First, my dad is a stud. Grateful every day for the genes he passed along. We discover new ones every day…for example: we are both very social introverts who are fascinated by language and annoyed at its misuse who prefer their hot chocolate just this side of scorching (it should burn a little bit on the way down). You didn’t know all those things were genetic, did you? They are. It’s science.

He’s one of my best friends and I love that we connect pretty much every day over everything from music to scripture. I lucked out in the dad department.

Second, my husband is a stud. Grateful every day for the genes he passed along to our children. He and Garyn geek out over math and engineering problems and the Mustang. Naomi learns new tricks in Minecraft Dungeons and LEGO Harry Potter video games (he’s training her in the finer points of gamerism). He’s Layna’s favorite human being and she can’t wait for their Daddy Daughter trip to NYC. I’m a brilliant reader of kids books, but Corra’s face lights up in a different way when Daddy says he’ll read to her.

On Father’s Day we pulled out all the stops for an epic celebration the likes of which have never been seen before! Well. Ahem. He got a really cool non-stick frying pan because he eats a lot of eggs and new socks because Tatanka chews on his so he needed new ones. Epic I tell you. The kids all spoke at our Sacrament meeting and sang The Father’s Day Song (it has a real name but I can never remember what it is). I spoke a bit to express my gratitude that Garyn has such an amazing role model to teach him how to be a father and a husband and that my girls know to accept nothing less from their future men. It was simple and lovely and we both may have cried a little bit. Side note: I think being a marshmallow when the situation warrants is also a genetic thing. My father-in-law definitely tears up at times and so does Neil. I love that so much.

After a perfect nap we headed up to have dinner with my brother and his family. We brought copious amounts of corn on the cob. Neil and I brought Rib-eyes. Being a carnivore is delicious.

It was a really nice evening. Lots of amazing dads and a few future ones there to be celebrated and appreciated. I lucked out in the husband department and my kids totally lucked out in the dad department.