Worn out

It truly was a Maddypalooza weekend!  Maddy and Matthew arrived in the wee hours of the morning on Saturday and we finally got to visit with them over a late breakfast later that day.

Meri took us with her on a dog sitting stint for a friend, then the kids and I went over to an outlet mall that is closing soon.  Part of Maddy's birthday present was to go on a shopping spree of sorts.  Meri got a limit too, which she hit brilliantly.  Maddy didn't get up to her limit or even close.  fine.  that means I have to be more  creative with her Christmas presents.

Ryan got off work, so he and Jen arrived in time for lunch.  Robb had made smoked pulled pork for sandwiches.  SO good.  

Then as usually when we all get together, we played Settlers of Catan... I surprised even myself and I won!!!  and then a new game that Ryan had borrowed from a friend, Betrayal at the House on the Hill.  It's kind of a cross between Dungeons and Dragons, Clue and a Scooby Doo movie.

It was pretty fun, but then Ryan had to leave for work so that meant Jen was leaving too.  Robb came up with a new way to see who won and everyone rolled one die.  Everyone with a blank die died.

We spent the rest of the afternoon visiting and preparing for a grand birthday SSSN(Super Secret Steak Night) for dinner.  Maddy and Matthew liked the curtains I made for them.  I even heard her play on the piano for a while.  Nice....  I miss that.

I think I did dishes four times on Saturday.  Not my usual...

Had a great dinner and our nephew Josh even came from campus to join us.  Maddy got a cake with the community candle in it and she has no boyfriends as she was able to blow it out with one puff.

Matthew was relieved.

Meri had wanted us to use a squat scented candle and place it in the middle this year, but yuck...  Robb suggested Citronella.  again yuck.  

We'll stick with the usual candle.

 Then we played Ticket to Ride and Meri kicked us all by winning big.  Wow...  

Ryan came back to the house about the time I was ready to crash and the kids all played one of the board games, but I don't know what or how late.  I went to bed.  Eventually, I'm sure everyone did.

Ryan had to work the next morning early, so Maddy, Matthew, Meri and Jen went for second breakfast there at the pub where he works, before church.  

My children and their loves.

There was a potluck after church and Robb had picked up Leon early from his mom's so he could see Maddy and Matthew a little bit.  Leon went back to the house with them and Robb and I helped clean up.  

Meri took a college girl back to the dorm and then called us.

"DON'T LEAVE THE CHURCH YET!"

Okey doke.  but why?!  Apparently her car was making sounds as if she had a flat tire, but she and Cari, the college girl, checked all the tires and they looked good.  The sound went away a little bit, but then came back when Meri got on the highway.  oh yuck...  So Robb and I waited for her in the parking lot.  We had sent the bigger car back with Maddy, so all we had was Meri's truck.

Robb got in with Meri when she arrived and I followed in the truck.  By the time we had gotten five or so blocks away, Robb called me.  "Yeah...  we're taking it to XXXX's." (Our car guy)  He's only about a mile from the church.  So we did.  He'll get a chance to look at it today, we hope.

THEN crammed all three of us into Meri's little Ford Ranger with me in the middle, holding the leftover tator tot casserole and relish tray on my lap.  It was the most uncomfortable drive I have ever been on...  Except for the time Robb and I drove back from Kentucky with a table in the back seat, pushing our seats all the way forward and Robb sick as a dog in the front seat.

Meri wasn't too happy about the situation either.  BUT it is the first time in MANY years, I sat in the middle of the seat next to my honey!  I probably didn't even sit THAT close back then...  

Maddy and Matthew took off shortly after that, in order to get back home and ready to take on the Monday.  I spent the afternoon building a helicopter with Leon out of an erector set he'd gotten for his birthday last February.  REALLY?  Don't you have some Legos you want to build with or a  movie to watch??  I was wiped. 

Meri had to work, so I represented her at the 4H meeting and then picked up Robb and Leon to see Ada at the nursing home.  Leon was a booger.  He DID finally sing for Ada and her husband, but only if he could be in the bathroom with the door shut.  He knows Baa Baa Black Sheep really well and belted it out from behind closed doors.  Not sure how famous he'll get with that kind of act.

But I'm holding out hope that he'll give up the budding singing career and be a chiropractor so we'll get free adjustments...

Wouldn't that be sweet?!

Ryan and Jen came by the house just before dinner and talked us into playing the Betrayal at the House game again, this time with Leon too.  Leon's character turned out to be the mummy and after continued attempts to pull his attention back to the game, it FINALLY got completed two hours later.

Laundry and dishes can wait, right?? yep.