Father Days

To Celebrate this Fathers Day I thought it would be nice to remember each of the days Pat became a father.

Levi

When Pat asked me on our first blind date he knew I was a Mom.  He knew he was getting a package deal.  I remember the first time Levi called Pat "Dad".  Patrick asked me to marry him and I told Levi we would be a family.  He said will I call him Dad?  I said if you want to.  He decided that would be OK with him.  He was 3 at the time.  We drove from Davidson to LeRoy on one of our 3 hour trips to visit Pat in his Credit Union house.  His shirts were ironed and hung in his closet according to their colour.  His cupboards were organized and his bathroom was tidy.  Then we entered the picture and his bachelor life was never the same again.  We walked through the door that June day after a very long drive.  Levi called out to Pat, "Hi Dad!"  It sounded so much like, "Hi Pat."  that at first it didn't register.  I asked, "Did you hear what he said?"  and I asked him to repeat it.  Levi said, "Hi Dad!"  and we have been a family from then on.  It was pretty special.  Not many Dads get to hear, "Hi Dad" from their kid the minute they start being a Dad!

I asked the kids to tell me their favourite things about Dad.

Levi Said That he feeds me awesome suppers and all the sports he has coached me in.  

Olivia
With Olivia it was the first time Pat got to experience the delivery room.  Many people that didn't know us well would ask Pat if he had been in the delivery room with Levi and say things like, "Levi you look so much like your Dad!"  This would always make us chuckle.

The second day that Pat became a Dad was the day after our friend Frog and Sheila's wedding.  We had a luxury hotel room booked but only ended up staying until about 6 am as I was in labour.  We raced to Moose Jaw and Olivia was kind enough to wait until just after the World Junior Game to make her arrival into the world.  When the placed that tiny little baby into Patrick's arms for the first time it was the most natural thing in the world.  Pat was meant to be a Dad.  Olivia was one lucky little girl to have such a wonderful man to call Daddy.

 I am sure we took more pictures in the hospital but I think Olivia has hidden her album in her room.  Pat was busy with a video camera, camera and a gigantic silver cookie bowl the nurse had given him in case I puked so this is Olivia's first appearance into the world photographed by her Daddy.

Olivia said her favourite thing about Dad was : (Kelsey you took mine!  Dad's the best cook) He takes care of me when I'm sick

Kelsey

By the time Kelsey was born Patrick was an old pro at being a Dad.  He could change a diaper, swaddle a baby tighter then a cigar and quiet an upset baby.  The day that Kelsey was born was Levi's first day at Oman school.  Grandma ran to town to collect Levi and Olivia from the hospital at midnight.  We named  him Kelsey Patrick after his Dad.  I can only hope he will grow up to be as good a man as his Dad is!

Kelsey said his favourite thing about Dad is: He's the best cook in the world.  He works hard to take care of us. 

Carson

Apparently I lost my camera until Carson was six months old.  I am sure there is a picture of Pat and Carson in the hospital somewhere but since Carson loves golfing with his Daddy I thought this would be a great picture.  The day Patrick became a father for a fourth and what we thought would be the final time was the day Carson blasted into the world and he has gone non stop since then.


Dad takes me on the real golf course and he is a good golfer.  He lets me golf and ride the golf cart.  He takes me mini golfing.

Our last pregnancy was the most surprising and the most challenging.  I could not have made it through without Pat by my side.  Pat took me for one last drive to the Delivery room where he stood literally by my side and with no one else around no a Dr or a nurse got to see Ellie come into the world.  He was the first person to lay eyes on her!  Our little miracle.  She has made our family complete.

I asked Ellie why she loves Daddy and she said  Cuz I said so.  He's good Daddy and gives good Hugs. 

Each year I spend with Pat I know I have found such an amazing partner to share my life with and the example that he sets for our boys to work hard and take care of your family makes me so proud.  And to his girls he show the way a lady should be treated.  Olivia and Ellie will be lucky to find a man just like their Dad.  He is the Ringmaster of this circus and without him it would all go to the clowns!

Happy Fathers Day Patrick We LOVE You!

And where did he learn to be such a great Dad?  Why from his Dad of course!

Cheers to all the Dads this Fathers Day!