Father's Day

Last night I had a dream that I met the man of my dreams: he made my heart flutter when he smiled, he inspired me to be the best I could, I felt complete when I was with him, and each day only got better and more exciting. When I woke up, there he was, lying next to me: my dream come true.

Jolie woke me up at 6:20 a.m. Yuck. We hadn't gone to bed until after 12:30, so I wasn't exactly excited to greet her yet, and I was having such a great dream.... I had prayed last night that I would have strength to get up with the kids if I needed to so that Eric could rest. That was supposed to be part of his Father's "Day off." So, with a surprising strength that could only have been providently given to me, I got out of bed and brought Jolie to the living room to play while I rested on the couch. My plan was going great for the next 10 minutes, until Eric drowsily wandered out to the living room as well. Thanks to our upstairs neighbor who leaves her alarm clock set when she's out of town, incessant beeping was heard loud and clear to someone only half-asleep. So, Eric got up anyway. I loved what he said when he greeted me: "Happy Father's Day! You're a father, so get up and take care of your kids!"

Today was probably the hardest day for Eric to be a father. I don't know why today was so hard, but it was one thing after another. Eric patiently waded through it all to the very end. The sacrament meeting talks today were about communication and kindness, and they were talks both Eric and I agreed we needed to hear. We had a determination to be kinder to our children, to keep our tempers in check, and lower our voices. Then came the practical test.

We had just arrived home from Church, and both girls had fallen asleep in the car. Oh, good, now we can all take a much needed nap. But Mierae woke up when we tried to transfer her. Well, at least one of us could take a nap. We had a little snack and Eric started some dough to make rolls and said he needed to go lie down. As soon as he left, Mierae started crying for him and ran into the bedroom to tell him she wanted him. I had to drag her away as she threw a fit. Ten seconds later, Eric walks out with Jolie, who most assuredly woke up because of Mierae's previous display. So, both parents are tired, both kids are awake and wanting to play. From then until bedtime Mierae kept hitting Jolie, pushed Jolie off of her bed and gave her a bruised lip, Mierae fell and hit her head on the corner of a table, she was using me as a jungle gym and grabbed a wad of my hair and yanked it out, she took the stick that wedges her window shut and was poking me with it was I was making dinner, Jolie wanted to be held and wouldn't sit in her high chair at dinner, Mierae spilled a glass of water onto the table at dinner, she had an accident in her room RIGHT after I asked her if she needed to go to the bathroom, she kept screaming at the top of her lungs when we were trying to get her pajamas on, ran away when I tried to brush her teeth, and that was before the hour and a half it took to get her to go to sleep. Eric, bless his heart, was patient through it all. He always responded with kind words and used the opportunities to teach her. He was calm and never raised his voice. What an example to me. It is definitely easier to be patient, calm and understanding when your spouse is already giving such a great example of those things in his actions.

So, with a day like today, I really had to look for the things to enjoy. Here are a couple of things that stand out:
Mierae apologized at least three times for pulling my hair. She would stroke my hair softly and say, "Mommy, I'm sorry. It's okay."
Mierae and Eric had a fun learning time with a car puzzle today. They would purposely mismatch a pair and then see if the other one could fix it.
Jolie's open-mouthed kisses
The way Jolie goes to bed SO fabulously well
Writing Eric a Father's Day card and smelling his gift of new cologne

I wasn't in the frame of mind to take any pictures today, so here are some shots of Eric from last weekend when we watched my sister's kids overnight. Eric played Twister with his nieces, bathed Jolie before bed, washed dishes, and did so many other things he does everyday. I am so lucky to be married to this man!!