Father's Day 2017

Father's Day 2017 was so wonderful; I am thankful and proud to be your Dad every day. I don't really need to be celebrated or pampered (too much).

The day began with swimming and snacking on grapes like a king. 

Eating our grapes poolside with you critters who made me a father. 

Then you guys gave in to my demands and we went on an adventure for lunch. Here's how I described it:

These smiling faces humored me and we ate lunch at a bahn mi place I read about online. It was super yummy, but I think we might have eaten entrails. Holly is pretty sure it was knuckle meat. The kids enjoyed mango smoothies. I hope all you dads out there are getting spoiled with knuckle meat today!

We survived and were still smiling. But our tummies were a bit upset. Julia, remind me to tell you that the meat you liked was NOT turkey meat ;)

Then we read, and wrestled, and messed around with some fun photo app.

Then the Grandpas (and grandmas) arrived!

More swimming!

Father's Day Kids* Table!

You guys had made some lovely painted rocks for the Dads, and the Mommies made yummy fish tacos!

It is always fantastic to celebrate our dads!

Baba:

Pops:

And with notes like this from you Julia, and kind words like what you said to me, Aidan ("Dad I love you...you are the specialest dad I ever met") I feel incredibly honored.

"Dad I love you...you are the specialest dad I ever met"
- Aidan, 6/17

"Happy Fathers Day
Dad
Happy Fathers Day
I love you
You are funny
I ever <?> pretties*
You have pretty kids
You have pretty Mom (aka Holly)
You have pretty Dogs
Dad - Julia"

I smiled so hard my face hurt. Totally amazed and speechless and touched. I also now have admissible evidence that I am funny.

#Treasure

*You couldn't read your own writing on line 6.  You get that from me.

Thank you for letting me be your Dad! I love you both so much.

Julia's First Hair Cut

Julia, Julia, let down your hair!

You are 4 and a half years old and have only ever had little trims for split ends and a few trims to your bangs (which you used to call 'fangs.') You LOVE your hair! You're proud of the color, the look, the feel, the different things you can do with it. But, you're also very adventurous and determined and practical...and open to change.

When you came to mommy and me and let us know that you wanted to cut your hair...and cut it short...we worked with you to make sure that this was what you wanted. 

You found pictures -with mommy's help- of what you wanted your hair to look like online. 

We double checked with you, to make sure you understood that you couldn't wear pony tails or pig tails or even a bun. 

You were calm and said "It'll grow back, Daddy!"

And so...Mommy made an appointment in a cool place in Deep Ellum with a stylist named Kennedy. Yaya came along too for moral support, and here you go!

 

You absolutely love it! And that's what is most important! 

It doesn't hurt that everyone else loves it too!

So a few snips, support from Yaya, Aidan, and Mommy during the cut, and one lollipop later, and you got yourself a brand new 'do!

Big Splash at the Ballet

Mimi and Pops were kind enough to take us to see "Alice and Wonderland" at the ballet in Downtown Dallas at the Winspear Opera house:

To say you guys had a blast would be an understatement! The Ballet was a big splash!

You were dancing before we even got to our seats!

The show- including the pit, the program, the chandelier, the live music, and -of course- the crazy ballet costumes and production were amazing!

You guys loved the show, and loved picking out which dancers were which animals.

After the show, Julia, you said you wanted to be a "Ballerina Archaeologist" when you grew up.

Aidan, you were so into the dancing that you couldn't wait to show off your new skills to some young ladies you met. In fact, you performed for them and yelled "Clap for me!"

Outside the Winspear, you found the water feature, and the real splashing dancing (splash-dance?) began!

What an important date! We wish you a very merry un-actual day reminder of this fun, artistic, splashy day.

Ah-May-Zing

Man, we do a lot of cool, noteworthy, special, fun, awesome, things! May 2017 was chock-full of some of these super cool moments, that I just wanted to document so maybe you two could look back on it and remember some of the smaller, yet still memorable and cool, adventures we've had, cool things you've done, and awesomeness of being you!!

Julia, you set up your own private art studio and project, including auditory isolation and snack table, all by yourself:

Aidan, you created a smiley egg balloon lookin' guy!

Spring was springing:

You two and me started making pancakes together, and we used the recipe that my mother used to make pancakes for me when I was a boy (p.s. mommy makes the awesomest pancakes and has been treating us for years. We just decided to treat her! We're still learning, but they are turning out great!)

A new Starbucks opened up in our neighborhood, and so I challenged both of you to ride your bikes further than every (beyond the Bike-to-bakery challenge). And you took me up on the challenge!

We stopped and saw/saved some wildlife along the way:

We made it to Starbucks, and had a lovely lunch together (and the Cake Pops you guys earned for your bike riding skills)!

And then we rode back!

You guys had fun with Mimi and Pops while me and Mama went on a date:

Our Dates!

Just some general hanging out: Porchin, and lioning...

Pool/popsicle party with your friends:

Whatever happened here:

More amazing Lego creations and special tricks:

Some puppy-love and puppy-dog eyes:

Farmer's Marketing, where we got honey and Aidan saw his sweetheart ( At the farmers market, my boy saw a friend from school. He asked if we could go say hi to her and her family. So we went over, she said 'hi Aidan,' and he hid behind me, collapsed into a puddle that clung on to my legs almost pulling me over, and then eventually he got up and bared his tooth gap at her. The girl then turned to talk to Julia. In the car, Aidan said of his friend, 'she's my girlfriend. But don't tell her.' #SmoothLikeHisDad#YoungLove):

And, at your behest, the three of us took a trip to the Children's Aquarium at Fair Park!

You guys fed the rays for the first time. And Aidan, for some reason, you wanted to take the bait fish home with you and keep it on your desk!

Julia, you were a real "ray whisperer." They LOVED you!

You made a new friend and rode the wind tunnel with him!

And then, we rode bikes around Fair Park, checked out the tentacle sculpture (which I used to play on as a child!), spotted snapping turtles, and rode in a Swan Boat!

Julia: "Guys, I think I found some allergies over here!"

Man...what an amazing May! May we have another?