The Pool Party!

So life begins yet another new routine with Lisa and I both back at work and Oma/Opa watching E. Of course, we're not that far into it yet, but the prognosis is positive. Selfishly, Lisa and I miss the lil'guy while we're slaving away. However, it makes it much easier knowing he's in good hands. In fact, at Sunday morning coffee last week, he was sitting on Opa's lap while Oma sang him a Dutch nursery rhyme and - honestly - I've never seen the kiddo smile that long. I know (eventually) he'll miss his mommy and daddy during the day, but not too badly.

Other than dealing with all the new details of drop offs, pick ups, and feeling like we're hiking Kilimanjaro every time we head the mile to Oma/Opa's house, we've been (surprise) busy since the last post. Friday night found us at the mall with cousin Kaylee for dinner and for Lisa to shop for a present. Saturday, Lisa had a bridal shower in the morning, so E and I got to have a few more hours of Mr. Mom. Then came the big event for the weekend: The Pool Party at the Metsers' house - which turned out to be an unofficial retirement party for Opa. We got to hang out with a lot of family and friends, even if the weather wasn't pool-party-perfect. Of course, E decided - of all days - that he was going to nap for hours. Normally, I'd be asking for high-fives, but there were so many folks who wanted to see him, so it took almost all of our willpower not to wake him up. (We learned early on that the first rule of baby-ing is: don't break the baby. This is also the second and ninth rule). Regardless, the food and the company were awesome.

Sunday, we did the church/coffee routine (see above) and then spent the afternoon getting Oma, Opa, and E ready for their new life. That evening we met up with the Metsers again. This time for a going-away dinner at BJs Brew Pub (boy, do I love that place) for Cousin Erik since he's moving to Arkansas to help open a fancy new restaurant in a town where much of his family lives.

In other news, Nana & Papa Ballou left Albuquerque this week to embark on a trip that they've dreamed about for...well, as long as I can remember: They're hauling their boat The HullaBallou (get it?) all the way to Puget Sound and spending close to a month in the islands up there. As a side adventure, Lisa, E, and I are heading up to Seattle this coming weekend to get together with them. E will get to meet all his Washingtonian family...including his Great-Grandma Mary.

Oh, this video wasn't taken at the pool party, but it was at the Metsers' pool for E's baptism...so I thought it was appropriate to include: