My Dad

It has been two years since my dads passing. I can't believe it has already been two years, but it has made me really think back to what my dad was to me. My dad wasn't just a normal everyday dad. He really made our life fun. As a kid I remember the numerous Halloween parties with funny races to put big shirts on while getting a quarter to stick in your eye, having a ball between your legs and an egg on a spoon. He always made sure we had a great firework show and of course the neighbors were always invited. He was an official Girl Scout, and he went with us to Disneyland and Yellowstone. He would take us to Liberty park at least once a week as a family and play fat bat. We went rollerskating, miniature golfing, to the arcade, and bowling a lot. We would go on a family vacation at least once a year, and he always made sure we got to see the best of where we were. Many times it was in Yellowstone. He didn't just hike and camp here. He would set out cans of tuna fish hoping to see bears and other wild animals. This always freaked me out, but we did get to see some really cool animals. My dad taught us how to flip over the end of the couch using pillows and a mini trampoline when my mom was gone. He would take us hiking almost every Saturday. He always showed his love of this world while we were hiking,he often would bring along his little pistol and taught us how to shoot too. We always went camping,and of course he would freak us out talking about bears the whole time. As I got older he would still make sure we had some good family times. He was an awesome Grandpa! When my mom watched Trevor he would take him on walks everyday at lunch. I would come after work to find my dad singing Peter, Paul and Mary songs to him like Lemon Tree. He made these soft bats for my boys to play balloon ball with him in the house. That is probably the thing I really miss about him. Most of my boys will never get to know my dad or the love he had for them. I was barely pregnant with Tyler when he passed, but every time I saw him before he would ask how my little embryo was doing. It always made me smile. This picture below was taken almost two years before his passing in Yellowstone at his favorite geyser. It is one of my favorite pictures of him, and our last vacation with him too. I will never forget the morning I learned my dad was no longer here on Earth with us, or my moms voice saying "He's gone Holli, we've lost him." I can still hear it echoing perfectly in my head, but I also never forget the great dad he always was either. Love my dad!