Another week of Decorating

This past week has flown by.   I have kept busy decorating and working on Christmas decor projects- it was a race for me to finish up my Christmas decorating at our Draper home.  I was able to get the upstairs tree done it turned out so pretty this year.  I added dark forest green ribbon to my tree and fireplace mantel.  I love the look.  We were only there 24 hours and back to the lake.  This week we have kept busy at the lake.  We attended our Garden City 1^st ward Christmas party Wednesday night. This is the first Ward Christmas party I did not decorated for in 8 years.  It was nice to just show up and visit with our Ward friends we have not seen in a year since we have been serving in the YSA branch.  Nice to enjoyed their friendship and not have the stress of hosting a Ward party.   It didn’t have the Debbie touch but nice to just visit and not have all the responsibility and we were able to just leave the work to other members.   We came home packed up to head to our Draper home for a couple of days.  We had little Coco’s preschool Christmas program to attend Thursday afternoon and Celebrate Lincoln’s 15th birthday on Friday December 13th.  Little Coco was so adorable, she knew all her songs and actions so well.  Thursday I was so tired from all my cleaning at the lake - I worked hard Wednesday cleaning and moving things around.  Craig helped me flip our huge dining room rug- moping udder it, vacuum and putting all the chairs back in place.  It was a big chore for me.  It felt nice to come back to a clean lake home.  We returned Last night- Saturday evening.  I ran errands Friday afternoon in preparation for our YSA Christmas party- this coming Tuesday Dec 17th.  The month in ticking by.  I worked Friday evening in our basement family room at our Draper home on the Christmas tree. We haven’t had much time to spend at our Draper home this year.  We have only a 24 hour turn around and we have to be back at the lake for our YSA responsibilities.   Natasha came over for a few hours to wrap her Santa Christmas presents for the kids. She has had all her presents shipped to our Draper house to store there, so the kids don’t see what they’re getting from Santa. They keep asking where she is hiding their presents this year.  Storing at our home has been great place this way she can surprise them.   I worked on the Christmas tree while we visited. The lights were not working so it took me a couple hours to figure that out and put the tree back together.  I was tired and didn’t want to tackle it, but I started decorating and stuck to my task. I worked on it till about 2 AM in the morning.  Craig took our new car in to have their tires rotated and then drove up to the lake. He was worried about our new generator kicking on for the first time. He wanted to make sure things were working properly and then he attended the YSA activity Friday evening activity we had planned in Montpelier this week.  I wasn’t ready to go back up- I had too many errands to do still.  It was nice to have the afternoon to run my errands and then I got a pedicure. My feet were really dry and needed it. It felt so good to slow down and relax. I enjoyed spending time visiting with Tasha. They then left to take Lincoln to the mall and out to dinner for his birthday. I stayed home working on the Christmas tree. It turned out really cute. I did the Santa reindeer theme this year. Craig drove up and back from the YSA activity and arrived at about 2 AM. He was hungry and I made him an egg sandwich in the wee more hours. We went to bed late. I had a hard time going to sleep but finally, come Saturday morning I had to vacuum and clean up for my Christmas tree mess.  I didn’t want come back with it messy. I have all the Christmas decorating finally done at our Draper house. I was able to get the upstairs done last week and the basement down this week.  So, it will be all ready for us when we come back down on Wednesday the 18^th- Craig has a dentist appointment. He has a tooth is hurting so hopefully we can stay till Saturday the 21st is our dating anniversary and I would like to do something special.

Attending little Cora Rose pre-school Christmas program.  She did so well she knew all her songs and sang with lots of energy.  She was shy and would not look at us while she was preforming.  She is such a sweet little granddaugher we love her so very much.  She is our youngest out of 20 and enjoying the time we have with her growing up.  They all grow up to fast.  She is wearing her darling Ivy City Christmas pj's.

                                        YSA Picture Friday evening with those in attendace.  I would have like to be there but needed to stay in Draper to finish up my Christmas shopping errands.  They all had a great time.  Glen told stories about Christmas songs and how they came to be.  He was the narrator for the Sunday morning Spoken Word program for the church.  Now retired.  We did a great presentation and everyone enjoyed.  They went and go shakes afterwards at Artic Circle.  A fun evenings out for everyone.  in the Picture is left Brother and Sister Drosebeke with the son Brandon Snow in the blue t-shirt center.  Kyle Cazier in the back behind sister Droesbeke, Josh England, Dustin Sister Smoot, Karen Barlow, Jackson Pratt, Lindsey Wahlburg, Brother Smoot, and center Brother Glen Ralings.  

My Beautiful Mantel at our Draper home this year.  Love the forest green Ribbon

                    Our Pretty Christmas Tree at our Draper home in the upper family room

Christmas Decorating

It had been a week since I last recorded my weekly events.  We had a lovely Thanksgiving.  Natasha’s home is a lovely place to host.  She had it all decorated for the Christmas season.  Loved seeing her beautiful decorations.  She had a lady, who she loves her style, come decorate her entire home in a day. They added lots of lovely touches.  Craig and I both had upset stomachs Thanksgiving Day, so we didn’t feel like eating much.  It felt nice to have someone do all the work and I was able to enjoyed and visit with the Thomas family.  We took time to visit with the Chaudhry’s while in town.  We went to dinner with Michael.  It is good to see him working and enjoying life with more purpose.  He has been living in St George with a friend.  They are in process of starting their own construction company.  He says he will have his own home to build.  He is working hard and so proud him.  It is nice to see his ambition.  He was in a dark place for a few years.  We have prayed for him and so blessed to see him turning his life in in a more positive direction.  Alec is planning to propose to Kate this holiday season - maybe Christmas Eve if he can get the ring he wants in time.  Kate is a lovely young women, they make a darling couple.  I can see she is good for Alec.  They have been dating since they were juniors in high school. It has been 6 years. Alec is 23 years old.  Crazy our Michael will be 26 in January.  The boys are growing up so fast!  I have enjoyed the Chaudhry grandsons.  We made the drive back to the lake Saturday morning.  I had our car packed with Christmas decor boxes- I planned to start decorating the tabernacle on December 2nd Monday, I worked all day, Tuesday and Wednesday this week.  It has been a big job for me to tackle by myself.  It has turned out so pretty this year.  I forgot to take pictures will have to take some when I go back.  It’s all ready for the children’s Christmas choir concert this Friday and our stake Christmas devotional on Sunday evening December 15th.  I wanted to get it all done early- I did order Christmas stars and picture lights which haven’t come yet, to add and I need to finish up the foyer area with my manger figurines in the glass cases.  They were cleared out for the renovation of the tabernacle.  They are closing it down after Christmas this year and start the process- it is a beautiful historical building and has been such an honor to decorate it for Christmas.  Monday, I said a prayer and dedicate my time to the Lord in making something beautiful.  I thanked the pioneer ancestors that built this lovely building.   After my prayer I sat there in silence with my eyes closed as I was meditating, I could hear voices though out the building very softly and felt that pioneer angels were amongst me in this sacred building.  It has been such an honor to decorate for Christmas in this sacred building.   

Turkey Day is Coming !

We are heading out today to make the drive to our Draper home and spend a few days there for the Thanksgiving weekend - we do have to be back by Sunday for church.  So it will be a quick trip -only three days.  Natasha has invited us to her home Thanskgiving day - she is hosting the Thomas family this year and included us since it is our off year with our famiky gathering.  We got a big snow storm yesterday here at the lake it snowed all day long and is really cold.  Craig was out trying to clear the snow off our new driveway.  I said a prayer that his back would not flit up from shoveling snow ⛄️.  Old man winter is here.  I have been busy this past week getting my Christmas decor out here at the lake and decorating.  It’s beginning to feel like Christmas in the Symes home.  I went to our storage shed and gathered up all my boxes to go thru in the garage the past two days.  Last year I was sick when it came time to tear down the Christmas at the Tabernacle for the stake Christmas program last year. I had the flu bug - so sister Linda Rasmussen it in for me. I had to go thru and organize all that I have collected from decorating the past 8 years for wards Christmas parties I keep adding Christmas decor each year with our  different decor themes- last year was a wow Christmas party- my ward hasn’t asked me this year since we are in the YSA branch now.  Last year was my last year decorating for the GardenCity 1st ward.   They are combining with thr 2nd ward this year again which helps a lot in decorating- the 2nd ward is larger and has a lot more resources- they are hosting at our new visitor church building where the YSA branch meets.   It is a lot large area to host a ward party.  It will be the first ward parties hosted in our new building.   It has been 5 years now since it was built.  It will be nice to just show up this year and enjoy the event - by not being incharge.  It is alot of work.  The stake did call and ask if I would decorate for the Stake Christmas devotional again this year.  I have done it for the past three years now that the word is out I do such a great job.  Everyone loves what I create.  It is such an honor to me to be able to decorate in the beautiful historical tabernacle.  I have just made due with what I have collected over the years. Last year I added more gold tule and a few new ornaments- last year after Christmas I bought lots of beautiful new Christmas picks and Christmas balls anticipating they would ask me again this year.  I’m so excited to decor this year with all the new things I bought.  I love picking up new things up after the holidays it is all marked down to 80%.  I’m adding a lot of white this year- I flet it would look really pretty in the Tabernacle- Craig and I drive down to Draper last Thursday evening and came back Saturday morning.  It was another very quick trip down and back.  We had to be back for stake conference.  Craig was saying the closing prayer in our Saturday evening adult session.  Last Thursday afternoon our new refridgerator was delivered.  Our old one was costing to much to repair and we had to buy another fridge.  We made a trip to Logan to shop for one and excited to have it delivered- it’s been a week now using and we are liking our new fridge. Our quick trip down for one day I worked hard tearing down all my Halloween decor in the downstairs family area-  I have not been there long enough to tackle cleaning it all up.  Time to change my decor for our family Christmas party.  I plan hosting this year at our Draper home on Christmas Day- not a repeat of last year!  My Christmas Day ended in tears because of family drama and Craig and I missed it all.  I was so sad.   It going to be a better Christmas Day this year for me - I will make it happen!  I’m excited to decorate for the tabernacle this year.  I had to gather up all the new Christmas decor I bought last year and haul up to the lake.  I worked hard last Friday innour Draper home putting my Halloween decor away and cleaning downstairs so I will be ready when I come back to start decorating our Draper home for Christmas-  I do have all my fall decor upstairs to put away-  I wanted to wait until after Thanksgiving tackle that project.  I really haven’t had to time.  It was a race last Friday to get done what I could.  On our way out of town we stopped at the funeral viewing for Gene England who lives to be 105 years old.  He married Aunt Donna Symes at 101 years old.  She is our favorite Aunt on the Symes side- was was married to Uncle Jim Symes brother to Craig’s dad Merlin.  We have loved our association with Aunt Donna over the years-  she remarried Gene in her 90’s- it’s rare for anyone to be remarried at 101 they were able to have 4 years before he died.  It was very nice to visit with symes cousins in attendance and Aunt Donna  - she looks really good for 95 years old.   We also know serval of Gene’s sons that Craig grew up with.  Todd Enland and Jennett Lived in Pepperwood and are in the same ward as Natasha and Bridger.  I see them often when we visit their ward on my baby sitting shifts.  Jennett and her daughter Courtney were on the drill team with Stacy and Natasha. And they did all the flowers for Natasha’s wedding.  Jennett knew Bridgers mother growing up they went to Highschool together- she encouraged Bridger to attend his mothers funeral on Saturday.  Bridgers parents were divorced when he was 15 years old.   His mother had mental issues and had been estranged from his life since he was a young team.  He has not had a relationship with her since the divorce-  he didn’t know if he wanted to attend her funeral it was mixed emotions for him- since his marriage to Natasha they have only seen her different occasions.  I can relate to his feelings from my own birth father who deserted our family as a young three old.  He didn’t show up in my life until I was married at age 20 and then in and out  2 other occasion before he died-  so I relate to his emotions in their relationship-  I will visit with him on Thanksgiving day to see how the funeral went for him. They flew to Las Vegas last Saturday to attend the funeral.  Looking forward to gathering with the Thomas family tomorrow.  I have been working hard this past week sorting and Christmas decorating-  I have the lake house ready.  I could put out more but have to quit today to get ready for Thannoying day.  I. Red a little break from it all.  I’m pleased with what I have accomplished so far.  I’m copying the light of Christ theme tree that Trisha created- for the tabernacle.  I found the perfect lanterns surprisingly at the $ store in Evanston last Thursday evening on our stop there for dinner and our drive down.   Excited to see it all come together.   I do need a little break from my decorating-  the lake house will be all ready for Christmas when we come back Saturday evening which is December 1st-  the Christmas season is coming fast! 

November Week three/ Ysa Pizza night /

The month is flying by especially taking time to go to California.  Adjusting to the cold weather sitting in for the winter season.  Not in the Chratmas decorating mood yet.  It feels nice to put my autumn things away not that it’s done feels nice a clean at iur lake home. I have spent time giving our bedroom a good cleaning and did put out mini Christmas tress I ordered online and placed  on our night stands to get me in the mood.  They look fun for the winter season.  I can leave out all winter and not just for Christmas.  We are playing Pickelball three days a week inside at ideal beach enclosure gym.  It is not heated so we do have to dress warm.  Monday was a blizzard day getting inside tijj no play. We enjoyed our time playing three days last week.  For YSA activity this week we met at the Smoot home and cooked our own mini pizzas to eat.  It was fun to create a yummy pizza and visit.   I was really hungry-  I had not eaten much all day.  Trying to get my weight back down after our trip to California has thrown me off my diet.  By Wednesday I have dropped back down to where I was before we left 167 lbs- got to keep going.  I really want to get some weight off itnis a constant battle for me.  The weight just creeps on so fast and dosen’t come off very fast.  I have slowly been getting out my Chratmas decor.  I bought some fun things last year after Christmas sales and fun to get out this year.

November 5th - Go vote today! It’s crucial, even if it means missing some work. YSA Stargazing at 7 PM in Laketown: 560 N Falula Rd, with a big telescope! It was a very cold night- old man winter it here!  It was nice to gathering to enjoy a warm and delicious dinner- Thank you Sister Droesbeke. Fun to learn about the stars and see the planet Saturn in the night sky and several of the moon’s circling. We had an investigator being taught by the sister missionaries Dustin attending for the first time tonight. Sister Symes is supporting the sister missionaries on Wednesday afternoon to continue teaching Dustin about the gospel message discussing 3 Nephi 11.  They are going to President Symes home for another lesson.  Those in attendance this week- Jackson Pratt, Kyle Cazier, Geffory Taylor, Karen Barlow, Brandon Snow, Brother & Sister Droesbeke, Brother and Sister Smoot, Brother Derk Rasmussen and President and Sister Symes-  

November 12-  No activity tonight. It’s been moved to this Friday: Worldwide YSA broadcast at 7 PM, at the Visitor Branch building. Dessert to follow! We had a low attendance only 4 YSA members.  We had hope for more to attend-  

November 19- We’re making homemade pizza at the Smoots house tonight at 7 in Garden City! 150 south 70 west. Come connect and enjoy the evening!   Yummy to cook our own mini pizzas to eat.  It was fun to create and see all the different yummy pizza.  We were all really hungry-

                                            Josh England, President Symes, Karen Barlow

                                                                       Kyle Cazier

                                                                Lindsey Wahlburg- Smile

November 26th - No YSA tonight. Happy Thanksgiving

Pretty arrangement Sister Symes created

Thanksgiving Week

The month of November is flying by.  It has been two weeks since last recored in my journal.  We have kept busy.  We watched the Towner grandkids till Wednesday evening November 13th.  It was a quick trip for them only 4 days.  Yael was sick and stayed home from school on Tuesday.  I tried to give him extra vitamins to build his immune symptom to fight off the flu bug- he layed around all day playing video games in their garage- which is the game area for the kids.  The weather is so warm there year round  they use their garage area as another family room for the kids.  Praying Craig and I didn’t come down with this virus. I washed my hands a lot.  We had fun playing uno and cover your assets card games in the evenings with the kids.  We had so wild card games.  We enjoyed spending time with them. Wednesday was our last day- the kids all made it to school and this freed the day up for us.  We enjoyed driving up and down the pacific coast highway and stopping at the beach area in Newport for a walk .along the beach it so beautiful.  Stacy and Chad arrived home late Wednesday evening.  Chad celebrated his 40th  birthday October 12th while in Cancun.   Stacy is on the 19th also turning 40 years old.  Chad surprised her with another trip to Kaui, Hawaii with the kids leaving on Sunday November 17th.  They were only home three days and off for entire week with the kids to celebrate her 40th  birthday.   Craig and I left Thursday morning saying our goodbyes to everyone as they rushed out the door for school and Chad to work.  We were on the road by 8:30am.  Surprising the traffic wasn’t to bad.  We drove 7 hours to St George and had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner with the Burbidge family.  We were going to stay the night, but had another 7 hour drive to the lake.  I just wanted to stop at our Draper home to break the drive up.  Another 4 hour drive.  We stayed at Burbidge family to enjoy dinner and then out the door for our evening drive- arriving at midnight.  We were able to slept in and rest from our long drive.  Needed time to take a hot bath and clean up.  Wr had to be back at the lake for YSA regional devotional boadcast-  hosting at the visitor branch building.   So off we went back to the lake.   It felt nice to rest for a bit and break up the driving time.  We arrived in time for the devotional.  It was really good and uplifting.  Sister Camille Johnson taught us how to follow the prophets teachings by reading his talks on gospel library to study his words and learning how to apply in our lives daily.  Wished we didn’t have to rush back for the devotional and could have stayed longer at our Draper home.  I haven’t had time to take down any of my Halloween decoration.  It will have to wait until we can come back.  We had a cold weekend- the weather turning cold and some snow.  Jackie and Flint came up for the weekend to rake up the leaves and winterize their place for the winter.  I didnt want to go outside it was cold after being in California for a few days I was not ready for the cold weather.   I worked inside all day putting my fall decorations away.  I have lived my fall decor and didn’t want to put it away.   It was a days work for me packing it all up.  It felt good to declutter things.  If flet nice and clean until I drag out my Christmas decor’ we ended the night watching the BYU football game with Jackie and Flint- sad to say they lost their winning streak of -0-9 having their first loss of the season.  Sunday enjoyed our time at church   We had several YSA visitors which raised our numbers up  for our sacrament meeting.  We have so few local YSA members attending only 7 this week.  We did have a very nice come follow me lesson time.  I served pumpkin pie form our linger longer time after church.   On my way home I had a bad stomach ache come on. I had to go straight to the toilet.  I was so sick felt I was going to throw up ans bad stomach pain.  I was wiped out and stayed the rest of the day in bed resting.  We have had a full week. 

Day At The Beach

We arrived at Trisha’s new home about 4:30 pm.  We took a quick tour of their new home and started playing Pickelball on their new court.  Buck was out of town and the girls were working.  It was just Trisha and Boston - we had fun playing sevaral games of Pickelball.  Boston fixed us navjio tacos for dinner.  We then watched a movie Fall Guy- we slept in the new guest room and very comfortable.  Their new home has turned out so nice.  Trisha has been working on a festival of trees in St George and had a lovely tree she has decorated for the event all set up in the garage ready to go.  It turned out so pretty- she named it “Be the Light” I loved the battery operated lights and candles that she placed on the tree with lighted pictures of the Savior.   I go to take a picture, she going to send me pictures.  We woke up early and out the doo by 9am for our 5 and half hour drive arriving Saturday afternoon at the Towner home.  We were stuck in California traffic and it took us an additional hour traveling.  I was tired!  The guys enjoyed watching thr BYU football game for the evening celebrating BYU’s win of one pointing -beating the competitive- Utah team.  BYU is having a great year -9 wins and no losses this season. Beating Utah is a huge accomplishment for the cougars.  Stacy and Chad left early Sunday morning.  We manage to get everyone ready for church and on time arriving by 9am-  Yael was not feeling well and stayed home.  He laid around all day running a mild fever. Sure hope grandpa and I can avoid this illness.  It seems every time we babysit someone is sick and we come down sick after our babysitting shift- sure hope we can escape this time around. We had a lazy day Sunday hanging out at the house after church.  The kids enjoyed watching TV and playing their video games.  I fixed lunch and Craig picked up a pizza from Costco for dinner.  I had time to listen to a few podcast and catch up on some of my scripture reading.  I enjoyed attending relief society in Stacy’s ward.  Nice to be inspired by the sister’s comments- felt nice, I haven’t attended RS for over a year now serving in the YSA.  We don’t have enough sisters in the area to have relief society. We reviewed bother Bednars confernce talk about avoiding pride in our lives- this has been the downfall of many nations -the pride cycle and we have to guard against by striving to be obedient and striving to live righteously-  Honoring God in all our dealings-  Today is veteran Day- a holiday for the kids.  We all slept in and have come to the beach for the afternoon- feels good to be out side and soak up some sunshine, I love the smell of the salty air, listen to the waves crashing in and enjoying the beauty that surrounds us.  The kids had fun playing on the beach.  We only stayed about an hour- they started getting hungry and we all went to Wendy’s for lunch.  We hurried home in time for Yael to go to the movies with a friend. Rest for and hour and get little Enzo to his football practise at 4pm. The day has ticked by.  By 4pm the sunshine starts dropping off and air cools off quickly it is dark here by 5:30 pm -makes for a short day with day light saving time for the next six months.  Stacy and Chad will be back late Wednesday night.  The kids will be in school tomorrw so that will free up our day- we will have to find something to do may play some pickleball in the morning.  The kids are very busy after school and we will be busy carpooling them to their various activities.  The time is going to go by quickly! 

Arriving To St George

The RS dinner was a great secuss.  it all turned out so pretty.  Everyone loved how I decorated- I hung 6 cornsaulks on culture hall wall with big autumn bows and made lovely centerpieces for all the tables.  I was really pleased with how it all turned out.  They had a great attendances -  I had a busy day.  Woke up early to 6am to shower a d get ready for the day, I headed to the church to decorate at 8:30 am and finished up at 12:30 I was hungry and Craig and I went to cafe Sabor for lunch.  We then went home and worked a couple of hours putting things away out side for the winter cold months ahead. We have had a lovely fall.  Just this fall the first week of November that we had the temperature drop in the 20’s all week my growing season is done.  I was able to rest about a half an hour when sister Menlove called one on thr cornstalk fell off the wall.  It had already fell once when I was there earlier in the day.  This one hook was not holding.  I was able to hurry and dress for the event and out the doo by 5pm with a new command hook and tape to try again hanging the last cornstalk.  Yeah this hook held for the event.  The food was yummy and a very nice devotional.  Karen. Barlow one of our ysa sisters  attended with me and helped me tear things down afterwards. It all came down fast.  Several sister wanted thr cornstalk so I said take them. I was just going to throw in thr garage. I had to hurry home for thr sister missionaries to arrive for a missionary discussion for a young man named Dustin.  Had had gone with them Wednesday afternoon teaching this young man.  He is from Louisiana and had been in the area 4 months. He didn’t invite us in- we stood at the doorstep teaching for for ah hour in thr cold air. 32 degres and a cool breeze my hands were freezing.  We were all so cold when we left. They schedule another time the next night and I suggested meeting at our home so we would not be standing outside again- we scheduled for later 8:30 pm after the devotional - I hurried home after the event with everything  unloaded and put away just in time for the sisters arrival.  Craig had to go pick Sustin up to come to our home.  It was quick lesson.  They left and we packed up to drive to our Draper home arriving at 12:45 am this has been Avery busy day and very rewarding.  Craig and I woke up early and out the door by 10 am for his back doctor appointment y which went really well.  We then began out road trip to Sta George - just arriving and sleeping over at the Burbidge’s new home tonight