Happy Father's Day

I didn't write this yesterday because i was busy enjoying some family time and after the kids were in bed, i was exhausted. We didn't do much. We made Eric breakfast in bed while he played with Ben and then took a trip to Target for John's birthday present. We hit up Chili's for lunch and then home for what has to be my favorite time of the day....NAPS. We all got to take a nap. Then just hanging out around the house. Painting here, play-doh there. We ordered Eric some shorts that haven't arrived yet. I would feel bad but he should have gotten me the list sooner. (See nothing is ever my fault.) :) Ella made him a card and it was a wonderful day.

Eric is a great father and i couldn't be happier seeing him with our children. Being a parent is tricky. No manuals just on a wing and a prayer. I spend most of my prayers praying that we make the right decisions for our children and when i see Eric with the kids i know that my prayer for a great father for my children was answered. Sometimes he can't handle John, he doesn't put John in time -out the right way (yes, there is a system to it), he puts Jack pajamas on John and that starts a fight, and sometimes forgets that they are just kids but in the big picture those are all minor and could never replace the times that he leaves work early to watch Jack play soccer and Ella in her gymnastics, when he walks over to the doctors office to play with the kids while one has an appointment, practicing soccer with the kids when i know he despises the sport, giving them their baths, watching him attempt to fix Ella's hair (that only happened once) and listening to him read the kids a bedtime story. He is a wonderful daddy.

Speaking of wonderful dads. I happen to have one myself. I think back and i know that dad worked a lot but i don't think i ever questioned why. I always understood he was doing it so that we could have everything we needed and somethings we wanted. Had we been rich he would have given us the world. It was probably a good thing we weren't rich. I remember going down to the race track almost every Saturday night with Mom and Wes to watch him race. I thought it was the coolest thing to watch the race and then wait at the gate to go give him a hug and have our picture taken after he won (or rarely came in second or third). :) I was so proud that he was my dad. Sometimes we got to stay and ride home with him in the van and stopped to eat at Shoney's. He was always there to support me at my softball games. Well, he stood behind the plate while i batted and yelled for me to keep my eye on the ball and to stop chopping wood. Obviously my swing could have used a little practice. He has always been supportive and loving even when my decisions have been....less than stellar. He never held back when he thought i was off track or if Mom told him we had been bad he never had a problem talking to us with a belt in hand (i always hoped i could talk enough that he didn't use the belt, never happened). He has always assured me that i could do anything i wanted but it might be hard i just had to "buckle down" and get it done. He, like Mom, was never concerned with being my friend but being a parent. I have the best daddy in the world. Thank you dad for all the love and support. Happy Father's day!

I could go on and on about Father's day and how important it is for children to have fathers in their lives. My grandfathers were and are wonderful men. Grandaddy served in WWII and was a man of little affection and emotion. I understood that and as he got older loosened up some and so the first time he kissed me goodbye (round about the age of 20) i almost passed out. I also remember seeing him after i found out i was expecting Ella....he told me i looked very nice. Yes, that was a great compliment and meant so much. Papa has always been there. In and out as work required. I always knew when he was in because of the unmistakable snore. :) We always go back and forth with each other. Lets face it, his liberal, Canadian views are wrong. HAHAH. He is a stubborn and loving. Both have played roles in my life and i am thankful and blessed. Happy Father's day Papa, I love you.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Father's day!