Dad's are GREAT!

I have incredible dad's in my life - my dad is the greatest... he is funny, a great example, and a wonderful grandpa. My father-in-law is also awesome and I can see where Ben learned how to be an amazing dad. Ben is everything I could have wanted in a dad to our kids... he is a great teacher, full of patience, and makes spending quality time with the kids his priority. Hooray for dad's!

Ben had to work on Father's Day, but fortunately he had Saturday off, so we just decided to celebrate it a day early. And with church at 9am on Sundays, it was actually nice to get to take our time doing Father's Day breakfast on Saturday instead. So, for breakfast, we had blueberry muffins, scrambled eggs (done 'dad-style' with jalapenos, onions, and cheese added), strawberries (sliced up by the girls), and orange juice. The kids had all picked out some goodies for him for gifts along with the cards and pictures they made. I got him a kitchen scale so that he can finally correctly follow Alton Brown's recipes - since his recipes usually refer to ingredient quantities in weight instead of by cups or teaspoons, etc.

Becca and Jake anxiously awaiting daddy's arrival at breakfast (we let him sleep in)

After breakfast we got all ready and headed to Desert Ridge to shop, have lunch, and play at their splash pad....

We love our daddy!!



I feel like this is what I'm always doing... nursing little Claire






Afterwards we headed home for ice cream treats (whenever they have popsicles or ice cream, I send them in the backyard to eat it - less mess and gets them out of my hair for a moment)


Ben's been trying to get into swimming (in hopes of eventually doing a triathlon or splash and dash) - so he then took the girls to the pool to play and then they got to cheer him on as he swam some laps. And reportedly Emma did the diving board 4 times on her own! I'm glad to see her making swimming progress, especially as she doesn't get much practice since we don't have a pool. Yay Emma! Later, for Father's Day dinner we had Cayenne Chicken with Avocado Salsa (first time trying it... will definitely make it again!), rice, mangos, and salad. Then Pineapple Upside-Down cake for dessert... mmmm. At bedtime, the girls sang their Father's Day songs they'd been practicing in Primary... since he wouldn't be at church the next day to hear them sing in Sacrament mtg. Their singing was really cute! I should have taken a video :)

So, on Sunday, even though Ben was working, we spent the evening at Ben's parents home for lots of celebrating: Father's Day, Lacy's birthday, and Midsummer's Night Eve (summer solstice). There were lots of presents exchanged, a yummy dinner, floating a cake, and reciting our favorite poems. AND, this was the first time we've had all 3 baby cousins together. Peter and Lacy had their first little baby girl (Scout) last week and she is darling. We put "the triplets" down on the floor to hang out together... we were so entertained watching them. Little Scout kept poking Caroline in the face and it was hilarious. :)

Claire, Caroline, and Scout