F O U R already

Isaac Jared Evans: zeek, zeeky, twirp, gorilla, stinker

On July 9, 2012, this twirp turned four years old.  He's a lover and a fighter,  quiet and boisterous, cheeky and fun, intense and tender, silly and serious, slow to speak but can make the speediest getaway you've ever seen.  A little bit of everything rolled up into one.  

My favorite things:  no half-hearted hugs here...his preschool departures are the best

(although I've started to notice that he is now looking around to see who is watching)

- the way he says "Taydier" for Taylor

- says his letters and letter sounds like its nobody's business

- his nightly ritual of coming into my room for a drink, but then never leaves, climbs into bed beside me and wraps his arms so tightly around my neck.  How could I possibly refuse such affection?   

I adore this four year old twirp.  Happy Birthday Isaac!

 

All Great Men Have Mustaches

"All Great Men Have Mustaches".  It's true.  My tribute to my dad for his 60th.

I LOVE my dad.  His list of qualities and talents is enviable.  He is the coolest, grooviest, lovingest, hard-workingest, patientest (unless you are a slow or idiot driver), handsomest, goofiest, smelliest (in the best way), adventurous, cleanest, fittest, funnest, and bestest dad one could ever want.

I have gathered some of my favorite photos...starting from the time he became a husband and father, to now, six kids and 12 1/2 grandkids later.  It's a long line of photos, I wish I could include more.
Good times.

Did I mention groovy?  These are some of my favorites.
 They were going to be featured on his 60th birthday party invitations.  Who wouldn't want to go to that party?

Married my mother, Debra Joan on April 20, 1973.
The happy couple will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.

My dad with Tanaya, he loves babies!

Taylor Family Early 1980's...I'm guessing 1983ish.  My dad loves his girls. 

We share a love for hard-boiled eggs with plenty of s&p.

My wedding day, April 24, 1999.  I just think he is so wonderful.

THE SOFTER SIDE

My dad loves being a husband, father and grandfather.  We all know it.  He's good at it.     

Dad and Mom, Christmas 2006

Dad and Aylaina.  His 60th birthday.

Mom, Dad and some of the grandkids (missing the nye boys and Sierra).  I love that Thys has his arm around him.

Dad and Isaac.  Turtle Bay.  December 2011.   What grandpa do you know that would play volleyball with their grandkids on the beach for almost an hour instead of laying around reading a book, not this grandpa.

December 2010.  Family gathering at United Team Mechanical.  

Dad and baby Tess.  He has a big ole' softspot for those newborn babies.

and bigger babies as well.  Dad and Taylor 2006, San Diego.

Dad and Eva.

Isaac and Dad.  St. George 2010

Dad and Rhett, Disneyland,  December 2006

Braxton, Brock and Dad 2006.  One of my favorite things about my dad is that he doesn't just sit back and watch his kids/grandkids play from the sidelines.  He gets right in there and enjoys the action, that's a cool grandpa.

LOVES A GREAT RIDE.  Not only does my dad work hard, but he plays just as hard.  He has a fettish for a good ride...motorcyles, 4-wheelers, skydiving, jet skiing, boat driving, wake boarding.  I'm not talking about back in the day, but TODAY.

One of his favorite things to do...riding 4-wheelers.  Van, Russ (Dad's brothers),  & Glen (friend).  

When he's putting in the earplugs, you know something is about to get blown to shreds.  Not only does he have a fettish for speed, but for blowing things up.  The guy should have worked on action sets for movies or involved in the weapons manufacturing business. 

 

Teaching Taylor how to shoot a gun.  See the line on the ground, he's very adamant about safety rules...if the kids step over the line...no more target shooting for them.

This grandpa makes zip lines from one canyon wall to the other over the water.  Adults and kids LOVE.

 

SPEED...Go Cart Racing with the fam.  Don't remember who won.

Sky Diving Craziness.

Jared, Dad, Me, Zach and a buddy of Zach's (went as our dive master...yikes!) diving at Electric Beach.

THE QUIRKS AND SMIRKS.  I'm so happy to have in my possession a picture of his smirk...this is his laugh.  It's so great.

I think all of us kids would agree that one of Dad's greatest traditions are the money posters he makes for our birthdays.  He will write adjectives that he believe describes us all around the outside and then will make a few words out of rolled up bills.  It's the coolest.  He would always hang them on the window over the kitchen sink.  On several occasions he has put them in the mail for my birthday.

Easter egg hunts are the best, especially when Dad makes them.  He loves the hiding and we love the finding.  The grandkids all love Grandma and Grandpa's easter egg hunt.  It's the best!

Awesome ganster photo that I am sure glad I have.

I think my dad may be borderline narcoleptic...he has this great ability to fall asleep within seconds.  He puts 110% into moving, so when he sits down for just a little bit...he's out.  I'm not sure how he survived sitting on the stand during sacrament meeting...heavenly help I'm sure.   The best part, he will start to jerk after about 10 more seconds.

 

Playing in the desert.  Cooking turkeys in the sand.  Great uplifting speech.  That's a Taylor family unconventional Thanksgiving dinner, and they are the best!  Eating and sleeping all day on Thanksgiving, no thankyou!

 

More crazy fun, larger than life snowman building.

THE PROUD PAPA

No holding back.  He loves us.  He tells us.  He is a proud papa.

Jordan, Dad, Zach August 2008

Isaac, Mom, Dad December 2008

Aylaina and Dad.  Listening to conference and making salads.
Check it out...just like his snowmen, go big or go home.

  

When I see this photo, I can hear the Lake Powell yell.  You know the one I'm talking about?  When you yell, "HEY" in a loud strange voice and it echoes off the canyon walls. 

You have many fans, you are truly adored...and even though your mustache is no more...you are still great!
  Dad, Happy 60th!!!