Outnumbered

I grew up in a family of 7. It was my mom, my dad, and 5 super awesome daughters. My poor dad - he is a very patient man. He handled it pretty well. He does blame us (the girls) for every single gray hair and every last inch of balding on his head, and I think he's probably right in doing that. We didn't exactly give him an easy time. I think I remember one of my sisters getting caught using my mom's razor to shave my dad's head while he was napping in the bathtub. I personally recall drawing pictures all over any part of exposed skin with my mom's lipstick while he napped on the couch (maybe he should have learned not to ever nap while we were around). My mom even has some blackmail pictures of him wearing one of her dresses, some heels, makeup and jewelry. He would occasionally let us paint his toenails and put clips in his hair. He was a good sport. And he was always our biggest supporter. Whatever we were doing - whether it was a sporting event, a play, cheerleading or a spelling bee - he made an effort to be there. In short, my dad is a rockstar.

When I was little, we bought a boat. Most of us called it the banana boat because it was as yellow as a perfectly ripe banana, but my dad officially named it "Outnumbered." It was quite fitting. The guy was surrounded by 6 females constantly. Even when we all started having kids of our own, it was years before a boy finally made an appearance.

I think I'm starting to have some sympathy pains for my dad's experiences. Not being outnumbered in terms of gender, but simply being outnumbered by my children. When it was just me and Charlie and Caroline at home, it was manageable. Crazy, yes, but doable. And then when Forrest was home from work we could move to a man-on-man defense. It worked well for us. Enter Juliet. Now life is a whole different story!

Life is now a whole new level of crazy. Still wonderful, of course. But so crazy. Juliet and I have had to learn to breastfeed "on the go." Meaning that I often have to jump up with her in the middle of a feeding to pry Charlie away from Caroline before he rips a chunk of hair out of her head. Or I have to intervene when Caroline is about to slam the door on Charlie's little fingers. Or when one of them has climbed onto the kitchen counter and is headed straight for something dangerous.

As an added bonus, I now have 3 children in 3 different sizes of diapers. Not at all confusing! My plan is to potty train ASAP, though I don't know how in the world I can give the twins enough attention to successfully potty train while I'm feeding a baby around the clock. Wish me luck with that one!

Even when Forrest is home to help, leaving the house takes us about 5,692 times longer than it used to. And once we do finally get out the door, inevitably someone is hungry, or a diaper needs changed, or I forgot to stock the diaper bag with diapers, wipes, or an extra change of clothes. Or I forgot to brush my teeth. Gross, I know, but when you are so focused on getting 3 little bodies ready to leave, it's easy to forget the basic things like that!

In all honesty though, having Juliet at home has still been 100 times easier than the first couple of months with the twins. Having two newborns was just so demanding! With only one baby to wake up with in the night, I feel so well rested. Seriously. So much easier with one, even though I am woefully outnumbered.

My Dad, the Baker

If my dad had a real job description, it would be something like technical support/professor/product shipment specialist. But at home, his job description is a bit different. It ranges anywhere from expert mechanic to professional napper, and includes jobs like floor tiler, gun extrordinaire, and wood worker. And for those who know him the best, there is one job that he loves more than any other: baking. Ok, I joke a little. He probably loves guns the most. But seriously, he bakes more than anyone I know (besides perhaps my mother-in-law).

My dad makes the best bread in the world. And he's quite proud of that fact. Any time a guest walks into his home, his first item of business is to head to the kitchen to make them some bread. He also makes his own strawberry jam and beautiful wood cutting boards that he can send with the bread when he delivers it. It is simply the best.

He makes cookies too. This is a more recent development, but it started when he would stop at Maverik every day on his way to work for breakfast. And he would get a package of peanut butter cookies, which cost him probably $0.99 every day. But in his problem solving mind, he couldn't handle paying a dollar a day for something that he could make better and cheaper himself. So he started making giant batches of delicious peanut butter cookies to take to work, and he generously shares them with all of us. (Actually, I'm not sure he is aware that he shares them..)

In short, my dad is the most wonderful person on the planet. If I was stranded on a desert island and I could pick one person to help me get off the island, it would be my dad. Because I honestly believe there is nothing that he can't do. He is a complete genius (I'm serious, his brothers nicknamed him Eddison when he was a kid because he could invent just about anything there was to invent).

And more than his brilliant mind, my dad is kind and patient. It takes a special sort of a man to raise five daughters, and when we were kids we terrorized him. I remember someone shaving his head with my mom's razor while he was napping in the bathtub. And covering his face and head with lipstick during another afternoon nap. And climbing up his back and stepping on his head every single night while he "slid" me into bed. Best dad ever.

I am so grateful to have had a worthy Priesthood holder in my home for my entire life. My father has been and continues to be such a blessing to me. And that is a tradition that was passed on by his loving, courageous and hard-working father; as well as by my mom's dad. My Grandpa Giles, or "Grampsy," as he is affectionately known, is my only living grandparent. I am so grateful and blessed that Charlie and Caroline are able to know him and spend time with him, because he is an absolutely incredible man. I learn something from him every time I am with him. We all love him dearly. And now that I am married I am so blessed to have a fantastic husband who also honors his Priesthood. Forrest is the most wonderful dad I ever could have picked for our children. He is perfectly their father, and perfectly my husband.

Today in Sacrament Meeting, the Primary children went to the front to sing to their fathers for Father's Day. They sang some darling songs with actions and smiles, and then they ended with one of my favorites, "Teach Me to Walk in the Light." On the second verse they had all the men in the congregation stand and sing with them. Tears flooded into my eyes as I looked around the chapel and all the Priesthood brethren, standing and singing with the children "Come little child and together we'll learn of His commandments that we may return home to his presence to live in His sight, always to walk in the light." It was so touching and a perfect reminder of a father's role in the home.

I am so grateful to have grandfathers, a father, and a husband who love the Lord and serve him with their whole hearts, and who love and serve their families with all their strength. My little family has been so blessed by them. To Grampsy, Dad, and Forrest, we love you. Happy Father's Day.