Dear Holly: Helping Manage the Trick-or-Treaters

9 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

This year was ultimately the first time we have ever been at our own home long enough during Halloween to actually tend to the trick-or-treaters, before we actually left the house to do our own trick-or-treating.

Not only did we have candy to give away, but thanks to Nonna, we had dozens of Ty beanie babies (still with the tags on them!) to give away to kids who came to our door.

It was truly heartwarming to see how grateful these kids of all ages were as they got to pick out the animal of their choice.

You did a great job helping Mommy!

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Your Loded Diaper Halloween Costume

14 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

Without question, your Halloween costume this year was clearly the most low-key and the least theatrical you’ve ever had. Your first official “high school” Halloween costume was simply a t-shirt displaying the logo, “Loded Diper”.

Only fans of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid franchise would know this is a reference to a band name featured in the series. In other words, I had no idea what it meant.

But as we made our way down the street trick-or-treating, there were a few different people to shout out at you, “Hey! I like that shirt. The band from Diary of a Wimpy Kid.”

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You are Now 9 and a Half Years Old

9 years, 6 months.

Dear Holly,

This past week you turned 9 and a half years old. I think about how you’ll be double digits in less than 6 months.

That thought just makes me appreciate you still being a child that much more.

You wanted to go to the County Fair last week. It was so crowded. But you didn’t really care about the rides. Instead, you just wanted to win a Peppa Pig you saw as a prize.

And you did!

It made me so happy to see you play the game and win. You’ve been carrying Peppa Pig with you everywhere since then.

 

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Still Catching Crawdads

14 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

As you’re now less than a few weeks away from your 15th birthday, I love to see how you still have that sense of adventure and exploration you always had as a little boy.

While we were recently on Fall Break in Blue Ridge, you were so excited when you discovered evidence of crawdads in the creek there in front of our cabin.

You tracked them down and were able to pull one out of the water.

It makes me so happy that you still want to catch crawdads whenever you get the chance.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: The Perfect Size for Wings

14 years, 11 months.

Dear Jack,

Last week while we were in Blue Ridge and stopped for lunch at a Mexican restaurant, they happened to have a photo op there while we waited for our table.

I didn’t realize it as I was taking the picture, but you brought it to my attention:

You were the exact perfect size to just walk right up and have the wings perfectly fit.

Not only were you the exact height, but you were the exact width.

I say “were” because as you are continuing to grow right now, I’m sure you will have outgrown those wings the next time we visit there… if you haven’t already!

Love,

Daddy