Happy Farther's Day.

And yes...I added the extra R on purpose. I HAD to put it somewhere...geez....
This Father's Day was fantastic....not only was I able to spoil my husband {it's the little things....like not making him get up with Jax...haha....and yes....he gets up with him EVERY night, cause he's awesome like that}...but I also got to have my dad here and  have James cook him a fantastic steak dinner.
James and I also had the privelege {Ü} to give talks in church today, too. I loved the Priesthood topics we were assigned....it's nice to be reminded how important the priesthood is in our lives. James did a fantastic job speaking about the privelege it is to be a dad. He makes me so proud! And it makes my heart melt to see how much he loves these kiddos.

I know this dude....

...he's pretty dang cool.

Some may call him awesome.

Or a smart, creative man....

or they may mistake him for a Superhero from time to time...

He's definitely all those things...
but I just call him Dad.

He and my mom make this uncomparable duo...
She's able to do the things she does because of him and he is able to be the person he is because of her. And this and that, and that and this. As I watch them and their journey thru life, I am more and more impressed at the dedication and love they have for each other. One of my most favorite things about my dad is watching him talk about my mom. You can just tell that she is the light of his life. Never a harsh word said. When I was growing up, the thing I knew I would get in the most trouble for was talking or being mean to my mother.

I'm so grateful for him and the lessons he taught me early. It wasn't always what I wanted to hear at the time...but as I look back, I realize he was so totally right...don't you just love having those moments?! Ü

And then there's this other dude.
I could brag on him all day long...

funny, smart, friend, hero...and that's just what the girls think about him!

“As we meet our obligations as fathers and leaders, we will help the next generation rise to their glorious future. They will be better than we are, just as you have tried to be even better parents than your parents and better leaders than the great ones who helped you.”

“It is my prayer that we will be determined to do better every day to prepare the rising generation.”

~Henry B. Eyring

I'm so grateful to have a feeling of partnership with James....he helps me be a better mother, and I hope I can help him be the father his children need him to be. Together we can work together to cultivate a spirit of Love in our home.

So...Happy Father's Day to two totally cool dudes in my life! <3

Creative suggestions for Father's Day

If you are like me...coming up with a Father's Day gift is uber-hard! For my husband...for my dad...and Grandpa's (tho sadly this is the first Father's Day I won't be making anything for my PopPop :( I miss him!) I don't know what it is. Mom's are easy to shop for...they don't mind the sentimental gifts! I could make my mom a scrapbook every year and she'd be happy as ever. I've made/given James a scrapbook before and it just doesn't feel as exciting as if I got him a new golf club or a new shirt. But you can only buy a fella so many shirts and ties! And, of course, money doesn't always allow big expensive gifts...

So you have to get creative!!

One idea I came across....in the Friend, of all places....is this mini-tie keychain.

(Ok, I can't lie...James saw this idea first...in sacrament mtg he and Bella were flipping thru the Friend and he passed it to me and said I needed to make it...nice, huh? DO IT.)

We went and picked up some 99 cent ties from the thrift store....and my lucky day, they were 50% off...so I got them for like 49 cents! lol. Can't beat that.

And yes...that's a cow tie...I thought it would be cuter...but they're all upside down!

Anyways...here is how you do it

(please forgive the horrendous directions and just look at the pictures!):

Get the small bottom part of the time and slip it thru the keyring.

Bring it down and a bit to the right.

And then flip it across the front....

Then bring it around the left side of the keyring, and in thru the back....tuck the end thru the back of the keychain...and then down thru the little loop.

Pull that small end thru and tight....I had to go and adjust the length a few times before I got it perfect.

You'll cut the rest of the tie off in the back.

To keep it together...especially if you have a silk tie...I added some glue to the back.

Before you add the glue, you'll want to make sure you can move the keyring back and forth.

So there you go! You could also use the same concept and glue a magnet to the back? I dunno...I have a secret magnet obsession (you'll see later...can't post it just yet b/c it's for my dad and I want him to be surprised! Cause I just KNOW he sits around reading my blog everyday...haha! That and I forgot to take a picture of it....and there are already enough pictures on this post!! )

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Other ideas!

We did this for James' birthday, but it would work wonderfully for Father's Day, too. Fill it with candy if you have a sweet-toothed sweetie....or sunflower seeds and pistachios!

It's very easy to put together...all you need is:

clear bottles, preferably in a holder (that way you can dress it up!)

scrapbook paper

candy or munchie of your choice

See....easy peasy!

We added a front little pocket, too...to hold a gift card. Makes the gift twice as sweet!

Hand-printed ties!

We did this last year for Father's Day for my dad, James' dad and my PopPop.

It was a big hit!

For this you'll need:

Ties! (we got ours from the thrift store, of course....they have very "colorful" selections)

Acrylic paint mixed with textile medium (tho just plain acrylic will work, it won't wash off)

And I absolutely LOVED the poem that wentt along with it, so we are using it this year for the bookmark ties we did in Primary for Father's day. (Bookmark ties...courtesy of JAMES, yet again...I asked him what would he want to get from his kiddos that could be made in Primary...and he suggested a bookmark tie...crafty wife is rubbing off onto crafty husband Ü)

Good luck creating something fabulous for those men that make your life just a little sweeter!

Daddy-O

Happy Father's day to a couple of swell dads....it's basically over now, but we had a good day waiting on James hand and foot ;). (literally...he made me take off his shoes and socks after church) I'm a horrible daughter because I forgot to call my own father...hopefully he will forgive me Ü. He is such a great example to me of love, kindness and everything good.

"God bless you, dear fathers. May He bless you with wisdom and judgement, with understanding, with self-discipline and self-control, with faith and kindness and love. And may He bless the sons and daughters who have come into your homes, that yours may be a fortifying, strengthening, guiding hand as they walk the treacherous path of life. And as the years pass -and they will pass ever so quickly- may you know that 'peace...which passeth all understanding' (Philip. 4:7) as you look upon your sons and daughters, who likewise have known that sacred and wonderful peace. Such is my humble prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." President Gordon B. Hinckley.

Happy *belated* Father's Day!

It's belated and it's OK...because....
YOUR NOT MY DAD!
hahahahaha....

But....you are a swell dad...the girls are very lucky to have you! I don't think they realize it yet...but we're gonna have lots of fun!
I love the way you are with them...you are their friend, their protector...
Thank you for all you do...I could not do it with out you!

Things I have learned from my Dad:

*You can never take too many pictures.
*Family prayer is important, whether your tired, cranky or in a rush....always make time for it.
*Pancakes are for breakfast, chocolate chip waffles are for dinner.
*Love and respect your mother above all things! With all she does for us, she doesn't deserve an attitude!
*Pancakes can come in many different colors!
*Disneyland ain't got nothin' on camping.
*Leaves are for jumping in.
*Raising girls isn't for the faint of heart.
*There is no "I" in team.
*Always pray before you leave on a trip.....and there must be a lesson to be learned from running out of gas.
*There isn't anything out there on the horizon thats not worth exploring (literally Ü).

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

Dad...I have learned so much from you! I cherish the time we have spent together, since it's been so marginal as of late. I think back on my life and draw comfort from my memories of you. I remember seeing you at the sidelines of my basketball practices....soooo thankful that you weren't vocal like Laura Davidson's dad! Sometimes when I need it, I think back and see you cheering me on from the sidelines. The memories go on and on...some good...some bad. But they have made me what I am.

Because you listened to me...I knew I had something to say!
Because you believe in me.....I believe in myself!
Because you said I could do anything....I did.
So much of the good stuff in my life has started with you!

I hope you had a wonderful Father's day!