Thank you, Dad.

As we approach Father's Day, I could go on and on about what a wonderful father I have -- and how good he has been to me, consistently, throughout my life.

It's clear, for example, in the man I chose to be the father of my own children just what kind of example my Dad set. And you read this week about how Dad drove an hour just to bring me a plant on my birthday.

I'm a lucky, lucky Daddy's girl and I hope Dad knows how thankful I am for all that he is and does in my life.

But I don't think I thank my Dad enough for the wonderful things he does for everyone else in his life.

How he spends so much quality time with my 97-year-old Granddad at least four times a week, does all his grocery shopping, takes him to the doctor and to the bank, helps him write out his bills and fills his prescriptions, leaves him food to eat, bathes and shaves him. And most importantly, he just provides company -- watching sports or the news for hours on end (sometimes falling asleep from exhaustion) -- so that Granddad won't feel so alone.

How he remains at my brother Rashad's beck and call -- responding to all his needs -- even late-night calls for directions because Rashad's memory is so bad after his accident. How he (and my Mom) still support my siblings, well into adulthood, even though they should probably have stopped a long time ago.

Instead, Dad gives more and more, mostly because he wants to be sure his grandchildren are OK.  He often stops whatever he's doing to actively love his grandchildren: Making Cary feel good about his glasses, going to Kalonji's parent-teacher conferences, or Grandparents' Day at Russy's school. (And we can't even talk about how much he dotes on Matty.)

Last night, he went to my sister's house to give her youngest son, Kwahli, a haircut, because today was his kindergarten graduation. He brought over his clippers, sat him on the counter, and buzzed away. 

And look how handsome Kwahli was!

Dad (and Mom) also bought his suit and tie and shoes.

His sisters, Aminah and Alahna love him!

And of course, Dad was there today, cheering Kwahli on.

Because that's what my Dad does. He shows up when you need him. He's there for the things that matter.

I'm so glad my kids have this kind of example in their father -- and their grandfather.

Happy Father's Day to both of you amazing men.

We all love you!

Big events in the life of the Davis boys

My big boys had two big events happen this week.

First, they had their 3-year-old check-up, which is the big boy check-up. It was their first time doing the eye chart, their first time getting a big kid hearing test, and their first time getting their blood pressure checked.

Looking at these pictures, I am struck by how much Dean looks like a big boy and Cary still looks a little like a baby.

Cary always finds the books, wherever we go.

Cary is 36-and-a-half inches tall and weighs 28 lbs. Dean is 39 inches tall and weighs 33 lbs. That puts Cary in the 10th percentile for height and the 25th for weight. Dean's in the 50th percentile for height and the 75th for weight.

We take Cary to the ENT tomorrow to see about his ears, but other than that, both boys are healthy, strong and wonderful! Praise God!

And in other big news:

Today was the boys last day of pre-K 2!! Can you believe it?

The class had a little "graduation," which involved the kids performing "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and "Itsy Bitsy Spider," with spider web hats and raindrop necklaces. I had a work meeting so I missed this part, but Lester took this adorable photo. Soooo cute!

And there was a picnic outside on the school yard, which Lester and I were both lucky enough to be able to attend.

Enjoying the cookies at the picnic.

Look at those big confident boys sitting there on a hill, eating snacks. It seems like just a minute ago they were frightened, sad little 2-year-olds, nervous about having to go to school for the first time.

Not too long before that photo was taken, I remember Lester and I going back and forth about whether we should send them to "real school," whether they'd gain anything more from school that they wouldn't get at home with Michelle. We struggled with whether the considerable expense would be worth it.

I'm 100-percent glad we made the decision we did. It's been a really great year for us, and a tremendous year for them. They've grown and blossomed and learned so much. They started as babies -- and left today as little boys.

I know they won't remember this year, not in any real way. But one day, they'll look back at this blog and remember the love they had for Miss Toni, who loved and hugged on them and called them her boys:

And they'll hopefully remember their friends Jeffery, Penelope, Makenzie, Avery and Marcus (to name a few):

Avery

Marcus

And they'll know ... I hope they'll know ... just how proud their Mommy was of them every single day. (And their Daddy, too, of course.)

 

Congratulations on surviving your first year of school, boys! You did it!