Monday, I drove down to Provo to help Zach out with some work stuff.  I worked down at the airport for a couple of hours and felt that my hard work deserved a cookie on the way home.  I stopped in American Fork because I wanted to see how Slurp compared to Swig.  There was a line 9 cars deep, but I braved it for a sugar cookie.

In my opinion, which isn’t saying much, Swig takes the cake [or cookie] on this one.  I thought it would curb my cravings for their sugar cookies, but instead made me want one even more!

Since I am working from home now I have made an honest effort to make more of our meals.  We are also trying to eat on the healthier side [with the exception of the giant sugar cookie, obviously].  This week I tried a “one dish” meal, which has been added to our list of dinner favorites.  And I only had to clean one dish, so it was really a win for me!

In the middle of the week my dad dropped off my Christmas present from last year at our house.  He has been waiting on some parts to install it and when they arrived he decided he would get it all ready to install by dropping everything off at our house.  The perks of having your brother and father in the restaurant business is that you get sweet gifts like a commercial sink in your garage.  No more muddy shoes being tracked through the house.  Zach says it is a perfect place to rinse off his goat…when he gets one.

We later decided to switch it up and go to dinner and a movie, randomly.  Zach chose to dine at Noodles and Company and I got to chose to see Captain Phillips.

We both thought the movie was fantastic, although I admit it wasn’t the best decision on my part considering we are leaving for Africa in just over a month.  Truth:  I have had a nightmare about being kidnapped already.

Another exiting thing that happened this week is that one of my products was featured on Etsy!  Ok, it’s really not THAT exciting…but for someone who is new to this whole “selling things online” thing, it was pretty cool!

[My witch’s brew ingredient labels are in the bottom right corner]

Thursday my grandpa ended up in the hospital.  The poor guy can’t catch a break!  He’s had quite a long list of health problems lately and it was hard to see him lying in a hospital bed.  I went to visit him at IMC and showed up at the perfect time:  when he was trying to speak to a sweet nurse with a unique accent.  Grandpa thought the nurse would understand him better if he talked louder…and there was quite a bit of shouting.  It made my day, honestly.  It let me know he was back to himself after all the pain he has been feeling.

The end of the week my dad and brother spent in my garage installing my sink.  It was quite the task with all the plumbing they had to do, but I loved having them over and spending time with them.  Also, not surprising for anyone that knows him, my dad made a new friend!  I went on a run for an hour around my neighborhood and by the time I got back, there was another little helper working in my garage.  When I walked in my dad introduced me.  “This is Braden”, he said.  “He’s your neighbor and he’s been helping me out in your absence.  Braden, hand me that Allen wrench.”  I had never seen this child in my life!  The little guy followed my dad around for a good two hours.  And in case you are wondering, yes…his fly is down.

Blake and my father are the only people I know that will do manual labor in exchange for pumpkin cookies.  Seriously, they love them.  I cranked out a couple dozen to keep them happy while they slaved away.

They finally finished and in true “Fotheringham fashion”…they couldn’t do it half-way.  They had to go all out and install stainless steel flashing all the way up the wall.  Also, the giant commercial sprayer is taller than I am.

The weekend brought a surprise for me!  Zach planned the whole night.  Friday we ate dinner at Market Street and then he took me to Thriller!  I hadn’t even mentioned that I wanted to go, he just decided to take me on his own accord.  The guy really hates choreographed dancing, so I was completely shocked when he told me that is what we were doing.

I absolutely loved it!

And to reward Zach for sitting through a few hours of song and dance, he got his very own twist cone.

Saturday morning I had my first experience with Crossfit at Firehouse Fitness.  I have taken a Crossfit class before, but didn’t enjoy it very much at all.  I decided to give it a second chance and went along with a friend in my neighborhood.  The class kicked my trash, but I enjoyed being there and getting a work out in bright and early.  Later, as a reward for not puking in the class, I made Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory’s apple pie caramel apples and got ready for the Fotheringham family Halloween party.

The part was down in Salt Lake and we had such a great time.  There was face painting…

…games of all kinds [that is my mother doing an impeccable leap over the finish line]…

My mom and I even won the mummy wrapping contest!  She was a champ and was voted “Most Likely to Last a Thousand Years”.

After the party we went over to some of Zach’s friends’ house to watch the Utah game.  It was pretty intense.  I love Zach’s friends.  They always have me busting up laughing the whole night.  The laughter ended, however, with the final score.  It was a sad drive home.

So we decided to treat ourselves to some cookie sundaes – a very thoughtful gift from a neighbor that I helped do some invitations.

Sunday after church we went to visit my grandpa.  He is finally home and on the up.  Afterwards we drove to my parents for dinner and cookie decorating.

Zach decorated two cookies and two cookies only.  One was a very happy pumpkin and the other…a ghost rap artist.

My brother, out of the kindness of his heart, decorated a cookie with a goat on it for Zach.

Everyone’s cookies were fantastic, but my dad trumped them all.  On the left [in the center] was a trout he decorated.  On the right is his “One-Eyed Witch”.  With a red dress.

As usual, we loved spending so much time with family this week.  I feel like October has flown by and I can’t wait to celebrate Halloween with our friends and families.  Hopefully we can eat a few less cookies this upcoming week…but I’m not holding myself to it!