A little less than 5 years ago, my parents bought a getaway property in the gas drilling, so this past weekend was a precious bye week between renters.

So we packed up the dogs (FIVE! Our two, my sister’s, my cousin’s, and another good friend’s) and rolled around the mountainside all weekend for a much needed getaway.

Born free!

This is my boy George. We adopted George from a boxer rescue at Thanksgiving, so this was his first trip to the farm, and I don’t think he could have been more pleased. It turns out that George has quite a nose on him, and was very successful at finding bones and other gross dead things.

Macy is my sister’s dog, a true-blue Labrador who can most likely be found swimming in the ponds.

See?

Gracie is my sister’s friend’s rescue pup. Also a first timer at the farm, but very pleased to be there.

If you’ve never had a mountain pie before, get thee to a campfire!

In case you hadn’t noticed, I am firmly on Team Boxer. The two on the outside are mine — George and Rian (who has been around the block here in the mountains, our Original Farm Dog). In the middle is Ernie, my cousin’s boxer.

King George.

After a morning of running up and down the mountainside, everybody pretty much passed out. This happens frequently.

Jeep full’a boxers. Love.

My dad, The Badger, loves his tractor.

Fin.

Enter Jessica and Sean. Jessica is my closest cousin, we were born two months apart and in many ways grew up together. And when she told me about Sean a year and a half ago, it was pretty clear that I would be taking their engagement photos some day:

All they do is laugh together. All the time.

In that second photo there they happen to be laughing AT ME, but that’s okay, I will sacrifice a little dignity for a great photo.

Personally, I think Jess found a winner. He’s already re-wired my whole house. For free. AWESOME.

Anyhow, congratulations Jess and Sean, I really can’t wait for the wedding — Especially because I will be able to enjoy the whole thing as a guest!

PS Today is Jess’ birthday. Happy Birthday, Jess!

Ahem.

Anyway, the Phanatic came to a summer camp that’s running on campus, and it was as awesome as I hoped, and yesterday I loved my job to itty bitty pieces. Almost as much as I love the Phanatic.

I had a bit of a brief panic attack when I thought I might actually see the empty suit, which would completely destroy me and every game left in the season. But fortunately for me there must be a lot of rules about who can see the Phanatic’s empty carcass, and The Destruction did not come to pass.

That guy has potentially the best job in the world because he gets paid to dress ridiculously and act like a total jerk. All anonymously. Yes, I am jealous.