We had a really fun Father's Day. David wanted to do something different this year. He woke up really early this morning, got on his bike and took off while the rest of us slept in. David is in training for a triathlon race coming up this weekend. While David was out, the first thing we did when we woke up was to tape his favorite candy (twizzlers) on the art easel along with Summer and Forrest's drawings of their daddy. We put the easel and his gifts next to the garage door. All of us cheered, "Happy Father's Day!" when he walked through the door.
David had a simple request: to cook dinner for all of us. I left the kitchen reigns to David. We each went around the table and said our favorite things we love about David/Daddy.
Summer said, "I love Daddy because he swims with me and plays with me." The cutest thing was at the end she added, "I am so glad Daddy takes us out on the lake because I love jumping off the sailboat with daddy." I loved that.
Forrest said, "Daddy hugs and loves me." I melted.
And last but not least. I added... "I love David because he is an amazing dad to our kids. He makes me want to be better in all areas of my life. He is the kindest, most sincere and loving person I know. He always hugs me in front of the kids and tells them how much he loves me which I love (and they do too). Most importantly, I love that he is setting an example for our kids as to what a husband and father should be."
I love you David... Happy Father's Day.
I took this picture while we were visiting the mountains recently. These men are two of the three most treasured people in my life. My own dad, my David and his Dad (not pictured). How lucky we were to spend Father's Day together a day earlier at my parents'. I feel truly blessed that my little children have a daddy and two grandaddies as such amazing examples of loving, kind men in their lives.
Summer slept in this morning which gave me some fun time with Mister Forrest. He loves to play with his skateboard. I love how excited he gets each time we walk into the garage. We went outside to play a bit together before sitting down for breakfast and I could not resist taking this photo. I often think about how short this time is that my kids will be so little. It is a lot of work and would be so easy to wish it away. I don't want to do that. I want to really be present for them. I know Forrest won't be little forever so I want to enjoy all of the little and simple moments just like this. I sure love this boy.
This morning David completed the Kure Beach Triathlon with his "personal best" time ever. David refers this "personal best" as his own accomplishment with shaving more than six minutes from the last race. It is pure fun for David with an hour of biking, running and swimming... but not for me. Our day started very early with all of us getting up before six. David left the house first to set up his equipment at the race site. The kids and I packed the car with snacks, games and bottles of water. We found a great spot to park in the center of the race and set up our spot. The best part was waiting by the side of the road looking for daddy. The kids loved being his personal cheerleaders, yelling "Go, Daddy...! Go, Daddy...!" each time he passed by. It is obvious from the big smile on David's face that he was having so much fun. I am so proud of this guy.
Last night I woke up around midnight and could not get back to sleep. I fiddled on the computer for a bit then I had an idea... I crept into Summer's room and in the dark I whispered her name. Her sleepy little eyes opened and I said, "Summer, it's Mommy. Do you want to go downstairs with me and have some cereal... just the two of us?" She sat right up and with a huge grin on her face she started shaking her head yes. The two of us went down into the kitchen and without turning on even one light, we got the milk, spoons, bowls and the box of cheerios out. She started out sitting right next to me but by mid-bowl my cute little Summer was sitting in my lap. With just the moonlight shining in on us from outside our kitchen window we had our special time. I told her a few of my very favorite things that I loved about her and tried to express how much I love her. She is my little girl, forever. With no plans the next morning, Summer was able to sleep in as late as she wanted. When she came downstairs this morning, I gave her a little wink with my eye. It was our little secret and I can't wait for another bowl of moonlit cheerios with my Summer.
Ever since I can remember as a little girl I have always loved sunflowers. The other day Summer and Forrest went with me to the florist and picked out these happy flowers. I think they love them as much as I do. It is so good to be home. With no preschool or classes to teach today, I think we will head to the pool then run some errands. Happy Wednesday.
I wrapped up my summer classes last Tuesday. The next morning we loaded up the kids in the car and drove six hours to my parents' for a few days. The kids loved taking off on the tire swing and baking cookies with Grandaddy and Grams. The tire swing pictures aren't so great but I still love them. Can you tell they were excited? It was a super fun weekend.
Summer and Forrest's swim camp at UNCW is coming to an end. This morning in their two weeks long classes they were doing new things in the pool. Summer is learning to do the breaststroke, the freestyle, the backstroke and the butterfly. She is also learning how to dive. Forget about learning how to swim on his own, the best part for Forrest is at the end of each class when he gets to swim with his big sister in the 15 feet deep diving well. I told Brian, Summer's instructor for the past three years, that he has celebrity status in our home with how much Summer speaks of him and adores him. Last week Forrest was in tears, wanting his mommy and daddy in the pool with him. He is now laughing and having so much fun. Kudos to Casey, Forrest's instructor, for this breakthrough. Swim camps are fun for the kids but really long for me. It starts early and I have to get up at 5:30 every morning to get myself ready for my classes, then wake up the kids at 6:30 to get them ready for swim camp. I drop them off at the natatorium where Leigh waits for us. I transfer the kids' booster seats into Leigh's car and hand her the bag of freshly washed towels, toys, snacks and bottles of water. I then say good bye to the kids, drive across campus to get to my classroom by 8. As soon as I get out after 12:20, I then have to drive to Leigh's apartment to race all of us into the car with the kids' booster seats back in and buckled up to make it home by 1pm for nap time. I know that is a lot of boring info but it really made me dread those mornings. Seeing the kids get excited this morning and their faces light up made me realize that all of those busy mornings have been worth it.
My little kids love the water. If we could be at a pool or at the beach from sun up to sun down, they would be happy (as long as Forrest gets a nap in there somewhere). Forrest loves for me to hold him tight against me and spin with him with his little legs making the water splash. Summer, on the other hand, is a much more demanding customer. She loves the "dolphin" and begs me to do it with her every time we are at the pool. She hops on my back, holds her little hands tightly around my neck and we swim around with her bobbing up and down on my back. She LOVES it. Summer and Forrest also played non stop with their daddy in the water. The kids kept yelling, "cannon ball!" And then would jump to David. I loved watching him with both kids in the water. He is a good daddy. I adore all three of them. I am excited for summer classes and swim camp to be done so we can have a lot more days just like this. I also can't wait to take my kids on more dolphin rides this summer. I hope what they remember the most is how much I LOVE spending time with them.
