The Lindenbergs

Nora flew out of town last weekend to visit a friend in Florida, so Pierce and Anna got concentrated Dad attention for several days. Both kids did awesome. While they certainly missed Nora, we had a blast together. In our short weekend we squeezed in a lot of activity. We had Pierce’s basketball practice Saturday morning, a visit to a police station, and a walk through a classic car show. The car show was being held in the parking lot next to the fire station and it was such a hit we had to go to it twice. Once before we visit with the firefighters, and then after our visit concluded.

Sunday morning was spent with yard work. Pierce and Anna either kept me company or kept themselves entertained while I mowed, weeded, edged, landscaped and mulched. We had perfect fall weather, so we spent a lot of time outside. After lunch we went to Diana Rose (the petting zoo) for almost 4 hours (much longer than I anticipated). They’ve built on to the park considerably since I was last there and there was a lot to do and see. We took a nature path through the forest and part of it had washed away. Pierce and Anna were fascinated by the concept that a sidewalk can collapse. Probably half our time there was spent on their elaborate playground. Both kids are turning into monkeys.

We finished up our evening at Ruby Tuesday’s with the edict that neither kid could order spaghetti or mac and cheese. Pierce shocked me by ordering, and eating, a cheeseburger. Anna went the chicken strip and French fry route. They must have worked up quite an appetite because when the food arrived all conversation stopped. All you could hear was the muffled sound of chewing.

Our last stop on Sunday was to Home Depot to pickup as much mulch as Nora’s SUV could handle. Pierce and Anna were hilarious –they were my foremen as I selected and loaded the flatbed cart with bags of mulch. The most common directive? Dad, this one has a tear!

Nora made it home Monday evening right before bedtime. We hung a welcome home sign that Pierce and Anna helped decorate and met her at the door with a big “Surprise!” (well Pierce and I did, Anna was too “busy”). Pierce was excited to let Nora know that we had washed her car while she was away. Anna earned a special place in my heart that night. While Nora read her the last story of the evening, Anna laid her head in my lap and murmured, “I love you Dad”.

-Eric (Dad)