Sunday, June 16, 2013

Happy Father's Day

To The Father's In Our Lives





Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a daddy. Behind all the Disney Gals are special fathers in each of our lives and today we salute them. They are fathers, grandfathers and even sons but in all eyes, each and every one of them is a daddy .

Disney Gal Gayle:

Kevin and Jason, It seems like yesterday that I brought you home from the hospital, and now you are fathers yourself. Every milestone of yours was a kind of personal victory for me. Your first smile, your first word, your first step.... I was just amazed and once again overwhelmed at what miracles you both were. But to see you both as the amazing men, husbands and fathers that you are….there are no words to describe the pride and love I feel.  But today after thirty plus years of looking back, I cannot help but smile. It is a feeling of fulfillment beyond words. To be able to see the little boys that grew up in a blink of an eye become such incredible dads is what being a mom is all about.  We live our life in phases. You have truly lived your life by believing in the possibilities and living your dreams and you both continue to reach for the stars each and every day.  Change is constant and life is short. So seize the moment and live life to the fullest, have no regrets. I have learned so much from you and will continue to do so for the years to come. How to forgive, how to love unconditionally not expecting anything in return, how to be innocent, how to enjoy the small things in life, how to be carefree…. The list is endless.... Thank you! You , Heather, Zack and Thumper have made my life worth living but today is the day to salute you and celebrate you as daddies! All my love, Mommy


Jennifer Aycock (wife of Honorary Disney Guy Bob): 
Time and time again, I'm reminded of how lucky I am to have Bob Aycock as a husband and father to my children.  He goes above and beyond the stereotypical father role and is actively involved in every aspect of our children's lives.  He's the only MagicalDaddy there is.  



Look at his life
Isn't it neat?
Wouldn't you think that his family's complete?
Wouldn't you think, he's the guy
The guy who has everything?
Look at this home
Stories untold
How many memories can one family hold?
Looking around, he knows
Yep, he's got everything
He's got smiles and muscles a plenty.
He's got cuddles and laughter galore.
Want a yummy, packed lunch?
He's got 180!
Why stop there?
No big deal
He does even more!
He wants to be where the children are
He wants to see, wanna see them playin'
Riding around on those - what do you call 'em?
Oh - trains! (and motorcycles, and cars, and tractors...)
Sittin' around really never happens
He's often cleaning noses and tushies
Kissing boo-boos when the kids fall in the
Street (and driveway, and off the couch...boys)
Up where they walk, up where they run
Up where they play all day in the sun
Wanderin' free - He loves to be
Part of that world!
Robert, William and Elisabeth are so blessed to have you as their Daddy.  Happy Father's Day! We love you!



Honorary Disney Gal Lottie:  
He doesn’t comb hair very well, can’t cook and when he dresses the girls, their clothes never match, but there isn’t another man that will love our daughters more than their father loves them.  Although he often complains that he has no idea how to be a parent, his life has become the manual by which every father of daughters should live.  He’s successfully managed to get two of the most adorable little girls to believe that he has super powers.  They, in turn, have him wrapped around their tiny little fingers.  In some ways, I’m sure that I’ll never quite be able to compete with them for

his attention and that’s perfectly okay with me.  He listens to them and loves them and learns enough every day to write a few pages in the parenting manual we all wish existed.  He kisses boo boos, hugs away tears, answers the “whys” and loves a good princess movie.  Above all, he is grateful.  He understands that as parents, we have been given a gift.  The responsibility of lovingly molding lives is something he never takes for granted and is truly grateful for the opportunity to change the world through them.  Happy Father’s Day, Kyle!


Honorary Disney Gal Dawn:
                                         Top Ten Reason’s
                I have the
             Greatest Daddy EVER!

1. Most importantly, the way he loves my mama (yes, I'm 41.)
2. He is my teacher, but most importantly he is one fantastical (my word) daddy.
3. He has such a child-like love for adventure in his blood. It’s also running through my veins.
4. I love the comic opportunities that come up when we’re driving in my car. My dad & I have a fabulous father/daughter dynamic, filled with lots & lots of laughter.
5. He is someone I can always rely on.
6. Growing up, my parents gave us "unconditional love." They cared about who we
would be, and less about what we would do. They still do, I’m very lucky!
7. He’s my “road dog!”
8. Most knowledgeable man I know, he knows a little bit of everything, sorry hubby. The topics vary from monkeys & space to toilets & politics. He’s very versatile, ha-ha.
9. He’s an ornery ole’ fart, but I would NOT want him any other way.
10. I’m Daddy’s little girl, well not officially, my sis is, ugh! But I was his FIRST born little girl! That counts right?

The Lord blessed me with the greatest daddy ever & these are just a few reasons why. I love you always!

Happy Father’s Day,
Dawn the Great 


Disney Gal Judy:

Our Dad wasn't always around when we where growing up as he was a United States Marine (maybe that's where our boys get the military from).  I remember our first trip to Disneyland. It was in 1964 and we drove from Chicago to Los Angeles in a VW Bus that my Dad fixed up for us to "camp" in.  For us this was a big trip, first of all we never really took a vacation longer then a week and never this far! We were going to visit my Uncle Henry who lived near Disneyland.  We went to North and South Dakota and got to see the Corn Palace and that is where my little sister got really sick (she was just a one year old) and had to go into the hospital, now believe it or not I remember that we had a hotel room with two levels and that my parents left my younger sister Dawn and I with the owners of the hotel while they where at the hospital with our sister Laura. Could you even imagine doing that today! They thought we were going to have to turn around and go home because of the hospital bill, but the doctor who worked on my sister was a Navy doctor and told my parents the hospital would bill them and don't worry about, so off we went.

I don't remember everything, but something stick out in my mind, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, because we had to stand outside minors where not allow into the casinos.  Seeing our first palm trees and the orange orchards.  Seeing my uncle and his family was exciting, but seeing that Disneyland sign was the most exciting thing ever!  Seeing the Castle at the end of Main Street, it just took my breath away. To this day I can remember my dad was like a little kid, he went on everything with us, to this day I cannot handle the Tea Cups and he was spinning us and laughing so hard that I thing I was going to puke.  I remember my first Mickey Mouse balloon.  I know we had a great time and a long trip back home.

I was able to go back when I spent a month in with my Uncle for a graduation gift 1971, yes it had changed, and it wasn't the same as going with my Dad, but I was still hooked.

In 1968 my grandmother moved to Citrus Springs, FL, yes we drove down every year to visit her, but we could not wait for the new Disney to open.  When it finally did I was out of town and my parents and my sisters where visiting my grandmother and I heard they where going to Walt Disney World, without me! I talked my Dad into changing my ticket to fly into Gainsville, FL and take me with.  We all got to see Walt Disney World the first year it opened.  Again seeing that Castle down Main Street was something and how big it was.  Here was dad getting on every ride with us.

About five years ago we found that my dad had gotten Parkinson's from tainted drinking water from a base we were stationed on in the late 50's before any of my other sister's were born.  We took my parents to Walt Disney World two years ago and could tell that Dad wasn't as fast as he used to be and one of us always had to be with him to make sure he didn't get "lost" or that he would not fall and his feet don't always work as well as they used to, but at one point during the trip my son Brian, his wife Maggie and my husband Paul where going to go on Space Mountain and just by chance Maggie turned around and said grandpa is following us.  Paul said Dad where are you going?  Dad said you are going on Space Mountain right, so am I!   My Dad taught us never to give up and you can do whatever you want in life!

Disney IT Gal Paul:

Click here to read Paul's Father's Day Post

Disney Gal Lori:

 
Father’s day 2013 There is something powerful about a little girl holding her Daddy’s hand while they walk down Main Street, feeling that primal pull while gazing at the castle. I have to rely on memories of my Disney Dad holding my hand on Main Street because in the year 2000 my father lost his battle with cancer. When I close my eyes I can almost see us in the Magic Kingdom or at EPCOT CENTER. Riding the friendship boat without a care in the world. Each time I was at a Disney Park with my Dad, I would take a deep breath and soak it all in. He loved to take Disney slowly so we did not miss any of the magic it had to offer. He taught me to turn my dreams into plans and when we are in for a hard time we need to grab as much joy as we can get along the way. But most of all my Disney Dad taught me to never give up. When I was in my first semester of college I saw a note on the wall about upcoming interviews for the Magic Kingdom College Program. I only told my Dad because I knew I wanted to be a Cast Member more than anything in the world and he would know just what to say. And when I got the job my Dad was the one who celebrated with me. My love of Disney came from my Dad. We would sing Disney songs and watch movies together.


 

When Walt Disney World had just opened my parents loaded up our station wagon and we headed to Florida for our first of many trips. I remember one of the trips very well. There was a new attraction, and it was dark. I had always been leery of the unknown. I patiently waited outside to the mocking of my sisters and brother. My dad sent everyone to lunch and said that the two of us had an important errand to do. Guiding the path, my Disney Dad, held my hand and made me feel safe in the dark. A long straight tunnel inclined downward and was dimly lit by colored lights. After hitting the low point, the tunnel angled back upward, finally, we turn a corner and noticed the warning signs that this was a roller-coaster! I could feel my heart pounding inside my chest from nervous anticipation. We climbed into the rocket and he sat right behind me and I could feel his reassuring hands on my shoulders the entire ride. We rode Space Mountain together and I loved it! When I see Space Mountain I remember that trip but my Disney Dad loved the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
His favorite part was near the end when guests see the prisoners and the dog with the keys.




It doesn’t matter to me if I am at Disneyland or Walt Disney World; I make it a point to throw a penny for my Dad and blow him a kiss.When I need him the most I close my eyes and I don’t feel so alone. I hear his voice deep inside saying…. “Hold on tight and enjoy the ride! “



Disney Gal Kelly:


First I would like to say, I do not have a normal dad. At the ripe young age of 75, you can find him on the racquetball court, coaching a 16U softball team, playing Mr. fix-it to the neighbors on the block, or under the hood of his race car. Yes, my dad is one of a kind. He also has many unique sayings; “Takes a big dog to weigh a ton.”, “I’m so hungry I could eat the butt out of a skunk.” and my favorite, “We’ll take care of it.”  You see, I was lucky enough to grow up in a close family where we knew we could always count on each other.

A quick monorail snuggle
One way this closeness was fostered was through our vacations. Dad, being the hands on kind of guy he is, converted an old bread delivery truck into a camper. We took that camper all over the United States. For weeks at a time we traveled across the country stopping to visit landmarks, amusement parks and Wall Drugs. Lol. That was a lot of time together in very little space, but I don’t recall much arguing (except when Dad forgot my mother and I at a gas station), just making really great memories.


The shirt that made Dad a celebrity
Today, my dad is still always there for me. Whether it’s car trouble or home improvements, he’s just a phone call away, and his answer is always “We’ll take care of it.”. Vacations have changed a bit though. Dad now has 5 grandchildren so the camper is a bit too small. BUT, the Disney Cruise Line is just the right size! Thanks to Dad’s generosity, we have been on many sailings and WDW park trips, and thanks to my Dad for creating all the precious memories  the whole family will love and cherish forever. 








Happy Father’s Day! We love you!




Disney Gal Tricia:  Where else would you find a dad so devoted that he is willing to Run or Dye just to introduce his daughter to her first 5K!





Disney Gal Beth:   A dad that loves his family enough to travel the White Water Rapids-the real ones-now that's what fatherhood is all about!







Disney Gal Heather:     Anyone can see that father to be John was born to be a dad!






Disney Gal Lynette:   Even Captain Jack Sparrow doesn't hold a candle to what a real dad is all about!



To all the fathers in our lives, we love you....
                           Happy Father's Day!




3 comments:

  1. This is so precious!!! Thanks for putting this together for the awesome Dads in our lives Gayle! So cool to see all the Honorary Gals on here too! Love it :) Happy Father's Day to our own Magical Daddy Bob Aycock!

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    1. This was such a wonderful surprise. Thank you, Gayle! :-) And thank you for the Father's day wish, Tricia. :-)

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  2. Gayle wonderfuljob getting all this together for the Dads in our lives. Thanks! Happy Father's Day to all the Dads!

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