Happy Birthday to my dad and a present for me

Today was my dad's birthday.  We celebrated in grand style.  The kids and I picked up David and Kathy first thing this morning.  Then, we headed to Illinois where I picked up something else.

A new Suburban has joined our family.  It has so many options it may take a year or so to figure it all out. But I told the kids I would keep it at least 2 months before trading it. They love to give me a hard time about the short time I keep vehicles.

 

But this one I think will stick around awhile. It seats us all nicely and has lots of luggage room.

 

After we got done at the dealer, we headed to Lotawata Creek for lunch. One of my favorite places to go - and now Jacob's as he tackled this massive sandwich. The sandwich won and half came home in a box with us.

 

 

We spent the rest of the day shopping around Fairview Heights, Illinois, before heading home to stop at the Nisbet Inn for dinner.  I've only ever been there once before - with daddy. We ate, talked about him, laughed at so many memories. And had desserts. All his favorites, cobblers, coconut pie and ice cream. Always ice cream.  He would have loved to have been there.

 

And we would have loved to have him there. 

 

 

I love this picture of my dad. It is the one of the last, best pictures I have of him.  It was taken near the end of his life, on a rare good day. He knew who he was, he knew who I was and we had a wonderful day together. We walked the track at the nursing home and sat in the sunshine and talked for hours. It was the best sunburn of my life.

 

I miss my daddy.