It's All About Hugo This Father's Day

I can remember as if it were yesterday.  It was Halloween, 2009.  Hugo and I were dating, and he went Trick or Treating with us for the very first time.  Lee asked him to carry him up on his shoulders.  For a year, that was Lee's favorite seat.  Hugo laments that he wasn't a part of our family sooner, so that he could not only hold Lee longer, but he would have loved to have had the opportunity with the other kids, as well.

As I went through pictures, looking for shots I wanted to include in this Father's Day tribute to Hugo, I saw an abundance of pictures of him with Lee, and not one one-on-one picture of him with the other kids.  What the heck?!  We need to work on that, starting today.

Whether a photo was captured or not, one thing is clear.  Hugo Ambriz has taken this job as Dad with all of his heart, pouring himself into these kids with as much energy and tenacity as if he had been their natural father.  And none of these kids will suffer the fate of being raised with the disappointments of a non-present dad.

Oops!  I was wrong.  Here is a pic of Hugo and Adam together.  These two enjoy trips to the batting cages, jam sessions in the garage, and endless hours spent in the yard mowing, trimming, and sweating.  Well, maybe not so much, with that last one.  Their growing bond touches me.

This is one of my favorite pictures of both Hugo, and Lee.  I love their faces, and confidence, as they take command of the shark.

Hugo used to leave for work before Lee left for school.  He'd bow down on one knee, and give Lee a talk, encouraging Lee to be honest, fair, a hard worker, and a good friend.  Hugo started taking Lee to school, so the routine was altered a bit, and it was done at school, rather than on the front porch.  Toward the end of last year, the beloved BEST teacher in the school approached Hugo, and told him how much she enjoys watching him see Lee off because of his obvious love and commitment to his son.  It's funny, too, because I had noticed her smiling at me every afternoon with an extra twinkle in her eye.  She'd see me with Lee, and she made the connection.  We're all being watched, and when we get caught doing great things, it's freaking awesome.  Hugo was caught.

Hugo plays with Lee.  A lot.  He enters his imaginary world, and devotes hours of time to creating forever memories.  Here, he hasn't even gotten out of his work clothes yet.

There are pictures of the older kids at events where Hugo was very present, but not pictured.  Like, at the high school orientation one Saturday at Abi's future high school.  It was just Hugo, Abi, and me and it was a special time to learn about her future options.

Tessa is cheering on Hugo's inner rock star at a festival in Azusa.  This picture is a treat.  She does not like getting it taken.  She is so beautiful.

Danielle is cheering him on, too.  This child, also beautiful, does like getting her picture taken.

He is cool, just as the sign says.  So very cool.  And such a gift to these kids.  Not only filling in the blanks, but writing over written wrongs that left each of them wounded and insecure.  He is the man of my dreams, and the father I prayed for, for each of the five kids he loves and holds.

Remember when I said that I need to start taking pictures of him with the older kids, and I said that I need to begin starting today?  Well, I did.  Four of the kids are with their natural dad this weekend, so we will celebrate Hugo together with them next weekend.  But, Danielle will be in Italy then, so today, Hugo had Father's Day #1 with Danielle.  We started the day by bringing Donut Man to him in bed.

I said, "Donut Man," not the donut man.

We wanted to take him to Pozzeto's, our favorite Italian restaurant, after church.  But, Hugo wasn't in the mood.  He wanted Carl's Jr., instead.  I know.  I tried.  I even suggested his favorite deli in the Glendora Village.  Anything but Carl's.  Not that there's anything wrong with them, at all.  I love them.  But Carl's?  On Father's Day?  Since it's his day we went with what he wanted.  A hamburger eaten at a park.  So, while we were there, I carried out my plan of getting a one-on-one with a child.  The child available today.  Danielle.  Yes, the one who likes to get her picture taken, so it was easy.

Happy Father's Day, Mr. Ambriz.  The man of my dreams.