Daiquiri Ice

{friday movie night a few weeks back}

i look forward to the weekend all week long - like most people i'm sure.  something about having no fewer commitments and dad at home is refreshing.  we try and make friday nights especially fun for the girls - anything like pillow fights, homemade pizza, a movie and popcorn, or games can be on the agenda.  usually its cheap and simple.  i love cheap and simple.  

this evening started out with yard work in the back - a precursor for tomorrow's long list of things to accomplish.  as i helped the girls carry broken remnants of sidewalk chalk from the front porch to the back patio, so they could create a masterpiece under my watchful eye, madison said, "THIS is the funnest day ever!"  surprised, i laughed.  after a simple thrown together dinner, we took the girls out for ice cream cones - something that usually only happens when we're in mexico.  they were SO excited.

it took me back to when i was young.  

my dad was busy. so so so busy.  i don't think my memory even does it justice.  he was a pathology resident, father of four little kids, and bishop of a bustling young ward.  i honestly don't know how he and my mom did it.  how did they balance everything that was being asked of them?  somehow they made family time a priority because while i remember my dad being busy, i have so many memories of him being home.

we were outside all the time - throwing fallen oranges from the most recent monsoon into the wash across the street, sweeping out the carport and the patios, watering trees and bushes, raking gravel under all the citrus, and various other odds and ends. i'm sure a lot of what we did was play, while my parents did the working.  often we'd walk down the street to conor park and play catch or soccer or even kick the can.

one of our favorite things to do when dad could be home was ride bikes. we'd load up the van and drive to the rillito river.  from there we'd race down the bridges, past the horse track and to the park on our bikes, just to turn around and race all the way back.  hannah was young enough that she was always strapped in one of those seats right behind my dad as he rode. 

if we were in for a really special treat, we'd ride from our house down to baskin robbins, park our bikes outside, and venture in to pick out the flavor of our choice.  i always chose rainbow sherbet.  something about the colors always snagged my attention.  but i remember the first time i tasted my dad's favorite flavor - daiquiri ice. sweet and tangy. icy blue. so good.  i've been hooked ever since.  

i'm sure my dad was gone way more than i remember but i'm so grateful for all the times he was home and all the fun things we were able to do growing up.

 i'm grateful for those simple pleasures and sweet memories.

and i'm happy that my girls are experiencing the same things with their dad. 

only now,can i really understand the love that was behind it all.

so tonight:

baskin robbins-

bubble gum for grace, 

rainbow sherbet for madi, 

mint chocolate chip for dan, 

and daiquiri ice for me. 

single scoops and sugar cones.

our little family of four (and three quarters). 

 

 

"funnest day ever!" according to madison.

i know exactly where she's coming from.