Happy Birthday, Dad!

Well. Yesterday. Yesterday was my dad's birthday. But I didn't have time to blog because I spent the day being completely stressed out over the lack of available, affordable hotels in NYC and then working at night.

I won't say how old my dad turned yesterday (and that's definitely NOT because I don't remember). I thought I would share some fun facts about dad--Bradford Karl Erickson.

Brad was born on October 1st. I have always been jealous of him for being born in the best month. I'm glad that Ayla was born in the best month. That makes up for it. A little.

Brad was born six weeks early which was a really big deal back then.

Growing up, Brad's family had german shepards.

Brad's middle name is a family tradition. His brother and father's middle names were Carl. And his grandfather was Raymond Carl as well.

Brad has performed in Godspell, Gaslight, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and The Rainmaker, just to name a few.

Brad makes beautiful art. You can view it here. (Ok actually the site isn't loading. Can you fix it, Hea?)

Brad has snuck into Red Rocks Ampitheater to watch concerts hidden up in those rocks.

Dad took us camping and to the art museum a lot, and instilled in both his daughters a life long appreciation for fine arts and the outdoors.

Dad read us "The Hobbit" when we were young and did all the voices just right.

Dad used to let me pick out whatever book I wanted at the bookstore--be it Babysitter's Club, Sweet Valley High, or Dean Koontz and Mary Higgins Clark at the tender age of 10.

Dad is a great skiier. Unfortunately I did not inhierit that talent.

Dad is also a great fly-fisherman.

Dad is a beautiful writer. Seriously beautiful.

Dad once sculpted a giant dragon with fangs and claws and eyes and scales out of snow in our front yard and people stopped to take pictures.

Dad has heard a sasquatch.

Dad will pick up spiders with his bare hands.

My feminist leanings come from dad, whether or not he'll admit it.

Dad told great stories around the campfire.

When I was little, I wasn't scared to ride rollercoasters because I knew if I fell out, dad would catch me.

Happy Birthday, Dad!!