alright...alright...i know....you feel abandoned because where in the h-e-double hockey sticks have i been?  i know.  i do.  i have missed you all very much.  okay...lets get on with it...or i might just cry. that's how much i've missed blogatroning.  that's how much i missed you. f'realz yo!

so, father's day.  it is pretty awesome when you have someone in your life that completely deserves adorning on such a day.  for all the others, get a tie, cuff links, old spice, or a head in a box (whoa, morbid reference from the movie Seven...holy! dunno where that came from.  dad issues much? kidding! i kid...i kid!) 

i got my husband's first father's day prezzie before we even had a child together.  he wanted to have a little one sooOooooOo bad and i was not on board.  i loved him so much that i wanted that sweet dream to come true for him and whether it was with me or someone else, i just knew that he would be the best dad ever.  so, i got him a blue ribbon that said #1 Dad!  we were at the music festival i used to put on, near Portland, OR, in our airstream rv, and it was father's day.  i played a harry houdini and pinned it on him mid-kiss.  we both shed a couple tears and..well...err...the magic spell was cast.  i was pregnant with our little man shortly after that.  

i love pining over what to do and how to show and reflect our daddy love for him at this time of year because he truly is the best papa i have ever seen or experienced.  this is one of the crafty bits we made for him last father's day. it was strung up right outside our bedroom door.  

i got my 2 boys, Malakai and Lorijah, and sat down to tear strips of paper and color them all bright and happy.  i asked them what were some of their favorite things about their dad, things they liked to do with him, funny moments, memories.....it took a bit of prodding at first, but as i asked more specific questions, the yum started pouring out.  it was so fun and sooo sweet.  my cup runeth over.

they also helped me safety pin the little love notes to the cool cord i had brought out for this.  we pinned a few this's and that's here and there, like paper cranes, foam flowers, and strips of colorful netting (from a sack of lemons) to "up" the cute factor times a million and then boom. it was done. 

i strung it up in the wee hours.  when Loji woke, we put his present under a bright scarf with magnet letters spelling HAPPY FATHERS DAY on a tapestry on the ground, under the garland.  we made a breakfast picnic on the floor and set it up so when he walked out, after his big cozy sleep in, we were all there hanging out waiting for him. so cute. 

recycled materials people!  the sweetest presents are the ones from the heart; made with love.  you don't need much to let those around you know you adore and appreciate them.

today is international Random Acts of Kindness Day!! yay! just kidding...everyday is random acts of kindness day silly head!  in the spirit of valentines day month (like that? just made that up. i think),  i am now triple dog daring you to perform a random act of kindness today.  

this sweet tin was dropped off to me at home by my friend Weezie.  when i opened the lid, i almost cried.  the sweetest most fragrant woft of wild roses filled my nose and tear ducts or something...yeah..that was it..sniff sniff.  anyway, it was all her fault! so thoughtful.  the details! the heart shaped rock? c'mon!  almost got a cavity from the sweetness.  

now it's your turn!!  take a picture of a random act of kindness and post it to my Martha Starfish fb page!!  

oh, here's another picture.  i came back to my car one morning to a beautiful rose tucked into the wiper blade of my mini, Winne Cooper.  it drove me crazy not knowing who did it, but i loved the mystery of it all.  go team awesome!