A Tribute To The Fathers In My Life

Father's Day is almost over and I have been giving a lot of thought to the men in my life who are fathers.  My own father and my husband, the father of my children. 

I was fortunate growing up to have a dad who was there.  He was involved.  He took me to baseball games and Def Leppard and Tiffany concerts.  He put me on his shoulders so I could see the concert better.  He pushed his way through a crowd of people to get a baseball signed by Mookie Wilson for me.  He spent hours when I was in 4th grade trying to comb the fun tack out of my hair so we didn't have to cut my hair.  When I finally wanted to learn a musical instrument that required me to learn how to read music he took the time to teach me.  He set the bar pretty high for what a father should be, right?  Yup he sure did.

I can happily say I found a man who could give all of that and then some to his children.  Joe is there day in and day out with the kids.  Right there in the trenches with me.  When CJ fell the other day on a walk with our neighbor's dog Joe carried him all the way home and patched him right up.  He takes his pain and flushes it right away.

Natalie has discovered an interest in archery.  She expressed to Joe that she would like him to teach her how to use a bow and arrow.  And Joe happily obliged.  Okay, so he has been waiting for one of his children to show some sort of interest in these sort of hunting sports so needless to say he was over the moon that she asked him for this.  And he immediately began searching for the internet for just the right bow and arrow for her and he found it.  So now they spend a lot of time in the basement practicing their aim.

Kaitlyn had to do her state project on New Hampshire this year.  Joe helped her research information on the internet and he even helped her paint her project.  And he has been trying to help her with the drop the egg and don't let it break experiment they are going to be doing at school this week, but Kaitlyn has her own ideas.

Alyssa has Daddy wrapped around her little finger.  All she has to do is bring him a cup and he gets her a drink.  If he's eating something, she's right there next to him getting her share of it.  And when she's tired and daddy scoops her up into his arms she cuddles up and lays her head down on his shoulder and snuggles in.  It is so sweet watching them together.

So to the fathers in my life I just want to say thank you.  Thank you to my dad for always going that extra mile for me and thank you to my husband for giving our children everything they could ever need or want.  Setting the bar high for what fatherhood should look like for our children.

Happy Father's Day!

School is finally coming to an end around here. Yes, it's late, but this is the North East for you. They start the end of August and usually go until about mid June. But thanks to that freak October snow storm we had 5 snow days early on in the year. But since we didn't get anymore they just tacked them on like usual to the end of the school year. So the big kids don't get out until Thursday and they are so ready to be done. Honestly, I am too.

But today was CJ's last day of preschool. He is on to Kindergarten in the fall and will be at school with Kaitlyn. This was just a little preview of the sheer emotions that I am going to be experiencing next year when Natalie graduates from middle school, Kaitlyn graduates from elementary school, and CJ graduates from Kindergarten. Next June I am going to be a mess if today is any indication because the moment I saw my boy up on stage I began to tear up. And then when they began to sing that was it I was gone.

So they performed a few songs, then received their diplomas, and ended with a slideshow from the year. That just about killed me. I'm just happy they let the kids come down and sit with their parents at that point because I got to hold my baby boy tight to watch those pictures from the year with him.

I don't think he realizes exactly what's going on. He'll probably wake up Monday morning wanting to get ready to get on the bus. It should get easier when his sisters finish school next week. But it's official, CJ is a Kindergartner. That teeny tiny baby that had so many problems starting out in his first year of life is going on to Kindergarten.

I am beyond proud of my baby boy. He is growing up so fast!