It was a great start to the new year. The boys played on tablets at the Apple store as I acquired a shiny new gold iPhone 5s. We were getting stuff done. Next up? Pants for my growing 7 year old. Still embroiled in shuffling contacts from one phone to another, my husband finished work and joined us. I suggested he and the boys head down the hall to get some new pants for our little growth spurt king. My husband is a wonderful and attentive Dad, but clothing shopping for the kids is not on his typical todo list. Awesome. Sharing responsibilities, father-son bonding, fixing issues and getting organized. 2014 is going to be great.
Now that the warmer weather is upon us, the kids are begging for beach balls and popsicles every time we hit the grocery store. I have romantic visions of old-fashioned ice-cream socials, but they are a bit more interested in tree climbing and cowboy games. Being the mother of two boys sometimes necessitates getting a tad creative (read: wiley). This is where the concept for ‘Daddy’s Ice Cream Bar’ came about. We dressed in costumes (any excuse to wear the Little-House-on-the-Prairie outfit of course). After setting up tables with flowing cloths in the garden, I started the creation of the bar. Three flavours of ice cream set in crushed ice and antique vessels to hold toppings. Long spoons. Dainty napkins. (I can’t believe I actually just used that word). And edible flowers to add the final touches. Despite my creativity, the kids and Daddy decided that the toppings pretty much made the whole event.
Father’s Day is a tough one. PS – socks and ties just don’t really cut it. Here are a few curated picks that we’ll be ordering. And probably using for ourselves.. (That’s when you get them for the father of your children instead of your own dad so the items are.. ahem.. nearby.. for your personal use.)
This was so awesome we actually already bought one for the office. Sorry dad. A new take on the retro polaroid, the shots from the Fuji Instax Mini 50s Camera come out immediately and in a mini size – about half the width of an old-fashioned polaroid. And you don’t have to wave them in the air either. Available at Caya.
What man could possibly attempt a camping trip without his R2D2 Folding armchair? If he’s into starwars you might want to check out our feature on the hand-knit R2D2 hat as well…. Available at www.thinkgeek.com
CHARGE ‘N’ FRUITS Designed Docking Station: The most decorative way to charge cell phones and MP3 players: definite shapes and creative styling. Simply load your charging cable through the fruit from above and place the cord in the cable channel at the bottom. Caya.ca
Blown Away: A Year Through the Lens of The Tornado Hunter. I was so riveted to the photos in this tome that I could feel my testosterone level rising. Showcasing the surreal, scary, romantic electricity of tornadoes across North America, Greg Johnson’s stunning book can be found at WalMart and online at chapters/indigo. www.tornadohunter.ca (Oh – and if you comment on this post with your fav idea for dad you get an entry to win one!)
WEBER FIRESPICE® TRIAL-SIZED SMOKING KITS: Not sure what flavour dad likes to smoke? Here’s an opportunity to sample different smoking woods – hickory, cherry, apple and more. Comes in assorted four and six packs. Pair it with Weber’s Smoke™ cookbook written by New York Times best-selling author and James Beard Award Nominee Jamie Purviance. It reveals the secrets to infusing rich, smoky flavours into almost any dish on any barbecue including gas, charcoal, or smoker. www.weber.com
Date night with Dad. Especially wonderful for the dad who doesn’t get much one-on-one time with the kids, here is an opportunity for the children to share ideas as to what a perfect date with dad would look like: Building a model airplane? Learning how to fly a kite? fly fishing? Yes please. 12 different ideas for activities to do with your dad for a special date. Brilliant DIY idea by the Happy HomeMaker.
Collapsable shot glass. You couldn’t possibly go on a golf course without one of these. Or to Europe. Or to the office. Just sayin’
www.thinkgeek.com
The Man Bouquet. Attach assorted cigars, beers and Dad’s favourite items to small dowels and ‘plant’ them in a huge pot. (You might also want to include some lingere for yourself, which we’re sure he’d also enjoy.) Idea and photo by: Elyse Nichol
Q – My husband and I were so excited to have children together, and he seemed to be really looking forward to being a father. Now that our little boy is here, however, he has all but disappeared. He spends long hours at work, sleeps all night while I feed the baby every 3 hours, and even when at home would rather be checking emails or mowing the lawn than spending time with him.