July...So Far! :)

July came in with a BANG! HAHAHA!!! Pun intended! :)

July 4th was an awesome day! Donny, one of our favorite people, was baptized in the afternoon! We just love Tanya and Donny so much and felt so blessed to be apart of his wonderful day!

Then we went to Grandma's to celebrate the 4th of July and Grandma's birthday...which is really the 3rd but that's ok. Only Bryant is missing from the picture with all the grand kids. We stayed at Grandma's for a while, but then hurried home because we have a great view of the West Jordan fireworks from the backyard. We pulled out our fire pit and enjoyed roasted marshmallows and s'mores!



Yesterday, July 11th, we enjoyed a beautiful day at Strawberry Lake! The boys cooked lunch, and then spent the rest of the trip fishing on the boat! They caught 5 super big fish! (I forgot to take a picture but they were sure good!)

Well, that has been July...so far! Our July is filling up fast, so if you want to plan something with us, let us know! :)

To Blog or Not To Blog?!

I try so hard to keep my blog happy and positive. I am usually a very positive person. But lately my mind has been weighed down. Like anyone else, I have good days and bad days. But unlike everyone, my ups and downs are very different. Not much gets me down. But when I am down...it's hard to get back up. What gets me down? Well, some of you know. Aaron and I have been trying to have a baby for almost 5 years. It is very trying and it is getting harder for me to deal with. I can't go to baby showers, or blessings. I am not in anyway apologizing, because I am not sorry. Most of the time I am not pressured about it, thanks to my close friends and MY family. But father's day was a hard day. Everything was fine until we went to Aaron's parents house. That is the only place where we are pressured. If it's not a sister in law pregnant, it's a "funny" comment from a brother in law. Since New Years, I leave their house in tears. We are the only ones without children...we know. I was asking my mom why that doesn't happen when we are at grandma's and she reminded me of my aunt and uncle who had the same struggle, so everyone knows better. I have been so worried since I joined Aaron's family that I would hurt someones feeling, and in doing so I let my feelings get hurt all the time. I don't say anything and then take it out on Aaron when we get home...not anymore. He is the only one I should worry about. I know that I have sister in laws that read this, yet I am not worried. I deserve my thought and my feelings to be heard. I can't take it anymore. I this hard enough for me without the "funny" remarks and the "someday".

I am not looking for someone to talk to....I just want to get my feelings out. I hear people complain about their kids, I see on the news that another baby died because they weren't wanted and I die a little more inside....give the baby to me! I take care of it!

I want to thank the people in my life that I can turn to when I am down. Mom! I couldn't get though anything without you! You are a light in my life! Thank you so much for always being there. I want to be a mom just like you! Tanya! You know all too well what I am going though. You always make my day. You bring so much joy and laughter in my life. Diana! You know what I am going though as well. You are so smart and I am grateful for all your advise and homework! I am so grateful that we are friends again. (Everything happens for a reason!) Thanks for not throwing Colton in my face. (I know what I want to say but can't find the words...I think you understand) Cherilyn! (Who doesn't read this but I have to thank!) I wish that we lived closer. You always put my head back on straight! Thanks Cher! And of course the love of my life Aaron, who holds me when I cry. And lets me know that our time will come.

Lately I have been wondering if I should be blogging. Who do I do it for? Not many people read my blog. I have nothing exciting to blog about. I don't have kids. I have nothing to offer anyone else.

I blog for me. I love blogging. I have never been good at keeping a journal, (except for the friendship journal Jami gave me in high school!) This is my way of writing a journal!

I am sorry that this blog wasn't all happy and positive. I am sorry there are no pictures. But I needed to write this blog for me!

Get Me to the Church on Time!

My little brother is getting married! He proposed to Elisha Jorgensen last night! We are so excited for them! They don't have an exact date, but it will be sometime in October! (Just so everyone knows, Elisha had just finished a performance in Seussical the Musical...hence all the makeup, she is naturally beautiful and doesn't usually wear all that!)

Here is the beautiful ring! Bryant picked it out all by himself!!! She loves it!!!! Good job on picking the ring...and the girl!

Love you guys!

Projects

I have been very busy staying home. I have been reorganizing the kitchen...in doing so, I had a lot of plain vases and no room to store them. I went and bought some vines and sunflowers and decorated the kitchen with the 3...here's how it turned out!

Also, I had these end tables mom bought me a LONG time ago. They were just plain white. I sponged painted them green in high school for my bedroom. They are no longer needed in the bedroom, so I re-painted them to match the living room. They turned out great! I love them, and LOVE painting!

Before:

After!

I found these cute star lamps for $5 each and had to get them for the tables...they came the day I finished the tables! Perfect timing! (If you can't tell, I have an Americana living room!)

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
-Elder Hales

Sorry...

I am not very good keeping up with things! I did great the first week taken pictures and posting. And I used a wonderful cookbook, but then I kept forgetting to take pictures, and wasn't as excited about the cookbooks. So I am posting two recipes from the first week to make up for my slacking! I hope you all forgive me! :)

Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Peanut Sauce
2 tbsp dry-roasted peanuts
1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup poppy seed dressing
2 tsp Asian Seasoning Mix
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 tbsp water

Salad

1 small cucumber
1/2 medium red bell pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded cooker chicken
4 large Boston or bibb lettuce leaves
Additional chopped peanuts and basil (optional)

1. For sauce, chop peanuts and basil. Combine peanuts, basil, dressing, seasoning mix, vinegar and water in a small bowl and set aside.

2. For salad, peel cucumber, slice into julienne strips, avoiding seeds. Slice bell pepper into thin strips. Shred chicken; toss with half of the sauce. Set remaining sauce aside for dipping.

3. To serve, divide cucumber among lettuce leaves. Spoon chicken mixture over cucumber. Top with bell pepper. Garnish wraps with additional peanuts and basil, if desired. Serve with remaining peanut sauce.

Yield: 2 servings

Glazed Chicken with Apple Salad

Dressing and Apple Salad
2 tbsp cider vinegar
2 tbsp apple jelly
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 Granny Smith apple
1 red apple such as Jonathan, McIntosh, or Gala
1/2 cup lightly packed watercress
plus additional for serving
(I use shredded lettuce and sometimes mix with watercress)

Chicken and Glaze
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp coarsely ground pepper
2 tbsp apple jelly
1 tsp stone-ground mustard
1 tbsp brown sugar

1. For dressing, mix together vinegar, jelly and mayo; set aside. For salad, slice apples into julienne strips. Remove leaves from watercress stems (discard stems); coarsely chop watercress leaves. Combine apples and watercress in a bowl and set aside.

2. For chicken, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat 5 minutes. Meanwhile, flatten chicken to an even thickness using a tenderizer. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Cook chicken 4-6 minutes or until grill marks appear. Turn chicken over; cook 4-6 minutes or until center of chicken is no longer pink.

3. While chicken is cooking, prepare glaze. Combine jelly, mustard and brown sugar in a bowl. Brush chicken with glaze during last minute of cooking. (WARNING...it burns really easy! I learned the hard way!)

4. To serve, arrange additional watercress on serving plates, if desired. Pour dressing over salad just before serving; toss gently to coat. Top watercress with salad and chicken.

Yield: 4 servings

Hope you all enjoy! Let me know what you think. Also, these pictures and recipes are in the 29 Minutes to Dinner, from the pampered chef...BEST COOKBOOK EVER!

Dinner's Served!

This weeks dinner came out of 29 minutes to dinner, from The Pampered Chef. (Best cookbook ever!) I made Monday night's dinner again on Saturday and was able to take a picture. It was my first dinner without following a recipe! (Not original though, I got the idea from Noodles)

Monday: Parmesan breaded chicken with buttered noodles

Tuesday: Thai Basil Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Wednesday: Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach and Ham
Thursday: Glazed Chicken with Apple Salad

Friday: Korean-Style Beef Bowl

We enjoyed them all! And I am finding that I am not a bad cook! :) We always love the chicken with the apple salad. And the lettuce wraps were AWESOME! I should have taken a picture with it opened...sorry! Which ever is most asked about, I will post the recipe. Hope you all enjoy! :)

Coming soon

Since I have not been working, I have been a great house wife. Especially when it comes to dinner. Every weekend I plan our meals for the next week. I have MANY cookbooks and use a different cookbook each week. I have decided to take pictures of every meal and then once a week I will post the pictures. Then, if you leave a note on there, the one most asked about, I will post the recipe. Now, if you really want a different one then the winning one, I am sure I can give it to you! :) Hope you all enjoy...pictures coming Saturday...minus Monday, because I thought of this idea on Tuesday night.

Much Needed Haircut!

Not for me, but for my boy Jon. We waited until it was warmer to stay! He hasn't had a haircut since October! He really needed it!

Before:

After!

Jon has had a hard week. We took him to get his haircut on a Friday, but found out his rabies shots had expired, so we set up an appointment for his shots that day. He had them all updated. So then we took him back on Monday for a haircut. Then on Tuesday, he had to go back in for an exam for health insurance. They ran some blood work and they think he has a tumor in his stomach. Plus, he has some razor burn on his paws and another male part. He hasn't been himself, and it breaks my heart. I never in a million years thought I would love any dog, and he has stolen my heart. He always makes me feel better and can always make me laugh. He is on steroids right now to see if that will help. Some of you reading this think I might be a little crazy, but I don't have kids...my dogs are my babies, and I am not going to lie...Jon is my favorite!

PS...The bunny's name in Ute!

Bunny without a name :(

Aaron and I got a new bunny. Are last one pasted away in February. We need your help with it's name...we aren't sure if it's a boy or a girl. It has red eyes, so we were thinking Ute, or Ky-yai. Our last bunny's name was Jersey, so Jake suggested Utah. Send me your suggestions and in a week I will post a vote with all the suggestions.

April 1st

April 1st is not April Fool's in our house, it's Aaron's birthday! This year he had the day off, but I didn't. So when I got home from work we went out to dinner at the Outback Stake house. We had a gift card from Christmas that we hadn't used yet. Then we went to visit his parents. He had a nice relaxing day!

Aaron takes such good care of me. He makes dinner most nights, does dishes and helps me clean the house. I am very lucky to have him. I love him with all my heart! Thanks Aaron for being you!

Pups

Our doggies are so funny! I truly believe that they have personalities and spirits. They comfort us when sad, are happy when we're happy and always excited to see us. Here are some of my favorite things about them.

When ever I do laundry, Jonathan waits like this at the top of the stairs for me! I love it! It makes me so happy to see him waiting for me! He loves his mommy!

This is one of Bella's new favorite spots. When we are on the computer, she likes to lay at our feet...this was just a way to get closer. It is so funny to see her get up there, it is slippery and she really struggles, so then she just gives up and plops down.

Not much is going on right now. Getting ready for Aaron's birthday...April 1st! That's right...he is an April Fools baby, and for those of you who haven't meet him yet, it kind of says a little bit about him! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

On March 10, 1959 the most amazing woman was born. Funny, caring, talented, kind-hearted and loving. That woman was my Mom! March 10, 2009 she turned 50! So naturally we had to have a surprise party! I have been planning this party for a while. (With the help of some amazing people!) Friends and family from all over where here to share the day!

"Surprise!"

Seeing cousin John, from Oklahoma!

Blowing out the candles on her gluten-free cake

And what party would be complete without someone being arrested or a trip to the ER! Tricia's head found a rock, so mom and I took her to the insta-care. Luckily,most of the guest had left, and the party was over. She was so brave. She had to get 8 stitches, 1 in deep, and 7 on the surface.

Valentines Day

We had a wonderful Valentines Day. It was a small, quiet one, but we both agree it was the best. Aaron bought me a lot of flowers and planed an awesome dinner! Lobster tail, rib eye steak, asparagus, rolls, sparkling cider, eclairs and strawberries. I tried the lobster, and it was pretty good. I don't see the hype though!

No, we didn't get another dog!

The last couple of days we have had a visitor. In fact she is in our backyard right now! Her name is Lola. And when ever she escapes she comes to our house! She is really sweet, a little clumsy, and at times a little scary. We can tell she isn't abused, but suffers from separation anxiety. She craves attention and only escapes when her mom is gone. We just put her in our backyard and call. Sometimes I wish I could just keep her, but then she jumps on me and slobbers and I have no problem watching her go home!