A Nursery

This past weekend was a very eventful weekend. Nancy, Loni and the girls came down to visit us and we engaged in Loni's favorite pastime...shopping for and decorating with baby stuff! We started off our Friday morning at the newly opened Mimi's Cafe. We were greeted by no fewer than 10 people just standing there when we walked in. Alli called Grandpa Winn to tell him where we were eating, but because we forgot about the three hour time difference she ended up leaving a message at 7 am Las Vegas time. It was a funny breakfast. Because the restaurant is so new, it was overstaffed with everyone training and it took the waiter several runs back and forth from our table to get our order entered correctly. Then when he brought us our juice he managed to dump a large orange juice on the table. I think he was really embarrassed, but luckily it didn't get on anyone. We convinced Madison that Grandma had spilled the juice so she spent the rest of the meal telling Grandma not to spill. The food was delicious and we really enjoyed our meal. We even made a new friend, our waiter, Gary. It turns out he is from Lebanon. So, even though he does not speak Spanish and has never been to Mexico, we decided he could meet Grandpa Winn whenever he comes to visit. Maybe Grandpa Winn has made a trip to Lebanon that we don't know about... On our way out we were once again bid adieu by 10 people just standing there.

Our first stop on the baby shop was Target. Nate & I mostly just stood there while Loni told us the things I needed to get. It was funny though, at one point Nate went to go get a cart and Madison burst into tears, sobbing because, "I don't know where Natie went." It was pretty funny. We ended up getting our crib, changing table, shelves, travel sized rocker, and some baskets. We loaded it up in the car (by then it was about 97 and very humid) and Nate had to go home for a work call. I know he was very disappointed.

Next stop was Babies R Us. We got some bedding and decor, a travel system, and some other odds and ends. After this we took the girls home to give them a brake. They played outside while we set up the nursery. Nate and Nancy raced to see who could put the stuff together the fastest. I'm not sure who won, but the I'm happy to report that all the items are still holding together.

The next morning, we went to Mimi's again and then took the girls to the park in the sweltering heat. They had a great time, but I think they were ready to melt by the time they left. After that it was time to say goodbye. It was a very fun weekend and now our loft if no longer empty. It is actually starting to feel a little like we're having a baby. I just hope it actually turns out to be a girl, or else it will be one very gender confused little boy.

The girls trying to lift Nate up

Nate trying to lift the girls up

Madison "helping"

Baby Shower

So the great thing about working in a school is that I get a spring break and because Nate works at a Catholic organization he gets Good Friday off. So this year we decided to fly to Utah for a baby shower. It was a very quick trip. We were only there for two days, but it was a lot of fun. Nate got his fill of Cafe Rio and Rodezio Grill. We got to see both of our families and some of the few friends we have left in Provo.

Friday morning we had the baby shower. It was very pink and cute and I got a lot of pink clothes. Our baby is going to be very well dressed. I had a great time. That night we at a Cafe Rio and played some Bomber Man with my family. We even got my mom and dad to join in. On Saturday we had a big dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory culminating in Nate's old mission companion, Fa, performing a Tongan slap dance for us. There was a lot of screaming and slapping and everyone who passed us looked a little confused. It was a good time.

We took a red eye out that night. It was completely booked but it ended up not being too bad. Once back home, we spent most of Sunday recovering from our lack of sleep. We did wake up in time to have a delicious Easter dinner. We had some friends over for a few hours and then crashed pretty early. It was a good weekend.

Don't Step on my Grass

When I was a kid there were lots of things that my parents would make me do that I thought I would never, ever in my life enjoy doing. The older I get, the more I see these things come back to haunt me. For instance, as I am putting the trim around the new floor in my living room, I actually am excited to paint it. There was another instance 2 weekends ago when we went to go buy a mower to cut the grass. I am sad to report that I was actually excited to cut my own grass. Maybe it’s the fact that the grass came free with the house so I feel like it’s a bit more special than regular grass. Whatever it is, I was excited to mow it.

Now the mowing was way overdue. The backyard had been slowly getting more and more out of control and Kenzie and I were a bit reluctant to buy a mower for some reason. We talked about lots of alternatives. We could buy a cow or goat, let it grow and cut it for hay, pave the entire backyard, or just ignore it since the backyard is fenced in anyway. However we finally went to Lowes and bought a lawnmower. It was almost too exciting. I am now the proud owner of my very own lawn mower. It occurred to me after I bought the mower and started mowing that this was really the first time in my life I was excited to cut grass. That realization scared me, but it is the truth. I was excited to re-do the floor in our family room too. I was excited to paint. All these things that my parents made me do growing up are things that I am actually excited for now. I am becoming my father. Well, at least I don’t wake Kenzie up at 8 am on a Saturday and tell her I need her “help” in the yard – while afterward just making her sit and watch me do something.

Anyway, you win world. I am becoming my father and doing things I never thought I would do. Sad times.

I still want a goat.