Aunt Gigi and Uncle Daryle Visit!

For Christmas this year, our church participated in something called Advent Conspiracy, which, among other things, encouraged us to give relationally to our family and friends.  You know, instead of gift-cardally.  We were more successful with some gifts than others, but one of our best ideas was to give Aunt Gigi and Uncle Daryle (Josh's sis and her hubby) tickets to the Grizzlies/Celtics game and promise of dinner out before the game.  Of course, the Grizzlies play here in Memphis, so that would necessitate a trip to visit us -- hence, the relating. 

So this was the weekend.  Gigi and Daryle arrived Thursday night, just in time for a post-basketball practice spaghetti dinner.  It's a good thing they carbo-loaded because they were on Walt duty all day Friday while Josh and I went to work (it was Walt's spring break this week).  First stop was the Pink Palace -- Walt's current favorite destination in Memphis.  They visited the poop exhibit where Walt was apparently quite adept at identifying scat samples.

After that, he took them to visit the polar bear with whom he has a love/hate relationship.  He talks about the polar bear all the time, but when it comes time to go see it, he gets just a bit nervous that it's going to come alive and eat him.  But despite some initial anxiety, Walt decided to overcome his fears and introduce Uncle Daryle to his pal.

Then, on to Huey's for lunch.

By the time I got home from work, it had warmed up considerably outside and was nice enough to have our own little March Madness out in the front yard.  Walt is partial to dunking, but since his basketball career is not likely to be built on the slam dunk, we got him to practice a few outside shots.

And then Uncle Daryle shows him how it's really done.

But Walt decides that maybe he has more of a future in other sports.  Baseball, maybe?

Or perhaps track and field?

Perhaps not.

Okay, so maybe hurdles aren't his thing, but he sure is fast.  Just ask Aunt Gigi.

On Saturday, after dinner at a nice restaurant (where Walt managed to behave himself rather admirably, we thought), we headed over to watch the Grizzlies get walloped by the Celtics.  They were winning at one point, though -- here's proof:

 

In case you can't read it, the score is 37-41, Grizzlies winning.  Unfortunately, I think that was their biggest lead of the night.  Walt didn't care, though, as long as he had his popcorn.

 

Afterwards, we took a stroll down Beale Street on our way back to the parking garage.  Yeah, I know.  Four year old on Beale Street at 9:30 p.m.  I'm sure we've made worse parenting decisions.

 

Finally, after Walt and Aunt Gigi enjoyed a nice lunch in the playhouse today, she and Uncle Daryle packed up and headed back to Nashville.  Hopefully we can lure them back down here again soon . . . baseball season is just around the corner, you two!