Hidden Blessings

Today didn't have the best start. First of all, my back has been KILLING me! I wake up every single morning about 5 o'clock because my back is so tense and painful that I just can't sleep. I can't seem to get comfortable enough to stay asleep for more than 20-30 minutes at a time after that. But, that's not what this post is about. This is about the unusual things of today. I don't generally post anything too personal, but after telling Preston about my morning I just felt like I should post it too.

This is what I wrote Preston in an e-mail when I got on to find a sweet message he had written me.

Thanks babe. Today's been interesting. I got out of bed to get Brayden at 7:30 which was fine. But Sadie was super crazy because I had just let her inside. She was jumping all over me with dirty paws, licking Brayden all over and just being annoying. Then we got breakfast and I made Brayden some yummy wheat cereal that he usually likes, but he didn't each much of. At least he did eat some banana, graham cracker, a few multi-grain cheerios and a little of the cereal. He seemed pretty happy, so I went to the bedroom to get dressed and I heard him standing up in his high chair. So, I took him out, changed his messy diaper, then plopped him in the tub for a little bath. He had food on him and I figured that would be easiest. Well, after getting him dressed and ready, I took him in the room with me to get ready. He wasn't very interested in being on the floor playing for long, so I kept picking him up until I needed both hands. We brushed our teeth, I got ready as quickly as I could and then I figured it was a good time for a walk. BUT, before I could go on a walk I needed to fix the sprinkler outside because I noticed it had been moved a little by Sadie. So, I sat Brayden with his whole box of toys in the family room while I went to get some shoes. I was looking at which shoes to wear when I heard a big crash and shattering. I came out to find the glass table top on top of Brayden!! The lamp and pictures had been thrown off and the bulb had broken. Of course Brayden had his wide surprised eyes and then started bawling, so I carried him back in, put some shoes on and headed outside leaving the mess for later. I was fixing the sprinkler when I noticed that SADIE DUG THE GARDEN AGAIN!!!!! When I was trying to scold her I just started feeling so angry, so I decided it was not a good time for scolding. We went back inside without replanting the garden, . . . what's the point anyway? . . . turned on the sprinklers, and headed on our walk.

I still had a little bit of frustration festering inside from the several happenings of the morning. But, it was at the moment that I was thinking about  life and decided that I don't want to be mad or upset or frustrated all day that my thoughts turned to the blessing journal I've been writing in each day since conference. An interesting place for my thoughts to be since a minute ago I wouldn't have thought there was much to be grateful for about the day. Then I realized how blessed I truly was already today. What a blessing that when the table fell on Brayden it didn't shatter on top of him, or his foot didn't break or his head didn't crack open. What a blessing that I have a garden to water and to be dug up. And Brayden did eat and get full this morning. And I got a chance to change his sheets this morning so they could be washed. And I did get to get ready even if I was holding Brayden. Brayden is so much more important than me looking cute. I am so blessed to be his mommy every day. And I get to see his sweet happy smiles and hear his silly squeals every day.

Anyway, it feels kinda funny to post personal stuff for some reason, but I just felt like it was a good idea. Maybe for me, maybe for one of you readers. All I know is that I learned a small lesson about blessings today. There are blessings hidden in every aspect of life, even the ones that seem awful.  That certainly doesn't make it easy to see them, but the more we try the more we'll see.

I'm glad that I have a dog who will always love me and be there when I need a furry friend. I'm glad that I have a boy who is strong enough to pull a table top off. And I'm especially glad that the only things that got damaged today are replaceable. Think about your day, and maybe if you have time write down the things you're grateful for! I know it helps. It helped me today.

Day of Baking

The Johnsons invited us over for dinner on Friday night and we volunteered to bring dessert. The only request was no chocolate. So, I pulled out my nifty iTouch and opened the app "all recipes" which came up with a few that looked good. I couldn't decide since I had never made them before, so I made 3 different ones! All in one day! It was pretty fun. Brayden and I dropped Daddy off at school then headed to the store for a few ingredients. Brayden was ready for a nap when we got home, so I planned on just getting it all done while he slept. Of course life happened. This time "life" happened to be Sadie digging up all my peppers and burying all the lettuce! Isn't that what garden boxes are for?? After fixing the garden I got started and finished 2 of the 3 desserts while Brayden slept. He's a good napper :) He helped me make the cheesecakes and was very upset when I had to put him in his walker because he was doing a little more messing up then helping. We had a close call with the electric mixer and Brayden trying to grab it. Not good. BUT, we survived with all our fingers.

Banana cookies with NO SUGAR!! This is just the "dough." They're actually pretty good, but I might have cooked them a little long because they're a little chewy on the outsides? Oh well, they're healthy and good.

Raspberry bars . . . so yummy and EASY!! cake mix, butter, oats and raspberry jam with a little water. Yum.

Here are my "homemade" muffin cups because I forgot to put them on my shopping list. They worked great though!

The cheesecakes turned out great, but I forgot to take a picture of them in the end. We had cherry topping on them too.

Here's Sadie entertaining Brayden. All she has to do is run by him and he squeals. It was so so cute, but every time I tried to video, Brayden would look at the iTouch and Sadie would bring me her ball. You can see one of his little squeals as he runs away from Sadie before he loses interest though.

If I were really awesome, I'd post the recipes for you. . . maybe I will. I'd like to be really awesome :) But, not yet. Really awesome will have to wait. However, I will tell you that Dollar tree sells raspberry jam and cherry topping! I was excited.

General Conference in our house

General Conference today was fabulous! Not only because there were some great messages, but also because Brayden was only awake for half of the morning session :D That makes a huge difference in my ability to truly listen. Here's some little pictures/videos of our family watching General Conference. As always, Brayden loved the music and would watch intently during each song. The rest of the time he was very busy trying to get the computer, my iTouch that I was taking notes on and some OnYums that we were eating (as you'll see in the videos). 

For those of you who weren't able to watch conference today, join us tomorrow!! It's not every day you get to listen to a prophet of God and apostles speak to us. It's from 12-2pm & 4-6pm Eastern Time. You can just go to the church's website to watch online.

My birthday gifts!

On my actual birthday I got some clothes & birthday money from my mom and Preston gave me a "Super Special Birthday Week" schedule, which was the gift of his time to make the whole week special. Each day was themed (bowling, movies, our favorite tv shows, swimming, games and dinner by Preston). I thought those were pretty good gifts, but then the next day I got both of these in the mail ...

Abiie G2G Babydeck stroller!

I ordered this from daipers.com (awesome site!) to replace the one that the airlines broke. So, it may not really be my birthday gift, but I don't have to pay for it and I was super excited to get it! Look at it ... it has a baby changing station that flips out! So nifty!

iPod Touch - 4th generation!!

My new favorite gift EVER! Unfortunately, I saw the package with my name and opened it up not knowing that Preston was hoping to have it be a surprise that he could see me open. Oops. . . But, I do love it! It has a camera, external speakers and has already been so helpful! I listed to the whole Sept. Ensign while I did things with the iTouch in my pocket. Love it. 

We also went out to Olive Garden to celebrate on my birthday, so here's some pictures of that. I'm wearing one of my cute birthday shirts from my mom!

Here's each of us with our favorite parts of the meal.

Brayden: breadsticks.

gobbled them up.

Angie: The never-ending pasta bowl!

I knew what I wanted before I got there!

Preston: The salad.

always his Olive Garden favorite.

As you can see, I had yet another wonderful birthday! With some extra wonderful presents. :D

Good Habits Start Young

Brayden loves to brush his teeth! His TWO teeth. Hehe. What a goof. 

It all started with his obsession watching us brush our teeth until I finally got him his own from Dollar Tree so that he'd have something else to grab than my toothbrush. Now he'll put it in his mouth and try to brush his teeth like a big boy. He likes to suck the water out of it too :) He gets the biggest grin if I help him make the "brushing sound" on his teeth. So cute. So silly. So Brayden.

I Love Boys

especially these boys! They're the best!

Pictures are compliments of the Porters :) Thanks!

23 and counting

Yep folks, that's right. I have officially been alive for 23 years and I'm goin' strong! Because it's my special day I get to spend time doing things I love ... sleeping in until almost 8, eating the best birthday breakfast ever, and now blogging. Of course I got to go do some errands at the store and the bank and I have some more things to do, but it's all fun when it's on my birthday. I think it's almost impossible for me to get upset on my birthday. It's a happy day.

I wonder why every day isn't like this?? I should work on that. Maybe I'll figure that out in the next 23 years to come. (that's weird to think about ... 2033 ... )

Here's some pictures from the football game on Saturday. We were wearing our blue and hoping for the Y's victory, but it was a win-win for us. We can still say that "we" won!

" Oh no, another interception!"