Father's Day!

 It started with coffee in bed.  Quietly hanging the banners the kids made into our bedroom while Wes was sleeping.  A few presents, and then a family day.

We went to Animal Land...and the kids had a blast.

When did they get so big?

 We enjoyed the petting zoo.

 And the safari ride was low key at first.

 Everyone wanted the view from Daddy's lap.

 Until the ostrich came calling.  And the ostrich wouldn't go away.  It was huge!

There were lots of giraffes too.

 And a place to feed deer, right up close. 

We had a great day.

I am truly blessed that my children have such an amazing father.

Happy Father's Day, Wesley.



Long overdue.

Wow--this post is LONG overdue.  I haven't posted in nearly two months--which has never happened.  I got so caught up in life, kids, work, etc., that I just did not make time to blog, and I thought "no biggie".  But when I started thinking about it tonight, I reminded myself that this blog is, for all intents and purposes, the baby book for the kids, the record of our lives that I have printed and bound every year for the kids to have someday, and I realized that posts to facebook won't be anything tangible years down the road that the kids can read, and hold and touch.  So...I'll do better.  And until then, here's the summer in a recap.

Father's Day--the kiddos greeted Big Man with "I love my Dad" t-shirts.  Getting three toddlers to smile and look at the camera at the same time is impossible.

 We spent so much time outside, squirt guns in hand, in the big and little pool.

 We have a gender-neutral dress-up policy.....Tommy's wardrobe is compliments of Dani and Tori.

 We were invited places, and actually showed up, despite being outnumbered by kids who could scatter upon arrival.  Here's Tori at a graduation party.

 And Dani at the same one--they love putting on "party dresses" to go somewhere. 

 At times, they felt like they were in baby jail, just waiting for release.

 Meanwhile, Tommy just sprouted. 

 Grandma and Grandpa visited and, of course, that meant a trip to the beach.

 Grandpa braved the deep waters of Caroga Lake!  (Grandpa is actually an accomplished swimmer and diver, not that he'd need it in the lake!)

 Grandma showed Tommy around.

 Dani and Tori saw their first fireworks this summer.  Their reactions were priceless.

 It was just awe.  Tori yelled, "Mommy, look it's pixie dust!"

 Swimming.

 Dinnertime silly.

 And there are just so many things I didn't capture because I didn't post them when they came up--sorry kiddos.  A few funnies I can think of:  Dani is starting Pre-K and we received the orientation packet.  School has a dress code so I told Dani we needed to get school clothes so she could dress accordingly with solid shirts and pants.  "Will the shirts be hard?" she asked.  I asked what she meant...."Solids are hard, Mommy, not like liquids," was the response. So we explained the concept of solid colors.  We've had someone doing some home improvements  (painting, etc)  "Mr. Mark" who has had dinner with us a time or two while he was working...the other night Mr. Mark (who had taken a cab to our house as his car would not start) remarked at dinner that he felt naked without his car.  A minute later, Dani leaned over to me and asked, "Mr. Mark has clothes on, why does he think he's naked?"
It's been a zany few months...and I promise it won't be so long for me to update.

 Sister hugs!

Father's Day, a Dani, Tori, and Tommy Guest Post.

Hey, Tori, I've been thinking.  Isn't Father's Day coming up?  Are we supposed to be doing something for Daddy? (Tommy)
Tommy, can't you see I'm busy playing on Mommy's tablet?  Leave me alone.  (Tori)

Oh, wait!  Tommy, you're right!  Father's Day is coming up. What should we do?
I dunno, Tori, let's ask Dani.  She knows everything.

DANI, DANI WE NEED YOUR HELP!
DEEDEE DEEDEE HEP HEP!
What do you guys want? (Dani)
Dani, it's almost Father's Day, what are we going to do???
Deede, faga day, doooo?
Don't worry guys, I've got it under control.

I'm totally online right now ordering Daddy some really cool stuff, and getting us Father's Day shirts to wear.  Tori, go in the kitchen and get me Mommy's wallet.
OK Dani.  What are we getting Daddy?
What do you think we should get Daddy? 
Let's get him some coloring books!  And some cookies.
Coookie!  Cookie!

GUYS!  We have to think about Daddy!  He's super fun, and he doesn't want coloring books!  Remember when we climbed in his shirt and we were the three headed Daddy monster?  Maybe we should get him a new shirt?
Daaaddy!  Kitty!  Funny!

 Hmmm, you're right, Dani.  I will sit here and think about it.  What can you buy for the best Daddy in the whole wide world?  He gives the best hugs.  Can we give him hugs?  He likes brownies, can we make him brownies?
Cooookies!
Now you're thinking, Tori!  We can bake him brownies.  Let me get Mommy to help.  I think we should color him some pictures too.
Crayons!  Paper!  (puts crayon in mouth)
Okay Dani, I'm going to draw a picture for Daddy.

 Daddy is good at pushing us on swings.  I will draw the playground.
Playground!  Outside! (puts on shoes)

 Daddy always takes us outside.  Remember when Tommy helped him mow the lawn?

 

When I think about Daddy, I am happy.  He is big, and brown, and tall.  He gives me kisses, and he taught me how to snap my fingers.  He plays the Beatles for me, and he gives the best hugs!

Daddy always reads books with me.  And he makes the best pancakes.  I love pancakes.

Pancakes!  Pancakes!

 

Wes,

Dani, Tori and I join Tommy in raising our sippy cups to you, this Father's Day.

I couldn't have asked for a better husband or father.  You are the foundation of this family; the solid base from which we all grow, together, learning, loving, and striving to make you proud of us, and hoping that you always know how much we truly adore you.

Father's Day!

For Father's Day weekend, we took a day trip to New London, CT to visit Big Man's family. His mom was in from Chicago, and Tori finally got to meet her!

For Father's Day, we let daddy sleep in. When he woke up, Dani and I went out to get him breakfast, after he opened his presents, and the girls modeled their Father's Day shirts, of course!

I think Big Man got a tear in his eye, when Dani dressed up as his favorite superhero, Thor!Happy Father's Day to the best husband and father I could ever have dreamed of.

Don't shoot!

Instead of daddy-Dani matching shirts this Father's Day (last year I got them Batman t-shirts), this year we went with Dani-Tori matching outfits for the Big Man. It was all part of a plan that Dani cooked up.

We went with the cop theme (read the onesies).

Here's Dani telling Tori the plan...(Tori, we are going to play cops for daddy, okay? Just do whatever I tell you to do.)
(Now Tori, since you're just a baby, I need to give you a gun safety lesson before I can let you hold your gun. Never put it in your mouth, okay-like this-don't do it.)

(OK, now I will hold my gun pointed at the bad guy and you keep yours at your hip Tori, because you are just backing me up on this one.)
(Now, you get to be the bad cop Tori, yell at the bad guy, then I will be his friend and he will confess. That's a great angry face, Tori!)

(Hey Tori, now I will put my hands in the air, just like a bad guy and then you can practice cuffing me. You're pretty good at playing this cops and robbers game.)

(OK, now Tori, make your toughest face and pretend you're punching into your palm. Good work! Nobody's gonna mess with us!)

Big Man--you're the best daddy and husband; we love you sooo much--on Father's Day and everyday!

And Happy Father's Day to my dad, the bestest grandPA!

Father's Day Fun.

(Note to those new to my blog--Big Man insists on remaining anonymous, and is not shown in photos here. To the long time readers (Dad), the photo software I have on the laptop won't let me superimpose officer friendly over Big Man's head, so had to crop him out.)

For Father's Day, Dani insisted on dressing like Daddy:

We also got Daddy a Cubs shirt, and a matching Cubs one piece for Dani!

And Dani also wanted to act like Daddy, in his spot on the couch, with the remote:

And, just a little silly tummy time:

It's been a fun day so far! Just Big Man, Dani and I, enjoying each other's company.

Father's Day.

Love you DAD!!

Also love my dad-to-be hubby. His present:

Go Cubbies!