Tidying up

The Sun is out this afternoon which feels nice.  It has not shined for over a week- it has been overcast and dreary.  Tidying up I found two gift cards to Ruth’s Chris steak house downtown Salt Lake City that Stacy and Chad gave us last year I forgot we had them.  It is $100.00, it will be nice to plan a date night.  I have been slow cleaning starting today.  Fighting depression today.  Hard for me to come back up to the lake.  It is cold and snowy and feels lonely to me.  Craig wants me with him and couldn’t wait to get me back to the lake,  I would have rather stayed at our place in Draper.  We are still going back and forth on the weekends for Craig to be at church and serve in his church calling on Sundays and Tuesday is young men’s.   He seems to love it here at the lake and I’m just going to have to adjust. Buying our new place in Draper has been an adjustment too.  Weeding thru all our stuff and figuring out what to get rid of and keep is a process, getting all our things out of storage and figuring out what to do with it or get rid of it.  We have leaned out  our things a lot.  It should be fun buying new things for our Draper home but it has been really stressful for me.  I have just had to take a break from it all.  Making due with our old things don’t seem to fit in the new place. Craig rides me about the money and takes the joy right out of even doing anything.  I’ve ended up taking most of what I buy back trying to find the right fit when decorating on a so call budget.  I’m fugal by nature,.  Just have to be patient with my dear husband and myself.   It is just not clicking for me,  So taking a break.  My mother texted me today asking if I can come help her with her knee surgery on the 19th of February.  I had planned baby sitting for Tasha’s kids while they are on a cruise that week so not sure what I’m doing.  I know this is a rough surgery.   I will have to figure out what to do.  I just got done putting Christmas things way in the garage.  I need to vacuum now and mop the wood floor- things get so dirty fast when the family is here.  I’m cleaning up again from Martin Luther King weekend when Noriega’s and Burbidge’s were here for the weekend.  Hotel Symes cleaning up from the last shift.  I tried to leave it somewhat clean when I had to leave on last Tuesday.  I was gone a week.  It has just been hard for me today to get myself going.  I’m already yearning for warmer weather.  Looking forward to spring but that is months away- got to figure out how to get thru the winter months.!! 

Back At The Lake

Craig and I headed back to the lake yesterday on Tuesday.  Craig had to be back for young men’s.  They were going Cisco fishing for their activity.  I put things way and crashed I slept for three hours.  Craig woke me up when he got back.  We watched  a TV series we started called Greenleaf.  Something to watch In the cold winter months together.  I’m having a hard time getting myself going today.  I've got to start putting my Christmas decorations away at the lake.  I have enjoyed my time at our Draper home decorating not I need to give our lake home some attention. January ended up being a busy month for us. Love our new grandbaby so very much.  

Cole’s Eagle Scout Award

I stayed the weekend at our draper home working on decorating it.  Craig went back to the lake for the weekend.  He needed to be there for his church meetings.  I met him that evening in Kaysville.  Craig drove down from the lake.  Dave and Shar fixed us a very nice dinner.  Dave smoked some yummy pork meat in his new smoker.  It was soo yummy!! The evening was very special with our Grandson Cole.   He earned his Eagle Scout Award which is a lot of work and a great honor.  The first Eagle Scout since Craig earned his.  We are so proud of our Cole and all his hard work.  They were asked to give Mentor pin to someone who influenced them in working toward this award.  Cole gave his pin to Craig.  Craig became very emotional when Cole gave him the pin as his mentor for this award: He sent Craig a special note afterward.  “ Thank you so much for coming!!!! I loved having you guys there!! I just wanted to say again that you 100% deserve that pin. Your eagle story was the biggest push for me to go and get it myself! Thank you so much😊 I’m so glad we get to be eagles together! “

Cole earned his award with three other young men in his ward growing up.  They have been friends since kindergarten.   So hard to believe the years have all gone by too fast for me.  Cole has been such a joy to watch growing up and has brought such joy to our lives.  He looked so handsome in his scouting outfit-  he was wearing his scout shirt that he has had since he was 12 yrs old- which gave us all a good laugh because Cole had grown some much since then don’t know how he even fit in it.  Good thing they bought it big when he was 12.  I know Sharlena had a great part and grandma Noriega in helping along the way with the many activities required.  I do appreciate all their time and effort given.  Sharlena has been such a wonderful mother and so very proud of her.  She is entering a new chapter in her life with Cole graduating from high school this year and going on a Mission in June.   Exciting times lie ahead!!! 

Decorating

I dove down last Tuesday just in time for our new sectional couch and desk for Craig’s office to be delivered.  RC Willey delivery called that morning while I was in Evanston,  They were at our place already, they did not give me a 2 hour notice, I had to call Trisha to go over for me, to let them in. Boston and I arrived about 1pm.  The couch was all set up.  I was not happy with the layout and had to rearrange it, which is not easy unlatching the hooks holding each section.  I thought I was going to have to order another section to get the length we wanted in the room. When taking with Trisha she suggested I take one of the loveseat pieces and moved it in the middle.  I moved it over and It gave us the length we needed.   I still wasn’t sure if I liked it ?   Craig’s desk arrive shortly after the Burbidge’s left.  Boston wanted to stay another night with us at the lake.  I was really upset when they delivered our desk they had scratched the top bad delivering it.  It was not covered up so it got scratched in the delivery truck. It was not happy how they delivered it.   I talked to the salesman and sent pictures of the damage.  He would get back with me. Craig came down late that night.  We spent Wednesday adjusting the couch how we liked it.  Craig was very careful and helpful in getting it all put back together.  We stopped by the RC Willey outlet to look for him a chair for his desk and found our wedge in the clearance for our couch just delivered it was marked down to $50-  We were able to return our wedge in the 14 day window and purchase the wedge which saves us $600 for the same piece.  It piece we got for $50 does have a good scuff on the back so I could see why it was returned-but it is easy to hide on the underneath and it will be up against our wall so it will not be seen, so we were ok with buying it and making the switch, it saves us money which helps with the cost of our new sectional.  I was having heartburn over the cost $ of it.  Not happy about our new desk damage, they did mark off another $200 so we just kept it and I have tired to fix the scratches the best I could.  It is still a pretty desk.  Just need to find him a chair.  I ordered new bedding for both bedrooms in the basement.  We had both beds set up.  Bought one for my boy room from RC Willey we found the deck in the scratch and dent.  I really liked it- we bought the other bed at Costco with the mattresses there also on sale,  We got them all set up so I was excited for my new bedding I ordered online to arrive.  I was having a hard time finding anything in the stores I like so tried for the first time ordering online. I was nervous about it not sure the quality I would be getting.   Wednesday we spent the morning hooking up the new couch electric cords.  It was a job for us both.  Hiding the cords is a challenging.  I didn’t want them showing in there back of our new couch.  I'm thinking it is going to work now that we got things moved around how we wanted. I ordered a fun sofa piece I fell I love with- a bicycle in the bottom.  It is to short for our couch layout.  I put it in the boy bedroom and thought it would be fun in there but it is not practical.  I wanted to do a bicycle theme in this room.  My bedding arrived on Thursday for our boy theme room I spent the evening ironing it and placing it all on the bed.  It was not as well made as I had hoped- but I still really liked the look.  It didn't cost alot>  The bedding I ordered for the other room did not arrive until late Friday evening.  Craig left Friday at noon.  I stayed for the weekend.   It was fun to have some time to shop for the afternoon.  I tried to find things that would work in the boy room.  I looked for accessories, and lamps- I found at my favorite decor store TJX Home Goods.  I came home and set it all out.  Played with it all Friday evening.  Saturday morning I spent the morning ironing The new bedding for the other room.  I wasn’t totally happy with the color layout.  Some of the pillows were more gold than it looked in the picture.  I added the white euro pillows I had on my bed to lighten it up to the look I wanted.  It is all slowly coming together.  The things I bought at TJX were just not the right fit.  I took it all back on Monday.  Craig was very helpful in getting it all gathered up and back to the store.  He didn’t want me to spend anymore money.  It has been frustrating for me.  I have just about returned everything I have bought. It has been really hard for me.  Things have just not been clicking for me especially trying to  shop on a budget.  I have to shop and shop just to find a a few things.  I fell like I’m in the wrong generation now everything is so Modern and I just don’t love it.  I still like the traditional furniture.  It will come together for me in time.   

New bed and bedding for girl guest room

This is the bicycle piece I really liked but decided to send it back. I really tired to work with it. The lamps need to be taller and the end tables I got to go with it all are just not tall enough for the bed either so took it all back. 

Bedding for my boy room.  I liked the red and gray colors  I love the bicycle wall metal bike keeping it and working on a wall grouping for it. 

Our new sectional couch for the basement and the family picture wall I have been working on,  

Aubrey's 16th Birthday/Burbidge Family

Our Aubrey is turned 16 years old on January 20th.  She wanted to come to the lake to celebrate her birthday with three of her girlfriends from school.  Dave and Shar came with her.  They arrived Thursday night and stayed till Saturday morning.   They had a great time.  I had not been back up to the lake since we were all here after Christmas.  It has been two weeks.  I had to leave it messy to see baby Cora born and help Tasha after she was born.  The cabin was messy when I got back up. I spent two day cleaning just in time for more family.  It felt good to put Christmas away and get things clean and tidy before they arrived. 

Grandpa and Grandma Symes with our Aubrey Girl.  She has grown into a beautiful young lady.  So very proud of her.  She had a great time with her friends. 

Hot tub fun!! 

Fun they came to the lake for a few days and we were able to share in the celebration  

The Burbidge family arrived for the weekend -Saturday evening after the Noriega’s left.  Saydee and Karlee both brought a friend.  They all Got dressed and went to church with me which was nice to not sit alone in Sacrament.  Our theme for the meeting was about Lehi and the Tree of life.  Went right along with the lesson for gospel doctrine.  I pray I time I will feel more comfortable when teaching and not sacred. The Holy spirit does take over and gives me  a spirit of calmness while I’m teaching.  It is the beforehand that has my stomach in knots.  Felt good to be in Church today and greeted by the members.  

Teaching Gospel Doctrine

Today was my turn to teach gospel doctrine this Sunday.  I get so nervous just before teaching and doubt my ability to teach the adult class.  I have enjoyed immersing myself in the scriptures and learning and growing in my knowledge of the scriptures.  I have liked reading them on my phone and making notes on my phone.   Today I was brave to just use my phone.  Still learning how to use technology.  I read and study on my phone so trying to figure out how to teach and refer to my notes.   Well my notes did not come up they were not syncing.  This left me empty handed.   I had prepared so I had to just go by the spirit and go by what I have learned in my study time and prayed I could recall what is needed.  It it went well.  We had 35 minutes by the time we got started.  It was a large crowd today with it being a holiday weekend.  Martin Luther King day on Monday so lot of visitors coming to the lake. I taught my lesson in the chapel due to the crowd.  It is always a sigh of relief when it is over for me.  Keeping trying to figure out the best way to teach the lessons and hopefully in time things will get easier for me.  

Shopping With My Hubby

Craig got paid- his final payout for the sell of his business 4 years ago. It has gone by really fast -in many ways.  Since we bought our new place we have slowly been decorating.  We needed to wait till January for his last amount of money owed to us so we could purchase things to furnish our new place.  I found barstools at Sam's club Saturday.  Craig put them gather yesterday morning.  He woke up at 5:30am- they look really nice I love them.   I also found a new rug for the living room to lighten things up.  Yesterday we stopped by Costco and RC Willey to look around, we looked at the couch that we have ordered- that is on back order.   We found the desk Craig likes in the scratch and dent area marked down to a good price and I found a king bed set for our downstairs bedroom.  They are delivering our new bed on Monday.  Today we bought a king bed set at Costco and two king mattresses.  It took us the afternoon to set it up. It is all going to look very nice so excited! 

Our new bar stools we bought 4 of them.  

Our new king bed for the one of the basement rooms.  I want to do a boy room and a girl room in the basement.  This bed is for my boy room.