Happy Father's Day

Since today is Father's Day, Marc got to sleep in, which was a really good deal for him, since Eva woke up at 5:45! The boys made him cards, and I gave him a relaxing pillow mist from l'Occitane (a favorite store of mine), which is supposed to relieve stress and help you to sleep better, and a selection of his favorite chocolate bars from Michel Cluizel.

He spent a large part of the day out working on his latest photography project. Sadly, it rained most of the day, so he also spent a lot of time ducking into shops and under awnings. I took the kids over to take photos in front of the Eiffel Tower (we're running out of time!), but it started to rain before we even got there, so we turned back. Argh!

Here are some of the reasons Marc is a great father:

• he cried with me when each of our babies was born
• he takes the naming of a child to be a weighty responsibility (as do I), eliminating many of the names I proposed by telling me all of the mean name-calling said names would engender
  
• he takes turns getting up in the night with our babies, who don't really sleep through the night reliably, until they are about 3. He hates it, but he does it.
• he always comforts Lucas when he has a night terror
  
• he takes the boys on special movie dates
• he has taken them on many adventures while in France
• he likes to take the kids clothes shopping
  
• he reads with each of our children individually
• he watches Dora, Diego, Blue's Clues, and Wonder Pets with Eva!
• he goes to great lengths to get her to eat
• he is involved in their education, and attends school functions
• he gets them way more treats than I do
• he is always on the lookout for books or music that they would enjoy
• he tries hard not to compare them to each other
  
• he encourages them to follow their interests
• he teaches them about the things he knows
• he talks to them like people, never condescends
  
• he wants our children to travel and to be exposed to lots of different things, places, and people
  
• he thinks a lot about what the kids need to be happy

I think they are pretty lucky to have him for their dad!

And, as for my dad, I've said it before, but he is just the greatest Sneelock around. He was a very involved father, even at a time when that was not necessarily the norm. My mom tells me he regularly got up in the night and changed diapers. I remember him giving me baths and reading me bedtime stories. He taught me to read, largely while in the car, by pointing out road signs. He would make me read every other page when he read to me, even though I didn't want to. He is kind and gentle. He never freaked out when I would get into fender benders while driving his car.

He is a wonderful example of service -- he will do anything for you, even if he is tired, even if he just barely returned from the grocery store and you ask him to go back! He works in my yard and does odd jobs around the house when he comes to visit. He values learning, and is pursuing his passion of photography again. And, best of all, he is a wonderful grandfather!

I LOVE YOU, DAD!!