From Mike:
So here we are in October. Can you believe the holiday season is just around the corner? Where has the year gone?? Anyway, here’s what’s been happening at the Nishi household:
Big News Alert (for some of you, anyway): We’re Pregnant!!! That’s right, campers, we’re gonna be parents! Scary, huh? You’re telling me! Although we’re new to this whole pregnancy thing, we’re both really excited about the prospect of starting our family, and ask for your prayers to keep both Kelly and the baby healthy, happy and comfortable. We’re due on April 7th and should know the baby’s gender on November 16th, so we’ll keep you posted!
Now that you’re officially informed of the big news, let me take you back to August. Remember August? I sure don’t, but I’ll do my best to recall what we were up to. Where to start? Ah, yes…Alaska!
As many of you know, we visited the second state in our “Alphabetical Tour of the U.S.” by cruising to Alaska aboard the Norwegian Pearl. We sailed out of Seattle for seven days and visited Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Victoria B.C., and sailed through the Inside Passage, and Glacier Bay. What a beautiful state! When we were ashore, we went whale watching (which was definitely a highlight!), rode a train into the mountains, took a double-decker bus tour, shopped, watched a lumberjack show, sampled the local fare and saw a myriad of wildlife including a hungry black bear, a few bald eagles and even a porcupine! In Glacier Bay, we got to see several spectacular glaciers, and watched and listened to them melt and break apart sending huge chunks of ice crashing into the ocean…it was incredible! The sound that glaciers make when they break apart, or “calve,” is awesome! It literally sounds like thunder! The ship itself was also quite a sight. When we weren’t ashore, we spent our time eating, watching live performers, playing bingo, bowling or simply relaxing in the lounge with a good book. Overall, the trip was fun and relaxing, and we both highly recommend a visit to Alaska.
In September, we attended yet another Milburn wedding…this time it was Joseph’s turn! The entire wedding took place in the backyard of a huge house that backed to a large pond and a golf course…it was very scenic and made an ideal setting for the occasion. We had a great time celebrating, eating, dancing and enjoying the company of close friends. Congratulations to Joe and Shelby!
The following Saturday, Kelly and a few girlfriends went on Banjo Billy’s Bus tour of Denver. I stayed home, because I am lame, and thought the tour would be equally as lame…boy, was I wrong. Kelly came back with amazing stories of Denver that would surprise any long-time Colorado resident! She also gave me the biggest guilt trip of my life. Admittedly, I missed out on a great time, and as a result, I have no awesome stories to tell. Sorry, you’ll just have to ask Kelly.
On September 25th, Kelly and I drove up to Estes Park for our annual Fall Colors Hike. This year, we decided to hike up Lily Mountain. Although, in her present state, Kelly decided not to attempt to reach the very top (mainly because it required monkey-like rock climbing skills), I managed to reach the top and snap a few photos of the incredible 360-degree views. It was stunning! However, fall must’ve come late this year, because there weren’t many “fall colors” to see…oh well, there’s always next year!
The following week I started working four 10-hour days; allowing me to take every Friday off. It’s been wonderful! I can’t imagine going back to a five-day work week now. The best part is that Kelly also has Fridays off, so we get to spend our three-day weekend together! :)
Kelly went to San Diego for a few days in early October for a conference, so I was home alone. While she was there she got to catch up with a friend, Susan, who is also pregnant. The second weekend in October we were fortunate enough to be invited to Breckenridge for a mountain getaway with Carter, his girlfriend Ashleigh, and Ashleigh’s friend Rhys and her boyfriend, Sam. Rhys’ dad’s firm owns a huge house up there, and was kind enough to let us use it for a few days! We spent the weekend cooking, eating, drinking, hiking, playing games, hot tubbing and watching football. It was unbelievably relaxing!
For a few months now, our friend Alex and I have been planning a Men’s Retreat. Now, when I say Alex and I, I really mean just Alex. :) Anyway, the retreat was last weekend up at Snow Mountain Ranch outside of Winter Park. We partnered with New Denver Church and got about 20 guys to join us in learning more about the things that men crave: money, sex and power. Alex, along with Norton, the pastor of New Denver, discussed biblical ways to satisfy your God-given cravings. It was a ridiculously good time of bonding, learning more about ourselves as Christian men, growing in faith and generally doing manly things. We hope this won’t be the last retreat we plan, so I’ll try to do a better job of advertising the next one.
While I was on my way home from the mountains, Kelly was on her way to Las Vegas for yet another conference…and a girl’s weekend. Anna, Beth and Carolyn met up with her to celebrate Anna’s birthday until Tuesday, when they returned to reality. Kelly still had the conference to wrap up, so she didn’t get home until last Wednesday. I still don’t really know the details of what happened there, but I’m sure everyone behaved. ;)
This past weekend we hosted a Broncos party and got to watch the Raiders utterly destroy any remaining dignity our beloved football team had before Sunday. We did, however, get to watch history in the making, as the Raiders set a franchise record for the most points scored in a single game: 59. Well done, Raiders. I still hate you. I will speak no more of it.
So, that’s it in a nutshell. Sorry for its tardiness! Hopefully the next one will be a bit timelier, and not as lengthy! Until next time, God bless and Happy Halloween!
