Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

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Dear Jack: How You Influenced Your Sister Decorating Her Pumpkin

13 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

I suppose this makes the first fall season where you opted not to decorate a pumpkin. I guess that’s “little kids’ stuff” by now.

But I will say, I feel you definitely had an indirect effect on how your sister decorated the pumpkin I carved for her.

She innocently started out by deciding to draw some extra features on the pumpkin, like eyebrows and circles for cheeks. Then she decided to give it a pig nose.

From there, things certainly began to go downhill, as she drew boogers coming from its nose.

The potty humor creativity must have really been flowing, because after that, she drew underwear for the pumpkin; accompanied with steaming poop… on the outside, for some reason.

Granted, you didn’t even see her work on the pumpkin until after she finished it- and I truly believe much of her inspiration was to make you laugh, knowing you have always had a reputation in our family for turning everything into potty humor.

So yeah, I give you the credit for inspiring your sister to choose to decorate her Halloween pumpkin, accordingly.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Went to the County Fair Here in Alabama

8 and a half years old.

Dear Holly,

Saturday morning, I received a message from Aunt Dana giving me a rundown of the expenses of the County Fair she had experienced the night before. Originally, our whole family was going to make a day out of it. But after her message, it quickly turned into, “Thank you for taking Holly to the fair so I don’t have to go!”

Lucky for you, you have an aunt you lives a few houses down from us who is faithful to assume the role of “Saturday morning hero” and take you to the fair with your cousins.

I am so happy for you that you had such a great time there! And I am almost just as happy that I didn’t have to go.

The pictures look like you had plenty of fun for the both of us though.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

 

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Dear Jack: Your Final Football Game of Your 8th Grade Year

13 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

This week was the end of an era, as you played in your final game of your first season of football.

Our whole family was there, even Grandma and Joe even flew out from California to see you.

Fortunately, the season was a success! I define this by you not getting any injuries, and…

Because you tried something new and you put your heart into it.

(I still love the fact that you were recruited by your friends to play during your first week at your new school.)

Now the question becomes… what’s next?

You have consistently experimented with so many activities throughout your life.

It’s as if you’re the “jack of all trades”…

 

Love,

Daddy

 

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Dear Jack: The Importance of Traditions

13 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

I have recently noted the extreme value you place on “tradition” in your life. As we have transitioned to our new norms here in Alabama, I have recognized your silent struggle with the fact we haven’t yet established our own new traditions; compared to when we lived in Tennessee.

So that’s how our “Sunday Night S’mores” ritual was born a few weeks ago.

But by the 2nd week, it was too wet outside from the recent rain, so we maintained our new tradition by making s’mores in our oven in the kitchen instead.

There is certainly something comforting about routine. And as it relates to our family, it helps give life meaning and it helps create beautiful experiences.

Now I need to keep thinking of new ideas for traditions for us to start…

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: 10 Years Later, You’re Now in the Photo

8 years, 5 months.

Dear Holly,

This past weekend as I took updated versions of our family photos from exactly a decade ago, it took me a moment to grasp the concept:

“Oh, right! Holly wasn’t even born 10 years ago when this first photo was made!”

For everyone else in the “same ages” photo update, I simply added 10 years. But for you, as well as your cousin Darla, you showed up on the new photo as an 8 year-old.

Isn’t it strange to think you haven’t just always been here with the rest of us this whole time? You don’t remember there ever not being you.

But I do.

And I’m definitely glad you’re here now!

Love,

Daddy