Father's Day Weekend

This week has been crazy busy; every week night had an event, and our weekend was jam-packed with fun. Tuesday, Rich was a gentleman and sat through a ridiculously girly music concert with me and only mocked the music a small handful of times! Thursday, we visited with my cousin and his fiance - a delicious dinner of falafel and hummus (I'll share that recipe the next time we make it)!

Saturday, I FINALLY got my new camera - my very first non-point-and-shoot type camera, so I'm still working out how the heck I take a good picture with it. I'm excited to have something non-iPhone for a camera now.

Our first, silly photoshoot

 
We picked out an Olympus E-PL 5, which is a DSLR camera, you can buy several flashes and lenses, but it's only slightly larger than a point-and-shoot, which I'm really excited about! I also get to go to a couple free classes about using a DSLR camera in the coming months; I'm glad, because I've discovered that I'm not a natural photog, as I had hoped I might be! :)

My new camera has art filters - my very own instagram!

After we bought the camera, I dropped Richard and his friend Mark off at the St. Paul beerfest. Even with the sudden flood-like downpour, the two managed to have a good time. I ended up driving them all over St. Paul, which slightly altered my father's day, make my dad and step-dad a banana cream pie plans. Instead of making it at a normal time, I wasn't able to start baking until 10:30. I didn't take pictures as I have never made a pie before, so I didn't know how it would go or taste. Per my family, it tasted great - it definitely wasn't the prettiest thing I've ever made before, though (making circles out of dough with a rolling pin is a big challenge for me!).

Father's Day was hectic, but a lot of fun!

 My momma's Casa!

First, we went out early to my Mom and Dave's house to do laundry (cannot wait to get a house and not have to lug laundry back and forth just to get clean clothes!). They took us over the river to Wisconsin to look at the puppy they'll be picking up the week after fourth of July - a little yellow lab (to be named Zeke, so I'll have to start brainstorming some epic nicknames for the little bugger).

 
Having just purchased a new camera, I obviously brought it with to take pictures. Turns out, the puppies really liked the lotion I had just put on my legs (Burt's Bees, Milk & Honey, if you're interested in having dogs lick you non-stop).

Rich really wanted to get a puppy, but #1, we live in a tiny apartment in St. Paul - no way. And #2, our poor Kirky kitten would HATE the dog.

After we had our fill of puppy snuggles, we went back to my Mom's for lunch with the family - then we drove up north to my dad's camper to visit with him for dinner.

Papa and Sister, Featuring Buffy the Puppy

 
All-in-all, it was a great weekend; and this week is looking like it's starting off on the right foot too! Tonight, I have my first book club meeting, and tomorrow, I start teaching English to Jose, Richard's Spanish-speaking co-worker. Hope you all have a great week!