Happy Father's Day

Justin arrived Friday just in time to celebrate Father's Day weekend with us. I can hardly believe the boy turns 13 this summer. He plays guitar and even has a girlfriend. I was thinking about something having to do with Justin — thinking that it was last summer — and then I realized it was already three summers ago. Geeze.

We had a really busy weekend. On Saturday, while I worked a yard sale at the preschool, Scott biked into town with the kids AND the dog (about 5 miles round trip). After lunch, we headed to a summer festival and checked out some mud bogging in Kremmling. I've linked to a clip because words don't do it justice. Sawyer was simultaneously thrilled and terrified. After dinner, Scott took Justin to the rodeo across the street from our house. Another interesting culture.

This morning we made Scott a yummy breakfast of French toast with sugary strawberries on top and thick-sliced bacon from the butcher. The kids made a card and took Scott breakfast, tea and the newspaper in bed. (This, by the way, was Sawyer's favorite part of the day when we recapped over dinner). While I cleaned up and packed a picnic the kids biked around the neighborhood. Then, we hiked several miles round trip to a waterfall and had our picnic at the base and then — much to Scott's chagrin — went straight to the movie theater, dusty and sweaty and hiking-boot-clad, to see Toy Story 3. Um, I'm ashamed to admit this, but ... I cried at the end. It was only Sawyer's second movie in a theater (probably the first he remembers) and he sat gape-mouthed through the whole thing. Arden fell asleep about half-way through.

For dinner I cooked again (three meals, definitely a record). I marinated flank steak (ok Scott did the grilling-to-perfection, which is more than half the battle). With that we had asparagus, french fries and cooked carrots. My entire family stuck their noses up at my carrots, one of my all time favorite childhood dishes when coated with butter, salt and a sprinkle of dill. Again, I did the dishes, vacuumed, mopped, organized toys and started in on a mound of laundry. (In some ways I think EVERY day is Father's Day). We rinsed of the tired and filthy bunch off kids in the shower and ended the day with a video call to my dad — the kids read him the bedtime stories and sang songs.

And, because these types of photos are so rare ... here's one of us.

Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men in my life.