Father's Day. And a Peacock.

If I could pick any picture to resemble Father's day it would be this:

Of course, this was before the water fight started.

And then there's this:

Where The Man finally got his zero gravity chair.  We went out and gave it to him from the back of the car first thing Father's Day morning.  He promptly tried it out on the front porch and approved.

Of course he would approve.  He's been wanting one forever.

I'm thankful to this man who helps me run our family as if it were just that, one family.  Who tries hard with me to work it like there is no yours and mine; it's just us.

I feel my own Dick-Dad did that with me and I'm forever grateful to have him as my dad.

We made sure to give all the dad's these cards which I found extremely hilarious.  For the two dads who were in town we bought a bouquet of balloons and tied the cards to the end of the strings for an alternative to just giving a regular card.

For my not so local dad I had to just mail them.  Next year I'll have to get more creative on that.

Brent-Dad just had knee surgery so we took the balloons and cards, along with a swiss milk chocolate malt to him in the rehab center where he was laid up on the Saturday before Father's Day, and we chit chatted about nothing in particular.

Mike-Dad was lucky enough to miss the water fight that broke out at the BBQ.

I think we did pretty good at making sure all our dad's, including the one in my own house who I'm completely enamored with, knew they were thought of and loved.

I feel like life is in such a good, blessed place right now.

I feel like my cup runneth over from love, blessings, and good things in general and I feel completely unworthy of such an amazing life.

I feel that my Heavenly Father is so completely aware of me and I'm thankful for His hand in my life and hope that by my small actions, I might begin to repay Him for all the goodness that is mine, but I know I'll never come close.

All I can do is continue to be overwhelmed with gratefulness and keep on trying.

P.S.  This peacock created quite the stir around our neighborhood the other day.  It isn't very often that you find a peacock roaming your street, or at least, it was  first for us.  I kept telling people to go look pretty for him so he'd fluff out his feathers, but it never happened.  I guess none of us were his style.

father's day post - Grandpa Dick

We knew we were going to be in St. George the week after father's day, so we told Grandpa Dick we'd hang out with him then.

And we were so excited to do it.  Four days of Grandpa Dick? 

Yes please!

My dad has a current obsession with pretzels.

So we hooked him up with something a little extra.

We had a very busy four days in St. George, and I'll start all the stories for that tomorrow.  Today I want to say a little something about my dad, even if it is a little late for father's day. 

The only way I can describe to you the relationship I have with this man is to tell you to listen to this song:



It brings tears to my eyes every time.

He is my dad.

He is the one I turn to when I have good news and I'm just going to bust if I don't tell someone.
He is the one I turn to when I have bad news and I'm crushed.
He is the one I turn to when I just don't know.
He is the one I turn to when I have a plan and need to run it by someone.
He is the one.

I may not have his brown eyes.
But I have his love of warmer weather.

I may not have his nose.
But I have his obsession of all things sweet.

I may not have his musical ability.
But I have his need to find a good deal before purchasing something.

I may not have his laugh.
But I have his uncanny sarcasim and wit.

He was at every school program.  Every choir performance, every school play, every home water polo game.

He was there while I was learning to drive.  Something that I absolutely could not do with my mom.

My childhood is full of memories of being on the sailboat on The Great Salt Lake, or Bear Lake, or Rockport.  It's full of being over cautious with fire safety on the 4th of July, and then haphazardly burning the christmas tree.  It's full of his guitar around the campfire.  And the harmless pranks we'd play on each other. 

I loved spending time at the fire station with him on the holidays he had to work.

He taught me how to grill a mean steak.

He took my bedroom door away when I slammed it.

He didn't get mad at me when I broke a window.

He always saved me when my cars would break down.

I may not have his genes.
But he is my dad.

father's day post - The Man and Papa Mike

Just for the record, I am an expert father's day present hider. Expert I tell you. I had it hidden safely away at a neighbor's house for an entire week, made a big todo about "don't look!" as I hauled it in the night before and then...

I was sort of hoping that it's obviousness would actually work in my favor...

The Man's burst of laughter a mere 5 minutes later told me I was wrong.

For father's day I made corned beef and potatoes and a no-bake cheesecake by request.  We loaded up Jayme and Sean and the puppy boys, along with the food, into the car and headed to a park to meet up with Papa Mike, Lindee, Sam, and Morgan.

Not long after getting to the park one of the dogs stepped on the cheesecake...

good thing there was plastic wrap on it.

I'm so in love with my man.  He's the most tender, fun loving father, not only for his own kids, but for mine.  Blending a family has had it's issues, and it's fights, but we've worked our family as just that, our family, together.  I don't know what I would do with out him.

Papa Mike has always been so supportive and West and me.  I couldn't have asked for a better father-in-law.  He's hands on with the kids, who have declared that Monday is "Papa Monday," and they always want to call Papa when they're bored and want someone to come and play checkers with them.

father's day - Grandpa Brent

Sometimes I get to meet my Brent-Dad at Leatherby's for lunch. Which really means sometimes I get to meet my Brent-Dad at Leatherby's for ice cream in the middle of the work day.

Cas decided to complain on facebook, every half hour about how bored she was, and how it was the longest day e.v.e.r.  (Sorry to those of you who are friends with her and got hit with all of those updates :).

One of those people who took notice of all of those status updates was Grandma Julie.

She's really good at stalking facebook :).

She let Grandpa Brent know that Casidee needed some entertaining so it wasn't long before the ball was rolling, and plans were being made for Grandpa to collect The Circus and meet me at "our spot."

Since Grandpa was going to be spending father's day with my brother, Bill out of state at a motorcycle rally, we decided that our afternoon ice cream date with him would be a good time to let him know how much we appreciate him in our lives.

The Circus decorated these shirts that we wrapped around pop cans for him.
I got the idea as well as the free printable HERE.

The Circus also filled out these Grandpa questionnaires for him.

Just for the record, Grandpa Brent's age goes anywhere from 60-71, he's strong enough to lift a house, a car, an anchor, a bed, 3 typewriters, and a fishing boat, Brynn's the only one who got his favorite color right with her guess of yellow, he's the best at everything, being a grandpa, swimming, using guns, and hugging, and he's loved because "he roks!"

Happy Father's day Dad!  Thanks for being so solid.  Thanks for being there when I was lost.  Thanks for your unconditional love for me and mine.

Father's Day weekend at Knolls

The man doing what he loves best... all weekend long. We were lucky enough to have lots of family join us. Uncle Tim with Nate and Caleb, brother Bill and Jes and the kids. Unfortunately we only got to have two of the six kids, but on Father's Day, that's just the nature of the game. West making a cloud of dust around J and Sean while they're all out riding:Sam and Brother BillJes and me:This is the part where I have a heart attack and get whiplash all at once. Please note I was not the one driving... I was the one hanging on for dear life and screaming. And this was on the way down...

Happy Father's day to my wonderful man.