A Busy and Very Fun Weekend

This weekend was, as my title says, busy and very fun. :-) After school on Friday Mark, Jeff (Mark's friend from college), and I went to Fuqua Friday. Fuqua Friday is a little party thing that Duke's Business school holds. It is basically a food sampling and networking opportunity. When we were there Brady & Karissa joined us. We had a little food, talked for a while, and then went to get a real dinner at Chipolte. By the time we got home Michael had joined the group and we watched the BYU football game. Thursday night I had baked and decorated a cake for the game. (I am so proud of my cake decorating lately. I have only done two, Minnie Mouse and a football, but they are so much more cool than what my usual cakes look like.) Karissa and I served the cake, and then I just enjoyed having people over.

Karissa and Brady stayed the night in our spare room, so Saturday morning the four of us drove to Fayetteville for our nephew's baptism day. Before the baptism the family went to Jenny's neighborhood yard sale. Mark and I weren't planning on finding anything. However, I came out with quiet a few things. At one house I got two full boxes of embroidering thread (just under 350 colors), 4 picture books, a pack of new pens (for school), and about 75 mini erasers (also for school) for $10. Then, at another house, I bought two Sizzix die-cuts for $6 (a value of $25). The last thing we found that I liked was a little bit more expensive. I don't remember who saw it first, but I think it may have been Mark. Anyway, we found a love seat that was for sale. It was the same basic shape as our couch, and the woman wanted $50 for it. Mark got her to accept $31 (weird number I know, but it was because I had a twenty, a five, and six one's in my wallet, so we gave her all of that). It is green, so I will have to get a slip cover before it will match the rest of the furniture, but at least now people won't have to sit in camp chairs like the picture above shows!

After spending a lot more money than we had planned we went back to Jenny and Matt's home for lunch. After lunch the whole family (minus those in UT) hung around and talked about everything and nothing all at the same time. I just love being around Mark's family! It seems like the best memories I have so far being here are almost all with the family.

Cameron's baptism was very nice. Mark said the opening prayer. Cameron's other grandmother gave a talk on baptism just before his dad performed the ordinance, and Michael was a witness. After the two men got changed Paulette, Karissa, Ashlyne, a cousin, and I sang a primary song called If the Savior Stood Beside Me. Susan gave a talk on the Holy Ghost and then all of Cameron's uncles were able to participate in the circle as Cameron received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. At the end Brady gave the closing prayer. It was a very spiritual ceremony and I enjoyed the opportunity to be there as Cameron became an official member of our church.

After the baptism we went back to the house for dinner, cake, ice cream, and presents. I hope Cameron enjoyed the day as much as Mark and I did!

Michael, Brady, Karissa, Mark, and I drove home around 7:30 pm. Michael was so nice to let us put our new furniture in his truck. Brady and Mark carried the love seat up the stairs and then the 5 of us enjoyed another evening with family. I started nodding off (quiet literally) around 10:30 pm and went to bed early while Mark stayed up with his family. This morning Brady and Karissa left early for their drive back home (sorry the bread wasn't done guys, it came out of the oven like 15 min. later). Right now Mark is still asleep, while Gizmo and I are eating breakfast.

Thank you to everyone who made my weekend great! I live for the weekends now, and this was just perfect!

PS: I told my mom that Mark had grown a beard and she said she couldn't imagine him with that much facial hair, so here is a frame from video I took Thursday night. I think you can see his beard okay in this one.

Thank you Missy for puppy sitting yesterday! While Gizmo can't talk I know he must have been happy to see you those couple times and even more happy to go outside.