thankful#32: papa!

today is dad's 66th birthday! what a special man -- i've always felt a special connection to my dad

i remember when i was little - maybe 4 or 5 years old? - we were at disneyland and i wasn't feeling well -- i can't even remember what the ailment was, maybe a sore throat or tummy ache?, but i do remember my dad holding me -- we went to the dumbo ride, which was one of my favorites, and even though i wasn't up for actually riding it, he sat there holding me and we watched it go around and around -- we then walked over to the fountain and he threw in a nickel and wished out loud for me to feel better

dad, back in the day, being a stud out on the lake

i've always thought my dad was one of the smartest people i know -- he's one of those guys that is (and i say this in the most endearing way possible) an encyclopedia of useless information :) have a question that seems random and odd? ask my dad, he'll probably know the answer -- we've never really been sure where he gets the information, and for much of it neither does he,  but it is a rare occasion that his answer is "i don't know"

in addition to his plethora of random tidbits, my dad is a wealth of very useFUL information, too -- i can't even count the number of times i've had a medical question - everything from what to do when my cat got attacked by a raccoon to the best way to take care of kevin's puncture wound that he refused to go to the doctor for -- we've always had a built-in doctor in the family and we're pretty lucky

looking handsome on his wedding day

i think this latest adventure has been my favorite yet: seeing him play the role of papa -- it melts my heart to see him light up when kinsley or dagny walk in the room -- kinsley was so lucky to get to spend every morning with him when kevin and i left for work as well as one full day each week -- if she woke up before we left, we would see her creep out of her room and around the corner until she made eye contact with him, then she would yell "papa!" and run to him giggling -- dagny now gets equally excited to see him even though it is not as frequent -- i am so thankful that my girls have a relationship with their papa --- and even though he has his rough days, doesn't always feel well, and can't always play as actively as they may like, he never fails to make sure those girls - and all of his family - know how much they mean to him and how much he loves them

here is dad's first proud moment as papa (kinsley - august 9, 2009)

and a similar moment when dagny was born (september 26, 2011)

papa with dagny fresh out of the bath

one of my all-time favorite picture sequences -- sheer joy :)

and introducing dagny to his world at the cabin

happy happy birthday to a loving husband, fantastic father, and amazing papa -- i am so thankful for you