't believe i will be teaching a year from now!!

Random Picture post

My goal is to post something on my blog once a week. But the last couple weeks have been hard and boring. I have been stressed and grouchy and BLAH. so that is no fun to blog about. I have been thinking of something to post and came up with my own TAG i am going to start. So i chose 5 pictures i want to blog about. ENJOY oh and i pass this on to Stacy, Trish, Becca, Orchid, and Ashley and whoever else wants too and needs something to blog about!!


This is a picture of me and my cousin Braxton oh and his kitty princess. I love this boy!! He is back in seattle. I miss my family so much. Thanksgiving could not come sooner. I recently published a childrens book and he was featured in my story about senses. (when i get it back i will share it with you all i promise)


This is a wonderful picture of me and my husband. A few weeks ago we got our family pictures taken in the garden for our christmas cards. (i am keeping the pictures we used a secret) but this was a pretty good one. Travis was a pretty good sport after i promised him we would have 5 poses and then he could be done.


This is me and opal my freaking best friend last year at halloween. Ha ha we were "beauty and the geek" it was so funny. Me and trav didn't dress up or do anything for halloween so this is all i have to share.


I took this picture when me and my mom traveled to FRANCE my senior year. This is one of my favorites. The Eiffel Tower was breath taking. It was honestly the best trip of my life. I looked for the one me and my mom got together but it wasn't saved on my computer. She is so wonderful.



This is a picture from Toddler Lab. It is my favorite class on campus. The little kids are so adorable. The class is 3 hours and goes by SO FAST. i love every minute of it. I am so close to graduating i just need to keep my focus.

ENJOY

Something to think about

McCall got me addicted to reading this EXTREMELY inspirational blog!! i mean it i am obsessed. But anyways one of her posts was an "I am proud list." At first you might think that it is not good to be "proud" but after reading this post i realized that you should be proud of yourself when you accomplish things and you shouldn't be afraid to admit it. I think that we are all unique and we need to show it off and not hide it away so others don't see it. We need to embrace it. That is going to be a new goal. And with that new goal i came up with my own "i am proud list" So here it goes... they are in no necessary order

I am proud that i was worthy of a temple marriage and that i married someone who equally loves me back.

I am proud that i have deep compassion for those with disabilities and am proud of the patience i have to work with them.

I am Proud that i was born and raised in the church and lived my life as a "molly mormon"

I am proud that i won Homecoming queen because i was nice to everyone and that i wore a modest dress to set the example.

I am proud to be a leader not a follower

I am proud to say that i vote and care about political issues and our nation.

I am proud to be a future teacher in America to help the students in my class succeed.

I am proud to be an AMERICAN and am proud of my rights.

I am proud that i am getting my degree before me and travis start a family so were prepared for whatever happens.

I am proud to a wonderful compromiser no matter how hard it is to give and take.

I am proud to be from the West Coast. Seattle wha? wha!

I am proud of how strong i have become and how independent i am (even though it wasn't until i was married that this really happened)

I am proud to admit that i know there are more important things in life then having clean dishes and a spotless living room.

i am proud to say i am a good friend and i try really hard to make people feel welcome and happy.

I am proud to be the Enrichment leader in my ward and plan activities to strengthen the sisters in my ward.

I am proud to be a wife, aunt, sister, daughter, niece, sister in law, daughter in law and grand daughter

I am proud of my updated blog and my homemade journals and photo albums.

I am proud of my listening ears, serving hands and caring heart.

I am proud of my many talents and skills no matter how small.


AND most of all i am proud of my self in making (and sharing) this list!

Diaper cake

So my cousin is having a baby shower next weekend. I was so excited because i finally had a reason to try and make a a "diaper cake" I was so happy the way it turned out.
All you do is roll the diapers and tie it with a rubber band.



Then put your rolls together to make 3 tiers to the cake.



Then cover the edges with baby blankets.

Finally add finishing touches like sock roses and a stuffed animal topper and ribbon!!



so fun!!



My friend Cham makes them better and she sells hers. so if you are interested check out http://simplybabies.blogspot.com/

Apples!!

So a girl in my ward had this connection to a lady with an apple tree with extra apples so we went and picked TONS of apples. It was so fun and they were free so we got a TON!!! so all day sunday I had my friend whitney over to and we made homemade apple sauce, an apple pie, and an apple cobbler. they turned out SO good. we pretty much filled every piece of tupperware and pierex i own. YUM I felt more like a wife this past weekend then i had the past 10 months!!

Football has begun

so travis started practice this week and is LOVING IT. he is a busy guy though. he goes to school then football then work almost everyday. so we don;t see each other long but were doing okay.

I was at walmart (or target if my dad is reading this) and i got some water bottles but they were too heavy for me to lift out of the cart so i asked this guy in the car next to mine and he lifted it into the trunk, then he saw travis' football gear in the back and asked me whose it was. i told him "my husband is the quarterback for the Wolverines." and he was like "oh my gosh your married to Travis Mattoon!? he is incredible blah blah blah about how amazing he was and how there going to win and he can throw so far. Ha ha i just laughed... Travis is the new Rexburg Celebrity.

Here is our football season relationship in a nut shell. I ask travis who he is on the tv. he says Tony Romo (we were watching the dallas cowboys) then i say "That means i am jessica simpson!!" he tells me never to say that again. ha ha oh what is love!!



here i am in travis' get up. he wouldn't put it on so i did instead. He got way too small of pants so they actually fit me.

we love and miss you

My wonderful grandma Barb died yesterday and she will be missed greatly. She was a wonderful grandma, wife and mother. I have so many good memories at her house with the whole family. I remember getting to sleepover with all my girl cousins and helping her get ready for the labor day picnics. I miss her so much. These are some photos from my wedding. I am so happy for the plan of salvation and can't wait to see her again someday. I send my family my love and am sorry i can't be home right now. I love you.

CONGRATS

Travis was the number one overall draft pick for the BYU-I football league this year!!! over 160 people tried out!! i am so proud of him!! these are his sweet cleats we got on Eastbay!!

Tagged

Rules Once Tagged:
1) Link to the person who tagged you
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Write 6 random things about yourself (see below).
4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post.

1) I can't draw at all but i can cut like a mad woman ha ha. Its a weird thing but for example i can't draw a flower but i could cut one out of paper perfectly with out lines!! so when i need to draw i just cut it out and glue it on.

2) I learn to teach. I have always known i wanted to teach because whenever i learn something new i want to tell everyone it so they will know it too. I think that is why i always share my opinion about everything.

3) I want a house so bad!! i have all these sweet ideas to paint and drill and make all my sweet home touches. i also want a garden and a organized garage and see through kitchen cupboards. Travis wants to build our first house someday ha ha he's so manly

4) I have always been so motherly. I am very nurturing but i think i baby people and accidently talk to them like they are five. so sorry its not because i think youre five its just my voice.

5) I am really bad at time judgement. I think things that take a long time can fit in an hour (like going to Idaho Falls) or that things will take forever when they don't (like laundry) so i am either late or early all the time.

6) I love love love making friends. I love talking to people. When i am in a bad mood i blog surf or go down my phone list or go over to peoples houses and it makes me feel so much better. I also hate going anywhere by myself so i invite people to go on random errands with me.

So, that's me. I want to know about. . .

1) Orchid
2) Mccall
3) Tricia
4) erin
5) Nicole
6) kelly

My Ten Favorite Things

So i don't have much to blog about. Of course school started and is going great. Trav and i do homework together with the football game on but muted. Its so cute. he loves learning but not sharing and i learn to share so were working on getting used to that. But i didn't think that was too exciting to share so i decided i would go around my house and take picture of my 10 favorite things. If you know me you can guess what is on the list. Feel free to do it too it was pretty fun. So here is the order with my favorite thing being Number one so with out further ado..

#10 Small Notebook

These are my favorite to carry at school because they are smaller (5x7) instead of a normal sheet of paper so they are lighter and you can still take the notes you need in class. the covers are plastic so they last really long. I am not a huge note taker so it saves me space and money to get these little ones. I wouldn't be where i am in school today with out them ha ha

#09 Striped Rain Boots

These babies are life savors in the winter. I tuck my pants in and they stay clean, I wear really heavy socks and my feet stay warm and dry the whole day. Plus i am virtually unstoppable against puddles and mounds of dirty snow.

#08 Tile Picture

I made this in young womens forever ago but i LOVE it. It is a picture of me and my sister clara when i won homecoming queen. I love it because we are so close and happy. Me and Clara never got along like i wanted us too but this picture we are so i think thats why i like it so much. That and we both look HOT ha ha what? we do!!

#07 Vera Bradley Bag

I have a rather large collection of Veras but this one is my favorite. I love the bright color and the handles. The pockets are magnetic and i can carry just about anything i need in it!! I've never met anyone who owned a vera and didn't like it.

#06 Lime Green Computer

I had to put this in here because i love the color and i just got it updated so it works so good. Its so fast and the images are so clear. Its so quiet and i just love it. I can do my homework and play my games while trav is in the front room watching the game

#05 Vinyl sign and willow

This shelf is above are bed. The sign says "Travis and Courtney" "always kiss me goodnight" i love it i think it is so cute and i read it everyday. I also love the little willow couple because my cousins gave it to me and i makes me feel like an adult because my mom always had them growing up. i don't know weird association but true

#04 Heart Necklace

My in-laws got me this necklace for christmas last year and it is so fancy. It is so pretty. It has my birthstone and diamonds up the side. I don't wear it too much cuz i want it to stay shiney and i would be so sad if it got lost but it is by far my favorite jewelry. well besides maybe my wedding ring but thats in a different category i suppose.

#03 Sims Games

I love to play these games. When travis got his X-Box i got to pick out some of the expansion packs i wanted. Then i found all of these on e-bay for the price of one at the store so i won them. I love to make up our future but mostly i love to design the houses and name the children ha ha

#02 Quilt

I helped my mom make this quilt and its been my favorite for many years. I love all the colors and textures. I am always freezing so this definitely keeps me warm. I can't wait until i get my own sewing machine and attempt to quilt like my mom. i say attempt because there are still chunks of this quilt that aren't done but it still works

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!!
My Favorite thing in my Apartment
TRAVIS... were you expecting something else?
And i even got a picture:



So there is a list of my favorite things and my blog post for the week!!