Weekend With Dad

The girls recently asked to go camping, 

and dad was quick to agree.

The girls got to work making a menu and packing list as soon as there was a yes. 

And, it isn't an adventure if there isn't a safety warning. 

I hear their dad was even a touch nervous on the trails a time or two. 

Breathtaking none-the-less. 

And BBQ found on the way home was a good celebration. 

Memorial Day

While Elaine was heartsick over her cat, everyone paused to welcome Patric home for a long weekend.  It was such a welcome break in our very busy May. He drove 12 hours each way with the dog to hang out with us for two days.  Sometime I'll have to add up all of the miles on the road from this move.

Facial for Daddy

I'm not sure who enjoyed this more after they found that Santa had brought them a men's face cleansing mask and decided it must be put on a man.

 

He waited patiently and then let them rip that thing off his face. 

The boys would have nothing to do with the offers for their facials.

Comic Book Illustration

Elaine in deep concentration at a class in comic book illustration she started instead of gymnastics.

 

Her glee that her dad surprised her and stayed to take the class with her, undeniable.

Thursday evenings are theirs for two hours a week for nine weeks.  They both love it.

Sunday Mornings

Early

They sneak off and fish, the girls and their dad.

They don't really catch much, and he got into some really bad poison ivy or oak mites two weeks ago that have made him so miserable for the last two weeks, he finally went to the doctor. 

 

(he never goes to the doctor) 

 

Nothing will stop them.  

Daddy's Girls

 

He and they charming the staff on a rare night out for dinner.

Regular sort of maintenance

 

The lightbulb in the fridge kept going out randomly but not completely.

Was it staying on while the door was closed?

Their dad asked them to help him check.

Safety First

 

 

Anything using tools, for any of them.

Glad to see that Patric is making them wear eye protection for the nailing project.



Two of My Favorite Photos

Elaine and Daddy.

comfy and reclined and relaxed.

Alida and Daddy.

jumping and climbing and exuberant.

Daddy--Still The Stuber Workhorse

Elaine and I had a little back and forth that she needed shoes if she was going to go help daddy with the yard.  Then, she had to have closed-toe shoes if she was going to go help daddy with the yard.  Oh, never mind, I didn't realize that type of help you  had in mind girl....

Daddy Back

I don't even remember anymore when it was exactly, but daddy was away for three weeks recently.  He returned to a pile of kids, and with the crazy (and greying) 'stashe.

Getting up for school the next morning--everyone a little tuckered out from turning crazy when he returned right at bedtime, and mustache gone.  Normalcy returns.

Mommy Away

And so it was that feeding the children was inventive when I recently left town for a few days.

And going to school, well, that became optional too.

I don't think they minded at all.

Playing hooky with daddy to go to the fair and eat cotton candy, definitely worth-while memories.

Oh, lovely

I would expect this list from the boys.

But the boys don't wear red manicures....

He Hangs The Moon

We found a Moon in My Room when we were unpacking that I had put away for the boys at some point. It was such a great success with everyone, that the girls had their own the next weekend from their daddy.

Crud

Home with the crud and daddy today.

I just talked to her on the phone, and she told me she just ate 3 bowls of Capt'N Crunch.

As usual, our sick days are generally pretty not sick, but dad gets to spend the day with Elaine.

Shhhhhh...

Oh, I'm so glad you enjoyed your cake and gifts from grandma and grandpa on your birthday!

(nice job getting doing-in the icing first girl.)

I'll be bringing home your next gift tomorrow, and it is a big one.
I can't wait to see the surprise on your faces.

Really Flat

Forgot one. Not too rambunctious really.

Flat Daddy

It took three adults to figure out how to put our large daddy sticker onto a board. The assembly wasn't as long as the swing set but sheesh!

Jennifer and Mark, once again, pitching in right after they got all of my children and their child to take a nap on a Saturday afternoon.

Flat Daddy is just that--a flat daddy.

We were gifted our life-size daddy by a friend of the Dukes, who I don't know.

Friend of the Dukes--thank you. I love the kindness of others.

The unveil went much more serenely than I imagined it might.

And much more sweetly I might add.

And they haven't kicked him around or broke him or used him as a sled on the stairs yet.

He's in the living room as you walk in the room from upstairs. In the morning the girls say good morning to daddy and stumble off to find their juice and milk.

Little Ladies

Patric's observation when I sent him this picture was to note first how beautiful his little girl was and then note how tall she's gotten in the time he's been away.

My observation was first, where is her other glove? and second where is her other leg?

Thank you grandma Montana for the beautiful spring dresses that made them break out into a chorus of "I am a princess!" (large emphasis on "-ess," which turned into nearly shrieking to the world their humble status as nobility.)

Breakfast With Daddy

She knows if she gets up early, there is a reward.