but what an amazing experience it was. 

while he sleeps (traveling for a week wears you out- and he stayed up all night last night!!) i thought i’d share a few photos.

there is so much i want to say.

so much.

but i can’t find the words right now.

i’ll be back when i can form a clear thought, tell you what is in my heart.

but for now this is all i can say.

thank you God.

and thank all of you for supporting my family on this journey.

since last night, there has been a prayer on repeat in my head. and it goes something like this.

thank you so much for bringing my family back together. thank you, Lord, for that.

there were days i thought that tonight might never happen. thank you thank you thank you.

and my heart was aching for the families of the 8 boys that didn’t walk into that gym.

so much love and sadness all at the same time.

i’ll be back later, just wanted to pop in. i’m way too wound up to sleep, even though J and the 2 chickies are both napping.

love to you all.

s

 

What we’ve been doing:

 

maybe one day i’ll find myself lured inside to be crafty.

but not now. summer’s just too much fun.

savoring the last days we have together as three.

xoxo

s

2. take your daughters on daddy dates. 

3. when your daughter finally gets the hang of potty training, send her an email saying you want to have a “pee in the potty party” when you come home.

4. be the primary bath giver for the first 2 years of your oldest daughter’s life. make sure to always remind her not to drink the “hiney water”.

5. learn to do your daughter’s hair. even if it looks REALLY bad, act very proud of yourself so that your wife won’t say a word.

6. three words. guilty deployment gifts. make sure to tell your wife first so that whatever present she gets said child for said occasion is not ECLIPSED by 5 foot tall teddy bear you will be sending from FAO Schwartz.

7. teach your children what is dangerous by walking around and playing a game titled “touch…touch…NO TOUCH!!!!” for example, when in kitchen:

(at counter)….touch

(other counter)…touch

(stovetop)…..NO TOUCH!!!!!

it’s surprisingly effective.

8. if your child asks you to do the “hotdog dance” from mickey mouse clubhouse, or even the “chicken dance”…you DO it, by golly. and do it with energy. so much energy, that when you are far away and unable to do previously mentioned dance with children, no dance mommy EVER does will EVER live up to your version. 

9. be patient with your children. really TALK to them, never as if they are babies. get down on their level and really LISTEN to what they have to say. give them logical choices and consequences and respect their feelings. 

10. be the best daddy your wife could have ever imagined. because of this, she will fall even more in love with you each and every time that she sees you with your girls. wear your heart on your sleeve and tell your children often how much you love them and how proud of them you are. wrestle, giggle, read, play soccer, sing, and dress up with your girls. give them an example of the kind of man that they too deserve. a man who is good, honest, brave, and noble. 

happy father’s day, jimmy. we love you.

 

It’s 100 degrees here today and we went to visit our best friends at Ft. Hood.

swimming

slip and sliding

okay. that’s a lie. harper’s bestie, sophie did it properly. she does have two brothers after all!!

but harper carefully ran to the very end with her hands flapping and then gingerly plopped in the water.

Lord help us all.

popsicles

then repeat the first two steps over and over and over

and what do you get?

two tired chickies.

hope you had an equally satisfying (and tiring) summer day!

xoxo