daddy?

Addy found this card in Doug's stash, pointed at it and said, "Daddy?"

In her defense, Doug has the same exact hat. But besides that, I'm afraid she doesn't know what her father looks like.

tasteless

When my allergies peaked during the Spring a few months ago, I started dealing with almost permanent congestion. I'd clear up every once in a while, but mostly I was dealing with no smell. At first, it had its perks: I could face dirty diapers without flinching and cleaning out the scary leftovers in the fridge wasn't as tortuous.

But then, I started losing my taste.

Not my fashion taste (but have I ever had that?), but my taste for food. It started slow, but now, a few months down the road, it's faded significantly. I can only taste things if they're super salty or super sweet. I often eat food without tasting any of it, and I usually just eat stuff because I know I normally like it. Talk about sucking the fun out of eating!

And then I started realizing how rough it is to not smell things. For example, I was cooking one evening and all of the sudden the smoke alarm was going off. Turns out something was burning in the oven and I had no idea. Then I started wondering what would happen if I was home alone with Addy and I couldn't smell a fire. Yikes!

So while I've always appreciated my ability to see, hear, and touch, I hope these past few months will teach me to never forget the awesomeness of smell and taste, the underdogs of the 5 senses.

And while I'm at it, I'm going to try and appreciate my 6th sense too, just in case I eventually develop it (although I do NOT know why I'd like seeing dead people).

for her father

For father's day this year, Addy got her father movie tickets, artichokes, and some baseball cleats wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper.

Oh, and a customized tie.

A happy father's day indeed!

you know your parents live in alabama...

...when they send you this picture of some visitors they found in their yard.

el templo

Last Saturday we went up to D.C. to hit up the temple. We caravanned with the Furniss fam so we could watch each other's kids.

The kids were so patient, and endured many long hours playing in the visitor's center. True champs!

We ate lunch/dinner together, and then debated whether or not we should just go home (it'd been a looong day). But we'd driven all the way up there, we decided to go into the district and at least see one thing we hadn't seen before.

And what little thing did we see? Oh, just the Constitution of the United States. Yeah, the real document. Plus the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. Maybe you've heard of them? I can't believe we'd never done that. We loved going through the National Archives... the building itself is impressive.

We then walked behind the building to see the Navy memorial. Doug's dad and grandpa were Navy men, so we liked checking it out.

Addy was fascinated by all the fountains, and kept trying to dive in. I guess it's the Navy in her blood?

I also want to mention that we got the world's (THE WORLD'S) best parking spot. No time limit, no paying, right next to where we wanted to go, and we found it immediately. I hated to leave it.

D.C., I'm loving you more and more (even your parking).

she's climbing

So now what's the plan?

dads

Where would we be without dads? Who'd kill spiders? Who'd teach us to ride our bikes? Who'd hide underneath the stairs just so they can scare us?

Doug, Addy, and I have all been given wonderful dads. We're counting our many blessings that our dads have helped us, mentored us, laughed with us, and tortured us (it builds character) for so many years.

We sure do love you!

Happy Father's Day to our dads and father-like men everywhere.