That's why...

Every so often, Andrew will at random say "I really like this house." The reasons vary, from having so much snow (ha!), being close to the pool, being able to see in the window to ask a question instead of coming all the way in the house (ties in with having so much snow to make that a possibility!), etc.

Yesterday's reason took the cake: "Because Daddy gets home earlier so we can play with him in the afternoon." Yep...that's why we like it, too. On our list of reasons to move to S. from MP, that was in the top three.

Kids need their dads, and I'm thrilled with all the extra time they get with Mark. (He, too, is thrilled with the extra time, and also with the fact that from their perspective, play can equal shovelling snow together, when you throw in building a snowman or a snowball fight or two)! :)

I have tons of great memories from my childhood. But if you were to ask me to pick one single memory from all of them floating around, it's an easy pick. No debate necessary. The best day I can remember as a child was a day with my dad. Olders sisters got to go on a day trip with friends, and so dad made the day all better for what would otherwise have been pretty lonesome. He took me to the big playground in town, with the brand-new "Eagle's Nest" climbing gym (which, when we got home later, was the front-page story of the newspaper-the new equipment, that is...not me climbing on it). Then we went over to the lake (couldn't tell you what lake it was, or if it was just a pond or something), and we went out in the paddleboats and fed the ducks. Then we got to go the best swimming pool, and I'm sure there was an ice cream cone thrown in there somewhere.

Point is, it wouldn't mattered a whole lot what we did that day. We could have been out working together at various surveying sites, or stopping downtown for a polish sausage from a street vendor, or bouncing along a desert road laughing at the tumbleweek rolling along. (Hmm....all of those things sound strangely familiar)! It was the time my dad took with me that made me feel special. Thanks, dad...

So that's why we like our new house. Kids need their dads.

PS to all this: Keep in mind, this is a mom writing this. A mom who still needs her own mom, and who knows her kids certainly need her. So this isn't intended to undermine the role of a mom. Dads are just on my mind...that's why we like this house! :)