dear Dad

Happy Birthday Daddy! We enjoyed tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches today. The tomato soup can said it was from 2008, but it's all we had. :) Norah picked you out of all the family pictures for about 30 minutes. She couldn't get enough. We went to the swimming pool, which although you wouldn't have enjoyed, reminded me of you nonetheless. You are a dad who "shows up". I felt so blessed that Norah was able to swim with her dad who "shows up". How blessed she and I are to have a dad who wants to be a part of the adventure, wants to spend time with us and forgets the rest of the world while doing so. If we were able to spend this day with you, we'd be eating meat pies, probably up at the cabin. We'd sing "It's a birthday" and you'd sit there smiling, rosy-cheeked and moist-eyed. We'd give you a present, probably a book and you'd make us feel as if it were the best present in the world. I'd kiss your always soft cheek and you'd swing Norah by her jeans. You'd pat Bri on the back in your reassuring way and say "How are you buddy?"

Thank you for leaving us with memories to last our entire lifetime. We will continue to feast upon them. We love you, our Daddy and Opa. Happy Birthday!
xo-
Bri, Emily and Norah