Father's Day Weekend

Last weekend, we went to Sacramento to visit Danale and Justin for Father's Day weekend. Saturday night, we went to Pops in the Park. Each week, they have a different band playing at a different park around Sacramento. Everyone brings their blankets and chairs and a little picnic. I was surprised by how much it cooled down at night! Ashlyn loves her Aunt Danale! I love this picture of Colton and Ashlyn! She is looking at him like, "Are you really going to eat all the chips!" Haha!

Tara and Jason

Father's Day

I took this picture outside of Danale's house on Father's Day.

Ashlyn and Jason Rickards

I love Father's Day because I feel like I really do have a reason to celebrate. I have a wonderful father and Jason is a great Dad! I have always said that Jason was born to be a Dad. It comes so naturally to him.

I love the way he loves the kids! I laugh when he tells me about episodes of Dora the Explorer or what happened on Hanna Montana! The kids love to snuggle up on the couch with him and watch a show.

I love the support he gives me as their mother. Sometimes it comes in the form of a firm back up saying, "Listen to your mother!" or the gentle reminder as he gathers them together to say, "Guys, Mom's having a bad day. I really need you to..."

I love the way he gets excited and wants to have them experience new things. He is always thinking of things he thinks the kids would love. When we were in the Bahamas, he kept saying that the kids would love it and we should bring them back there. Recently, he decided that a great family trip would be to take the kids to Hawaii. He had so much fun when we went that he thought the kids would love it too. I had to remind him that until they are older, a beach is just a beach to them and the location doesn't make it any more cool to them, just more expensive for us. (At least that is how I see it.) Now he asks me how old do I think the kids need to be before they can travel. We both love to travel and I know he would love for the kids to experience new things with us.

It makes me laugh when he talks about how spoiled he thinks Ashlyn will be when she older. He says we don't stand a chance with Lauren being the next youngest sibling. Lauren has always been into clothes and says she wants to be a fashion designer when she grows up. He says Lauren will be all into her For All Mankind jeans and her Gucci bags and little Ashlyn will think she has to be just like Lauren! Then he laughs to himself at the thought, clearly adoring them both. Ashlyn will still be in Junior High when Lauren graduates from High School, so she will be the only one home for a few years. He says it will hard not to spoil her.

The love that he has for them is clear. One of the things I love about Jason is that is isn't afraid to say he is sorry or that he was wrong about something. If he ever feels like he wasn't fair with one of the kids, he is quick to tell them so and make it right. If he has to disciple one of the kids, it is important to him to make sure that they still know how much he loves them. He says they need to "make up".

I feel so lucky to have Jason in my life. I think he is a wonderful father!

We spent Father's Day at Danale's in-law's house. Mike and Cheryl are so awesome! They treat us like family and they are just great people! Danale and Tara

Jason's dad came and spent the day with us too!

Jason and Danny

It was nice to have him there. We have been able to see a lot more of him over the last few years. He has one of the sweetest hearts and is such a cute grandpa!

We barbecued and cooled off in the pool.Colton and Danale.

Ashlyn has been loving the water and was so excited to go for a swim! She has been practicing going under water. She can jump in from the steps, go under the water and kick a little ways toward me! When she can go a little farther, we will start working on rolling onto her back! I can't believe how well she is doing! It was a fun Father's Day!