Father's Day Fun!

We had a FABULOUS Father's Day weekend here - and I had the pleasure of celebrating with three of my favorite dads: my dad, my husband's dad, and my daughter's dad :-)

My dad came down on Saturday for a surprise day.  We took him to Sonic for lunch (since he doesn't have one of those close to him) and sat outside at the picnic tables to eat.  Yummo!  I ordered the spicy popcorn chicken, which was good for a few pieces, but then it just got to be too much for me.  Note to self: stick with the original!  Then, we went mini golfing at the local family fun center.

There was a Father's Day weekend fundraiser going on there where ALL the proceeds from golf game sales went to the local pregnancy crisis center.  They provide counseling for people facing unplanned pregnancies, but they also provide prenatal care and education for people who can't otherwise afford it.  They even have a 'store' that you can go in and get clothes, formula, bottles, blankets, and other baby gear for free if you need it.  It's a really great ministry that Andy and I are proud to support.  So anyway, we took him mini golfing AND supported a great charity.  Win-win!

Well, we pushed Ellie in the stroller for half of the 18-hole game, since she was asleep in her carseat when we got there.  That worked out just fine until we got to the section where you go up the 'mountain' for a few of the holes.  Andy and my dad were hilarious - they would take turns playing and watching the stroller at the bottom.  So Andy walked up with me and played the hole, then while I was playing, he went down and traded places with my dad, and then he would play and we'd move on to the next hole and the process would start over again in reverse.  This went on for 5 or so holes.  It was pretty crazy, but it worked!  Eventually, Ellie woke up and wanted OUT of that seat, so Andy carried her for the rest of the game.  I offered to hold her while he was playing, but he refused, insisting that he could handle doing both at the same time.  He played just as good of a game as he did when he wasn't holding her.  Super-dad, I tell you!

Well dad won, no surprise there.  But I came in SECOND!  I never beat Andy at ANYTHING!  Not even Candy Land!  I was so proud of myself, but chose not to rub it in too much.  He only scored three strokes more than me, so it was a close game all around.  The main thing is that we had a blast.

Then we made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby (at dad's request) to check out their selection of model airplanes.  And then we stopped at Target to get him some swim trunks because he forgot his at home.  We were terribly hot and sweaty after golfing in the sun, so we came back to the house and climbed in the pool!  It was a little chilly at first, but once you got used to it, it felt amazing!

Ellie enjoyed herself a lot more this time.  Eventually she was just laughing and laughing hysterically at everything.  Dad and Andy were splashing around - hilarious.  They made a whirlpool and we floated along - hilarious.  We chased the beach ball around and around - hilarious.  She even had a really good time when I would hold her forward and let her flap her arms in the water and 'swim' to daddy.  I loved it.  It makes me so happy that she is going to enjoy swimming in the pool like I did when I was a kid.

Here's a video of our pool-time fun...

(Yes, I FINALLY figured out how to do videos on here!)

We had to get out eventually though, which she didn't seem too thrilled about, so Pappy cheered her up.

Quick dry off and then we enjoyed ice cream cones on the deck.

(No, dad did not get two ice creams.  He was holding mine.)

Before too long, it was time for Pappy to go home.  It was a really fun day, though.  So much fun that after dad left, Ellie ate and then slept until 7:30!  We must have really worn her out!

This is my 'laughing uncontrollably' face!

Sunday was church and then we got to celebrate with Andy's dad.  He came over for lunch - Andy made him steaks on the grill, baked new potatoes, corn on the cob, and fresh cantaloupe from the market.  He and Ellie played for quite a bit and then we had more ice cream cones for dessert!

Nothing fancy, but that's what he likes.  We all enjoyed lunch and then had a nice relaxing afternoon.  Ellie even took a nice nap and let me work on getting some pictures and video off my camera!

Ellie also had a special present for her daddy.  For Father's Day, I wanted to get him a grill, but of course I didn't know what to get.  And with a purchase that big, he would HAVE to be in-the-know because he handles all of our finances.  So back in May I said to him, "Hunny, I want to get you a grill for Father's Day.  Go buy whatever you want."  So he did - in time for Memorial Day because that's when the sale was good.  I was kind of bummed that he wouldn't be getting anything ON Father's Day, so I got him some nice metal utensils to use with the grill.  Well the first time he wanted to use the grill, he obviously needed some tools, so I ended up giving him those early too.  Ok, time for a plan 'C'!  So, I saw this pin on pinterest and decided that it was something I could do a) easily, b) cheaply, and c) quickly.  PLUS his favorite candy is Reese's Pieces!  That's what we call a win-win-win-win.  So during nap-times last week (thank you, Ellie!) I put this together.  Just some scrap-paper that I put through the printer, cut out, and glued to the jar that I bought at Hobby Lobby.  Don't worry, it was labeled as 'food safe' - I checked :-)

Toss in a big bag of Reese's Pieces and the gift was complete!

Now he has something to take to work and sit on his desk and nibble on.  He was really pleased and he really didn't expect to get anything today because he already got his gift twice!  Mission accomplished!

And that's our Father's Day recap!

In other random news...

Ellie has discovered her feet as of Sunday morning!

One hand in the mouth, one hand on the toes, one hand pulling mommy's hair... wait, I don't have enough hands!

It's adorable, but it makes it even more difficult to get her diaper changed.  Is she too young to potty train??

Also on Sunday, Ellie has started sucking on her bottom lip.

I know, it doesn't seem all that magnificent.  You kind of have to know my family.  See, that's a fidget-y habit that my dad has.  I've done it too ever since I was a little girl (although mine is more chewing instead of sucking).

And now little Ellie seems to be carrying on the trait!  With so many people (particularly at church) saying that she looks so much like Andy, it makes me happy to see that there is at least a little bit of me in there!  Even if it does mean that she will end up with perpetually chapped lips like I have.

The other week, Grandma brought Ellie a rattle that looks like a cordless phone and then *this* happened.  I think she was spending a bit too much time at work with me!

Good morning, this is Ellie, how may I help you?

And she's FINALLY getting the hang of the Johnny JumpUP!  She digs the jumperoo, too, but we still have to have a pillow under there because poor girl's legs are still too short to touch the floor!

And this one is a few weeks old, but here is a video of Ellie rolling over for the first time (at home)!

And last, but not least, here's the emergency that called me out of the shower this morning...

Now that she can roll over, this kind of stuff happens on a pretty regular basis.  And always in the middle of my shower.  No matter what time I wake up and start it, there's always an emergency right in the middle.  *sigh* I love my daughter, I really really do.

Thanks for stopping by!