The Man, In Pictures
*this week in blogging is dedicated to the man I love
The man, the husband, the daddy, in action:
Providing wood for the campfire.
And food.
Making sure the girls of the family get proper archery lessons.
And an opportunity to pound nails into a squirrel hide (drying into rawhide for a bow string).
Coaching Col on the art of splitting wood.
Bringing home a cache of found owl pellets (the undigestables coughed up by owls after dining) for the kids to dissect.
Turning it into an anatomy lesson.
Displaying the antlers found this spring (yes, just this spring).
Cuddling his 2 pound, premature son in the hospital.
And that same child, asleep in his arms, five years later.
Despite the adventures and shenanigans, when you ask the kids what they love most about their daddy, they say “because he’s so nice, and sweet and soft. And he loves us.”
XO
Rachel
Awesome daddy. You are very blessed. I love the naked fairy with the bow and arrow (Cupid, perhaps?)
That made me teary. Esp. the last two.
The mother of the husband, the man, the father, the brother is taking special pleasure in all of the words and pictures this week!
I never thought of it before, but I suppose the Diana of myths began her archery lessons in just such garb – or absence thereof – the bare essentials.
We’re sadly having to break Rose of her nudist tendencies during mosquito season. But in channeling Diana, she does seem to shoot with more gusto when wrapped in the bare essentials.
Love this! Thank you so much for sharing!
I heart Dan.
Just recently found your blog and it’s really making my day. Very fine writing and excellent sense of humor. Such a pleasure to read (I laughed, I cried, and all that). Thanks so much for sharing.
Ellen, Thank you for your kind words. Off to peek at your blog. Rachel
Love, love, love your naked angel! And, of course, love reading about your guy, as well. Something about a Dad…
http://amysreallife.wordpress.com
what a journey, what a dad, what a mama, what an inspiring family…
….thanks for everything you share here….
-the photos of him holding Col (X2) couldn’t be more tender.
~Erin
So glad I found this blog! I grew up at 5000 feet (close, but not quite the same!) and I miss my childhood in the mountains as I read this. I’ll be back!
WOW. Look at all those antlers!
what a wonderful series of daddy pictures. i’m digging those antlers.
I love them all – but mostly the one of naked Rose using the bow – gotta love that!!
Awww.
For real.
What a lovely tribute!
what a dad!! he is great at finding owl pellets and antlers, eh?
are you in durango? i saw *6512* and knew you must be!! i met my partner there and our daughter was born there. we have dear friends there still and miss it very much. thanks for visiting my blog!
We are in Durango. That’s neat that you have a connection here (doesn’t childbirth always connect you deeply to a place)? Despite living here for the past 15 years, both my children were born somewhere else. Take care, Rachel
Dan IS the Man! A beautiful, heartfelt tribute. Your children (and you) are so lucky to have someone so involved and passionate about his craft in your lives. I think it’s so important for children to see and feel that. I have no doubt they do every second of their lives with you guys.
Is that what I’m supposed to wear when practicing archery?! :)
Kyndale, I’m going to have to try it, my archery skills need a little pick-me-up. XO
Channeling Diana ~ I love it! That image was too cute!! When my oldest was young, I was convinced she would grow to be a nudist. She was always in either panties or nude when we were at home. She still isn’t so fond of apparel.
Lovely post and tribute to your husband. He does sound like a keeper! :)
Your tributes to your husband are making me cry. (Luckily the picture of Rose in the buff with wings and bow made me laugh so I am able to pull myself together to face the rest of my day. Diana indeed!) :)
What a lovely post. And you’re not kidding; he is the man! Wood-chopping, fish-frying, putting nails into squirrel hide!
My sister spent a summer labeling each mouse bone she plucked out of an owl pellet with a tweezers. I love that your kids are doing it!
Just wanted to chime in and say that I agree that Dan is an amazing father to those lucky kids
Baba
These photos are incredible. Your kids are learning and experiencing so much already. So cool. And naked, WINGED, archery lessons? Awesome.
I was going to say that the fair-skinned, fairy-winged, naked-as-a-jaybird archeress Rose totally stole this post until I got to those last two pictures. Then I had to stop and take them in for a few long moments. And maybe I cried a little. Beautiful, Rachel.
Oh, that picture of Rose with her bow! These are great pictures.