Dad's and Donuts

Today was Dad's and Donuts What a fun excuse for Dad's to go early before school with their kids, read with them and of course, there's donuts involved. Sugar's always a great way to start the day but add your Dad reading a book or two with you and what could be better?!
I volunteer at the beginning of the day on Wednesdays and arrived just as the majority of Dads were leaving, heading back to the corporate world armed with the musings of Curious George, The Cat in the Hat or maybe Harry Potter. Whatever their fancy, it made me smile to see all these men who lovingly took time away from busy work loads to spend some quality time with their kids.
Dad's don't get enough credit in my book. The good ones anyway. They play such an important role in the family and it's great to see most of them take that very seriously. We've got a good one around these parts and I'm grateful for him more everyday.
Mattie, Thanks for spending the morning with the kids. They loved it!

...and that's how it all began.

June 1995. I was in Logan to play with Dana and visit some old roommates for the weekend. One of our gals had her boyfriend with her. A group of guys approached our table to chat since one of them knew her boyfriend. After chatting for a bit, they joined us and the small talk began. He asked me my name and I, rather shortly, told him it was April.
And your last name, he asked?
I don't have one.
You see I wasn't interested in this scene. Just wanted to be with my friends. Not interested that is, until he began talking to one of the other girls. Well you know, excuse me....attention back to me please!
As the conversation allowed I mentioned that my last name was Elggren. He looked at me rather strange, which you get use to when your last name is Elggren. For some reason it's hard for people to say at first and even harder for people to spell. UGH.
There was an Elggren on my mission he told me.
Where did you go on your mission?
Argentina.
My brother went to Argentina.
What?! That's crazy. Sure enough, this dashing young fellow knew my brother and had spent 2 years in a South American country the same time he had over a year and a half before this.
The conversation flowed and we talked into the morning hours that first night, forgetting about our friends. I really liked this guy. That was something I hadn't thought possible for a long time.
Tomorrow's Father's Day I told him, why don't you come down home with me for dinner. My brother will be there with his new wife. It would be fun to see his reaction.
He came to dinner the next day. Met my family and surprised my brother, who was so taken off guard that it took him a minute to place where he knew this stranger from. We dug up pictures from their mission. At the airport both leaving and coming home from Argentina. There's my family and standing next to us is his family. I'd been there both times when they left and when they came home. He'd been there both times, we'd never noticed each other. This is crazy and funny.
Must be fate, right?
So I married the guy.
16 Years ago today.
What else ya gonna do.

Happy Anniversary Mattie. I love you more today then I could have ever imagined.

How Did You Celebrate Your 100th?

Today was the 100th day of school for the kiddlings. Boy, the school goes nuts over this, all kinds of celebrations. I don't remember it being any sort of a deal while I was in school but BRING IT ON! Any reason to celebrate, right? Mia's class did some fun activities one of which was to draw what they might look like when they're 100. This picture makes me smile.

Hope your 100th was as steller!