My dad has been up with the Lord for over 5 years now. Losing him was the hardest thing I've ever been through.... and a day doesn't go by when I don't think of this wonderful man I am proud to have had for my daddy!
Normally every Father's Day I do tons of pictures of my daddy.... however there are some other dad's I would love to acknowledge this year too! First....
Lanny helped raised 5 kids.... all within 5 years in age! It wasn't always easy.... he has many regrets.... but overall I am proud of the job he did! Lanny was kind of a couch potato... but the 5 kids were usually off playing with each other... they were very close. But looking back thru the pictures.... I see some great times and sacrifice he did! Our kids (like most) love to wrestle!
Lanny always took time out to wrestle with the kids. Here he is being ganged up on by Kevon, Tara, Ryan and Heather! Sometimes we'd even grab a mattress for the floor and see who could get who off the mattress first!
When the family wasn't wrestling.... we would spend alot of time watching wrestling! We loved it! Some of the kids still do!
He also coached football for Kevon and Ryan for 8 years and practiced with the boys alot in our front yard!
One of our family favorites was playing Wiffle Ball! In the yard and road with papa was Brad, Jack (nephew), Tara and Kevon! We loved playing! Lanny always pitched!
We played hours and hours and hours of card games with the kids... if fact it was at one of these games that Brad snuck out the ring and popped the big question... and she said yes! It wasn't the picture above though. lol!
I couldn't even count the number of burgers papa cooked for this family!!!!
Lanny was very protective of his kids. This was a funny picture... Brad and Tara weren't aware of the look dad gave to Brad! After all.... Tara was his princess! lol!
He spent many hours at the pool watching over the kids!
Lanny worked hard for years to supply the needs and wants for our family!!!! I don't think they ever realized how hard he worked.
He always tried to provide what he could. When we moved into the first house we bought... it was only 3 bedroom ... so Lanny gave up 3/4 of his garage to build a room for the boys!
When Tara joined gymnastics.... he put a balanced beam up for her in the yard to practice on!
He also put tether ball poles in 2 places that we lived at!
It was very important to him that the kids had a good Christmas. He worked to provide it and even shopped with me every year!
And of course.... then had to put everything together!
He loves Christmas and everything that goes on with it! He always kept baby Jesus out of the manger until Christmas Day. He started the tradition of making Jesus a double layered chocolate birthday cake. He said it was Jesus' favorite! lol!
I also can't begin to imagine how many miles he put on our old van... the Aquarium!
Here is one of our many, many camping trips! We went to Flagler, Lake Sylvia, and our favorite place... the Elkhorn!
When Lanny wasn't setting up tents and tarps or cooking... he was helping the kids with something. ;D
You can hardly see him on the right but he even got into the cheeto-smile!
We took lots of day trips too! Over Mount Rainier and to Seattle stands out the most!
Here was a trip to Seattle and having lunch at West Lake Mall. Lanny wasn't big on Seattle and even puked in the alley like the bums! lol! Great day!
To the Ocean..... on picnics.... we would sing and sing and play Bingo and Lanny drove on....
Until they finally were wiped out!
My prayer is that our kids remember all the good and wonderful things Lanny did for them and with them. He tried hard without much of an example to teach him... I think he did good.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOME WONDERFUL FATHERS IN OUR LIFE:
Our son, Ryan..... he is a dad that wrestles and plays with his kids and they adore him! He loves his Andrew and Lauren so much and is a super proud dad of the kids he has!!!
Son-in-law Don is another great dad! He's got these boys riding bikes and sheep and things most kids don't have the opportunity to do! He adopted Parker and Patrick 6 years ago and they could never find a better dad then him! Don, Parker, Patrick, Joshua and Jared are a great group of guys!
Son-in-law, Joel, is such a family guy! He loves being with Dylan and Maddie and going off as a family and doing fun and different things! He is a proud and a loving dad who's face lights up around his kids!
Brad is the dad of two beautiful girls! He is super protective and is such a great day! He adores his girls and there is nothing he wouldn't do for them!
This next man isn't in our family.... but I feel like he is! It is Kapono! He is my little Makoa's daddy! He is also Kai's dad! I get to see his face light up and the love exchanged between Kapono and Makoa every time he picks him up after work! That is why he is on my list. He is a great daddy!
I have to mention....
Toby is Papa's baby.... and Papa is his daddy... so I have to put a picture of them!
Finally......
GOD BLESS DADS!!!!
My photo of the day taken 6-22-88 is of me on the floor with Karla and Kevon!!!!
wow... thank you Andrew.... I really needed to see this today! xoxo
