Dear Holly: You and Isabella Have Matching Dolls of Yourselves

4 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

Recently, your friend Isabella came over to our house to visit. She brought you a fun Christmas gift, that happened to match one of her own:

It is a miniature American Girl doll that looks like you, to compliment the doll that Isabella got that looks like her.

You have been carrying around your “Little Holly” with you everywhere we go- in the car, to school, and to bed.

It’s always a nice surprise to get a Christmas present, after Christmas.

And this one was especially thoughtful- as you and Isabella both now have one!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Turning Our Living Room into an Army Base

10 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

While your sister has been using the new folding cushion beds to make a house downstairs in the living room, you and your friend Levi are using them to construct a military fort; as you shoot at each other with Nerf guns. (Your sister likes to hang out right in the middle of the action!)

It’s a good activity in the dead of winter, during Covid Culture:

Invite a friend over to the house on Saturday morning and play live action Fortnight, in between rounds of Battleship eating pizza.

Sounds perfect for a 10 year-old boy.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: Friday and Saturday Movie Night!

4 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

One of the many new additions to our home, in the midst of our home recent makeover, has been the new folding cushion beds.

While you do enjoy setting them up downstairs in the living room to “make a house”, their main purpose is to be used as beds/couches for our bonus room upstairs.

We now have a new tradition everyday Friday and Saturday night of letting you and your brother pick out a movie and fall asleep up there afterwards.

It’s more fun to sleep there because it’s somewhere other than your own bedroom.

And Mommy and I like it because it makes the bedtime routine much easier for us! The two of you basically just put yourselves to bed on those nights.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: A Snow Day When You Were Finally Supposed to Go Back to Your Classroom

10 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

You were definitely ready to go back to the actual classroom on Monday; as it had been a month, between Christmas vacation and Covid cases going up.

But instead, you had to stay home one more day; because on Monday, snow prevented the school from opening.

Not that you minded!

I spent my lunch hour taking you sledding on all the best hills in our neighborhood.

During that time, we pretty much used up all the good snow, and then the snow was starting to melt anyway.

But we made the most of it and we had a lot of fun together!

Dear Jack,

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You Drew a Picture of Butt Cheeks at School, But Then Felt Bad About It and Crossed It Out

4 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

When you came home from school on Monday, you immediately started telling me the story of how your friend Maddie heard Isaiah say “butt cheeks”, but that the teacher didn’t hear it.

You explained how Isaiah then took it to the next level by drawing a picture of butt cheeks.

Then, you opened up a folded drawing of your own; unashamedly announcing to me:

“And I drew butt cheeks too… but then I crossed them out.”

My theory is that you were afraid you’d get in trouble if anyone at school saw your drawing, but you still wanted to show it off to me.

I was able to decipher two circles, drawn in green crayon; with an orange mark going through them.

It was a big news day at school and you brought home proof!

Love,

Daddy