Daddy's Day Surprises!

So this year was kind of tricky...

Since the boys were going to camp on consecutive weekends it was hard to have them home (or all together) the last FEW weeks.
And since I am a great procrastinator by nature I of course waited until the LAST minute to do anything.
I had an idea of what I wanted to do, but I needed inspiration.

So I packed Brayden and August up and went to JoAnn fabrics...

Ohh...I just get so many great ideas when I walk through that place. I love the free flow of creativity!

Anyways...it was hard to kind of loosen the reigns and let the boys have a voice in this. I usually have it all planned out and just need them to contribute tiny bits...this time I really tried to involve them.

So after much deliberation and discussion Bray decided they should make Dad a t-shirt. We  had a slight disagreement on the color...but then I remembered it was for them to do. NOT me to dictate. Bray wanted to do a teal shirt. He said that Brent had told him that teal was one of his favorite colors...and I was trying to tell Bray that no Dad does not like teal. I realized that I needed to stop, and I need to empower my children.

So we got a teal shirt.

I had brainstormed a couple ideas, and lucky me some other wonderful people had already thought of similar ones, so I was able to show Brayden and August and get their opinion.

Here is what we decided to put on the T-shirt:

I sewed a tree trunk out of felt and then made different color greens from fabric paint, and they each did their hand prints.
It turned out perfect. I was very excited.

The original inspiration:

Then for what I chose to do...

I wanted to do a picture of the boys.
Brent has commented on various occasions that he would like to go get our pictures done again.
(I need to find a good place for family photos!)

Because...I agree, but when I look at my picture wall my favorites are the ones that came from natural moments.
NOT posed and prepped for. The times where we captured an emotion or event that was significant to us, without a tripod and bunch of backdrops and lighting equipment.

That said...I tried to do some pics that were semi POSED and looked intentional.

I found some great ideas, but having the BOYS that I do they were not the most cooperative.
PLUS I love EVERY picture...
It is hard to choose.

After trying to get Bray to STOP doing a double chin, and August to keep his tongue in his mouth I finally just accepted that ONE of these would have to work.

I had Bray help me "edit" them and play around with different effects.
Finally we were ready to have it printed!

I bought a great 11x14 frame and ordered our print.
When I went to pick it up, however, it was a blow up of August's foot. She said that is how it was sent to her...
UGH!!! FRUSTRATION...
So I took the SD card with the pic on it and went to place after place and it would not fit in 11x14 and I really didn't want it poster size or on mounted canvas...Blah!

Finally at Rite Aid of all places it was able to fit on a 8x12! NOT 8x10 (which they make frames for in abundance...) and 8x12.

After unsuccessfully finding a frame in that size I just added some extra mounting/scrapbook paper to the frame I had previously bought and it looks just fine!

Of course Brent has had to work all week and weekend, so he still has not seen these.
He will be home Thursday night!
And his presents are waiting for him...

*Bray and Aug also picked out a card that sings the Lazy Song and has a Dad relaxing...

I am just so grateful for having such a wonderful example for our boys who shows them constantly how to live with integrity and humility.
He is selfless and loving, courageous and resilient.An exceptional husband and father.

And for that we try to honor him on Father's Day! (well...close enough to father's day)