Hello Again

I've been absent here because of SICKNESS, at least this time the computer had a virus not any of the kids.

But now I feel like I should play catch-up and just smush the past two weekend extravaganzas into one affair.

So 2, almost three weekends ago, Tiffany and Andrew came for a visit.
And that's the problem with delayed blogging is that you can't remember too many details...

But I do remember this, there was quite a bit of wrestling,



watching TV in the bed,



a visit to IKEA,

and a homemade pizza.





The little boys were so cute too.





Thanks for visiting, guys! Come again soon.

Then our visitor from last weekend was an unexpected and rare treat. My friend from high school, who currently lives in Florida, drove over for a quick weekend trip. I have seen her twice in the past 8 years and the last time was 2.5 years ago. I tried to warn her that while exciting, our house would be different from the nightlife she's used to. She'd said, "don't worry, it'll be fine" and I think it was.

Amy and Luke

Ava met her somewhat disappointed because I think she thought that "Mimi" (her great grandmother) was coming not "Amy". I introduced her and the first thing Ava said was, "I want Amy to go home" And then she said it a few more times. I was mortified. That's our warm Colton welcome. Amy brushed it off and you will not be seeing any pictures of the 2 of them together.

Ava aside, we had a really fun time and Dan was sweet enough to keep the kids alot so we could do some things together. We even went to a movie! Yahoo!

Amy and Me

We made Monkey Bread and malts (on separate eating occasions, even I have limits). And talked and talked.


It was short and sweet but really great. I don' t think Amy visits my little blog here often but in case you catch this one, Amy, good luck to you. Be good, and do your best! I love you!

First Things First and a tiny Sunday sermon

We have happily hosted house-guests the past two weekends. The weekend before that, we were at Mom and Dad's in Dallas. This weekend I have one thing on the agenda-clean the house!! I usually do the hard core cleaning on Saturday mornings and I have been so grateful for the fun reasons I have been neglecting that duty, however the house is screaming for a good scrubbing!!

Anyways, for the organization of this blog, I am travelling back in time 3 weeks to document our trip to Dallas and moving forward from there. I was eagerly anticipating showing off the new and improved Ava to my parents. They saw her for aproximatley one day (and did notice a big difference) before she got sick and it all went downhill from there. But enough about being sick. I'm trying to ignore that word right now in hopes that the sick fairy will leave us alone for a while.

Ava loves "Burpy" (Murphy) and he is tolerating her much better than he has in the past.




She also very much enjoyed the pool table.




Dan and Dad are in heaven in the media room.



And anyone who says they don't enjoy the occasional underwear-only tricycle ride is lying.



Also a no-brainer, Ava helping in the kitchen. In her underwear.

We hung out at home most of the weekend because everyone got sick (shh!). We also celebrated my bday, and did some window shopping.

It was a lay around kind of trip but we always enjoy being with Mom and Dad. And Dan was glad to see their new house.

My Sunday Sermon was in my own testimony today (which I didn't get a chance to bear at church). I'll save you from all the hairy details (not too hairy anyway). But I know that obedience to the gospel and the utilization of the Atonement is the only way to true and lasting happiness. And I also know that while we may not always feel happy, because our circumstances may stink from time to time, the same principles of obedience and faith and the atonement will bring us peace. I am so happy to have the testimony I do and have been able to avoid any major bad-choice-catastrophes that could have cost me my happiness or my peace. I pray that I will be able to continue to have the courage and strength to do what I know is right.

Birthdays and babies in the bed

For some reason, Luke and Ava think it is such great fun to get in Ava's crib together.


Especially Luke. As soon as his bum hits the mattress he's giggling and cooing. Ava think it's funny to have company and after the first time we did it, she always requests we take a picture.





Luke is now 7 months old. Yesterday was the day and interestingly enough, yesterday I noticed some changes. Sunday he was just sitting and doing his usual stuff and then apparently to denote his birthday on Monday, he tried out some new tricks. He did 2 crawling scoots, army style. And then, whenever he was sitting next to Dan or I, he would reach up, grab onto our clothes and try (succeeding a few times) to pull himself up. I don't mean to paint the picture that he's crawling around and pulling up but I do expect they are in the near future.


In the waiting room at the doctor's office this past week a very talkative mom sitting near me said, "You know, he is really beautiful. And you know how sometimes you just say that because a lot of babies are really not that cute but you're just trying to be nice? I'm not just saying that, he really is beautiful"





I just said , "Thank you very much" because I'm no Chatty Kathy, but inside I was thinking "I knew it! It's not just me!" Is that so prideful? Oh, well.



And before I turn 27 next year here are my b-day pics.

Dan and Ava made me a cake. One of my birthday wishes was to take a shower with no crying kids in the bathroom. Dan obliged and that explains the wet, stringy hair.



Mom made me a sinfully delicious chocolate cake and helped me blow out the candles.


(At least that's how it looks in the photo.)

P.S. Mom, I miss you already and my nap time phone call! Do good baby helping! Leah, I am so ready for a name!

President Hinckley

I will never forget my first experience hearing a prophet in person. Living in the "mission field" I had never had the opportunity to hear a prophet or apostle other than on the big projection screen at the church during General Conference. The benches were hard, I was young, and it was difficult to pay attention.

And while I believed in prophets and apostles, I couldn't help but feel they were somewhat removed from me and my life. He came to Massachusetts some time in my early teenage-hood and I eagerly awaited the chance to have Gordon B. Hinckley visit and talk to us. I sat in that large arena, waiting with thousands of other members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. At ground level, the double doors opened and escorted by a few people, he made his way in. Now, I didn't know what would happen and had never even heard of how a prophet was usually received. All I know was that a spirit so strong, powerful, and peaceful emanated from this man and filled every single inch of the huge arena as well as my entire body. I felt something so deliberate pull me to my feet. The crowd stood in silence as he made his way to his seat. During those moments, I gained a testimony of a living prophet. Where I had before believed, I now knew. God calls prophets on the earth still today and Gordon B. Hinckley was one of them.

I still remember being astonished at the way everyone felt that same push from behind to get to their feet. And at my later visits to the conference center for General Conference, I have been able to experience the same thing.

I will also never forget the time he prayed for the young people of the church, when he prayed for me. The spirit bore witness to me that he loved us and that our Heavenly Father loves us.

President Hinckley has been the prophet of my memory. His words of instruction, love, and encouragement have brought me through childhood to motherhood.



Last night, when I heard he passed away, I didn't feel the sorrow that I always expected to feel. I felt peace and joy and gratitude. He was a man of God who served so lovingly and willingly and he will be missed.

New Title

So I'm thinking I should change the name of this blog...maybe the "Sickness Chronicles" or "The Colton's Are Always Sick" or maybe just "Luke is Sick Again, Read All About It"

Truly Luke has been sick more days than well in his short 7 month span of life. He started a week and a half a go with a cold and proceeded to pass it to both Ava and Dan. Ava is still pretty sick with cold symptoms, a random episode of throwing up, and now diahrea, but Luke's has morphed into something entirely different from how it started. He stopped eating, threw up, got very dehydrated, got re-hydrated, got very very fussy, couldn't stop crying, couldn't sleep, couldn't sleep enough, and got very lethargic, got a fever, got over the fever, needed to be held 24-7, and now is hanging out somewhere in the low-grade fever area and wanting to be held alot.

The doctor at the Urgent Care couldn't find anything wrong but definitely agreed that SOMETHING was wrong. He prescribed some antibiotics and said if it got worse just go to the ER.

Dan called me at Mutual this past Wednesday to let me know that Ava threw up. When I got home she was already in bed and Dan was on the couch looking at pictures on the camera. Our conversation went something like this:

Dan: Ava threw up everywhere!

Me: That is so sad! I feel terrible for her.

Dan: I took pictures of it...you know...for your blog.

Me: Pictures of the vomit?!

Dan: Yeah, see, (holding up the camera) she threw up here and another one over here. And here she is right after she did it. And she just kept saying, "I sorry a spitting up, Dad, it's just an accident!" over and over.

I am using my better judgment and won't be posting those pictures tonight. In any case we've been a "lil sick" (that's also what Ava says).

On one of our better days!

I guess this is the season for sickness but come on, enough is enough!

In very exciting news, Leah's (my sis) water just broke! We've been praying for that baby to come and it appears he's on his way! Yea, Williamson's! Good Luck and Love!!

Holy Preschool Batman

I just went to the Preschool Fair this morning. I am hoping to get Ava in a 2 day a week program from 9am-12 pm roughly. A church/preschool hosted the event and representatives from other preschools were there with brochures and info. The place was a stroller-traffic jam, mommies everywhere!

Unless you go to a daycare center that offers preschool programs, all the preschools are church-run. I went today with 2 schools in mind. They had been recommended by a lady in the ward as more religiously tolerant. One of those schools immediately got the axe because they only offer full day. The other remains on my list and I plan to visit it this week.

Also, turns out that the host school is awesome. I really really liked it. I took a tour and was very impressed. Apparently so was everyone else. They told me registration was on Feb. 15. I asked if they thought it would fill up on that same day. She looked at me like I was from Mars and said, "yes!". She went on to tell me that registration started at 8 am but it was common for moms to show up at 5 am to get in line.

When I got home, I checked out my local mom's group message board and they are all talking about how people are showing up at 3 am. You'd think we were trying to get Wii's on Christmas Eve or something. And the sad thing is, I just might be crazy enough to bring my sleeping bag and wait in that line.

But it would be really cool if I went to see my second choice and loved it and could sign up. It is much less popular. But I have heard good things about it.

Out of all those schools, these 2 are my only options as I see it, based on price and schedule. It's funny because for the 3 year olds, there are many more programs that are 3 days a week, full day, as opposed to 2 days a week, half days.

Whew! Who knew preschool registration would be so absolutely insane? And why am I even tempted to sit in a parking lot for 5 hours in the middle of the night? I just really liked that school. Hmm...we shall see I guess.

Creative Arts

I planned to document our weekend jaunt to Dallas today and cover a bit of the birthday celebrations but I am having a touch of trouble uploading the pictures from my new camera. Dan will give me another tutorial I hope.

So from the archives, here is Ava in her "dancing princess" garb. A few weeks ago, she rediscovered this leotard and wanted to dance to some music. I suggested the ribbon for twirling. And she insisted on the ribbon in her hair.






She thought it was pretty fun. Then the song changed and she started to shake her groove thang.





Also a few weeks ago, I surprised Ava with new paints and she was SO excited.


She set to work painting a picture for Daddy.




She said he could take it to work. And I explained that his new office really could use some artwork on the walls. Her reply was, "I paint dis piture a Daddy and make his walls special."




Today I am grateful for: 2 working cars. Why is it that you really take things for granted until you don't have them anymore?