Father's Day

Its hard to believe it's been nearly a month since Father's day. So much is happening in our lives, it feels like every time I take a look at our calendar it seems to have amazingly filled up, yet again. So a month later, I'm finally posting about Father's Day.

This year was Drew's 4th Father's Day. Quad. Quatro. Easy Potatoes.

He's getting pretty used to this gig these days, so there isn't much to say about the holiday itself. Sort of regular day where he got to pick the meals and activities (the farmer's market, a yummy apple fritter and chili for dinner), rounded out with a typical father's day gift (a hose this year). And while the day feels sort of uneventful, there a lot of things to say about being a dad.

I'll be the first to admit that parenting isn't easy. No one has it all figured out. We're all lost in the same maze. So at the end of the day, its about the joy you find the moments along the way, even if you are lost, and Drew's found a way to capitalize on every moment he can with the boys.

For a guy who wasn't sure about having kids, he's really found a way to capitalize on his inner child. There are days I walk into the house and find all three of them building a duplo complex with corresponding vehicles and highways, or other days where I find them in the back yard, each nearly half-drenched in water after an afternoon in the water table.

Its true that there have definintely been times when these finds were frustrating. Like- why on earth is there no dinner and a disaster in the living room, but all three of you (Collin, Owen and Drew) are having a dance party in the bedroom?

But now, four years in, I appreciate it. I appreciate that our boys will grow remembering how fun their dad was when they were little. How much he cared to play with them, instead of just watching them play. How we went out of his way to help them develop vivid imaginations, to build new and fascinating vocabulary and how he was there nearly every afternoon with a smile and a hug to say, I missed you while I was at work.  I love that Collin and Owen are learning how to garden, how to cut down trees, how to pound nails, how to mow the grass, how to build things and take them apart. Everyday Drew teaches them something new that I can't and I know that in this third year of their collective little lives the memories are becoming permanent in their little brains.


And I don't mind the mess.

Life is messy. There's no catching up. So, when you can't beat them, join them.

Drew is a great dad. Really. He's near the top of the "how to be a good dad" example list. He loves our boys so very much, and they are incredibly aware of how much they are loved by all of the time and attention he shares with them. Seeing him with them reminds me how lucky I am to have such an amazing husband.  How  fortunate we are as a family. How my boys, having him as a dad, are never stuck in front of a TV, never ignored, never shushed or asked to wait to spend his time doing something less than stellar (while he texts of Facebooks. Which I thinks is a ridiculous way to spend time when your kids are right in front of you!). The boys look forward to spending time with him and anticipate his arrival every single day. All smiles and reaches. It never gets old to their sweet little faces.


So, here we are, another father's day. Life among the roses. Happy father's day Drew. You're an amazing dad and we look forward to all of the new adventures you dream up for you and the boys.
All our love.
Alisha, Collin and Owen