This is our Appa

Dear Appa,
When we look at you, what do we see?
We see your belly that sticks out just a tad bit.
We see your scratchy chin and overgrown helmet hair.
We see your big wrestling arms and your tickle monster hands.
We see a Sir Yells-A-Lot.
And a Mr. Clean Drill Sergeant.

If you’re not sporting a worn out muscle shirt accessorized with a very cool crossbody cooler bag, you’re sporting your favourite Superman tee paired with either your oversized joggers or your red gym shorts that are pulled up just a tad bit higher each year.
But underneath it all, underneath that Superman tee and belly bulge, what matters the most is who we see.

Who we see is our comfiest pillow and our coziest security blanket when wake up from a bad dream in the middle of the night.
We see a lover of extra crispy bacon, but will never hog the last crispiest piece.
You may be quick to lose your patience when you see a messy house, but you will sit down with us for hours working on a school project with all the patience in the world.
We may think you yell a lot, but how you care for us speaks at greater volumes.
We see sacrifice and selflessness since your first sleepless night with each one of us.
We see someone who always returns home after a long day at work with arms, heart and hands wide open, ready to unleash the tickle monster.
We see someone who, no matter what, when or where, will answer us when we call his name.
We see our one and only lead man of the house and of our hearts.

We see Appa.
The same Appa since the day we first saw you.
The same love, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
You never let a day go by without making it known that we are loved.

We see a Sir Loves-A-Lot.
Always pushing us, always believing in us and always there for us.
This is the Appa we know. This is our Appa we love. A lot.

Happy Father’s Day to our Super Appa on the outside and our Super Duper Appa on the inside.
Whether you’re sporting your oversized joggers or your red gym shorts pulled way up to the Heavens, there is absolutely no better fit for our family.
And we wouldn’t see you any other way.
Yesterday, Today, Always.
Zoey, Emma, Romy.