Define: Dad

I love this video, to me it is the true definition of a loving father. You all know what the guy was thinking when he caught the foul ball and everyone around the park was cheering and his adrenalin was pumping. For a fleeting second, as the crowd patted him on the back and he had 30,000 eyes on him, he was in the moment.

I am sure as he caught the ball he was thinking what every dad thinks about. He was thinking how fun and exciting this is to be a part of an amazing sporting event with his daughter; he was thinking about how this ball could be placed up on his daughters shelf in her bedroom; he was thinking how they might be able to get a player to autograph the ball after the game. This dad was thinking about how the ball signified the great times he spent with his daughter, and though as a father there is never enough, this would be something to look back on and point to as he watched and experience his daughter growing up. No matter how unimportant that foul ball was to the inning, or the game, or even to the season, it would mean a lot to this father and his daughter.

Then the best thing happens, she does what every kid does, she does the unexpected.



The greatest part of this whole video is his instant reaction to her. The immediate shift from a dad that was thinking about the short time he would have with his daughter growing up trying to hold on to anything possible, to a dad that was in the moment with his daughter and realized how much that instant and experience meant to him and his daughter. I really think this video, though short, displays what fatherhood is really about. It is about those small insignificant moments when you get to experience your children and realize the unconditional love that is the true definition of fatherhood.

Touchdown...

Dryver's football season is over. They had a great run, and ended up with a winning record. They were 4-2 and the one loss was to the team that should have been in the more advanced group.

I am really proud of Dryver and hope he had fun. It seems like he made some friends and was really happy to be part of the team. I only wish my dad was alive to see Dryver play, because I know he would be so proud and excited (and of course worried.)

My dad loved to watch the Bears and was a big fan of the game of football. I really wish he had been able to share the excitement that Dryver had this season. I know he was rooting for them somewhere, and probably helped with a few touchdowns.

Some Cub Scout Days...

Dryver and I have had a blast this year being a part of Cub Scouts. He really likes the friends and the activities and I love spending time with him as Dryver and Dad. We spent the last few weekends doing fun things, including walking in a parade, watching a basketball game, Scout Sunday at church and of course checking out the construction site at National Harbor.

I think Dryver has a real blast and loves the fact that he is a part of something. He really loves wearing his uniform, hat and scarf. He really loves playing with his buddies at the meetings, but best of all he does seem to like having me around. I am not sure how long that feeling with last for him, but I will really cherish it every minute as I love the little guy so much and I am so proud to be his dad!

National Harbor Trip...

We visited the building site for the soon to be launched National Harbor. Dryver and his Cub Scout team were lucky enough today to get a behind the scenes view of the construction and this amazing city that is being built on the Potomac River. It was cold with the wind off the river, but it was really cool.

The Harbor is launching this Christmas and will probably be a huge tourist point, at least in the summer. It was fun for Dryver to see this place before it actually goes 'Live' and he loved wearing the hardhat.

Here are the kids all piled up on 'The Giant' which is a famous statue of some sort, and this is just his head. It is pretty cool!

Finally A Video My Dad Would Love...

This is a video my dad would love! He used to watch these old home shows when I was growing up, before they were all the rage of the public and before there was TLC and/or seven Discovery channels.

This is actually something he would have probably tried to install in our home, at least by accident.