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John and Marissa got a suite at the D-Backs vs. Braves game yesterday afternoon for Ed’s birthday. It was a real treat. The game was a wash, but a good time was had by all. Michael gave a fine rendition of the National Anthem. Belize was as cute as ever. Gail and I overdid it on the kettle corn. And Katelyn finally talked to me!!

View the entire photoset at Flickr.

We capped off a busy weekend with a trip downtown to see the D-backs play the Padres. Bryan had taken his family for Father’s Day while I was in San Diego, and the ticket agent gave him a deal on the same tickets for another game for only a few dollars more. The seats were great, out in center field behind the balcony. It’s usually the four of us when we go to games, so the fifth ticket gave us a bit of pause. Who do we take? My dad suggested we take a niece or nephew, but most of them live out in Surprise, and it would be hard to choose just one. We thought of Bryan’s uncle, Joe, but he wasn’t feeling well. Katareena happened to be spending the night when I called to confirm the plans for Sunday’s game, so she came with us to the game.

Katareena has been very busy working to earn money to go on a school trip next year to Washington, DC and New York. It was very entertaining to spend the afternoon with her. She always has something to say, and it was fun to watch her try to juggle her schedule. It seems she’s very much in demand these days between watching her younger cousins Kaitlyn and Belize two days a week, cleaning house for her gramma, and helping me pack and clean my condo. Bryan was joking that he spent most of his summers at that age sleeping. She’s one busy girl!

After we dropped her off last night, Bryan and I heaved sighs of relief. Just watching Katareena with that much energy is exhausting! Actually, observing all of our nieces and nephews, or even strangers’ children for that matter, we wonder what our little girl will be like. Will she be quiet and guarded like Kaitlyn, or outgoing and talkative like Belize or Katareena? My friend, Shelley’s, son is only a few months old, and his personality is starting to come through.

Maybe it starts even before that. Our little one is so active in utero, it makes me wonder if that is indicative of her future personality. She’s even started playing a little game with Bryan. He’ll push on my tummy, and she will kick back. It’s amazing! I guess I don’t have any experience to compare it to, and everything I read says that any amount of movement is normal, but I can’t help but think that she’s already letting us know who she is, what she will be like. I can’t wait to meet this little girl! We go for another ultrasound on Friday, so I guess that will have to hold me over in the meantime.

Debra is out of town this week. She is in San Diego with her cousin Carole, helping with Carole’s wedding preparations. So I’ve been left to fend for myself and fend off the other four ladies of the house (Dulce, Daisy, Sunny & Mabel). Actually, the critters have been pretty well behaved. Dulce misses her Mom and the cats are into everything. Mabel’s always agreeable. None of us function very well without Debra around.

I got to spend Father’s Day with the family. Dad, Joe, Mom, Christa and I went to the D-Backs game. It was a nice afternoon. It got me thinking about becoming a father myself. I’m not sure what kind of father I will make. Luckily I have some wonderful fathers in my life from which to learn.

While we should have spent the weekend planning the wedding, we instead spent it out.

On Saturday we visited the Downtown Phoenix Public Market. It was about what I’d expect for a desert farmers market. It pales compared to the Merced and Chico markets. Then we caught Charlie Wilson’s War. That evening we went to my first NHL game. Debra and her family are big fans. My folks both work for Jobing.com Arena and got us great seats just off the glass. Except for the greasy dude that gave us a hard time on the way to our seats, we had a blast. Mom was handing out fan shirts at the door and Dad was working security in the press box. He actually took us up there. We saw the press view of the game and one of the players. Very cool.

Sunday we had a very late breakfast then took a driving tour of Debra’s childhood homes and schools. I can’t wait to show her Merced.