What a joy to celebrate Andrey's first father's day. We got a three-day weekend due to Rizal Day here in the Philippines on Monday so we got to spend lots of time together before Andrey headed to Manila this week. In the last six months or so, he had a slight change to his job that has him traveling to Manila for 2-3 days every other week. Ella and I really miss him when he's away.
I asked him to grill on Father's Day because I was inspired by a meal in one of my favorite cookbooks Moosewood Restaurant Celebrates and because I know he loves to grill. I prepared a Caribbean Jerk Grill that included a Jerk sauce, which I enjoyed calling, I'm so glad my husband is not a jerk sauce. We enjoyed our favorite special occasion meat, steak, plus some shrimp and veggie skewers, roasted potatoes, pineapple margaritas and a fruit and nut chocolate tart.
Not only is he not a jerk but he's such a great husband and Dad! Like when I married Andrey, I knew he'd be a great husband but I really had no idea how great he'd be. He totally exceeded (and still does) my expectations. Now that he's a Dad, the same goes. I always knew, and for years dreamed how amazing a Dad he would be. He's even more patient and loving and kind to Ella than I imagined. When he's home, he is focused on Ella and plays with her for long hours at a time. Her time with Daddy has become her great delight. On many a morning, "E-D" is the first thing she says after she wakes, wanting to know where he is.
On Monday we went to a mountain resort place called Genesis Valley that we heard good things about.
It did not disappoint and we'll definitely be back. They have a series of pools of different depths and a large playground. Ella swam for over two hours (with a lunch break in between). She had so much fun with Daddy that there were times I felt a little like a third wheel - and that's a new feeling for me! I love it though. I just love it that Ella and Andrey have so much fun together, especially in the pool. They play all sorts of fun games together. They hop on one leg and fall over. Ella rides on his back. She jumps into the water to him or jumps and then swims to him. There is a lot of jumping into the water these days. In this photo Andrey is catching her but most of the time she just jumps right in like that on her own. Sometimes she floats head down for up to five seconds before swimming back up. She's amazing. Here are some shots and a short video of the pool action. 
One thing's for sure, he has no problem being nerdy in public with his daughter. What a guy!
Happy Father's Day, Andrey. We love you!
