father's day

we had a very nice father's day weekend.

we spent time with family, and ate some wonderful meals.

we are blessed to have such amazing cooks in our family.

this has been up on our chalkboard for weeks, thanks to ella...

my kids are sure lucky to have such a wonderful father.

he's so patient, loving, funny, and just plain fun to be around.

we were all able to go out to dinner together on saturday as an early celebration...

sunday was spent with family eating wonderful meals, 

and playing soccer together, 

and lighting sparklers.

i sure do miss my dad.

and when i really start thinking about him i miss him so very much.

i miss his smile, his motivation, his hard work and determination...

i miss seeing him in his white hat he wore everywhere.

i miss his unconditional love, his advice, his spaghetti dinners 

and his chocolate chip pancake brunches.

i miss how he cared so much about people and what made them tick.
i miss his absolute love for his children & grandchildren
and his desire to really know all of us, deeply.
i miss his zest for life, his excitement and true joy and care he had for others daily.

i miss the vacations he planned and how much he loved traveling with all of us.
i miss the baskin robbins ice cream cakes he bought for my kids every year for their birthday.
how he would call with excitement to ask what flavors they wanted so he could place the order.

really, i miss everything about him.
and as i type this my emotions of losing him have completely taken over and the tears are streaming.
in the midst of that, it does feel good to pay tribute to him in this way on this father's day.

so to you, pop, happy father's day.

i am so lucky to have the sweetest, kindest and most loving father-in-law...

and i am so lucky to have a stepfather who is so incredibly amazing with my kids...

happy father's day to all these special men, especially my own father who i miss dearly.