WELCOME HOME TO SEATAC

The welcome home back at the Seatac Airport was a huge party!  There was a welcome home party right when we got off the plane and then again in the baggage claim area.  There were tons of people there to show their love and support.  All of the Veterans were escorted in to the atrium at the airport and there was bag pipe music and a great program to thank them all for their service.  It was a humbling experience and something I will always remember.  It was great to have my family there as well to experience it all!  What a memorable trip! 

Swim Lessons

My oldest son has been taking swim lessons all winter long.  They happened to fall on the same night as his soccer, so we dropped indoor soccer for the winter and he has just been swimming instead.  He is getting better and learning a lot.  We want him to become a strong swimmer where he has confidence and trust in himself when he is in the water.  This is a life long task that he can and will use.  Plus, his little sister is now interested in swimming and also started taking lessons at the same time.  The wifey and I usually switch off taking them to class while the other one stays home with the baby and gets some one on one time with her and gets her ready for bed while the older kids are at swim lessons.  It's nice to have some variety and let the kiddos get some one on one time as well.  We are just prepping them for summer since we like to spend a lot of time at the pools and the beach. 
Here's to swim lessons and parenting!

Fatherhood These Days

I was at a work networking breakfast event the other day talking with a gentleman and he asked me about my personal/family life.  I told him that I was married and had three young kiddos, ages 6, 4, and 1.  His jaw dropped!  Literally!  He told me I was brave and probably too busy to have fun or even enjoy life.  I quickly corrected him and told him that being a father to these young kiddos is what makes my life fun and enjoyable.  I briefly told him about the fun adventures that my family goes on and how we like to get out and explore on a regular basis.  I told him about where we hike, what towns, parks, rivers, lakes and mountains that we have been too.  He had never been to most of them or even heard of them.  It was an eye opening experience for him as well as I continue to talk about our next adventures that we have planned.

After this conversation, I am certain that he left having a different opinion about my life, about my family, about what was fun for me and my family.  It felt good to voice my opinions about having kids and how they are a handful, yet totally worth it!

Here's my crew below as we went on a little walk/scooter ride to the park down the street from us.