Come Play?

I got a phone call this morning from my nephew Grant. He has just moved to Washington D.C. while his dad is in the Air Force. Grant wanted to know if I could come over to play. I'd have to get on a plane for a long time, but then I would be there. So could I come? I almost booked a flight right then and there for the cuteness factor alone!

Another Picnic Lunch

To celebrate a birthday in the Temple Department, a number of us brown bagged it across the street at the Brigham Young Park. Another perfect day for it! If these lunches keep happening, they might make me forget my desire for fall to come! We also had an unwelcome visitor - Leisha was dogged by a bumble bee the entire time! It circled, and circled, and circled...

Leisha, Debbie, LaRae, Sandra, Rachel, Kathy, Linda J, Christie, and Linda C.

Temple Construction

For FHE we had someone come from VCBO Architecture to discuss temple construction. It wasn't too bad...when I could stop cringing from worry that something was going to be said that wasn't released yet.  In the hour and a half activity, there were only four things mentioned that shouldn't have been. Not too bad...

Winger's salad for a picnic lunch with Susan out on temple square. Since the heat isn't going away, might as well enjoy these last moments while we can!

Super Sunday

Visiting teaching...check.
All three meetings in the block...check.
Service for a blind sister in the ward...check.

A triple check means I can then put the pajamas back on for the rest of the evening, right?

Sleepy Saturday

Guess who stayed in her pajamas the entire day?!!  It's has been many weekends since I've been able to stay at my place alone, so I thought I'd take a day to indulge and make up for it.  My heart medication does not allow for me to take it before laying down to sleep since it will cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure while prone; so I wasn't sleeping all day, but the pj's were definitely in play!

Motion Picture Studio

Got to take a road trip to the LDS Motion Picture Studios in Provo today for work. They are storing all the costumes and props for us from the Cultural Celebrations. We did a bit of a driving tour around the lot afterward and saw some of the buildings they have in different films.



Prince Edward Island Baby!

Guess who has her plane ticket to Boston (free thanks to SkyMiles) and will be taking a roadtrip up the east coast through Maine and Canada to Prince Edward Island? Ahhh, good times, good times. This will place us in Salem, Massachusetts on Halloween. Can't wait!

Belated Bday

I was having the busiest day at work and when I got back to my desk I had the cheeriest arrangement of flowers that had been delivered to me for my birthday...twelve days late. I actually really liked enjoying my bday spread out over the month of September. Thanks Sarah Joy! You're the best!

I finally took a picture of the State Capitol as I ventured up the rest of the HILL tonight. This is from the lower southwest side of the track, and the temperature was perfect! I love fall and knowing the days are only going to get cooler as opposed to the spring when you know its going to get hot.

Lisa's Farewell

My sister Lisa is moving this week to Washington D.C. with her two boys. As a farewell, the sisters, and Cody, all went to a temple session together. My parents were finishing up their shift as temple workers and met up with us in the celestial room after. We each gave them a hug and a kiss and then sat together. When I teased my dad later about being stuck in the house with all girls growing up there at the end, he was probably glad Cody came to the temple too. I was surprised with his answer. My dad said that no, he liked his girls and spending time with us. Giving us all a hug and smelling us again (yes he said smelling us) brought it all back and he missed it. Ahh, he has a cuteness factor uniquely his own!

Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse

Tried out a new restaurant called Tepanyaki. I've never had the chef cook our food in front of us before. The flames and onion volcano were very fun. Even better? The gift certificate won through work that allowed me to be taken out and get our meal for free!

State Capitol

I live on a HILL. It's nice going to work in the morning because my time is shortened with the forward momentum to get me there. Returning home in the evening is torturous. Once I'm there though it is not bad at all to finish the last little jaunt to get me up to the grounds of the State Capitol. There is a gravel walking path that goes around the entire area and it is just right to exercise. Now if I could just get the energy to continue on after making it up the hill to my apartment...Today was one of those days and it was beautiful!

Follow Up Doctor's Visit

I decided not to leave the doctor's office until I had a satisfactory response to the continued heart pains that I've been having...and it worked! I can now wait for my blood pressure to stabilize without worrying about the repercussions of my heart hurting as it is just muscle contractions around the heart caused by the blood pressure fluctuations. I am also now on an increased dose of medication for the syncope and low blood pressure since I've been able to become accustomed to the side effects. The tingling and goose bumps are now back in full force! The next check-up is in four months. Tingle away!

B&B in Business Again

Lori and Cody decided to come try out my bed and breakfast for themselves. They came to stay after going to the rodeo at the state fair on Saturday. We played Cutthroat Uno before calling it a night where they tried out the smaller, soft bed in the guest room AND the double bed in the living room. Apparently they couldn't decide which one they liked better.

After a blueberry pancake, scrambled eggs, and fruit smoothie breakfast, we played Egyptian Rat Slap, Cutthroat Uno, King's Corners, and Memory. We couldn't get Cody to play multiple games of the Egyptian Rat Slap though because the Pack girls tend to get a little competitive...besides being pretty fast.

This evening after coming to my parents' house to spend the night before my next doctor's appointment, we had Dana's family, Kevin, Lori, Cody, and my parents all playing more card games. Since I no longer play Canasta (thanks to a cheater who's turned me off the game forever), I was able to convice Jason to come over (the aforementioned cheater), and play a REAL game of Egyptian Rat Slap. It was FANTASTIC. He played with Lori and I and we are all pretty well-matched so it was a championship tournament. Each of us would get out multiple times but were able to slap back in. Then Jason and I played a few games of California Speed and they were involved to say the least. We had a crowd of people watching us play because it was so intense. And FUN. It's been awhile since we've played like that and it was great! That would be the Pack competitive side showing again...

Lunchtime Gathering

I was taken out to lunch by a group from work for my birthday. We ended up at Tony Burger's and just happened to see others from our department also lunching there. They had Bear River raspberry shakes and they were delicious! Of course, there was a sports channel going on at the same time and it left people a little occupied...

Trent and Ryan fascinated by the screen with Scott in the background expostulating.

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was a birthDAY for me, meaning the celebrations spanned the whole day. Lots of good wishes sent by text, email, facebook, and phone. One phone call in particular was out of the ordinary. My sister, Jenny, and her son Nate called-not to sing to me, but to solicit money for a fundraiser and for my electronic expertise. It took me asking if they'd forgotten anything before they remembered and both joined in for a birthday song rendition. They were a bit embarrassed, but it made the song even more exuberant. Quite enjoyable!

My sister Lisa brought her two kids up and had lunch with me on temple square.

Then a GREAT boss let me leave early from work for the day. I met up with my mom, dad, Lori, Cody, and Jason for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Yes I was embarrassed with the obligatory singing by the staff, but when they bring you Dulce de Leche cheesecake with 'Happy Birthday Tammy' written in chocolate around the plate, you really can't complain! Jason also showed us some of his headshots (we did get to laugh at the swimsuit shots). So, if you know anyone hiring...

Surprises

One of the area directors that I work with returned from his travel to the Ukraine. He brought back some souvenirs including a nesting doll for me and a crystal with a cutting of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple inside. They are pretty great souvenirs to be given. He has just set a new standard!

My mom also came up and had lunch with me while waiting for the little boy and his mom from the Spanish ward at Primary Children's Hospital. We had a quick stop at Deseret Book and then ended up at PF Chang's. It's always fun to have those lunch getaways with family.

Mutual Dell

My aunt and uncle have been in town for the weekend and so we all went to breakfast at IHOP to celebrate. Grandma got her trademark hot chocolate and I splurged and had the fruit goblet with my meal. Yes, it does taste better in a goblet than in the little plastic dish like my aunt got with her breakfast. =D

The afternoon was spent with the whole family at Mutual Dell up the American Fork Canyon for the Labor Day picnic and September birthday celebration. My bday cake was cheese. As in cheesecake. Yum! Too bad I had to share! Jon brought a cake for Jace, one of the kids living at his house. When they went to cut the cake, it turned out to be a styrofoam display cake that shouldn't have been sold! Needless to say, it is being taken back with a refund demand.

We also all took a turn out on the baseball diamond. I can still hit a ball...it just doesn't go very far. Dad still has some mad skills though. Only one injury with little Christian falling and splitting his lip open. He didn't have to go to the doctor's unlike Grant earlier in the day when he cut his chin falling off a chair. That was several stitches after trimming the fat that was bulging out. Sick! But they're both okay.

The birthday girls sharing the love.

Pretty Nate

Crazy-eyed Micah!

Tiffany Rose

Tiffany Rose Pack was blessed today. There was lots of family joining us at Church and again afterwards for lunch at Dana and Deborah's. The nieces are finally starting to catch up to the nephews, though they still have a long way to go! The count is now at 3 to 11.

My mom was VERY concerned about a new visiting teaching assignment she received in the Spanish ward she is attending. The concern came from her not speaking Spanish and having three ladies who don't speak any English. Being the amazing daughter that I am, I took her Sunday afternoon to visit her five ladies, introduced her, and acted as go between until mom felt comfortable enough to handle it on her own. She's going to do just fine!

Miniature Golf

I decided to spend the Labor Day long weekend at my parents' house. My dad had energy getting home after work still on Friday and since we've had a little bit of some miniature golf smack talk going on recently, he took my mom and me to the Cascade course. There really wasn't a reason for the two of us to have a competition going on because the dark horse turned out to be my mom! And she has the proof! The scorecard keeps making an appearance. In her purse instead of the grocery list, on the seat of the car when we go out, and currently residing on the fridge. My dad and I have been schooled in the art of smack talk!

This morning I had a nice temple session with my sister Lisa. Her husband is in officer's training for the Air Force in Alabama. We were able to find both my mom and dad there and had a nice lunch with them. That's my kind of temple visit!

Official Family Picture

Well, the official family picture is finally in. Yes the majority of children aren't smiling, but everyone that should be, is in the picture and we're going to go with it!

New Nephew?

Apparently I have a new nephew. He walked into my parents house this week, said 'hi grandpa!' to my dad, and then walked downstairs to play. I think my parents are still speechless. I know I certainly am!

Free Lunch

Every quarter, one of the general authorities that work in my department gives a devotional for us. This time it was Elder Claudio D. Zivic. He has just joined the temple department at the last assignment changes and it was the first time we've heard him speak. In addition to our regular authorities, we had four others join us. It was rather inspiring to be in this small room and see eight of the seventy at the front as we heard testimony of what we believe. The visitors were - Elder Per G. Malm (Sweden), Elder Patrick Kearon (Bristol, England), Elder Kevin R. Duncan and Elder Gerrit W. Gong (both U.S).

and our regulars are - Elder William R. Walker (Canada), Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi (Japan), Elder Larry W. Gibbons (U.S.), and Elder Zivic (Argentina). We're really a world-wide church!

For lunch, a few of us decided to go to Chili's to celebrate a birthday. Is it worth it to have a DRY hamburger and burned fries if you end up getting the meal for free? The free bit was offered by the establishment to apologize for the poor food quality. I had the potato soup with my meal though and that part was delicious!