Meeting my daughters at Toby’s wedding

Whenever I hear other dads talk about how they’re really looking forward to spending the weekend up at some waterpark/resort with their children I think they’re lying. I love my kids, and I love spending time with them, but to be honest I’d much rather drop them off with family and spend that same weekend with my wife instead. So when someone talks about how they’re “really excited” about dedicating 100% of their weekend to kids that already require 100% of their daily life I write them off as just saying it because they think that’s what good dads are supposed to do.

100% of this weekend was dedicated to Toby and Tyler’s wedding. They asked me to be a groomsmen so I was involved in various dinners and what not. I enjoyed living it up by staying out late and smoking cigarettes night after night, but by the day of the wedding I was tired. Something about hanging out with guys at a bar and watching them say nasty things to each other about a woman who walked by just didn’t seem to satisfy me like it used to. I kept finding myself thinking about how cute my girls were going to look in their tiny dresses, and how much fun it is going to be to dance with Margo (who had spent the previous two weeks making me promise I would dance with her… And only her). When they pulled up outside the hotel where I waited for them, Erin rolled down the window and looked at me with her mouth open in shock, and I heard the girls yelling at me from the back seats about how nice I looked in my tux. Normally I don’t need people to pat me on the back when I have to dress up, but I have to admit I got all sappy when they got out of the van and made a big deal about it. Who would of known I like to be told i’m pretty?

I took them around and introduced them to the people I know until I was called away to join the wedding party. I walked up the isle with the my assigned brides maid, then stood in line with the others. Out in the crowd I saw Audrey poke her head up as she squatted on her chair to see me better. Normally i would of groaned and tried to get her to sit still, but this time I was happy to see her tiny face smiling while she waved frantically to get my attention. Margo, who always looks bored or depressed didn’t see me, so Erin put her on her lap. Margo looked around until she saw me. I waived and she lit up and waved back. That’s when it all sort of fell into place. No offense to the bride and groom, but the only thing I really enjoyed about that night was seeing my family. I kept stopping by their table throughout the dinner to say hi and get a quick fix of their tiny arms squeezing around my neck. When dinner was over I  took them out to the dance floor. Audrey was content to dance on her own, making up crazy “vogue”-style moves while Margo stood on the side. Then she tugged on my pant leg, I looked down so see her sad face and big eyes as she said, “aren’t you going to dance with me?” so I picked her up and spun her around to “Dancing Queen” and “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy”.

Now I’m looking forward to taking them to Chicago this summer, and spend the weekend doing thinks that only kids would like. Were also going up north with Erins parents on a fishing trip, which I’m looking forward to because I want to see  how cute Margo is going to look holding her first fish.