Making Merry

My cousin Hannah gave me the idea for a Seven Days of Dad celebration for Father's Day.

If someone deserves seven days to be honored, it's Adam.

We brainstormed ideas and rejected a lot of the proposals.  Emma wanted to do an Island Getaway night, except she-who-cleverly-names called it an Island Get-To-Stay.  She and I went to Party City for all of the necessary accoutrements.

everything tastes better from an umbrella straw

Our plan (Emma's plan) was to eat on the deck and then fan Adam with palm fronds.

It was too cold though (our "island" weather is more tepid than tropical) and it turned out the night coincided with the kids' piano recital (and we didn't exactly have palm fronds). 

Everyone was dressed up and ready to tickle the ivories:

OK, not that dressed up

We did get some slave labor out of Emma post Island Get-To-Stay and pre-recital though:

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washing dishes in her favorite dress, a lei and an apron...why not?

The recital was a little taxing, making sure Mark sat between his siblings to keep him quiet and struggling along with Emma as she combated stage fright. (She said, "Could you tell I was shaking and dizzy?"  No, but I could tell she was having a hard time.)  I love the recital every year though.  It makes me happy to see such earnest effort and know the hours of practice that are behind all the performances.

Mark's very first recital

Then, it would hardly be the recital without a stop at The Spotted Cow for an ice cream cone.

mmmmmmm....

Grandma Geri gave each child a congratulatory gift card to their favorite restaurants.  She told Braeden, "I thought food was better than flowers."

Braeden said, "I've lived my life by that principle.  Food is better than _______."  Spoken like a true 13 year-old boy.

The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.

Oprah Winfrey

Here's to children that practiced long and hard, their loving and kind-hearted piano teacher, and to a dad that makes our world go 'round!