Father's Day

I wonder if my kids appreciate the dad they have.  I know they love him, but do they realize how incredible he is.  Travis is the best.  He tries to hard to love them, take care of them, to bond with them, to play with them, to teach them.  He takes his job seriously and he looks dang good doing it.  I hope some day each of my boys will become like him - Amazing and Incredible.

Happy Father's Day and Happy Future Father's Day. 

I hope you boys are paying attention.

We're Halfway to Christmas...and Then Some

In June and the beginning of July we:

finished baseball season

rescued many newborn animals

celebrated our favorite dad

had wisdom teeth removed

witnessed many gorgeous sunsets

attended girls' camp

 

and Cub Camp

I'm Speechless

It's Father's Day.  I want to write something wonderful about my hubby, a tribute to be quoted it is so amazing.  But alas, I am speechless.  Maybe for the first time ever.  Because words can't do him justice.  So here he is...

If you see him, get to know him.  I've never met anyone who regretted it!

Say It Ain't So...

Okay so a week has passed without my posting.  And it's not for lack of pictures or content.  I think of things I should post about, but can't get to it right away or I am laying at the pool all day getting tan and then Wham-O it's out of my brain.  But I have tons of pictures so I guess it's time to play journaling catch up.  Here goes:

The dance year ended with Bella's recital. 

This is her lyrical class in their ending pose.

And below that is her leaving the recital with her awards and ribbons.

While at the park one day, this tiny duck walked right up to

a sitting Issac and snuggled in.  His mother was nowhere in sight. 

We adopted him for a couple of days until I could read all about

how you get another adult baby duck to adopt an abandoned duck. 

And ta-da we have him back with his new duck family.

Baseball season ended. 

The boys ended up being ball playing studs after a somewhat rocky beginning. 

Here they are getting their trophies and posing with their team.

 

Father's Day came and went and in case you missed my post about hubster, here, read below.

He got fishing lures and candy a plenty.

It doesn't matter what shirt they have on when they go to bed,

when they wake up this is what I see.

Naked brothers:  Notice the start of pecs on Wy-Guy.

And last I inherited a pair of skinny jeans, nice fit - a little long in the leg.

Guess I'll just always have to wear them with heels.

That's what happens in a week and a half at our house.

Dear Travis,

When I met you I only had flirty lust on the brain.  And you were a perfect candidate with your muscular, compact body and handsome face and southern accent. 

And as I dated you I only had marriage on the brain.  And there too you were just perfect for me with you're never ending example of knowing what was right and doing it, being kind continuously, and oh yeah your awesome body, handsome face and southern accent. 

And once we were married I had children on the brain.  And it just turns out that you were spectacular for me there too, with your never ending patience and easy nature, your joy in the journey attitude and oh yeah knowing and doing what is right, constant kindness, your awesome body, handsome face, and a little less prevalent southern drawl. 

So I guess I consider myself super lucky that when I started randomly placing myself in your path - read: stalking you - that I couldn't have picked more perfectly.  Because even though I may have lacked the foresight to pick that all up front at first sight, we've managed it all wonderfully together.

And so when I say I think you are the world's best dad, I mean it, and when I say you are an even better husband, if that is even possible, I know it's true.  And when I say I can't wait for forever with you - I live every principle of goodness or righteousness that might seem hard at the time, because I know that you are the reward at the end.  Some may be waiting for their mansions in heaven, some may want an eternal reward, but Babe...all I need is more of you - forever.

Happy Father's Day,
your co-conspirator in eternal family making

P.S.  Be glad I love you, because I almost scanned the picture of you on our honeymoon laying in bed as an example of your awesome body and handsome face :)

FaThEr'S dAy

I was going to be out of town on Father's Day.

In Utah actually and then flying home. 

But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to celebrate this dude. 

The World's Best Dad. 

So June 12th, the kids and I woke up early,

made a surprise breakfast, and finally let Dad in on our plans

for the Father's Day switcheroo.

He was sleepy eyed but loving the french toast and bacon.

"Surely the greatest of those things [required of fathers] will be

to have done all they could for the happiness and spiritual safety

of the children they are to nurture."

Jeffrey R. Holland

Travis epitomizes this.  And so knowingly he wanted for Father's Day

outdoor/lawn games to continue to make the most of our

family time together.

"A father succeeds when he steps forward and

accepts his commitment as a father, always loving, praying for and

doing what he can for his family, and never giving up."

Loren Dunn

So of course we got him a set of horseshoes, his first choice,

 to show him that we want to do what we can for him too.

"Brethren, as fathers and patriarchs in our families,

we are “by divine design … to preside over [our] families

in love and righteousness and are …

to provide the necessities of life and protection for [our] families. …

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility

to love and care for each other and for their children."

L. Tom Perry & The Proclamation to the Family

I love to make this man happy.

And so of course once he picked me up from the airport

on actual Father's Day we celebrated all over again,

including more gifts.

"In terms of your happiness, in terms of the matters that make you

proud or sad, nothing—I repeat, nothing—

will have so profound an effect on you

as the way your children turn out."

Gordon B. Hinckley

This is something that Travis knows and so his life reflects that.

I really do think I am the luckiest girl in the world.