Father's Day Weekend

We spent Father's Day weekend in Big Bear with some of Chris' extended family.  We had some fun..... it could have been worse.  But it could have been better too.  It took way too long to get there, thanks to a too long stop for lunch and then an accident on the mountain left us sitting on the road for quite a while.  We knew Jackie wasn't feeling well before we went, but when we got there we realized she was truly sick and contagious. She had her moments of fun, but overall she just wasn't herself and she was sad about not being able to love on her baby cousin Kyla.  Meanwhile the pollen count was out of control; the wind on the first day was too much to go out on the lake and fish; there was a layer of yellow pollen on everything and our sinuses were not happy about it; and Jackie didn't eat anything except smoothies.

We managed to salvage the first day's disappointing wind by going to a historical museum.  When we entered, the docents asked if Jackie would like to try gold panning.  We thought she might and said we'd head over to that area soon.  She would hardly let us enjoy the process of walking from building to building looking at stuff and listening to information.... she kept asking, "where's the gold penny"?

Finally, Gold Panning (just the fake stuff - no real gold flakes).

Then a blacksmith made her a peanut butter knife.  She seemed to enjoy the process of watching him heat the iron and beat on it and bend it and twist it.  And when he was done he showed her how hot it was by scorching some wood.  Then he dunked it in water and gave it to her and sang her happy birthday.  She has already used it to make a sandwich.

Finally after a VERY LONG LUNCH (I won't bore you), Mommy took Jackie swimming in the hotel pool - all by herself, so no pictures.  Where was everyone else?  Daddy was in the hotel room watching The Open.  It was Father's Day weekend, so he was allowed to do anything he wanted.....
After swimming I took Jackie down to the boat dock where the rest of the family had decided to try some late afternoon fishing.  Jackie was looking forward to fishing with her Barbie fishing pole.  Thanks to the expertise of the rest of the family, she actually caught a fish!  I helped her reel it in.  She was very proud.

That night, the day's catch was battered, breaded and fried in nuggets.  Jackie said, "we should have caught more fish so everyone could have a whole plate full of nuggets."  If it were only that easy.

Day 2 - Father's Day breakfast - it is becoming a tradition to take Chris out and watch him try to eat an insane amount of food.  Jackie made his corona at escuela.

Finally out on the lake for a tour with baby cousin Kyla - trying not to share germs.

But then Chris wanted to get on the road and get home to.....watch The Open.  I am confident we won't be going out of town Father's Day weekend again.  A Dad should be able to do what he wants on his day, and if that's stay home and watch The Open, so be it.

Father's Day activity sheet: Most of her answers are spot on.  Next year I'm going to have to ask some harder questions!

Chris is a great father - involved, fun, loving.  Jackie is a lucky girl!  He gets up during those early hours when I just can't get out of bed.  When he gets home from work, she jumps up and says, Daddy's home!  We are a blessed family to have a daddy that has the flexibility in his career to really be there, and often.  There are really only a few times a year when I feel like a golf widow and Jackie becomes a golf orphan.  At least he doesn't watch as many sports as other dads!  We love you Christopher!!