In January of this year Matthew started preschool for the first time and that was sooooo weird for me. I couldn't believe that my little baby was already in school and bringing me home schoolwork. He got so smart so fast. It amazed me how fast his teacher could teach him things that I had worked so hard to teach him. He is such a big boy and he is so smart!
I was pregnant and miserable for the first few months of the year. But, on April 13th we had one of the most beautiful babies EVER (maybe I'm a little biased). Addison Rose Koglmeier came out at 7 lbs 4 oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She was born with strawberry blond hair and an undeniable Knudsen look. She looked exactly like my dad and my big brother Jacob. Having a little baby girl has been so much fun for us. We've done all the boy stuff and now we get to do all the girl stuff. Our little family is complete and perfect.
Addison was born on her Great Great Grandad LeRoy's 90th Birthday. It's pretty amazing. It's crazy to think he has been around since 1919 and has been blessed enough to get to see his entire family spread and grow. I was pretty proud that my daughter got to have the privilege to be born on the same day as him. He is an extraordinary man and I am so grateful for him. My kids seem to have a knack for being born on special days. Matthew was born on his Great Grandma Margie's Birthday too. Unfortunately, she is no longer with us and Matthew never had the opportunity to meet her. However, I'll make sure he knows how special she was.
Matthew turned four in May. Crazy! I have a four year old. That's not quite a toddler anymore. He's a kid now. Probably the funniest kid I have ever met. The things he comes up with are hilarious. For example, he and I were play fighting one day and he got mad at me and said, "MOM, You are such a teenage girl!" hahaha, I have no idea where that came from! He is just so funny and the sweetest boy. He is the best big brother I can imagine. He loves Addison more than anything and is VERY protective of her. Even from me. One day, I got really frustrated and Addison was just really fussy. I let out a loud sigh/grunt and said, "Addison, you're killin me." Matthew got really upset at me and told me not to get mad at his little sister. It's so sweet. I am so glad that my kids like each other! (we'll see how long it lasts)
In June, we went to Red River, NM for our Cansler Family Reunion. It was a really great time and I loved spending time with all of our family. We got to meet my baby cousin John for the first time. I also got to see my cousin Tyler who I haven't been able to see in a while. I love getting together with everyone. We were in the mountains and it was so beautiful and peaceful. Matthew had a blast seeing the horses and playing in the dirt with my cousin Elizabeth. And, as always, it was great to see my Granny Gaile and Great Grandad.
My little brother Brian went to Korea in June. I could not be more proud of him. As sad as I am that my brother is so far away, I know that it has been so good for him. He has turned into such a great man. He's matured and grown so much and I am so happy with the person that he has become. I miss him SO much and I know that Matthew does too. I can't wait to see him, whenever that is.
In July of this year I got to go on the best vacation of my life. Thanks to my mom and dad I was able to share in the wedding of my big brother Jacob and his lovely bride Tiffany. We got to stay in an amazing (AMAZING!) beach house. There were eighteen of us in one house. Every single morning that we woke up there was a rainbow over the ocean that I got to enjoy while eating a bagel and drinking coffee. I got to snorkel for the first time. It was absolutely beautiful. We got to go to a luau and spend a day at Pearl Harbor. Not to mention, my brother got married. I am the proudest sister in the world. Jacob has accomplished so much in his life. He is a college graduate, has a great job and a great business, he is in an awesome band and completely rocks on the guitar. And... he has found an awesome wife that I love and am proud to have as a sister! They have a beautiful house and I am proud of her for being in nursing school and working and doing it all so well. Now all we need is some cousins for my kids. Hint hint :)
Jayson has been working hard all year. We had some MAJOR car troubles and he had to get a new car for work. Very stressful and annoying. But, that's all part of his job. I am so happy to have a husband that wakes up everyday and works so hard for us. I am so blessed to be able to stay home and take care of the kids. That's because of how hard Jayson works. He hasn't taken a sick day from work in four years. Maybe he works to hard ;). I appreciate and love him so much. He is such a great dad and as much as it scares him to have a little girl to worry about, I know that Addison has him wrapped around her finger. He is a sucker for her and she knows it. haha. Matthew and Jayson always rough house and play ball. ya know, all those typical boy things. He's a great dad.
We have loved living in this house for the past year or so. It is such a great neighborhood and the perfect house for our family. We are still close to our families too. Which is great since our best babysitters (mema and papa) are only minutes away. I can't imagine what we'd do if they weren't around to help. I had a little scare earlier this year when they talked about moving away. Not just moving away, leaving the country. I cried like a baby. It didn't help that I was pregnant and emotional. Luckily for me, they chose to stay here. I don't know what was better for them, but that definately fit in with my plans. Haha, that's not selfish right?
We had a great Halloween. Matthew was an Army guy (just like Uncle Brian). And Addison was a cute little black cat. Matthew was hilarious trick-or-treating. He was actually haggling with people to get more candy out of them. He even got one lady to give him a glowstick that she had at her house. He is such a ham. He had a halloween program at school and he is actually singing and participating. He used to totally shut down as soon as I got there to watch him. Now, he stays with the class and performs. Addison started scooting and crawling in October and now, she's ALL OVER! She is into everything. She is going to be such a little pill. My whole life will be following her around cleaning up messes. She is such a little ball of energy. But, she is the cutest little ball of energy I have ever seen!
Thanksgiving was great. We ate at my parents house and lots of the family were there. We had some great food and played the usual 7 on the line and some bags and ladder ball. Tons of fun to see Debbie and Ron and Eric. Aunt Janet and her family were there too. It was a fun time. However... the day after Thanksgiving I started feeling some really bad pains and cramping in my upper abdomen. At first, I thought it was just cramps or some weird I ate to much pains. It lasted all day Friday and I tried to just deal with it and wait for it to go away. When I woke up Saturday morning and the pain was worse and had moved to my lower right side, I figured Web MD might know better than me what it was. I looked it up and when the possibility of Appendicitis came up I got a little worried. I called my dad seeing as how he has had his appendix removed. He suggested (like everyone else) that I go to the hospital. I still didn't think that's what it was so I drove myself there. After a catscan and a lot of waiting, they told me, yep, its your appendix. Later that day I had my appendix removed. They cut three holes in my stomach and removed my appendix out of a hole in my belly button. It's amazing what modern medicine is capable of. They slapped some glue and tape on it and sent me home. (I'm sure that more went into it than that, lots of medical mumbo jumbo that I don't understand) Recovery was, and is, pretty good. I have had ups and downs but thanks to my mom it was a lot easier. She took work off just to stay with me and help me. THANKS MOM!!!!
We're looking forward to a good Christmas with my mom and dad (since Brian is in Korea and Jacob and Tiffany will be in New York and SD). I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let's hope that 2010 is a great year that is filled with just as many blessings and good times as 2009!
