parenting

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Dear Holly: Playing in the Portable Sandbox I Made You

3 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

Last Saturday morning we were able to sneak out to Home Depot (that was before the Governor issued the “Stay at Home” order) to pick up some new plants for the yard, as well as some activities to get you and your brother busy outside since the sun had finally came out.

The nice lady at Home Depot gave you and your brother free kits to build since their normal build-a-project plans got cancelled. Your brother was kind to help you build yours.

I bought a 50 pound bag of sand and a tray bucket, so that you and your brother can have a little portable sandbox to easy take in and out of the garage into the driveway.

You and your brother had so much fun outside!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are a Little Doll Who Has Come to Life

3 years, 11 months.

Dear Holly,

This week, Mommy and I completed the difficult task of narrowing down the 20 professional portraits taken at your school to just 3. Actually, we were not successful.

Because we ended up paying extra money so we could get 5 instead.

The easiest way to summarize how I feel about these photos of you:

You are a doll.

For me, it’s truly coming to the realization that if toy companies needed a real life girl to use as a model for making dolls, they would use your picture to base it off of.

You are a little doll who came to life.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Our Family Quarantine Jeep Ride Through Laurel Hill Wildlife Management Area

9 years, 4 months.

For the 3rd weekend in a row now, our family has designated an entire Sunday afternoon to taking the Jeep out to some new random town we’ve never been to, in an hour radius from where we live.

This time, I decided to search “Wildlife Management Area near me”. Having grown up right next to one in Alabama, and having really put the Jeep to the test on that one last summer, I figured that any wildlife management area near us in Tennessee would be worth the drive.

I was right.

Once we arrived at the 15,000 acre park, we immediately saw another black Jeep like mine. I approached the driver and passenger to ask them where the best place to start was.

Billy and Angie offered to show us around, so we just followed them.

Your favorite part was when we drove on top of the dam. You also enjoyed playing on a pile of rocks with your sister.

I’m pretty sure we just discovered a new Jeep-friendly playground!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Social Distancing During Coronavirus 2020

3 years, 10 months.

Dear Holly,

I’m not sure how much of Coronavirus 2020 that you’ll remember, but from what I can tell, you’re still having plenty of fun.

Mommy took you and your brother to the Dollar Tree to buy you both some things to your “Entertain Yourself Survival Kit”.

You are loving your flash cards! You showed them to Nonna and Papa over a Face Time call a few days ago.

Since we can’t see the rest of our family until this all clears up a bit more, this is how we’re getting by.

I don’t really think you’ve noticed anything is even different at our house, honestly. That’s good!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: What I Was Doing During My Own Spring Break 30 Years Ago in 1990

9 years, 4 months.

Dear Jack,

This will most likely be remembered as your strangest Spring Break ever. Instead of being quarantined in our house because of the Coronavirus, you were supposed to be at Nonna and Papa’s house in Alabama this week.

Being forced to stay home during your 3rd grade Spring Break is definitely in major contrast to what I was doing exactly 30 years ago in March 1990 during mine.

That was when our family went to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the first time.

I specifically remember it being the first time I ever experienced a water faucet with an automatic sensor. I was amazed how I could wash my hands without having to each touch a knob.

And that was only the beginning of the amazing things I experienced in Disney World.

So yes, Disney World vs. lockdown to due the Coronavirus… quite a difference.

We’ll make the most of this, though.

Love,

Daddy