Happy 59th Old Man

My dad turned 59 years old on Sunday. It's not 60, but it's close!

Yep, those are seven matches on that cake.

I have to say my dad is one impressive guy. I lucked out in the father department.

He's kind and patient. He's smart (rocket scientist smart) and funny. He's quiet... maybe shy? But he's so funny. Also, I have never heard my dad say an unkind word about anyone. I mean, he lets you know if he's not impressed, but he's never mean spirited.

I've also never heard my dad curse. Not one single curse word in 26 years. And we're talking, he doesn't even say "crap." One time, when I was like eight, he forgot something on his way to the car and he said, "shoot!" That's about as close as it gets. And he's good in so many other ways. I don't think the man has missed a day of church in his entire life. He sets a perfect example of how a person can live their religion, to the letter of the law, without being annoying and preachy.

There is something really special about having someone in your life who's face lights up when they see you. I get that from my dad. I hope he gets that from me.

It's seventy degrees in my head, ok?!

Last week we went from this...

To this.

Via

We spent a few days with Tim's sister and her family in beautiful, warm, wonderful St. George. Sadly, I did not take a single picture of Mason having the best time of his life getting smothered by his cousins. I guess we were just having too much fun. I'm probably going to have to move there pretty soon.

If this doesn't break your heart, you probably don't have one

I have a sweetheart

There are a lot of valentines in my life nowadays.

Used to be there were even more, back in the elementary school days when every kid in your class let you know "You're rad" or "URAQT!" via paper valentines with Scooby Do on the front. Then it slowly got narrowed down to one Valentine, or maybe none.

For five years in a row Tim was the only one. He still is if you get technical I guess. And I love him so, so much. But I also really love these two little valentines.

Boys and dolls

Mason loves building dump trucks and excavators out of his legos. He calls them excabaders. And actually, he loves it the most when I build them for him. I am so good at building dump trucks out of giant legos, AND he has been using my original excavator design in all of his excavator creations since then. I had no idea what an excavator was before I had a two-year-old boy.

He can correctly identify a hammer, a hammer drill, a drill, and screwdriver and a sawzall.

Today he about went nuts when someone stole his soccer ball at the gym, and he pitches lefty.

This is all to say... he likes boy stuff, k?!

He also really likes dolls. Loves them.

He found this doll with a stained bum at a cousin's house and snuck it to our house and he loves that baby so much. He cuddles it in his blanket (he even shares the good corner). He makes sure it doesn't have a fever. He nurses it. Yes, pulls up his shirt and presses its face to his chest. It's totally normal. Don't worry about it.

(This is not baby - this was a convenient substitute.)

Tim caught baby in the time-out corner the other day. Guess she did something pretty naughty.