Mom-N-Jr: 03/01/2009

Today is my dad's birthday... He is 64 years old today. He is such a great example to me of a good father and husband. He always puts my mom first and when we were young and sassing my mom, he was very quick to say "Don't talk to your mother like that!" (I can appreciate that more now - lol.) He always helps my mom, especially now that most of us kids are out of the house. He is the chief dishwasher and whenever there is a big family getogether and the dishes outnumber the dishwasher, he is right there standing over the sink doing the dishes till they are done and with a happy smile. *

Dad doing dishes while overlooking his estate =)

* I was born while my dad was in Vietnam. I remember reading his letters to my mom when I was in college and him saying when he found out I was born, how glad he was to have a baby daughter and how much he missed being with his family. My dad got his first hug from me when I was 9 months old. *

Me and my Dad - Nov 1971

My brother Gregg, me, and Dad - 1971 in Yuma, Az

* My dad is awesome at all sports. When he was 16 years old, his church softball team played at the U of U at the All-Church Softball Tournament in 1962 (which was the worlds largest softball competition and had teams from all across the United States and Canada). The games were broadcast on the radio and their team of nine players from the Hurricane North Ward, wearing their official team uniforms of levis and a plain white t-shirt, took 2nd place. *

* He got a basketball scholarship to SUSC and and went there after his mission to Canada. He still plays church ball with his ward and he seems to have more energy than the 25-30 year old dads on his team =). *

My dad making a layup while everyone else just watches in awe of his mad skills... - 2005

* When my husband was killed in August 1998 and we were living in Arizona, he and my mom jumped on a plane immediately and spent that first crazy week helping me try to get to see Kevin, figure out financial stuff, get my car registered, and just be on the phone with the military and made me lists to help get organized with everything that I would need. I was a complete mess and it was such a reassurance to know that my parents were both there to help in all ways. *

* My dad was the one who blessed, baptized and ordained my son. *

Junior and Grandpa - 2003

* He has given countless blessings and been an example to Junior of a worthy priesthood holder... *

Dad with sons, uncle, cousins going to priesthood session of conference... - 2004

* He always has time for the grandkids, whether it be attending their recitals, soccer games, teaching them to climb up the trees in his front yard, helping them to build awesome snowmen, wrestling with them in the house (even tho' his dad would have said "hey you kids, if you want to wrestle, you need to go do that out on the front lawn! lol) or just sitting in his lap and reading a book. *

Gpa at Jr's soccer game - 2004

beginning the perfect snowmen... 11:16 am

Gma, Gpa, Mom and Jr snowman family ... 11:58 am - 2003

Jr and Gpa roughhousing - in the house! hehehe - 2004

* He has taught my son how to barbeque and how to use the squirt bottle at just the right time. *

I see Jr has the squirt bottle handy - heehee - 2005

* He is the best at the hard puzzles that I would never attempt alone but if he is sitting at his puzzle spot working on one, you can have the funnest time sitting down and visiting while he makes you feel smart when you actually find a couple of the easy pieces. *

* He goes out to my Grandpa's farm (my mom's dad) and helps out with stuff that reminds me that my dad grew up different than I did: riding horses, taking care of animals, driving a tractor and building barns... *