Dear Jack: You’re Now in the 7th Grade!

12 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

Welp, what can I say?…

You’re officially one cool dude this days.

Seventh grade has now begun- and you were definitely ready for the first day.

You’ve got the cool clothes, the cool shoes, and of course, the cool haircut from a real barber…

Not to mention, you’re just two months away from being a teenager!

I remember how much I loved the 7th grade. It was one of my favorite school years.

So I have to believe that you’ve got an amazing year ahead.

I’m specifically curious to see how your love of working on cars plays into your extra curricular activities.

Fun stuff!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You’re Now in the 2nd Grade!

7 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

I keep forgetting you’re not in 1st grade anymore!

This is now your 3rd year in Elementary School.

For this first week, they are still figuring out the bus schedules, so I have been walking you to and from school each day in order to keep you from being late.

Since we take the shortcut alongside the cornfield behind our house, I have to pick up you and carry you for a ways across the grass; so you don’t get all soggy like my boots do instead.

Once we get to the field, you always say, “Yay! The Daddy Chair!

Because I pick you up, then hold you just like a chair you would sit in, as we traverse the dewey grass.

It’s quite fancy.

You must be special or something!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your New Car Shop Inside of Our Garage

12 years, 9 months.

Dear Jack,

This week we met your new teachers; as 7th grade starts tomorrow for you.

Your history teacher asked you, “So Jack, what are you into?”

You smirked: “Cars.”

On a related note, Mommy and I bought you your very own tool box.

We all cleaned out the garage last weekend so that you can have a designated work space for your model car projects.

It’s the norm for you to still be working out in your “car shop” as Mommy and I are getting ready for bed.

To add a special accent to your work space, we hung up one of your paintings from the Bob Ross painting class you took this summer.

I can easily see how your obsession with cars will only further develop in your upcoming teenage years.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You’re Ready to Go Back to School Now

7 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

I asked you just now, “Are you excited to start 2nd grade tomorrow?”

You confirmed: “Yes, because this summer… has been kind of boring.”

Forget about the trip to California we took last month, I guess.

I’ll take that as you implying you had a nice, relaxing summer; so now you are ready to be challenged again.

We met your teacher yesterday and she was so excited to welcome you to her class.

She let you pick any desk you wanted in her classrooom. You chose the one closest to the teacher’s.

I made it official as I confirmed to your teacher: “Looks like Holly is going to be your teacher’s pet this year!”

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: That Time We Technically Couldn’t Afford Your Smiley Face Pancakes

7 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

On our recent annual visit to California, our family finally checked out the town of Chico; where Mommy went to college in Northern California.

She insisted we stop for breakfast at one of her favorite restaurants from 20 years ago, called Sin of Cortez.

It was never openly broadcasted when we walked in that this was a “cash or check only” restaurant.

We only found this out after we had eaten our breakfast and the waitress brought us the bill.

I purposely do not carry much cash in my wallet anyway, but especially not when I am on vacation.

Between the cash I had in my wallet, and the change Mommy had in her purse, we were still a dollar short.

The waitress excused the dollar and allowed us to pay her tip through Venmo.

All you knew was, you really liked your smiley face pancakes!

Love,

Daddy