fatherhood

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Dear Jack: Making Homemade Pasta

15 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

You can now say you know what it’s like to make your own pasta!

Nonna showed up at our house recently with the equipment and all the ingredients- so you, your sister, and your cousins all got the opportunity to work for your own lunch.

Now that I think of it, I don’t suppose I have ever had homemade pasta before either.

It was definitely a unique experience. After all, it’s easy to assume pasta just comes that way.

In reality, there’s a little more to it that now. And now you know first hand!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Birdhouse You Built in Shop Class

15 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Nearly a month ago on Christmas Eve, you decided to join me in the annual Twins’ 5K Run just across the street from where we live. That inspired Mommy and your sister, as well as Nonna and Papa to come too.

Afterwards, back at our house, you proudly showed Papa the birdhouse you built in shop class at high school. He was impressed with your craftmanship. So was your shop teacher- he told you that you got the highest grade in the class!

I made it through high school without ever having to take shop class. That wouldn’t have gone well for me.

But for you, it totally makes sense! You have the mind of an engineer. I’ve always said it.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Yardwork on Christmas Eve

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

You and your cousin Darla decided to join in on the Twins’ 5K Run on Christmas Eve, about a month ago.

Once we all got back to our house, the sun was out, so you both took it upon yourselves to rake up the leaves that had fallen in our front yard; after I did my final mow for the year.

Your brother saw you both working and he decided to help out as well.

It’s little moments like this that remind me… this is what life is all about.

Little memories like this are big memories to me.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Are the Same Height as Mommy Now?

15 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

There’s no way around it. I started noticing around Christmas that in pictures now, you and Mommy appear to be the same height:

5′ 6″.

So now, the new questions become A) when will you outgrow her and B) at what point will you catch up to me, at 5′ 9″?

Assuming it helps, I continue to bake you two baked potatoes and cook you 4 eggs everyday when you get home from school… and then you still eat a full dinner after that.

It appears to be helping!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Your Brother Seems Nicer to You Now?

9 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

One of our family’s traditions is to go to Mentone Market for dinner on Saturday nights. Part of that ritual includes us stopping by the Dollar General at the bottom of the mountain on the way home, so that you and your brother and Mommy can get some kind of candy treat.

While we were there, your brother bought a $5 Zen Fountain; conisting of water flowing up through some stones that came with it.

Your brother decided he wanted to add some more stones to it, so he invited you to go on a ride with him in his UTV to the creek to pick out some new rocks.

Once the two of you collected them, you spent the next couple of days working on the Zen Fountain as a project together.

He also is now regularly giving you his toys that he would otherwise give away. Just a few years ago, he was so proud to order these hilarious plush slippers that look like sneakers.

You proudly accepted them as your own now. I love the way the two of you are getting along these days!

Love,

Daddy