Happy Father’s Day! I appreciate & love you so much.
You’ve been such a good example for me of what it means to be a strong, principled person, and a really good Dad. I think about that more now as a father than I ever did before.
Let’s face it, when I was young, I wanted you to bend on some of those principles, but you’d never fall for any of my tricks! Time will tell if my boys are more clever than I was, but I only hope to be the same example for them that you were for me. I know this may sound strange, but I’ve actually thought about this often throughout my life. You may not be a large man in stature, but I’ve always thought of you as a giant. Not just because you were my Dad, but because I’ve always marveled at your strength of character, again, that example that you always set.
I only hope my children will one day say the same about me.
You’ve always been my hero, but my kids have elevated you to SUPER HERO status. I decided to list the facts for them as proof.
Why David Kling is a Super Hero Dad . . .
When you were a mere mortal young man, you and your dog were struck by lightening. Maybe this was the start that gave you the super human powers you would go on to use, later in life.
Once I saw you give CPR to a dog and save it’s life.
On one of many band trips to Florida, a student got caught in a rip tide. You not only pulled the student out of the water, but also the lifeguard on duty. I remember thinking “Wow, my Dad is a hero!”
Super heroes must not need much sleep. I remember when I was little, you would work all day on a Friday, then likely play a dance job that night. The next morning, I’d be chomping at the bit to wake you up and play. I’m sure you were exhausted, but you always gave me a big smile and a snuggle. I always knew you were glad to see me.
You built your own house. My kids talk about having you help them build their houses when they grow up. Better be ready.
Without panic, I watched you put out a few scary flue fires in the house. Also, once a bat flew out of the fireplace into the house. I remember you catching it and putting it outside. Dad to the rescue!
I’ve watched you take command of a room of 200+ students, make them pay attention, learn and have fun doing it. Super heroes often have many fans. You have taught and inspired hundreds of people over the years. Definite proof.
You are not only strong physically, but have always been my pillar of strength and support throughout my life. Like a super hero, you’ve rescued me from more than one sticky situation. When I have a major life decision, I always feel better after talking it through with you.
You exposed Sara and I to the gift of music. We played at band practices, musical rehersals, and watched you work hard to learn new music and teach it to others. I hope I can inspire my own kids in some similar way.
You’ve never gotten mad at me when I’ve called you at 1:00 am because I wanted you to hear a song from the epic concert I was seeing.
You taught me to swim, ride a bike, play trombone, catch a pop fly, make a sling shot, build a fire, drive a stick shift, navigate an Oktoberfest and much more. More important than any of these, you always encouraged me to work hard, be creative and enjoy life.
The last fact that definitely proves your super hero status, is that both my kids when they were barely talking, would call this action figure of Aquaman “Paw Paw”, because they think it looks like you. Kids can be very intuitive about spotting super heros!
On top of all this you are a kind, loving, understanding man that I love very much. You have such a positive outlook and love for life. I love this photo above of you doing the bump with Sara and me. It reminds me of how much I love to hang out with you.
Happy Father’s Day Dad. I wish I could be there to give you a big hug in person. I love you so much!
We would like to send you warm wishes for a wonderful year. Here’s what’s been going on in the Tanaka household lately . . .
Logan (7): 1st grade and really liking school this year, Cubscouts, soccer and serious rainbow loom mania! After Christmas, Emily set up the kids video game console in a spare room that Logan has deemed, “The Man Cave.” That day, he said, “Mom, can you make me a drawer for all my rainbow loom stuff in The Man Cave?”
Vaughn (3 1/2): Started preschool, has a great buddy with whom he catapults faux chickens, thinks he’s 7 and can now make it across the monkey bars. Emily said, “Wow Vaughn, I’m excited for you that you can make it across the monkey bars,” to which Vaughn replied, ” Yes, but today, Mom, I’m not going to do anything fierce and dangerous.” Not true!
EB and Neko
Got two kitties, and the boys are crazy in love with them. “They’re the best thing ever.” On most days, the boys even remember to feed them!
The boys first music festival
At least half of you reading this might be thinking, “Emily has returned to her jam band roots and took the boys festival camping.” Uh, no. We traveled to NW Massachusetts to see our favorite band, Wilco, put on a multiple day music festival, renting a (really nice) home with our wonderful friends, the Corsos. Several days there, and a few days more in Cape Cod. This was SO not Phish…thank goodness (Eric sneaking one in here!!). The kids had an absolute blast.
Oktoberfest in Indiana
Emily’s Dad and Cathy got married at their Oktoberfest party. We are so happy for them, happy that we were there and a part of it all. Eric got to officiate and marry them (so we made him dress-up for the part)!
Eric’s surgery…again!
You may recall from our post from last year that Eric had toe surgery in 2012. Gulp, that didn’t go as planned, and so there was another corrective procedure this Summer. Several months later, and the boys have yet to step on his surgically repaired toe…and that’s 2 years in a row for them!
Visit from Art and Margaret
We were so glad to see Eric’s parents over the holidays. The boys asked, “Can they stay forever?” Margaret, aka Nana, was playing dance games with the kids on the XBox, baking cookies and keeping the peace during some heated monopoly games with the boys.
Just in case you missed our Christmas video on Facebook:
We’re closing out the year with some crazy warm weather and so we celebrated “So Cal” style with sand sledding in Hermosa Beach! Hope you have a wonderful 2014!
Eric, Emily, Logan & Vaughn would like to wish you all the best in the upcoming year.
2012 seems to have raced by. Logan finished preschool and started Kindergarten. He’s already gone from being very skeptical about it (to say the least) t0 enjoying it and seemingly not minding his nightly homework. Vaughn wishes he could now be with Logan at his new school. But, if he can’t be with him, he’s happy to imitate him and “talk-up” his own “school,” where he goes on Fridays with Emily. It’s all singing, music, laughter, fun & good times, just as it should be for a 2 1/2 year old.
With Vaughn now a year older, the boys are better able to play & have fun together. Those moments after a regular school day can be special, as they truly enjoy seeing each other again — at least for a little while…until things start to get nutty! Indeed, with each passing year comes more hell-raising, more physical ability & more death-defying stunts…just because they seem to have no concern or fear of pain.
On the safer side, both the boys enjoy music, but we’re finding out that we have little control over their “taste” in music. One of their favorite things to do is tune-in the clock radio to a song of their choosing, crank it up and start jumping & dancing on the bed. Logan will yell out “Mom, I love this song! You have to download it for me!” The song, “Dynamite,” is definitely a Logan pick. Check-out the boys painting & singing below . . .
Eric had finally had enough of the pain in his big right toe which was racked by bone spurs and, as it turns-out, a degenerated joint as well that needed replacing. Surgery in July has led to a longer-than-expected recovery, the ultimate results of which are still evolving. It’s been a frustrating several months, but the boys have been understanding.
No such physical issues for Emily, as she’s completed her first two half-marathons in 2012. The first was at Disneyland here in Southern California, and the second – far harder – was in the hills of Malibu. Suffice it to say, while such endeavors take considerable effort, some of the training has afforded her with more time with friends, which is always welcome.
One of our big goals to start-off 2012 was to see more friends & family. In truth, we’re not sure if that was accomplished or not, because any time together always seems too short. We were lucky to have had some great visits with friends, but are still long overdue in seeing some. Emily’s Dad & Cathy came-out earlier this year, and her sister, Sara, visited us twice with her growing family. Logan & Vaughn love when their cousins, Jonah & Ila, come to visit, and now having a girl in the mix has – somehow- seemed to calm the chaos…a bit. We were able to visit Emily’s home & family in July, and you’ll see our attempted family photo here. It’s not easy!
Christmas, this year, brought the annual visit from Eric’s parents and spending good times with Mark, Pauline and Kyle. The boys absolutely love when “Nana and Papi” stay with us, enjoying every moment of the extra love & attention from their grandparents. Eric’s Dad was a good sport, doing his best to play “laser tag” & air hockey and just about anything the boys would throw in front of them. We visited Grandma Chiyo, now 101 years old, and Eric’s Mom kept the boys entertained with an impressive game of tag and “bean the kid” with the ball. Logan & Vaughn were thrilled!! (She can’t throw very hard.)
With the holidays now behind us, and as we put together this blog — looking for pictures to “sum-up” the year, we find it both telling & equally wonderful that so many of the pictures of our daily lives actually look similar to last year. While 2012 brought Logan’s first organized team sport (t-ball) & soccer camp, the overwhelming majority of our fun photos are filled with the usual days at the beach, the boys still jumping off sand dunes — just higher & farther. Still playing in the water along the shore, getting more & more brave by stepping out into deeper water. As their schedules begin to fill-up with the usual rituals of their ages, we know these are still leisurely times for us all. Candidly, the word “leisurely” doesn’t really fit but, then again, it does.
The Tanakas would like to send you big hugs and warm wishes for a great new year. Here are some highlights of 2011 for us . . .
This past spring Emily left HMH, after 14 years, to be at home with the kids. Big decision. We feel very fortunate that we’ve been able to pull it off so far. We’re enjoying less day-to-day stress and Logan is now insisting that Dad should quit his job too.
Had a great trip to Chicago to see the crew in May. It was a long overdue. It’s wonderful to realize that even as so much time passes between visits, we have amazing friendships we can count on.
Making a New Year’s resolution to see friends more this year . . .
Piggybacked onto that trip was a visit to Emily’s family and we met our new niece, Ila Rose, just a week after she was born. Awesome. We’re so happy for Sara, Chris and Jonah.
As some of you know, our holiday cards – pre-kids – used to be centered on our bulldog of a cat, Elton. This spring, he passed away at almost 18 years old. He was a dear family friend and as Logan says, “Mom, I’m really going to miss Elton alot . . . pause . . . but if we get a new cat, do you think we could get a nice one?” Those who knew Elton will understand this statement completely.
Italy . . . where do we start . . .we had some friends who thought we were crazy for considering such a trip with 2 young boys, ages 4 & 1 at the time. However, with our great friends, the Argentos, and their THREE young boys (a 7 year old, plus 2 1/2 year old twins), we knew that we wouldn’t be the only loud family in the country! If you’re counting, that’s 5 young boys, a total party of 9, and let’s just say our presence was felt wherever we went. Italians love children – love babies even more – and we definitely took advantage of their “La Dolce Vita” attitude! Nearly 3 weeks of travel, friends, food and (a lot of) wine (and, Ok, a bit of whining too), it was amazing. So glad we did it.
Of course, trips like that are not easy. Nothing is really “easy” these days with two young “stuntmen in the making.” They definitely keep us on our toes. Logan is loving his karate classes, playing outside and jumping-off anything new…with Vaughn watching it all and trying to follow his brother’s lead. It seems like we are constantly diving to stop Vaughn from another catastrophe. His latest stunt is putting “anything” on his head to cover his eyes, then just running full speed ahead.
Whichever one of them falls, the other is almost always there to check on him. That’s the difference in just a year. They’re becoming – more & more – brothers, every day. To Vaughn, Logan is his “bra bra” (brother), and he’s always looking for him. Ok, for Logan? He still enjoys his solo moments, but that’s understandable. Even so, we catch Logan trying to sneak hugs & kisses on his little brother, not so easy because the li’l fella never – and I mean never – stops moving!
Moving into 2012, we know these boys will continue to bring us many surprises, and we look forward to it. Along with them, we are determined to see more of you, more of our family & friends. We miss you!
Not to steal Vaughn’s thunder, but here are some recent shots from Easter. We had a good time together at home, then we took the kids to Waltz for a late lunch. Tailgated in the parking lot afterwards eating some peeps . . .
