5 Years Down...Eternity To Go!

Saturday, September 19, 2009 Aaron and I were sealed in the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. We went to the open house in August and fell in love with this beautiful temple, so we decided to wait till it was really and then be sealed instead of being sealed in the Jordan River Temple on our Anniversary. (And now we have two Anniversaries!) It was a beautiful day. When we came out, it was rainy and windy so we didn't get a lot of pictures, but that was ok, Aaron and I scheduled a photographer for the fallowing Monday anyway.

Mom and Dad Sperry

Mom and Dad Brown

Grandma Brown

I am so thankful for everyone who supported us! We are so thankful for our family and friends! Our day wouldn't have been as special if it wasn't for everyone who was there for us. (And I really need to say a special thank to you to Dave and Dianna Crest and Jake and Chante Wilson who came in from out of state! You guys are truly life long friends! We love you all and wish you lived closer!)

Not up to much

Not much has been going on, but I did do a project awhile back. I took a class at Heartland Paper and it was so much fun! It was $24, they had drinks and brownies there, and if I bought anything while I was there it was 10% off. It was great, there were only 5 of us in the class and the instructor was awesome!

Here is the finished product!

Not much else to talk about...for now! :)

Juvenile Diabetes...Walk for the Cure

Today was an awesome day! I have never done anything like this before and it was great to see so many who support finding a cure for juvenile diabetes! There were more than 4,000 people there! It wasn't a long walk...5k...but it felt great to do something so meaningful! Some of you know that I lost a cousin to this disease back in 2003. He was 14. We did this walk in memory of him....Aaron LeBlanc. We don't want to lose anyone else.

Mom laughing...I almost ran into a garbage can to get this picture!

Aaron eyeing the hot dogs! :)

My brother-in-law, Nathan and his 2 sons Nick and Joshua. His wife Melissa suffers from JD and wasn't feeling good today. It was neat to see them there, this is the second time I met them, and they are an awesome family!

Yes Jake, BIG BUDDA is real!


I have never met anyone famous before! And Big Budda is very famous...in Utah! He is on our local FOX channel news. He does the fun stuff...and he is great at it! Super nice guy in real life too!

I look forward to doing this again...maybe next year I will get donations! :)

American Fork Canyon

So Monday, we took Andrew and Tricia on a hike. We went to American Fork Canyon...for those of you who haven't been, I highly suggest it! It is $6 for a 3 day pass...totally worth it! It is so pretty, and pictures don't do it justice. I had never been before and I was surprised. I think Aaron and I might get an annual pass next year...which is $45...still worth it!

The boys climbing a fallen tree.

Now the boys are knocking down a tree!

We had a great time! Monday was Aaron's last day of vacation. I felt bad that we weren't able to do much for this vacation. Hopefully, October's vacation will be better! :)

Private?

Do to recent events, I think it might be time to make our blog private. I am still not 100% if I will make it private, but I don't want some people looking at my blog and seeing what we are up to....to make a clean brake. This also means that I will probably no longer be linking my blog to my facebook, even though these people have been blocked from my facebook, I want to keep my blog a little more private than facebook. If you would like access to our blog, please leave a note with your email address or send me an email to charlened.sperry@gmail.com

Thanks and thanks to all our true friends and supporters.

It's Love

5 years ago today, I married my best friend! It is hard to believe that it has been 5 years already! Time has gone so fast! We have been though a lot in 5 years! The good, the bad and the ugly! But after all is said and done, we have only become stronger! I love Aaron more today then I did 5 years ago. He makes me a better person, and can always make me laugh. I can't imagine my life with out him.

Happy Anniversary Aaron! Here's to many more!!!!! I love you with all my heart! :)

Camping...always an adventure!

This year, our family camp out was August 14-16. Who would have thought that it would be so cold in AUGUST!!!!! We went to Strawberry for our camp out. When we first got there, they gave us an RV spot...we don't own an RV! So Dad went and found the camp host. They said oops, and they didn't know what to do. Anyway, they finally found a tent spot for us. Usually, we have other people come up with us, but this year it was just us! It was kind of nice! Here are a bunch of pictures! :)

Our campsite...I think we might be Utes fans :)

Of course the dogs came!
What Andrew did most of the time!

"Surf and Turf" for dinner!

Aaron and Bryant carrying down firewood.

Yes, my dogs are loved and spoiled by all!

Playing trouble in the tent waiting for the rain to stop!

Eating yummy food!

All and all, it was a great trip! It is always nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of life and there is nothing better then being with family! :)

WHAT A DAY!!!!

My morning seemed to start off well. I took my time getting up. Until I saw a note on my mirror saying that a milk bottle had broken...good luck! So I went into the kitchen and saw some milk on the floor. I opened up the fridge and there was milk every where! I didn't think to take a picture until I got to the broken bottle.

Before:

After:


I was in such a good mood that I didn't mind the 2 hours of cleaning. When Aaron got home we went grocery shopping! Betty Crocker came out with a gluten free mix! I was so excited, I thought we would try the cookies...they are pretty good, a little dry. The recipe only calls for 1 egg, I am going to try 2 next time...I think it will be even better!

Why was I in such a good mood? My visiting teacher gave me a piano!!!!!! We picked it up tonight! I am so excited! I thought I was going to have to wait another 10 years before I would get a piano!!!!! I already love it!

Well, that is all...now off to play my new piano!

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!