2014: page two hundred thirty-seven

I kept working my way through the laundry that Ryan started over the weekend.

In the evening, Ryan and I went to dinner just to be together and to talk. I'm still in this funk/fog/whatever-it-is and I'm not sure I'm that much fun to be around, but he's stickin' by me. Thankfully!

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Oops, I stayed up too late last night and didn't sleep very well. :( Oh well. I did sleep in a little bit and took my time getting ready before having to check out.

After I checked out, I stopped back by at the cute little bakery grabbing a chai tea and a cinnamon roll for breakfast (and yummy looking cookies to take back to Ryan and B).

Of course, I also stopped by Walmart on the way out of town. Can't pass by Walmart when it's so close. :) We needed dog food anyway.

Then on the road home to my family! Although, when I got home no one was here. Ha ha. That's not a huge surprise considering it was Sunday afternoon and most Sundays we all go out to lunch after church.

Shortly after getting home, Ryan and B showed up along with Jeremy and Crystal. Everyone hung out for a while until B fell asleep on Crystal's lap.

*On a side note, Ryan did a TON of laundry while I was gone! Thank you, Ryan!*

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What a great night's sleep I had! My alarm woke me from a deep sleep at 8:00 AM. I was so surprised to be that asleep that late. The room darkening curtains may have helped. :) I was wishing I hadn't made my spa appointments for 9:45, but I did fall back asleep until around 9:00.

After quickly showering and getting ready, I headed for the spa! This was my first real spa experience with the luxurious robes and all! So fun! A clay body wrap and then a massage are what I chose for this wonderful spa experience and I enjoyed every minute of it. I could have stayed there all day. :)

Ready for my spa time!

But, since all day at the spa wasn't in the plan, I headed to the cute little bakery at the hotel to enjoy a yummy baguette sandwich for lunch.

I mozied on back to my room where I decided to read some more. All day. I literally spent the rest of the day and way past a decent bedtime reading the last 400 pages of my book. So enjoyable. Oh, and I brought back a chocolate torte from the bakery to enjoy while I read. Mmmmmm.

Delicious!

In the evening, I was able to FaceTime with Ryan and B for a little bit, which was wonderful. As much as I enjoyed this time away, I did miss those two tremendously!

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Off I go!

Packed my bags. Played with my girl. Then, once Ryan got home from work, I left for my getaway.

After at stop at the Heber Walmart for some snacks (of course), I headed to the mountains and my hotel for the next couple days.

"Home" for the next couple days.

When I got to my room and opened my suitcase, I found the sweetest note from my hubby! Of course I cried, but they were happy tears. :) Thank you, Ryan!

After settling into my room, I was hungry and went to dinner at one of the on-site restaurants. I have to admit, it was a little weird to eat alone at a sit down restaurant, but that's ok. It's good to be stretched. :)

Amazing fish tacos.

Then back to my room for a little TV and then, wait for it...I started reading a book. A real live book. A novel. Just for fun. Pretty cool. :)

My book.

2014: page two hundred thirty-three

Today....

I lost it.

I completely broke down.

Ryan has been asking me for days if I'm ok and I've been saying yes, trying my best to indeed be ok.

It's official, as of today, I am not ok.

The day started out just fine with a trip to the grocery store, but by nap time and the struggle that came with that I LOST it. Totally and completely.

Long story short, after texting Ryan letting him know that I am not ok, he took charge realizing I needed a break or something. He booked me a weekend getaway at the Zermatt Resort in Midway leaving tomorrow. Wow! I think it will be wonderful and is much needed!

Shortly after talking with Ryan about my getaway, I got a text from April asking if she could come get B for a few hours. Well, yes! :) At first I thought that Ryan had talked to her to see if she would come get B, but nope. It was a God thing. Within a few minutes she had come over, picked her up, and I had a moment to breathe.

I am really, really hoping that the medication that I've started taking kicks in a lot sooner than the 4-6 weeks that it's supposed to take, because I am a mess and I think that's a lot of the reason.  

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Ah, back to normal life. The past few days were so much fun! I will admit, though, that I was so ready for a day to just stay home. If only Ryan had the day off, too...

And really, I didn't do a whole lot today. I'm worn out. Pretty sad to be that worn out after 4 fun staycation days. Oh well. Ryan fixed dinner and then he and B went over to Jeremy and Crystal's new house to help out and see the remodelling progress.

The highlight of my day was talking to my sweet friend, Lys, on the phone. It's been way too long since we've had a chance to chat. So happy to spend over an hour talking with her!

Oh, and here is the finished (at least for now) entryway wall!

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STAYCATION DAY 4

For our last day of staycation, we stayed really close to home heading to the golf course for a little golfing. If you can't tell from the pictures, B was pretty excited to go golfing. She has been asking almost everyday for a while, mostly for a ride in the golf cart. :)

Then while B napped, I went to the store and the coffee shop for a final (at least for a little while till I get a better hold on my health) delicious "Marilyn Monroe" blended coffee. :)

Worship practice rounded out our day. Since Karlie headed back to college, Petra watched B at the house. While they were playing outside, they jumped on the trampoline and got a little wet. So, when we got home Petra already had B in her jammies. What a wonderful babysitter!

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STAYCATION DAY 3

A trip up to Flaming Gorge and a stop off at Little Brush Creek Cave, which is Utah's longest cave, were on today's docket. We ate lunch at the Flaming Gorge Resort Restaurant, then journeyed on down across the dam for B to see. Once across the dam, we stopped at the view point where we could see the dam, the reservoir and the Green River far down below.

Driving back towards Vernal, we ventured off the main road to find the entrance to Little Brush Creek Cave, which we did find. However, I wasn't really prepared for the hike down to the entrance in my flip flops. It's pretty steep and I'm not sure how I would have done climbing down even wearing hiking boots. Ha ha! Maybe someday we will go back more prepared to venture down in there and probably without B.

Once back in Vernal, we found the new Christian bookstore and wandered around a bit. Then Ryan hit Sportsman's Warehouse while B and I went to Joann's.

This evening, I received a message back with the results from my blood work that was taken a couple of weeks ago. Hypothyroid. Wasn't really what I wanted to hear. :( Guess I shouldn't really be surprised since it tends to run in my family, but still. Ugh. Although, it is good to have an answer as to why I've been feeling the way I have both physically and mentally.

Finished the day off with leftover pizza at home for dinner.

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STAYCATION DAY 2

A trip to Dry Fork Canyon was on the docket for day 2 of our staycation. But, first, a stop in Vernal to get the oil changed and grab some grub. While Ryan took the truck for the oil change, B and I wandered around Wal-mart and grabbed some snacks. I also scored on finding some clearance summer dresses for B for next year! Love me a bargain. :)

Dry Fork Canyon was really pretty and I've never been up there before, so it made for a pretty drive and some fun hiking around. At the bottom of the canyon on the cliff face (as you see in the pic below), an American flag with the words "Pearl Harbor," "Remember the Maine" and a few other things have been painted about 100 feet up. I am still trying to find the significance of why it's painted there, but it's pretty cool. I did find an old picture online of men painting it, but not much other information.

As well, there's the McConkie Ranch up there with a trail that has a bunch of petroglyphs, but unfortunately, B was sleeping when we passed by there. That just means we will have to go back sometime.

She insisted on wearing boots today. Nothing else would do, so boots it was. :) At least they make for good mountain shoes. 

It is so hard to hear her in the video, but she is introducing herself to the little tree. Saying something along the lines of, "My name is Briella. Can you say, B-B-Briella?" Too funny! I so wish that the audio was better.

 Yep, going potty in the woods. :)

 

Pretending she's a dog crawling around.

Once we had made our way back down from Dry Fork it was dinnertime. We ordered pizza online, picked it up and headed to the park for food and playtime. Playing on the playground was especially fun because we had it all to ourselves!

 

Going down the slide all by herself for the first time! Up until now she has been a little afraid of slides. Ryan took the video in slow motion until the end.

 

Oh, and we had to change her clothes after the mountains because they were no longer wearable. Thankfully, I had purchased those clearance dresses. Ha ha! After putting one on her, I realized they probably won't fit her next summer after all, because this one already hits her at the knee. :/ 

2014: page two hundred twenty-eight

STAYCATION DAY 1

We actually started our first day of staycation out by helping a lady from church move. I know it doesn't sound very vacation-y, but it was important. Originally, just Ryan was going to go help. Then I thought that B and I could catch a ride over with him and shop at JoAnn's, Petco, Sportsman's Warehouse, etc until they had finished packing her house in Vernal.

After further thought and discussion with Ryan, we decided that B and I would help with the move. While we wouldn't be of much help (her because she is 2 and me because I'll be chasing her around. Ha.), some valuable lessons could be taught to B.  Lessons such as the importance of helping others, giving of your time to others, doing it all with a cheerful hear, etc. B already loves to help and was ready to jump right in once we got there. She carried a few things out and "helped" me carry other things out. Although, her favorite part was pushing the button to open the automatic doors. :)

We finished helping with the move around 3:00 and then we hopped in the Jeep to head over to Fruitland and the base of Tabby Mountain. Part of Ryan's Dedicated Hunter program requires that he help cut down small trees that start growing in order to encourage the growth of plants that the animals eat. The three of us had a little picnic, walked around together for a while and then he took off to find small trees to cut down. B and I hung out around the Jeep, played in the dirt, drew pictures, and more.