First Steps On Father’s Day

In the midst our most busy weekend of the summer thus far, yesterday afternoon on Father’s Day while visiting 104 year old Great-Great Grand Aunt Iris, Anika Iris took her first solo steps. 

She took a few steps to get to the three teddy bears.

It was an exciting moment. Iris remembers my brother Joe also taking his first steps at her same apartment twenty years ago. He was playing with the same bears. 

Above is our best attempt at a family picture with Iris to document Anika’s first steps on Father’s Day. If I can get a short video of Anika taking a few steps this week I will upload it for you to see. She is wobbly but her sweet chubby legs taking little steps are adorable.

Earlier in the day we had a family brunch with my parents, brothers, sister Kirsti and husband Mike. We all were in Grand Forks for cousin Jessica’s wedding. Despite the bright day light, my dad insisted on this location for the picture because of the UND Fighting Sioux flag hanging in the background. It was Father’s Day so we of course all obliged. Dad planned the weekend and booked us hotel rooms at the water park hotel. We attended the Saturday night wedding together as a family and spent time together as a late celebration to my parent’s 35th wedding anniversary a month ago as well as it being Father’s Day. More family fun pictures to follow tomorrow. 

Before I close…I must give a belated Father’s Day tribute. The daddy of our house is quite amazing as you know from my blogging and bragging about him. He is a deeply committed father and husband and a tremendous example to our children through his actions on what it means to be a father. 

This weekend we visited my dad, my grandpa and then we wrapped up our Father’s Day by visiting Nathan’s dad, Grandpa Eldon as we came home.  Nathan has pointed out to Hunter several times before at how fortunate we are to have grandpas and dads in our life that are strong examples of how to be a man of honor and dignity. It is a true blessing to have generations of men to be so proud of and to call them our fathers.