Happy Father's Day

Dear Todd,

Since Nicholas is too young to tell you all of that mushy Father's Day stuff - I guess I'm just going to have to do it for him.

This week in school, I did this "My Dad and Me" book with the kids. Some of the prompts were - My favorite thing to read with my Dad is... and My favorite game to play with my Dad is... You would not believe how many kids came up to me and said, "Mrs. Cutler... I don't know what to write. My dad doesn't read with me." One girl even said, " I've never played anything with my Dad."

I work in a place where kids have everything money can buy. The only problem is... their Dads are too busy making a boatload of money to spend any quality time with their families. You, on the other hand, have given Nicholas something that money can't buy... a real Daddy.

I love watching the two of you together. Every morning, when Nicholas wakes up (however rediculously early it may be), what's the first thing out of his mouth? "Dada!" You are his hero, his comforter, his buddy. He obviously loves you more than anything in the world.

Todd... if you do NOTHING else well in your life... who gives a shit. Because you are hitting this fatherhood thing out of the park.

Happy Father's Day. I love you,

Kristin

Our Busy Life...

So... it's the last week of school and I feel like my head is going to explode. I am up to my neck in paperwork, and have barely started my report cards. And here I am... blogging. (OK... so not the best use of my time, but much more enjoyable than report cards...)

Nicholas has had a busy week. It's so funny how things change with the seasons. I swear - everything we do and buy is backyard related these days. Todd bought Nicholas some ear protection to wear so he can ride with him on the tractor. At first, he wouldn't even touch them. Now... he can't get enough of them! It's so funny - he puts them on and runs around yelling, "Hi! Hi! Hi!" at the top of his lungs. And yes... this is a picture of him wearing them during breakfast.


And Nicholas's grandma and grandpa bought him a set of construction trucks- complete with hard hat. Check out those feet! Aaaahhh... boys.


And the biggest new of all - we have a new swingset! Everytime Nicholas looks outside, he points at it and says, "Whoah!" He loves it. It makes me a little nervous because it's really high off the ground. My new focus for the summer is avoiding serous head injury. He is really enjoying it, though, and I guess that's all that matters. Counting the days 'till summer - 3 1/2 to go. I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...

The Monkey

We have always called Nicholas "The Monkey." I don't even know where it came from - but it stuck. And he really does remind me of one sometimes - all over the place. I swear, he'd swing from the rafters if he could. Here are some recent pictures of our little Monkey
figuring out the world.

Hangin' with the kitty...

Chillin' in my Oscar shoes - cooking up something yummy!

Checkin' out the bunny in the backyard (eating the new grass!)

Lovin' the firetrucks at my first parade!