chatting.

father's day 2011.

notice caleb's zipper--poor fella has a hard time keeping that zipped up with the one arm.

favorite picture of the day coming up right now...

i wasn't able to get them all smiling at once, and i don't own photoshop to insert the strategically placed smiles, or open up someone's eyes, {or fix leah's nap hair} so we get what we get. 

church, naps, presents, gun fights, chicken enchiladas, relaxing,

it was a good day. 

3rd time is the charm.

yep, i've posted this father's day tribute to ben 3 times now on the blog.  

but i haven't been feeling great today, so the inspiration to write something amazing hasn't been coming.  

plus, i really like this one.  so why ruin a good thing?

ben is such an amazing dad to our kiddos, they adore him.  he's a hands-on, don't-let-em-watch-too-much-t.v., take-them-to-the-park, make-sure-they-eat-their-vegetables, wrestle-until-he's-exhausted, rock-them-to-sleep-while-singing-bob-dylan, strict-when-he-needs-to-be, absolutely-hilarious,

dad.

i can't believe how much we all lucked out.  

***re-posting.

a father is.....

someone who makes you smile when you don't feel like smiling...

someone who feels your pain...

someone who will tickle you until you wet your pants...

someone who will share their hairstyle techniques...

who will hold you tight after you've been on a long journey...

someone who will lift you up so you can see the light...

someone who isn't afraid to give you kisses when others are watching...

someone who loves to have fun...

someone who values education...

someone who will help you appreciate the beauty of the earth...

someone who knows the value of a good nap...


someone who will teach you "marco, polo"...

someone who will help you walk through trials...

someone who will talk you through your problems...

someone with a fantastic sense of humor...

someone who gives the best hugs...

someone who will make you feel like a prince or princess...

someone who will sit on santa's lap when you're too scared to...

someone who is a good friend...

someone who will carry you when you are too tired to stand...

someone who is the best example of a super hero...

someone who would make his own father proud...

for all these reasons and more, this is why we love you.

happy father's day, ben.

a scraggly-haired dance with dad.

these pictures make me happy.

and they also solidify my stance in ben vs. lynsey when it comes 

to miss leah needing a haircut.

but mostly, they just make me happy.

the fellas.

let the wild rumpus start!

reading time at our house is usually quiet and peaceful.


unless ben is in charge of reading time.


he likes to add different words in that get more ridiculous as the book goes on.



their favorite book to read together has led to an emergency bathroom break on more than one occasion for poor caleb.
he has his mother's bladder {which normally holds together just fine until the uncontrollable giggles start}.
this was where ben busted out the word "underpants" which gets caleb every time and we had to pause so he could calm down before things got out of control.



but my favorite part of reading time?
is when ben reads the words
"and Max the king of all wild things was lonely
and wanted to be where where someone loved him best of all"
and caleb always snuggles down close
and says,
"just like my dad loves me."


i hope our King of the wild things
always comes back
to where his supper will be waiting for him...and it will still be hot.