Random Peek At Yesterday

Our yesterday.

After church and chatting for a while with friends, we went to our grandparent's for lunch, to celebrate Father's Day. The party was complete with pizza and ice cream cake - and retro pepsi, who's can was so rad that I had to take a picture.

Oh, and... let's celebrate that it was made with REAL SUGAR. ;)

She is even beautiful when she won't smile for the camera. :)

LOOK! It's the dads that we were celebrating!

They apparently were very excited about the food. :)

I love my Daddy. <3

Grandma's rose bushes are always so pretty. 

This is my favorite time of the year because of all the roses I get to see... and smell. :)

After filling our bellies, and giving some haircuts (just call me... a traveling hairdresser :), we went to the ALH motor speedway to watch some car races.

This Lightening Mcqueen fan was especially excited!

 

And that was our day! 

It was a good one. :) 

Dad is Rad

Today is a special day set aside to honor dads and all that they are to us, and this year I am especially excited to give this amazing man some extra loving.

My dad.

Wow, what a ride he has had recently.

I have watched him go through his hardest trial these past couple of months, and my respect for him has grown as I've seen him stand strong while the enemy tried to tear him apart.

Through his pain, I watched him circle his arms around his family and draw them closer.

People can think and say all sorts of things about my dad, but we, his family, know the truth about him.

The truth is that he is kind. He has an enormous, generous heart.

He loves his family, and desires only what is best for them. He loves to spend time with us all, and makes each one of us know how much we are loved every day.

He is patient. He loves the unloved. 

He is the best, imperfect... but so are we all.

I am incredibly blessed to call him my pops.

Love you dad! Thanks for keeping the smile on our faces every day. 

Thanks for staying you, even when there were people saying you needed to change. 

Cause that's the way I like you. :)

Every year (well, almost every year), we make a Father's Day Video. This year, Zach was in charge and he decided to do a "Kid Snippet". 

It was challenging, and completely unprofessional... but totally fun. :)

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there!

Daddy's Day

Father's Day.
My Dad is amazing. And I am not just saying that because today is the day that you say nice things about your dad, I truly mean it. I have the best one.

Anyone that knows him can say that he is generous. He is always looking out for his family, for other people, doing the right thing even though it may not be the easy thing.
He has taught me to always try to be better then who I am. To do those things that seem impossible, and to never say "I can't".

One of the things that he said to me that will always stick with me was when we were playing hockey one day, and I told him that I just wasn't good at doing something, and that no matter how hard I tried I would never be able to get it because I wasn't wired to do it. He said to me "Jen, they say that everyone can sing. With enough practice and the right training, you can learn to do anything that you set your mind to."

Dad is someone in my life that I know will always have my back. If I fail, he will always cheer for me, and applaud my efforts, yet he will always encourage me to try harder the next time. "Just do your best, that is all I ask of you." is what he often says.

I learn so much from him by watching him trust His God. He has this calm about him that I know can only come from a knowing that God is in control. I smile to remember those times when there is a severe thunderstorm in the middle of the night, and I come upstairs to see his shadow near the window in the flashes of lightening and to hear him praying for safety for his crops and his family.

All in all, my daddy is great.
And I love him so much.
Happy Father's Day Pops!!

Here is a little video that Ker and the kids made for Father's Day this year.

Favorite Family Memories ~ Dad

Last time I did a "Blog every day of the month" challenge, I started a series of posts about my favorite memories with each member of my family. (you can read them here, here, here and here)

I had always meant to finish, but never got around to it... until now that is. :)

My daddy.

Trying to figure out what my favorite memory with him is, is like trying to pick a favorite flower out of a flower garden. So many amazing memories in the twenty some years that I have called him my pops.

We have had many adventures together. Shared many father daughter moments. 

He has taught me so much about life, and has always been there for me. Protecting. Strong.

We have been a team for so many years. In sports (we have always been on the same hockey/football/soccer team when we play with the fam.), in convincing certain other people to do the crazy thing, in the way that I have chosen to do life.

I am a daddy's girl. We are alike in the way of our competitive spirit, our love for adventure, and our insane water fighting skills ;).
He has held me when I cried about losing a pet, believed in me when I set my mind to do something, and taught me how to do the hard things... even when I feel incapable.

Yes, the memories I treasure with him are many.

But there is this one that I have lots of pictures of.
And it is funny, and so much fun. So I will share it.

July 2009.
We were visiting friends in Tennessee, our first family trip down south.
Our friends arranged for some of us to go on a white water rafting adventure.
I had never been before, so I was super excited!
We made our way down the river, my sisters, Dad and two of our good friends.
Eveything was going amazingly. We went through rapid after rapid, having a blast.

Then, near the final stretch in the river, we were asked by our guide "Do you want to take the safe ride or the wild ride?". Umm, was that a question??

Somehow we were the only ones that fell in... 

Do you see my foot, and Dad's helment? I think I kinda sorta fell on top of him...

I was able to grab on to the raft right away, but Dad's little swim continued a little longer...

We made it through safe and sound. 

It was the best part of the whole experience.
The end. :)

Daddy's day

Tis the day that we celebrate and bring to recognition all that our Father's are to us.

Personally, I think that I have the BEST Dad in the world.

His family is everything to him.

And his love for us... for me, is daily evident.

I could spend all day going on about how amazing this man is, how much he means to me, and how much I love him.

But let me sum it up shortly by saying...

Daddy... you are da BOMB!!

Thank you for always being there for me.

Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made for me.

i love you.

i love you.

i love you.

(Installment 11) Dear Mom and Dad,

We are glad

You are home.

(Installment 10) Dear Mom and Dad,

I can feel the excitement rising in the air as we all realize that our days with you away from home are about to come to an end.
WE ARE EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was a nice relaxing day, in which we didn't do much. Therefore, I don't have much to write about :)
So this may more or less be a very boring post. But that's ok... right?!?!?! :)

We had church at home, did some reading while the kids played outside and played Wii, aaaaand Ker made icecream and popcorn treats for the kiddoes this evening.

Ya, anyhooooo. I hope that you are having a good trip home!!!
Love you and miss you MORE!!!!
Jennifer

Caleb says:
Yes, my headache is better. I can't wait until you get home!!! Love you!

Zachary says:
This morning we had muffins for breakfast. And then we cleaned up and went outside. After that we watched a video of Lindell Cooley. Then ate lunch, went outside and played sled races, and came in to play Wii. We ate chocolate covered popcorn, and went back outside. Now I'm writing. I love you very much! xoxoxoxox Love Zach

Jesse says:
Yes, singing Christmas carols was a lot of fun! Thats good that you are having a safe drive! I have 133 eggs. Second place has 39. Third place has 2. Fourth and Fifth place have 1. We can't wait until you come home!! Today some snow melted. xoxoxoxo Love Jesse

Nathan says:
The chickens are doing well. Yes, it was the chicken that was laying under the box most of the time.
Watch out for school buses! Travel safe! I hope you are having a good time on the road. Love you! Looking forward for you to come home! xoxoxoxo Love Nate

Brooke says:
I didn't know that it wasn't slippy, thats good, I don't you to crash or anything like that. I hope you are traveling safely. We had popcorn with chocolate chips and smarties and chocolate and whatever sauce. It was good! I hope you are having fun. I love you. For lunch we had an apple and a piece of bread with peanut butter and honey on it. It was yummy! I like my brothers and my sisters. We went out once in the morning and then we went out tonight, we just came in. We had a good day today. It is fun when you have brothers and sisters. I hope you are having fun. xoxoxox Love Brooke

Mikaya says:
I HOPE the weather is not bad. I REALLY miss you! We got some popcorn and some stuff in the popcorn. Smarties and chocolates, they were sticky! Did you have anything that looks like dessert for supper? I got 3 eggs. I wish I was on a team with Jes because he got the most eggs. Joey had been really good at Megan and Henry's and so did I. Today Joey was sitting by me and kept hugging me and kissing me. I'm glad soon your coming back home. You keep asking on the phone for Jen and Kerri. Jen and Kerri are my best big sisters. I like all of the other kids. I hope your having a good time! I almost have 4 eggs. I hope someday I win it! (egg contest). I love you!

Josiah says:
We go outside. We played outside. I hope you are having a good day! Your having fun outside? Your having a good day at Henry and Megans? Are you watching froggy? We like snow! We go and play with snow. I eat snow. We make supper. We make supper at Henry and Megan's. I love you!

Jaden......... is sleeping :)