for granted.

Lately, I have noticed so much sad news. So many friends and neighbors have been overcoming some pretty big trials. So many losses of loved ones and friends, and countless other setbacks. Noticing this has certainly caused me to reflect on my blessings. That, and I always get very nostalgic of the good times around the holiday season.

I have a healthy husband. This is such a huge blessing to me. Devin has a great job that we both love, an ever-growing education that he works hard for, and we have an incredibly strong marriage. Not every couple has all of those things, so I feel so glad to know that we do. 

Our family and friends are also happy and healthy. We love enjoying their successes and hearing all the good news. All of our friends seem to be advancing to such great places in their lives. Landing amazing jobs, getting signed to record labels, having the most beautiful children. It doesn't seem to end! We hear good news almost every day!

Not only to I feel like we are blessed, but we have just been down right fortunate. We've been lucky to have it so easily, even with all our hardships, which believe me, we've had our share. I'm glad to know that Devin and I can mutually approach our challenges with an optimistic attitude. It makes handling the troubles so much easier, and we are much more efficient that way. I also think that is one of the things that brings us closer. We have been married for 6 months, and have still never fought. No arguing, never yelling, although we regularly disagree. I am glad we handle it the way we do. It makes our days run smoothly, along with our marriage.

One recent story, though, has seemed to strike me in particularly hard. When we started attending our current ward 6 months ago, I noticed that one of my high school classmates was in the same ward. Except now, just 2 1/2 years after graduating, he is in a wheelchair. I later learned that he was in a dirt bike accident about a year ago, which left in paralyzed (I think...). 

This blew my mind. 2 1/2 years? Things happen so fast. Your life can completely change, irreversibly, in a matter of seconds. So it shouldn't be taken for granted. Not in the good times, or the bad. We should appreciate every minute of it.

Last night, after tithing settlement, Devin and I were visiting with a member of the bishopric who said he was in the process of making a go-cart for my old classmate. He asked Devin if he would be willing to photograph this process, since it is such a sincere act of service (of course Devin said yes).

But it has just left me thinking, along with all the other stories I have heard lately, that life really is too short to not enjoy every minute of it. The trials are there to make us stronger, to test our faith and strength and abilities. They are not placed in our lives to overcome us and defeat us. They are here to prove our worthiness and trust in the Lord. 

I have definitely not been one to flourish in the bad situations, and I could definitely do better. I hope to just remember these things the next time a trial comes my way, which won't be long now. 

I guess it's just nice to hear about the good stuff going on in the world. It seems like the media can only stand to focus on the bad, and it seems like us as a society are all so socially involved, only focus on the media. 

It has been an incredible couple of weeks. And in light of Thanksgiving this week, here are a few things I am feeling especially thankful for these days:

1. said wonderful husband. In all his health and hard-work-ed-ness. and handsomeness :)
2. my amazing family; all so supportive and loving.
3. seat heaters in my mazda.
4. pearl jam. and their 20 years of rocking of this world.
5. my burly, grown up kitty milo. even though i never see him.
6. our awesome ward, and adorable nursery kids.
7. my nanny family. they have become some of my closest friends, and i love those kids so, so much!
8. slatkin & co. candles.
9. Stephen's hot drink mixes, getting me through every morning drive.
10. the 24+ episodes of Friends on my DVR, for my own endless, mindless, unwinding entertainment. 

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Probably the most classic cookie ever. I have been craving them for days now, so after several recipe comparisons (i'm learning to read recipes before trying them, and noticing the differences when i compare recipes to each other, and it's made a huge difference in my baking), I settled on this one. (I lost the link! :( sorry dude). 


I made a few changes to my baking style, and they definitely worked for my benefit. What did I change? I followed the directions. I highly recommend this. It works. 


Again, I used my wonderful Kitchen Aid hand mixer. And it proved once again to be my favorite kitchen appliance (next to the cocoa motion, of course). It got a little tricky after I added the flour, but it still didn't let me down. Worked like a charm, as always.


Bad news? My sister was putting her beater attachments into the mixer while it was plugged in, and it turned on and completely smashed her finger! This thought has always crossed my mind every time I put my beaters in. I'm terrified it will happen to me! So please. Always make sure you have your mixer unplugged before you put your beaters or other attachments in! 


Ingredients:
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 3/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp coarse sea salt (or 1/2 tsp. table salt)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
chocolate chips (recipe recommends 2 1/4. i think i did about 1 1/2. i didn't measure. i don't like too many chocolate chips in my cookies. i know. i'm crazy.)


1. Preheat over to 360 degrees.
2. Cream butter, sugar, brown sugar until fluffy. (it will combine and become a smooth texture. it takes about 2 minutes. this is an important part! if you aren't sure if you creamed it enough, just keep going. i don't think you could mess it up.)
3. Add eggs, vanilla. Beat 2 minutes. (but seriously. 2 full minutes of beating.)
4. Add soda, powder, salt, flour until well combined. (i think i might have done a little more sea salt than it asked. i didn't measure it. devin did comment that they were more salty than normal cookies, but i liked the difference it made. it gave them a little bit of a different flavor. sooo good.)
5. Add chocolate chips.


put 1-inch (smaller than you think. but really. 1 inch.) balls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake 12-14 minutes. (any time i recipe gives me a time frame, i always pick whatever time is exactly in the middle. so i baked mine for 13. it worked perfect. they could have gone to 14 to be a little crispier, though.)


leave on sheet 2 minutes, then move to a cooling rack.


I recommend you eat them while they are warm with a big glass of ice cold milk. 


This has definitely become my go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe. This batch made me 30 cookies! So good!

Brad and Lexie's Wedding Day!

This morning, my cousin Brad was married in the Provo Temple to an awesome girl names Lexie! Devin and I were so glad to have been invited to the sealing. I love any excuse to go to the temple.

[Rewind]: Remember how Devin and I got married on a Thursday? And because of that, my great uncle, Elder Christofferson of the Twelve, couldn't be our sealer, because the Quorum meets with the Presidency in the temple every Thursday? Even though we offered to kick out a few family and friends to make room for all 15 of them in the room, and just take a quick break from their meeting and come seal us? (haha).

Well today is a Saturday. So Brad and Lexie were sealed by Uncle Todd! I've only been to 3 sealings (including my own), but it was so amazing. It was so personalized to Brad and Lexie and I am so glad that we were able to be a part of such an incredible time in their lives. So many amazing things were said, and I hope I never forget them!

It is always such a good reminder to attend sealings, and do them in the temple. It makes me think of my wedding day, the covenants and blessings, and the things that were said, and the way I felt. I love it!

Last night was our first snow fall of the season, so it was a pretty cold morning at the temple, but it was beautiful! The bride and groom were so happy, even in the cold! So happy for them. I only snapped a few pictures of the day, but here they are! 

As we were waiting around outside the temple while pictures were being taken and talking with Uncle Todd and Aunt Kathy, we noticed some girls come up behind Uncle Todd and get sort of giggly and nervous. It was so sweet! They just wanted to shake his hand. I love that members of the church can be just as excited to see an apostle as they would be to see a celebrity. 

Devin also pointed out how lucky we are to be so close with an apostle of Christ, when millions of members might never have the chance to meet one. There is a huge respect for those men, and the reverence that surrounds them is further confirmation that they really are apostles of the Lord. I love Todd and Kathy. I love that out of thousands of people around the world that have met and know and love them like I do, they still make me feel like they are a big part of my life. They know me and what I'm up to, they are amazing people and great examples. I love to be able to call them family. I don't know how many people have the privilege of this, and I certainly hope to never take it for granted. 

  

Last night, one of devin's friends gave us tickets to the BYU basketball game, and we didn't have any plans and decided to go! We drove down with Devin's parents who have their own season tickets and didn't realize until we found our seats that we were only 7 rows up from the court! It was awesome. I haven't been to a BYU game in years, and I guess I forgot how much of a spectacle they make it! It was a pretty big deal. The cougars won, it snowed on our way home, and we had a great time! 

It's been a pretty great weekend so far, and it's not even 2:00 in the afternoon yet! 

more ramblings + photo dump friday

i decided i like to blog this way. so you'll probably see more of these kinds of posts.

i've reached a point where if i go more than 3 days without seeing a spider in the house, I know i'm overdue. I constantly scan the walls and ceiling, shake out my clothes and shoes, and promptly move the bug killer to somewhere more accessible. I also make sure Devin is within yelling distance at all times.

I think I have classically conditioned myself by watching several episodes of the office in bed before we fall asleep. now, every time i see or think about it, i get tired and start yawning incessantly. (altoid, anyone?)

I realize that when i blog, I am randomly selective about what i do and don't capitalize. but i don't really care.

my side of the closet could probably eat Devin's side very easily, yet I still complain daily that I have nothing to wear.

why does my netflix choose not to work the moment i discover breakfast at tiffany's on instant play? this event was weeks ago. and it's been sitting on my instant queue forever now, but i still haven't watched it...

Devin's favorite episode of the office is "Safety Training" (season 3: episode 19), which has resulted in both of us having the entire 21 minutes and 21 seconds memorized. We watch it at least every other week.

sometimes, Devin and I quote ourselves. Because we're just that funny. especially devin.

did you ever realize that straws are good for your teeth? the up & up brand straw box says something about how straws help prevent acidic content of soda and other elements that are harmful to your enamel by reducing the contact between your teeth and the liquid. makes sense, right? but awesome. plus, straws are more fun. and allow even more laziness. i can now drink while laying down.

you know how children are always the sweet, innocent ne'er - do - wrong - er's? then why are the always the creepiest part of scary movies?

Devin and I will think of one comment or scene of the office (that is totally insignificant and unrelated to the plot of the episode), and go nuts until we find out what episode it's from. (usually thanks to google and strangely worded search phrases...) most recently? when dwight talk about how he could have been growing mushrooms and puts his hand practically on the floor to show how high they'd be by now. (season 6, episode 9: double date). Found that one out by luck.

I think our wedding was the only wedding ever to not serve chocolate covered strawberries at the reception. I feel like I let everyone down. and now i'm craving some. good think my cousin is getting married tomorrow.

it's the middle of november. we sleep with our window open, and still complain about being too hot. all other times of the day at home? we're FREEZING.

a few weeks ago, i asked devin if he knew his family's plans for christmas this year. he said he didn't know, and didn't want to ask, because then he'd be put in charge. my mom called me earlier this week, and after our conversation, i asked her if she knew what our family's plans were for christmas. she put me in charge.

we went to staples yesterday. i haven't been in there for years. i immediately started scanning the store for Dwight Shrute. Too much office? never...

ALSO. i realize i didn't do a photo dump last friday. that's because i had the day off of work, which usually meddles a little with how and when i blog, because it's not my normal, daily routine. so maybe i'll just have to do photo dump friday on the fridays i work. we'll see. anyway...

and surprise, surprise, they're all of c-train and aria. i didn't take hardly any pictures. these are all from the same time...

carter woke up from his nap wearing BOTH of his spiderman suits (he has the original and black ones). and when he took the black one off, he asked aria if she wanted to wear it. which of course, she did. they crack me up.

 

there is one other picture. from earlier today. carter is off on a play date with is friend, xander, and aria went down for a nap. she's been doing this thing lately where she will just randomly burst into tears, and it's not just normal crying. it's terrifying. it sounds like she is hurt or someone scared her. but she just says she wants her mommy or misses her mommy, and i try to explain to her that mommy's at work. she knows this. she's also been doing this thing lately where sometimes she won't take a nap unless i hold her until she falls asleep.

today was a combination of both. and there is something so peacefully satisfying about carrying a limp, fast asleep two year old up to her room and laying her in bed. she's adorable.

I supposed I'll learn some day...

Why do I even bother trying to think of what to make for dinner when I know all we need is fresh batch of muddie buddies, and that is without a doubt, what we will end up eating all night??

ramblings of a bored nanny

i tend to be opinionated and insensitive. which when combined, is pretty dangerous.

i appreciate good style and fashion. i know what it is. but i still find myself wearing the boring stuff in my closet. because it's easier than getting dressed up. and when you work as a nanny.. you don't want to risk getting sticky kid messes (all of them you can imagine) on your cute clothes, right?

i think i have separation anxiety from my husband. whenever i'm not with him, i miss him terribly. i will admit to watching holmes on homes and cops by myself when i miss him. even though i can't stand holmes on homes.

i love to bake. but not really in a creative way. just in a cupcakes from a cake mix box with the easiest frosting recipe in the world. "experimenting" in baking, to me, means flavoring and coloring the frosting. i still think i'm good at it though. i just play it safe.

for the first week or two of being on pinterest, i was endlessly entertained. now i last about 15 minutes. i think i get headaches from scrolling through all the pictures, and i feel like i've seen every pin on there now. it's all just repeats.

i've started using pinterest over google. talking with my friend, valeri the other day, we decided that pinterest is like the crafty girl's google. you can google a recipe and get some mainstream online magazine version, but if you search it on pinterest, you get some awesome stay-at-home-mommy blogger's recipe, which is always much better. sewing tutorials? diy projects? cleaning tips? pinterest.

why hasn't it snowed yet?

right after i wrote that, i clicked over to my other tab that's open (pinterest, ironically enough) and the first pin i see says "stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight" -- it's a metaphor by President Hinckley, but still. hahaha i guess i will enjoy this weather a little longer. even though it's trick-weather. you look out the window, and the sky is blue and the sun is bright and huge, but you go outside and it's actually only 40 degrees. fools me every time.

if i had to run for my life, i would probably die. i mean, my adrenaline would keep me in the fight for a good mile or so (or less. most likely less.), but i would give up way too easily.

i am more than ever wishing i could spend the next few months traveling the world with devin. if money grew on trees, that's what i would spend it on. (i've never been on a plane, let alone left the country, and i want to travel the world. i think i'm getting ahead of myself?!)

i got so carried away with blogging/ watching hulu / pinterest / twitter / email that i just now realized the kids have been sleeping for 3 1/2 hours. nice.

putting a load of laundry in the washer before i start dinner or dishes or some other housework, makes me feel like a great multi-tasker. even though i'm only really doing one job. but it makes me feel so good, in fact, that i put a load in almost every time. because when you do laundry, you have definitely accomplished something. (my mom's best marriage advice to me? "just realize now that laundry is never DONE. you will ALWAYS have laundry. you never "finish" it. ever." thanks mom. it's too true.)

aria's hair in the pictures below is curled. from curlers. about an hour after this, it was back to stick straight.

now that it's holiday season, my nights at home are not complete until the christmas tree is lit and a candle is burning. and there are warm muddie buddies on the coffee table... :)

dear mr. officer

sorry i pulled to the left shoulder of the freeway when you flipped your lights on me. i feel like if i would've tried to work my way to the right, it would look more like i was running away. i know you'd disagree. but i had about .5 seconds to decide, and i don't do well in these situations.


thanks for apologizing for your "attitude" and for dropping the f-bomb on me because of the situation above, and i know i nodded and acted like it was fine. but i don't forgive you. a little uncalled for. and definitely unprofessional. i think we should have just called it even at that. you could have let me go.


also, thanks for picking me. one little black mazda, out of all, oh... 40 other cars around.... to pull over for going "over the speed limit". I don't know how long you've been doing this, but even though the construction zone signs say the speed limit is 55... you know nobody actually does that, right? actually, i KNOW you know, because you TOLD ME YOU DID. i specifically remember you saying "i know nobody pays attention to those signs, and treats these areas like a normal stretch of highway..." um yes.


and when you questioned me, i said i was following the flow of traffic, the mini van in front of me, for instance, that had moved over just before you flipped your lights, to go faster... you admitted to knowing that HE WAS GOING FASTER.


so even though the cars in front of me, and next to me (including those 2 semi's) were all going 70, some even faster... thanks. i appreciate your rotton cherry on top of my spoiled ice cream of a day so far.


also? thank you for issuing a "warning" for following too close. no, i was not aware that any time you are going over 35 mph, you are supposed to have 160 FEET between your car and the one in front of you. maybe you should inform EVERYBODY ELSE ON THE ROAD. it would probably be helpful.


thanks for cutting me off mid sentence and walking back to your car. i guess i'll just figure out the answers to my own questions, since you didn't come back.


and thanks for having that other officer pull up behind us, making me feel like i was about to get searched. that was awesome.


you have a nice day, too.


**it has not been my day. why can't i get pulled over on days when i am in a good mood? that way, it wouldn't really be a downer as much. the only other time i've ever been pulled over (over 3 years ago) was also on a crap day. do they do that on purpose? i think they might. i appreciate the law and everything. i am a huge supporter of officers, and doing their jobs. but it just sucks when it's me! out of EVERYONE ELSE it's me.


good thing today is over. the not-good part, at least. because my husband will be home soon (not soon enough) and we will have a great night with friends. and that will fix the problems.


that and traffic school...