Today is my dad's 61st birthday. Happy birthday dad! We are missing out on a little family party today that most of our family is having at the cabin. My kids are especially bummed. We were just at the cabin on Friday & Saturday for cousin camp, along with my parents & all my siblings & their kids. It was quite an adventure! Most everyone stayed at the cabin through today, but our family left to come home for church today. (duty calls for bishop brad!) We wish we could be there, but since we can't, here's a happy birthday post in honor of my dad.
As I think about my dad today, I can't help but think back to last year at this time. Last year was a banner year - after all, one doesn't turn 60 every day! I suggested to my family that we plan a surprise birthday bash to celebrate this milestone in my dad's life. Then the work began - gathering addresses, hiring a caterer, ordering tables & chairs, getting my yard in order so I could host the party, collecting letters and memories from friends & family to put in a book, and more.
My biggest project for the party was creating a DVD of my dad's life. This was a time-consuming but very enjoyable project. My dad's 60th birthday is the reason I have my iMAC - which makes me very happy! I went through boxes of photos then scanned 60 years worth of pictures onto my new iMAC. Then I edited the photos and put them into a program to create the DVD & put it to music. My mom brought me CD's with all my dad's favorite songs & we put all the songs into iTunes, which I then used for the music on the DVD. As I was creating the DVD, my kids would dance and sing in the kitchen to my dad's favorite songs from the 50's, 60's, & 70's. They loved it! On the day of the party I was putting the finishing touches on the DVD & burning it just hours before the great event was to occur. It was a bit stressful - but that's the way it's supposed to be, right? I could not believe that we were actually able to pull off the surprise, but we did . . . and look how happy dad was! It made a great family memory! Here's a few pictures from a year ago . . .
On my dad's day, I thought I would share a couple of my favorite pictures along with some other photos from throughout his life. The next two are favorites of mine because his personality truly shines through in each of these pictures.
Not long after my parents were married I came came along. I think I've always had a great relationship with my dad, and I have always enjoyed spending time with him. As a child, I thought my dad was the strongest & smartest dad that ever lived. I could never beat him in an arm wrestling contest, even when I used both hands, and I could stand on his hands and he could lift me high into the air. Plus, if I ever needed to know something about anything, my dad seemed to always know the answer. I do believe that he still pretty much knows everything.
I can remember having that picture taken where I am snuggling up to my dad on the couch. It was Thanksgiving day & my dad was watching football. I remember that he loved the Miami Dolphins, though I don't know if they were playing that particular day. I sat next to my dad & pretended that I loved football & knew what was going on so that I could share something with him.
8 comments:
What a great post! I love the picture of you and your dad cuddled on the couch watching football. I used to pretend to like football, too, with my Dad.
I had forgotten how young your parents were when they got married. Imagine one of your daughters wanting to marry at 16! Or Ben at 17!
I love the picture of your parents with the grandkids on the stairs. The face on the little girl next to Lacy is too cute. Where does Ben get his curls? Is that a Zobrist or a Wallace gene?
I remember your dad picking me up for seminary in our freshman year. He would play racquetball first, then on the ride to seminary he would eat orange halves. I would climb in your van and you would give me a 1/2 piece of gum. I still only eat 1/2 pieces of gum to this day.
Happy 60th Birthday to your Dad!!
Judy - that was fun to hear your memory of my dad! I forgot that he would play racquetball before taking us to seminary & I definitely forgot about the orange halves. I still only eat 1/2 a piece of gum too!
I can't imagine any of my kids getting married at 16 or 17! Yikes & no way!!
Both little girls on either side of Lacey are my sister's Janae's. She has 5 girls - these 2 are numbers 3 & 4.
Happy Birthday to Dad! Great post LaRae. We missed you guys at the celebration.
Fun pictures! I love the picture of your parents with their grandchildren.
You missed quite the party.. I hear there is another shindig tonight,is this true? Doe we have a time? The picture of all the kids on the stairs looks really cute. Im telling you, if you need a day job(in all your spare time) photography is your thing!
I loved this! I also have a favorite memory of your dad. When I was a senior in HS we were doing a Roadshow. I don't really remember what my roll was, except I wore a green (UGLY) dress from D.I. and high top Converse shoes, and said, "Where's the Beef?" (it was 83 ya know) Anyway, your dad called me "Green Pea" during the whole production, which I thought was funny. Why I remember this, I don't know, but also during this time, we had our Yearbook signing party at Valley and I was on the Yearbook commitee - we needed some soda for the event and I called your dad and asked if we could get some cheap...he ended up providing it for free as well as other goodies. He is just this kind of guy and I won't forget how kind he was to both me and my brother, even when other adults weren't so "keen" on either of us. I have never forgotten the adults who took me under their wings and helped me along my teenaged path. I KNOW that I am the person I am because so many cared so much.
AND - I also heard from your parents during my mission - they sent a personal picture of the temple being built and that meant so much to me!
Very fun post! My memories of your mom & dad are pretty vague except for one time when I spent the night at your house. Your dad made breakfast the next morning and it was a lot of fun. Happy Birthday to Bro. Zobrist!
Janet - I loved hearing your memory of my dad. I remember that road show. I don't remember your green dress, but I think that may be a good thing! I am not surprised that he provided soda & other goodies free of charge - that's like him!
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