The Gun Show

***WARNING*** This is going to be a long blog, because I have a lot to report. Might want to run to the potty and grab a beverage before getting invested!

So, I joke that when Travis found out we were having a little girl, he went to his friend Lee and purchased an assault rifle. It's what every new family needs, right? Well, a few weeks ago he also picked up a hand gun. He used to have all kinds of guns, but the girl he was dating made him get rid of them because she thought they were dangerous. Well no shit! They're freaking guns! But we don't need to talk about the twits Travis used to date.

I don't know much about guns, but ours seem pretty nice. They look fake to me--a testament to how realistic toy guns look these days! And the assault rifle is REALLY heavy? Oh, and what is Travis going to do with an assault rifle, besides scare away potential suitors? Apparently he's going varmit and coyote hunting.

So, we've been working on our Valentine's Weekend plans for a while. I mentioned that my favorite restaurant in town was doing a special Valentine's dinner on Friday and Saturday, and Travis told me we had plans for Friday night, so I assumed he made reservations. But first, as I was packing up to leave work on Friday, a very handsome man brought me a vase filled with tea roses!! A coworker and I had just been talking about how in high school, Valentine's Day really showed you who was who. It was a silent competition to see who could get the most notes that they had something in the office. Well, my parents were always above that. I'm sure they thought it was a distraction from the school day. And I have vowed to Gracie that I will send her something from me and something from her dad every year at Valentine's Day! And I'll probably do the same for my niece, because I doubt her parents will.

Anyway, at work I got to be the popular girl who got flowers from her man!! Hand delivered, no less! I rushed home to get ready for our date, with Travis right behind me. He pulled in the the driveway, slowed down, and then raced back out the driveway like a bat out of hell. I called him. "Did you forget the baby?!?" "Uh...no!" It was his turn to pick her up from the nanny's!

We got to Bon Vino's right on time for our reservation, and it was gorgeous. Great mood lighting, decorations everywhere, candles, you name it. I had studied the menu prior to our date, so I already knew I was going to start with the fresh fruit cup, then have the tomato bisque soup, followed by the pannco chicken with garlic red mashed potatoes, and the chocolate dessert. Everything was absolutely amazing!! Travis and I cleaned our plates at each course! He got a wild alaskan salmon and a salad, which he loved. But my soup was definitely one of the highlights of the whole meal. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a fancy meal so much! And there was live music! It was the best Valentine's Day meal ever.

We came home and kissed our baby good night and went to bed.

The next day, we got up and going pretty early to head to the...you guessed it! GUN SHOW!

What does one wear to a gun show? Gracie selected her pony overalls, a long sleeve white onesie with a short sleeve pink onesie over it, and some pink socks!

We drove about 45 minutes south to the event center, only to find out it was an RV show and the gun show was 45 minutes north from where we started!! HAHA! So, we decided to check out the RVs. Gracie slept through that show, but we picked out an RV that we think we could live in instead of a house, which doesn't even move or have an attached bbq or have a sauna in the 2nd bathroom!

After a brief look around the RV show we headed to the local mall to wonder around. As we were leaving the mall, we drove by the Red Lion and there was a big sign that said: GUN SHOW. Travis nearly peed his pants. We got the baby in her stroller and headed in to what can best be described as the oddest place to take a two month old. Inside she woke up and enjoyed being carried around by her dad, who was explaining all the different caliburs and guns specs to her.

Gracie helping her dad pick out bullets!

Don't shoot my pony!

Daddy, I want my own assault rifle!

"A gun rack? A gun rack. I don't even own A gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate and entire rack. What am I gonna do with a gun rack?"

We headed home from the gun show, but not before a quick stop at Toys R Us to buy some sort of light up toy for our little Valentine. Do you know how hard it is to find a toy that lights up for a baby? It's like they only make the good stuff for the older kids! I was walking through the aisles thinking, "Man, it sucks to be a newborn." Out of the whole store, there is 1/3 of an aisle dedicated to toys for babies Gracie's age, and they SUCK! I found a cool little lap top for 6months+, but I figure Gracie is plenty advanced and will enjoy this way before 6 months. We also got our Bumbo chair!! I can't wait to prop her up in it...these chairs are so stinkin' funny!

Too funny!

Working on her laptop in her Bumbo chair...just like her mom!

I know what you're thinking. Crazy/busy/fun Valentine's Weekend, right? I'm just getting started!

We got home around 5:30 and packed up the baby and sent her to the babysitter's for the evening. My mom and Travis and I headed to my dad's work to pick him up, and we flew down to Pendleton to the Wild Horse Casino where an Elvis impersonator was doing a wedding ceremony for married couples who wanted to renew their vows! We got there late, but definitely made it in time for his performance.

The 'rents, getting their vows renewed.

Elvis = AWESOME!

If you have not seen and Elvis impersonator, DO SO IMMEDIATELY! This guy was so entertaining! I guess we have to give some credit to the King himself, for being such a good performer, because even the impersonators who probably aren't capturing 100% of a genuine performace are way more fun to watch than a lot of today's artists. We had a blast! And my parents got their picture taken with Elvis, but I couldn't get a good shot because we were stuck at the door, trying to weasel our way in. Which we eventually did, by the way!

Awww...we're so cute!

We got home around 1:00 a.m. and tipped our babysitter extra for having to stay up so late! She didn't want to take any money because she said that Gracie was absolutely, hands down the best baby she had ever watched. She said she didn't cry a single time but talked up a storm. She also said her parents were all over Gracie and couldn't get enough of her, and she'd love to watch her again. Well duh!! She's a princess!

So, I think that wraps up the synopsis. And it's only 10:a.m. on Sunday! Who knows what today will hold! Actually, I was going to ride my ponies, but it's 32 degrees out and I think I'm going to need to do some doctoring to Yellow's wound today, so that's probably going to take up my cold tolerance of the day.

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!