This year, I received (early) a majestic Cardinals Fathers Day shirt: The Two Most Gratifying Things in the World: 1-Being a Dad 2-Being a Cardinals Fan. My son and I love going to Cardinals games and watching them on FSN when we cannot be there in person.

My wife purchased a baseball and imprinted my then 3 mo old son’s hand on the baseball. The inscription reads “Happy 1st Father’s Day.” It’s now in a glass case sitting on my desk at work.

I kept it simple for fathers day.I got him a card a couple of weeks ago, and placed it on the fireplace mantle. After a long day of work, he would come home and open the card. The card read “I wanted to tell you that you are the best,first…Ice cream in the freezer”. He was so happy for the rest of the day, enjoying his ice cream and playing the music all day from the card. That music of course being the theme song of Indiana Jones! For Fathers day we will BBQ and enjoy a nice relaxing day with my dad.

For my dad this year on Father’s Day, I am giving him a homemade dvd/movie of all of last summer. It includes trips to the lake, family birthdays, etc. Yes, it doesn’t have much monetary value but I think he will really appreciate it for sentimental reasons. Now, I just have to hope that he isn’t going to read this.

This year my husband and my dad will be getting the same gift! Time with their son/grandson, good BBQ and a relaxing day. There’s nothing better than just having some family time together.

This year I ordered my dad a floating cooler for the pool. How much better can you say thanks than with a cold beverage on a summer day!!!

My dad is getting the gift of not having to be at home and work on all the chores my mom saves up for him while he’s out on the road. See, my dad is an over the road truck driver and he spends a lot of time away from the house so when he does make it home (usually for 2 or 3 days tops every few weeks) he has to catch up on the things my mom couldn’t get to because she also works full time (or the things she or my brother and I are just not able to do for whatever reason, lack of skill usually). So, this year my brother and I are renting a cabin in Steelville and taking my dad “camping”…far away from his duties at home.

A bowling trip! What better way to celebrate with Dad than to take him bowling and hang out a little- spend some quality time together? There’s no better gift than a little bit of fun time and a memory with Dad- material gifts don’t hold a candle. I plan to let my two little daughters take me to bowling Sunday, can’t wait to celebrate their first strike! (with bumpers help)

This year, I am going to do the grilling for my dad versus him doing the grilling. I am cooking his favorites including his favorite dessert. I am inviting over a few friends plus my aunt and her husband over and we are going to sit around and play cards and shoot the breeze. My dad is almost 70 so he has recieved so many ties, bottles of colognes, etc. I thought it would be nice to just keep it simple. Just have a few family friends over and have a good ol’ backyard bbq. Call it the economy buster!