Our first photo together at home
My dad LOVES hockey. Thus, it was only meant to be that I would love hockey! Dad started my love of the game early. When singing me to sleep at night, instead of the traditional lullaby, my dad would sing me the Canadian national anthem. (To this day, I can still sing it!)
Note my dad's hockey jersey! Can you guess the team? (Montreal Canadiens!)
Growing up, Dad worked for the Federal Government's Department of Justice, specifically the Bureau of Prisons. As a kid, I used this to my full advantage on the playground. If someone was messing with me, I would just say, "You better be nice to me, or my dad will put you in jail!" Worked pretty well most of the time! My dad's job was also the cause of our moving from place to place.
I was born in Livermore, California.
Celebrating Dad's 30th birthday at the Livermore house
My 1st Easter with Daddy
We moved to Santa Maria, California during the middle of my second grade year, when my dad got a promotion.
We were only there for 2.5 years, when my dad got another promotion and we moved up to Federal Way, Washington before fifth grade.
I didn't like having to move. But looking back, it taught me a lot of things. It helped make me an extrovert. It thought me how to make friends. It taught me how to be more flexible and acclimate into new situations. All in all, we lived in 3 houses, and 2 apartments.
While I thought that moving twice was bad, it wasn't until after I grew up that I found out that we could have moved a lot more. My dad had the opportunity to be promoted to higher positions, but he wanted stability for his family, so he turned down offers. That's just one example of how amazing my dad is.
When I was in college, my dad retired after 26 years working for the Federal Government. There was a flag ceremony outside his final place of work, and I was in tears because I was so proud of my dad for his service.
After the flag was lowered, it was folded.
Watching the flag being folded
Dad being presented with the folded flag
So proud of my Daddy!
Other reasons why I love my Daddy, and things that he's taught me:
-My Dad has instilled in me the importance of having a family dinner every night. (With no tv on!)
-The love of sports!
Hockey game!
-An appreciation for traveling around the country via car instead of airplane.
Dad in his favorite chair: the driver's seat!
-A love for hiking, camping, and the great outdoors!
Hiking at my fave place, Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada
Dad and I ice skating at Yosemite at Christmas
Not even snow can stop us from hiking! (Hope, British Columbia)
-The tradition of cutting down our own Christmas tree every year
Hauling the tree cart until we found the perfect one
I think the best thing about my dad is that the older I get, the younger he gets. He's so goofy, especially after a few glasses of wine or beer. Now that I'm an adult, we can really talk. He's a great listener, and I know that I can tell him anything without being judged or scolded.
Case in point: When I told my parents that I didn't really consider myself a Catholic anymore, my dad was really supportive. He said that as long as I found a church home that I was comfortable in, that's what it was all about.
I'm so incredibly blessed to have Steven Squires as my daddy! There's this pin that my dad used to have pinned to the lamp by his bed and it's actually so true about him:
Any man can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a daddy.
The handsome Steven Squires
I love you, Daddy!
Love,
Your Pumpkin
