Mike is an awesome dad. He takes the kids on wonderful adventures, takes all four shopping at Costco (by himself!), and uses our coin collection to teach them about the world. He leaves them notes when he is out of town and has told countless Star Wars themed bedtime stories.
Mike also loves technology. He takes things apart with the kids, and takes us on early-morning field trips to watch students fly unmanned model planes on Stanford University campus.
For Father’s Day we are going with our traditional homemade gifts, as well. Emma got the idea of making him coupons after her second grade teacher told her class about how her daughter had done something similar. She brainstormed with Johnny and Lily to come up with this list – it took them a few days to come up with all of these ideas:
Ideas for tickets in envelope for Father’s Day Present
- Kiss
- Hug
- Day off with your friends
- Invite a friend over
- Have dinner with a friend
- Bring a kid to work
- Ice cream party with kids
- Have the house clean
- Paint Mom’s nails (NICELY!)
- Have dinner at a restaurant
- Get your own ice cream sundae made by the KIDS!
- Get a LEGO set (made by the kids)
- Take kids to NASA
- Go on a date with mom or a kid
These ideas were then carefully written on pieces of nice colored paper and put in an envelope to give Mike on Father’s Day. I love the combination of things that they know Mike will love, things that they love, and things that they want Mike to do with them.
How are you celebrating Father’s Day this year?
MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.
Love the paint Mom’s nails NICELY one! So clever! :)
We celebrated early with a new board game and a dinner out at his favorite restaurant.
Sounds like a great way to celebrate!
I love your gift ideas for Father’s Day! The ticket idea is wonderful! I hope Mike has a wonderful Father’s Day. My husband will be watching soccer since our middle is playing all weekend at a Father’s Day Tournament in Rhode Island. At least it’s near the beach!
Near the beach is good! Mike actually had work stuff for most of today, but we enjoyed a nice afternoon together.
So sweet. You can tell how much they like spending time together. It’s heart warming to see a strong connection between children and their Father.
I’m very grateful that my kids have such a great dad!
He sounds like a great Dad, especially for going grocery shopping by himself! Home made gifts are truly the best, aren’t they? Though I’m sure he’s loving the new watch!
Homemade gifts are always fun, and yes – Mike is an awesome dad!
Awesome! :) We celebrate Father’s Day on Australian time (September) since June is sooooo crowded in our family.
Sounds smart! August is the super-crowded month in our house! Three birthdays in one week!
**I love the combination of things that they know Mike will love, things that they love, and things that they want Mike to do with them.** – I love that list for the same reason! And that watch sounds awesome, I know Tatha will love it too :)
It looks like Emma and Johnny have a conspiracy to turn a Father’s Day into an ongoing kid day :) I could see that Mike is an awesome Dad with my own eyes – your kids are truly blessed to have two amazing parents.
Yep! Mike commented that the list was pretty kid-oriented :)
That’s a very cute list. I’m especially fond of the “bring a kid to work” and “paint Mom’s nails” :)
I thought it was pretty funny that “paint Mom’s nails” made the list!
We did our first “painting party.” I took the boys to one of those places where you choose things to paint and then paint, and then they fire it in the kiln for you.
Chris, my husband, loves tea, so the boys each painted him a tea mug. Picked them up yesterday and they look so good!
Told the boys not to tell him so it could be a surprise.
My son yesterday: “Dada! Guess what we did?!”
Me: “Don’t tell him, it’s a surprise.”
My son: “Don’t worry mama. I’m not going to tell him that we painted him a mug.”
Classic!
My kids do stuff like that all the time! I love your idea of having them paint tea mugs!
We’re big on special treats that Dad loves like Tang, Gummi Bears, and Nerds. It’s fun to brainstorm with J about what he thinks his dad likes.
That’s a fun Father’s Day present idea!