Because It's Often a Thankless Job

How often do your children tell you thank you for all you do to take care of them? For feeding them their greens instead of their beloved candy? For making sure they hold your hand when they cross the street and that they wear their helmets when they bike? Not often, right?

Though we work to develop grateful hearts within our children, it often seems they take so much for granted.

Yet, it is my hope that one day they will look at their daddy and have a new a understanding. An understanding that today he didn't have to take Chris on a long walk and stop to buy a treat. He wasn't required to ride bikes with Ann to the park where they played soccer. And, no one made him invite Jane along on his errands after he'd played soccer in the backyard with her. No, he did it because he doesn't simply take care of them, he cherishes them.

Even when they don't say thank you, yes even then.

So, from me, Thank You Tony for being such a wonderful father! Our kiddos are blessed!

A Letter to My Kiddos About Their Daddy

Dear Ann, Chris, and Jane,

As I sit here typing, you are all in the basement with your daddy. I can hear your laughter and the sound of a hand saw. Daddy is using the saw to make all of you a play house.

A few nights ago, he came home with rolls from the inside of the paper they use at his office. Before I knew it, he had concocted a plan to make a "log cabin" for you using the tubes and wood. Before he came home from work last night, he stopped at the "orange store" (a.k.a. Home Depot) to pick up some wood and screws.

Much of this weekend has been spent in the basement as you all work to finish the house. (I'm glad you are able to work around the mess down there, because I'm not sure when I'll finally get those Christmas decorations put away!)

My little ones, I write this so that one day you can be reminded of just how much your daddy loves you. He could do any number of things with his time away from work, but he chooses to spend it doing amazing things for you (and me). Remember this? And this?

Each of you, as you pray, always say "Thank you for Dada and Mama..." I do hope that you know how wise it is to thank the Lord for your sweet Daddy. You all are blessed beyond measure to have your earthly father love you so!

I hope you enjoy your house and that we can make many fun memories playing in your "Lincoln Log House!"

Much love,

Mama

P.S. Pictures to come soon!

More Proof that Daddy is the Fun One

Daddy really is more fun than Mommy around here. Sigh.

I was finishing up the dishes one night as I looked up to see Tony and my kiddos convert our rug into car ramp. Fun. (Please note this was always the type of rug I never would have bought pre-kiddos. After kids, rugs are all about function. If they look good, and some of mine do, that's an added bonus!)

Just for the record, I frequently tell my kids to put the rug back because it isn't for playing!!! Did you read that Tony? Oh, I'm kidding, I love watching my husband play with our children. Love it!

Yellow Flowers

A few months ago, my son announced that he was going to get me flowers for my birthday. I didn't think much of it at the time.



A month or so later, I was on an errand with just my little man. Once again he told me that he was going to get me flowers for my birthday. That time I asked him if he knew my favorite color of flowers. "Yellow," my three-year-old said. He was right! My heart melted at the thought of my crazy little guy knowing his mama so well.



Last night, Tony took my oldest daughter on a quick run to Target. I knew they were probably picking up a few things for my birthday today. My son was a bit disappointed not to be included in the shopping trip, but it was late and he was tired.



So, you can imagine my surprise as I was preparing breakfast (okay, I was just toasting some bread) and my little man came walking into the kitchen with yellow flowers! He was so proud as he wished me a happy birthday.



I felt so blessed to not only have a son who wanted to give me my favorite flowers, but also a husband who remembered his son's wishes.


Apparently, they not only look alike...they also think alike! I love them both so much! Thanks Tony. Thank you Little Man!

The Igloo

Though my children got some wonderful Christmas gifts, the older ones soon forgot all about them when their daddy built them this:

That is a little snow fort made from packed 5-gallon buckets. Late Christmas morning, Tony headed out to shovel the driveway. (It was the first of many times that we would have to do that.) I soon sent our older two kiddos out after him.

Later as I peeked out the window, I noticed that Tony had abandoned his mostly finished shoveling job in favor of building a snow fort. I also observed that Ann and Chris were not paying much attention to the fort. Instead, they were sledding down the "mountains" created by the snow Tony had shoveled. I smiled at my husband as I leaned out the door and asked if he was making the fort for himself or the kids. He laughed.

Eventually, the fort began to take shape and the kids started to take more interest. Soon they were making windows by adding flattened boxes to the top of the fort. At one point there was even a large blue toy truck on top of one of the walls. I'm not exactly sure what its function was but it seemed to make them happy.

After lunch and naps, the kids headed back out with Tony where they put the finished touches on the fort. The kids had asked all month to put Christmas lights on the outside of the house. Well, for one reason or another, we never got around to decorating the outside of the house. So, you can imagine their delight when their amazing daddy put Christmas lights on their "igloo."

The cheesy smiles don't do their delight justice.

Watching my little ones play with their daddy just might have been my favorite Christmas present.

A Father and Daughter Weekend

The other day, Tony commented to me that, "it may sound cheesy, but ever since Ann and I went on that trip our relationship has been better."

I didn't think it sounded cheesy at all. After all, he was speaking the truth.

In mid-July, Tony took Ann on a road trip to go to a wedding in Kentucky. They stopped for a couple of hours in St. Louis both on the way out and the way back.

I somehow managed to part with the camera so that they could capture their weekend. I'm so glad I did. Look what I would have missed out on if I had kept it with Chris, Jane, and me.

Apparently the theme of the weekend was to stick out your tongue! There are about a dozen more photos of this same pose in a variety of locations. Nice, huh?

In all seriousness, look at this great shot.

Then, there is this one that I think is so cute. Right now, Ann seems so big because she is our oldest. Yet, I know it won't be long until I look back at pictures like these and wonder how she was ever so small.

I often take for granted what a wonderful father Tony is to our three children. Seeing pictures like these remind me that my children are incredibly blessed to have such a loving daddy. I hope they soon realize that when it comes to daddies, they got the best!

Not the Only One

I'm not the only one with full hands around here.

Ann, Chris, and Jane, you sure are blessed to have such a wonderful daddy.

Happy Belated Father's Day

I think I have several posts titled "Belated _________". Clearly, I'm of the better-late-than-never mindset.

Anyways, here at the Yes, and So is My Heart household, the kiddos and I are truly blessed to have Tony for a father and a husband.

This is proof.

And so is this.And this.


And there is this.

And finally, this.

These moments shown in the pictures represent only a tiny bit of all Tony is and does as a father and husband. For that, we are most grateful and wish him a very Happy Father's Day. Well, a belated one at least.

Just a Day

I have now partially written and then deleted two different posts. I fully intended to write about something that wasn't directly related to my little ones, but I've got nothing. Well, maybe not nothing...

We are still enjoying getting up before the sun around here. Of course, by "we" I mean those who are under four feet. The rest of us would rather indulge in a bit more sleep. Though, perhaps indulge isn't quite the right word. It doesn't exactly seem indulgent to want to sleep until 6:30 or maybe 7:00 in the morning.

Also, I'm not sure if the dog qualifies as being over four feet. I have no idea how or even if they measure the height of a dog. I also don't particularly care.

So, did anything happen today that was blog-worthy? No, not so much.

However, the first thing I heard Ann say this morning was, "I was cranky first." That, my readers, is a first. It just goes to show that siblings will argue about anything.

For the record, I'd like to state that I was cranky first. My husband will attest to that. Not good, I know, but it's the truth.

And finally, in other news, Hubs can officially be known as Tony. He didn't directly give me permission to use his name, but he did make the following statements.

"No, you can't use my real name. Someone might come hunt me down--all from reading your blog."

That was as good as a yes for me. Since I'm into being a good wife, I'll refrain from finding a goofy picture in order to "introduce" him. But, here is a picture of something I never get tired of seeing.

This is a picture of Tony, Ann, and Chris walking to the pool for Ann's first swim lesson. It always makes me smile to see my little ones walking with their daddy. Moments like this make me realize just how blessed I am, even when I have to rise before the sun to make breakfast that no one touches.

Proof

I always knew my husband would be a great dad. Here is the latest proof that he is indeed the best.

This box housed our new hot water heater. Now, thanks to my husband, it is a fun playhouse for Big Sister and Little Man.

My sweet husband put it together after the children were in bed. He even reinforced the box with pieces of wood. He did all this despite a heavier than usual work load.

Check out the details.

Apparently Little Man likes the windows.

Are they lucky kids or what?