Father's Day

We had a really fun day. I actually got out of bed early enough to make breakfast! When Derrick woke up and heard dishes clanking, he thought Hayden had gotten out of bed and was in the kitchen, or somehow a stray animal had got in the house and was messing around in our cupboards, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect me to give up any sleep! HAHA! Now he knows I really love him.

After church we had some friends from Utah come over for dinner. We met them the same way I met people out here when we were moving - the corkboard. They are moving out here soon and had questions about the area, apartments, that sort of thing. It was fun to be on the giving end instead of the receiving end of that one. Before they came over the kids and I gave Derrick his gift.

Hayden handed him an envelope that said,
"Dear Daddy,
I have a special gift just for you, but first you have to find it!"

We sent him on a treasure hunt! It was really funny to watch him try to find the clues. I made the clues easy enough (or so I thought), but I guess I am really good at hiding things because some of them took him forever. The funniest one was when the clue was on Halle. He could not find it! I mean, there are only so many places to look on a baby, but he just couldn't find it. (It was hidden in the back waist part of her diaper.)


Hayden was also very helpful.

He finally found all his clues and at the end was his present. For a mom and tots enrichment, we went to this place called All Fired Up, which is like Color Me Mine. We picked a plate and painted it. Then you leave it there and they fire it for you. It turned out really cute! It was so fun too. It would make a really fun date. So anyway, Hayden and I made Derrick a plate with Hayden's hand print on it. I also made him a shutterfly book that had pictures of him with the kids and some really cute quotes about dads.


I think it was a good day for him.

Hayden and Halle are so lucky to have a dad like him. A few months ago, we all went to the Draper Temple open house with my mom. Derrick was sitting up front in the car, and Hayden was crying in the back. Derrick reached back and held his hand the whole way there. My mom and I were talking later, and she pointed out what a great dad he was. How many dads would let their arm get so tired reaching back and holding their son's hand the entire way so he wouldn't be sad? Not many, I don't think. There is a reason that Hayden is such a daddy's boy. His daddy has the magic touch to make him feel better when he's hurt (yes, Hayden cries for Daddy and not Mommy) and he is the most fun, so it's the saddest when he leaves the house. He's so cute with Halle too. He loves to tickle her and get her to smile any way he can, and she does smile just for him. Derrick does not leave the hard work for me, either. He is right in there with me doing the dirty work, sometimes even more than me. He wakes up with Hayden every night when he cries without ever expecting me to do it at all. Derrick does dishes and picks up toys. He vacuums, and honestly he's pretty much the only one that does laundry. He's not afraid of anything, so he always makes all of us feel better in hard situations. As long as Derrick's home when the tornados come, I will be ok. :) I think one of the things that impresses me the most about Derrick is his strong will. When he wants something, he gets it because he's willing to put forth the work for it. He knows that if you want something in the future, you have to sacrifice for it now, and he does. He takes care of us. How did we get so lucky?


We love you, Derrick!