mon pere, etienne.

i know this is a day late, but i think it's ok, since we should spend every day telling our parents how much we love them! father's day was yesterday, and all day long i was completely bummed that i had to be at work. i worked a 9 hour day, and i felt very frustrated, because i ALWAYS work sundays (i've had maybe 4 off since i started at starbucks 2 years ago). usually i'm okay with it because there are partners who go to various churches, but sometimes...ya know. it'd be nice to see my family, especially my papa who was on my mind all day yesterday.

with my brother, alex, and i in 1990.

my dad is my rock, in recent years especially! i realized a couple years ago that the reason my dad & i never got along in high school (other than the fact that i was a brat...) is because WE ARE THE SAME in so many ways. we are both very passionate about our beliefs. we get hot-headed..but only a little ;). we love unconditionally, even when people give us reasons not to.

the only difference is what we believe is 100% different! haha! this realization helped me realize other things, though. my dad would yell & scream at me when i was a teenager because he LOVED ME. and he knows what he's doing, and i don't. i'm crazy every time i ignore his advice! talk about a man who has been to hell and back... and here i was as a 17 year old punk, telling him i knew what i was doing!

luckily, we get along like peas & carrots now. i love him so much. he is always putting his family first. i love his quirky sense of humor, and his ability to make friends with anyone. i love his tastes in music (i owe him for maybe half the bands i listen to), and i love how he's always, ALWAYS been there when i've needed him. what a lucky girl i am to have such a great dad!

hope your father's day was splendid. even though i was bitter about spending mine working, i sent my papa a card, and got a picture of my nephew wearing his favorite shirt, bought by his favorite aunt. ;) that was enough to make me smile, and make me so excited to start working days again...so i can actually go to family functions.

happy monday!

father's day weekend.

let me start out by saying how amazing papa bear is.

[here we are, circa 1992, with my brother alex.]

my dad is one of the smartest people i know. i'm an idiot for not taking his advice more often..apparently i like to learn things the hard way. my dad always supports me and even though i am the "black sheep" of the family he still loves me, and that is more than some people can say about their fathers.

lately my dad and i have been a lot closer than we used to be. we used to fight all the time [mostly due to my awful teenage years when i thought i was always right.]

now he loves to joke with me, we talk a lot more than we used to, and he helps me out as best he can.

he's a great provider for our entire family and we love him to bits for it.

he's also a "class clown" type, as you can see here. when he made us wear hats for the royal wedding. such a nerd, and it's the best!

here's some highlights from father's day weekend:

seeing my nephew all jazzed up in a tie..he cleans up very nicely.

watched the sunset with aaron, jimmy and mike on top of a roof.

played with my niece, who is so silly. she loves giving kisses and twirling in her pretty dress.

xoxo.

father's day.

me and my adorable sisters

casie, kylie, rachel, & i :]

my mama & grandpa. i just had to put this up to show off what a stinking adorable grandpa i have! he's the cutest!

with my brother & sister-in-law, & papa himself!

i am so grateful for my dad & all that he does for me. he is such a great influence & example in all that i do. thanks for being amazing papa!!

with my dad again at my high school graduation in 2007. what a great guy.