Happy Birthday Dad

When I checked my sister's blog today I saw this lovely post. I wish I had thought of it first. But I'll just repost it - it's in honor of my Dad's birthday which was yesterday. Obviously we're proud daughters. I added a few blurbs of my own in purple.

"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. He does have a very nice birthdate doesn't he?

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. And if Eisley had been a boy, she would have been Paxton Karl...

Brad has performed in Godspell, Gaslight, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's
Nest, and The Rainmaker, just to name a few. You forgot to boast about how he held the lead roles in many, if not all, of those.

Brad makes beautiful art.
You can view it here. (Ok actually the site isn't loading. Can you fix it, Hea?) Yes... been meaning to talk to dad about it... check back soon everyone! Here's a sample:

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. This is definitely a parenting trait I want to take with me.

Dad read us "The Hobbit" when we were young and did all the
voices just right. I loved his Gollum voice the best.

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. You were reading quality books while I was begging dad to buy me Goosebumps and Archie comic books.... he did.

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. I remember that! He also "helped me" on a school project by carving out and painting a Kachina Doll for me. I/he got an A+ and the rest of the class was jealous because all theirs were made from stupid pipe cleaners and paper plates.

Dad has heard a sasquatch.

Dad will pick up spiders with his
bare hands. The important part is that he kills them next. My hero.

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

Dad told great stories around the campfire. We'd always ask for the "Legend of Falling Rock".

When I was
little, I wasn't scared to ride rollercoasters because I knew if I fell out, dad
would catch me. I think the first time I cussed was on a roller coaster with dad...

Happy Birthday, Dad!! I second that, Happy Birthday Dad, we love you :) "