Happy Father's Day, a little late.

i am fortunate to have a few good men in my life.

most of all, i am thankful for the wonderful memories created with them.

the memories are all very different with each of them....

First of all, to my Daddy-o (is what i called him a lot when he was alive)....

there are many wonderful memories we had together.

and those are the ones i'll hold onto.

your sense of humor and your belly-shakin laugh are probably the 2 that stand out the most....

sitting and laughing with you was something that would NEVER grow old to me....

i've chosen a man with a wonderful sense of humor and often, he reminds me of you....

you were strict.

you were far.

you were difficult,

but you were funny.

i remember you teaching me how to play the harmonica, and choking on my gum while playing "oh susanna."

i remember going to putt putt golf and probably spending $500 so we could win tickets on "wheel em in," so we could get that talking parrot.... only so you could have the bird repeat over and over again, "ashley farted. ashley farted." thanks dad!

you never went to bed without kissing us good night (when we would visit you),

and you never let me start my day without a hug and a kiss good morning.... NEVER! even into my adult years, you ALWAYS asked for a hug and kiss at night and in the morning....

and you'd wake us up, 5 hours before we had to leave to go anywhere, playing that stupid marine's song that they would play over the loud speaker to wake you up in bootcamp (not even going to attempt to spell it because i'm certain i'll butcher it).... you'd play that song with your mouth, as if you were playing a trumpet.... and i STILL, to this day, HATE that song whenever i hear it and i just imagine the sound of the bedroom door opening, KNOWING you were coming in to wake us up.... and i'd act like i was sleeping as long as i could, to prevent myself from chucking my pillows at your head....

speaking of your head, one of my very last memories i have were helping shave your head when i saw you last.... you finally gave in, and had us shave your head because you could no longer do it yourself.... i remember touching your soft head at your funeral, just waiting for your eyes to open and for your chest to rise again....

you didn't....

it didn't.

and i still miss you....

to my father-in-law.... Mr. Steve King.

a go-getter, take-care-of-business man,

he made my husband.....

now i don't know whether to love you or hate you for that....

so i think i'll go with love you for it. ;)

for raising 4 children on your own for so many years,

and never giving up on them....

you've shown the kids what a hardworker is and you've always given them your best.

i'm appreciative of that....

to the man whose respect i earned after having a talk with him about marriage and how i just didn't have an answer that he'd be happy with....

for all the cards he's been dealt in his life, and for still managing to push along forward....

he's got a good heart.

Happy father's dad, Steve/Grandpa!

to my Poppa....

to the man who came into my life when i was just 9 years old.... almost 20 years ago....

to the man who stayed after i stuffed bloomers with a pair of socks and acted a fool that young....

he came back....

for my mom....

he came back....

for us....

(maybe he knew that if he didn't come back, we didn't stand a chance) ;)

for whatever reason, he came back.

and my life,

our lives,

were NEVER the same....

he has ALWAYS stayed true to himself, his beliefs and his feelings....

he is a strong, STRONG man, who was dealth many blows in his life....

and continued to pick himself up....

he's loved my mom,

for so many years,

through thick and thin.

through good and bad (now it's just good)....

he's supported me during times i didn't feel like i even deserved to be supported,

he supported and loved me then.

he's loved us always.

he hasn't only been a wonderful father,

he's been an amazing grandfather too....

he's been an amazing role model,

showing a man with a great deal of patience,

acceptance,

and a WONDERFUL sense of humor.

(he thinks he's really funny, but he's really not)

i'm totally kidding.

he is a man that EVERY single person loves once they've met him

(and i'll even bet, he's won a few hearts in this blogging world, and ya'll don't even know him in real life)

he's a big huge teddy bear (don't be offended poppa... big huge as in cuddly and lovey, not fat) ;)

i love him dearly.

i give thanks for him daily.

Happy Father's day to one of the most amazing men i am lucky enough to know, to have and to love!

I love you poppa.

.... and last, but certainly not least,

my dear Jason.

the world throws so much our way,

and we have learned to laugh together....

we've learned how important our relationship is,

and continue to learn how to nurture it....

together....

i crawl into bed every single night, next to you....

how did i EVER become so lucky?

you are one of the most stubborn souls i've known,

but i love you anyway....

your heart,

your everlasting patience....

i don't know how you do it....

you work hard every, single day,

so that we'll never go without....

(or because if you stayed home with us, we'd drive you absolute bonkers!!!)

you were a daddy from the start!

you've given our life a much deeper meaning (T's and mine)....

you've given her routines of nightly hugs and kisses and kisses goodbye every single day....

(it warms my dysfunctional little heart and reminds me of my dad) ;)

you've given me a little mini daddy,

(you guys even have matching butts!!!)

you've taught me more in these few short years, than i've ever learned from another....

and the best part of all, is we're partners....

i'll never forget the moment you said, "i don't like to share.... i don't want to share you." and you pulled me close.....

i didn't expect the pitter patters in my heart to last this long, but they're still there....

i do still melt when you hold me.

i do get all teary eyed when we talk.

i think about the day we said our vows,

my pregnancy,

our babies....

i love watching you enjoy the kids more and more....

you truly are such a wonderful blessing that i'm EXTREMELY grateful for....

today and every. single. day.

i love you.... quite possibly more than you'll ever know....

Happy father's day to the men who have filled my life with lots of good times, laughs and sooo much love! =)