It's Time to Pay the Piper

Last week my brother, his wife and Lucy dog came for a visit.  I took some time off and now I am having to pay the piper so to speak as I get back to work.  Why is it you can take a half day off of work and end up with what seems like three days worth of catch up?

Anyway...we had such a great time together and they spoiled me rotton.  I was not ready to see them go, but they had to get to a niece's wedding reception on Saturday evening.  Here is a run down of the highlights in no particular order.

• We had a king size bed given to us by our little neighbor lady.  Just in time for guests.  Gary helped Ralph get the bed upstairs and set up.  We then decided to go get some sheets and a mattress pad for the bed. Gary got a little bit of shoe shopping in.  He likes new shoes - just like me!  (thanks Gary and Mar!) 
• We found some time to watch movies - Bandits, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, and Prairie Home Companion. 

• We went to the Utah Symphony at Deer Valley Resort.  Mark O'Connor was the guest performer.  He is an amazing fiddler. Devil comes back to GA I would have loved to hear more.  Because we needed ADA parking and seating we got the royal treatment.  We had close parking, escorted to our seats that were great, they checked on us during intermission and driving out of the parking lot was a breeze.   We took a picnic dinner that was very tasty. A big thanks to Emily for getting us the tickets.  Woot!!  By the end of the evening most of us were wrapped in blankets.  It got kind of chilly,
• The Reeses Peanut Butter Cheesecake was everything I had imagined and then some.  So worth every calorie!  Thanks Gary and Mar!Reeses Peanut butter Cheesecake post
• We went to MacCools Pub for an early birthday dinner.  My oh my the food was fantastic.  We sampled ribs, mussels, sweet potato fries, lamb shank, buffalo shepherds pie, Lamb - french dip sandwhich, seafood cakes and a little bit of chocolate bread pudding.  Thanks Gary and Mar!
• Mar and I got a little bit of paper crafting done.  
• I now have a table in my craft room to work on - so no more traipsing up and down the stairs with stamping supplies. (Thanks Gary and Mar!)

Sam - my little friend went home with them.  Actually we (me, Ralph and Riley, despite the peeing and the destruction he brought to our house, had started to become attached to the little guy.   I know my brother will treat him well and give him a very loving home.  Sam wore Riley out...Riley slept for at least the next 20 hours.  He did not have to be on his guard anymore that Sam might eat his food, or get something he would miss out on.  They played, slept and wrestled often.  Thanks for an exciting week.

Pictures and a Birthday Card

This morning bright and early (like 7:30am) I head over to the ward house to fill the font for the baptism that was taking place today.  Turns out - the stake are the only ones who have keys to the font.  So... my question is why wouldn't our bishopric know that and tell me where to get the keys- especially since they were going to be out of town today.  Long story short - the font was filled on time and the baptism and confirmation went great.  We were home by 11:00 ish.  I got some stampin done as well as a little bit of organizing.

Monkey #1 had a birthday this week and we are celebrating this evening but I wanted to get the card photographed and posted before it goes in the envelope.  On the inside I stamped another little frog/toad and the greeting says "we hope you had a "toad"ally cool birthday"   I love this image - she is so cute and a little spitfire to boot.

Pictures of Sam and Riley  -  the new game it to see if they can get the bone from each other by creating some kind of diversion.  They are getting very creative in their games.

They are so cute together.  Riley will surely miss Sam when he goes.  Riley still guards the food bowls and Sam still wants to mark everything.  My house smells like DOG!    We will have to clean carpets when all has settled down.

Off to get a book at the book store for the b-day party and then to dinner with some friends before we head to the family compound. 

Ta Ta for now

August craziness

Well - I have kicked off the first of the month with a huge BANG!  We have temporarily adopted a little chihuahua full of pizzazz -so that when my brother comes for visit in just a little over a week - he can take "Sam" home.  When we picked him  up - his name was "binky"  Who names a dog binky?  Anyway - my brother has opted for the name Sam.  Sam was a little upset last night that Riley got to sleep in our bed and he had to sleep in the kennel...to the point that everytime one of us moved - he barked and scratched at the gate to be let out.   You would think the little guy would settle down for a little rest.  Not Sam.  Ralph - being the saint that he is - took Sam out for a potty break at 5:00 this morning - since we were all awake anyway.  By 9:30 this morning Sam had earned his way back into the kennel for peeing on the floor.  I think Sam will try sleeping is his kennel in another room tonight.  It is going to be a looonnnggg week.  To my brother and his wife...come anytime you want to take care of your new baby.    He is kinda cute though.  (not a great photo of me - just focus on the cute little dog.)

This first week of August entails...

• Training a new secretary and teacher for Primary
• A baptism on Saturday - yes I get to fill the font and take care of the clothes because the ward is in charge and the bishop and his counselor over primary will be out of town.   This will be my first time being in charge of a baptism. 
• Planning a primary activity for the 28th - and boy is it going to be fun - just not at my house!
• A sympathy card and several birthday cards -
• Clean my house
• Arrange for a bed to be moved
• Garden and house chores - (we picked about 2 quts of black currants last night and several tomatoes, zucchini, crookneck, cucumbers and peppers)  The hard work is beginning to pay off - and soon it will begat even more work.
• Book group on Thursday - have to fix some kind of yummy treat.

I think that is enough considering 9 hours of my day are spent at work.

Well - everyone have a fantabulous day
Ta Ta for now