No Rest for the Weary

Last week was a rough one for me. I was "off" from work in between teaching super-fast Cell, and Freshman advising, but it took two solid days for me to recover from the trip to the beach. I was actually fine both Friday and Saturday, but Sunday I was feeling it... and I felt it Monday and Tuesday too. Life doesn't wait though and I had to take Valerie to the dentist, make a stop at the consignment store (where I REFUSED) the offer they gave me, I had to go in to work a couple days after Matt got home at 11:30 pm, we had Candra over, Young Women, and then getting ready for the weekend...

Some had it easier (Valerie and Asher) than others (Matt and I). I guess that is the way it is supposed to be though.

While Valerie was at an amusement park with Alexis...

going on roller coasters and playing in the water park...

I was chasing Asher- I actually ripped a tendon in my shoulder trying to capture him... And get everything ready for the Pioneer Trek ($150 O-o) and Father's Day dinner...

I dropped Valerie and Alexis off this morning during a down-pour in some of the most-gorgeous country I've seen, and I have seen some gorgeous country driving across the USA a couple years ago... I cried as I passed them and said, "I LOVE YOU, GUYS!" and prayed for better weather.  It is supposed to be rain, rain, rain and sleeping outside with no tents... Ow, my heart...

Anyway. On the way to drop them off, I was very distracted by thoughts of the weather and we had passed through the last small town and the gas light went on in the van.  I don't drive the van often, so I went on and about 15 miles later (just pulling up to the drop-off), I pushed the button that said "0 miles till empty." That was scary.  I did not say anything to the girls, but I was FREAKING OUT! IT was a miracle, because I made it 22 miles to a gas station, praying the whole time.  Then the rain cleared up and I keep thinking it will be ok.  I sure hope so. 

Asher made this for his daddy.  He LOVED this- it is his FIRST.REAL.CRAFT. and it is super-cute! My friend, Tina gave me the idea when I asked for help to make something with the nursery children at church.

Yes, nursery, I was the sub.  Valerie and Alexis skipped sunday school and young women, and normally, I would have been annoyed, but I definitely needed them yesterday.  With their help, we made 8 more Father's Day gifts and kept up with 9 children 18-36 months.  One little guy even spent his first Sunday with us and he really did great.  I gave the kids fresh fruit for snack and after that, little Egan was happy as could be. 

Matt wore the tie I had made for him in 2008...

THEN, I made the Father's Day dinner of dreams.  Fresh-cut New York Strip- I chose the steaks and they were wrapped in butcher's paper, sweet corn on the cob, ice cream cake, amazing macaroni and cheese, baked sweet potatoes and baked regular potatoes, fresh salad with my own basil and tomato and fresh-cut parmasean cheese, marinated/grilled vegetables (to DIE for), hummus, rosemary/sea-salt bread and colby cheese.  

It was an amazing dinner. We were all eating till midnight and it was yummy.