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Dear Holly: You Did the Dishes on Your Own!

8 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

It is a known fact that I can not chill out enough to go to bed until all the dishes are done. In fact, the moment I get done with work everyday, I immediately clean all the dishes in the sink from throughout the day so far; so that it’s less intimidating to tackle the additional dishes that will need to be cleaned after dinner.

So I was so delighted this past Monday that without saying a word, you pulled up a stool to the kitchen sink and began washing the dishes from the Christmas cake you and Mommy made for our upcoming dinner party that night.

I just love the thought of you becoming my new dishwashing buddy. I think we could make a really good team!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Christmas Cookies

14 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

I had no expectations of you joining Mommy and your sister in making Christmas cookies this year. I figured that surely you had outgrown such an activity at this point.

But since our family’s move to Alabama this year, one of the things I officially learned about you is that traditions play an extremely important role in your life.

So when it was time to start making Christmas cookies, you definitely showed up to participate.

Granted, you put your personal spin on the tradition by veering away from using the standard cookie cutters we had and instead customizing the shapes yourself.

Some of them were even 3-D.

They may look different from the other cookies, but I know for a fact you didn’t change the recipe of your cookies.

So at least all the cookies taste the same.

All I care about is that you had fun participating in a family tradition. Though actually, my only contribution was taking pictures of the event!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Our Whole Finally Joined the Christmas Parade!

8 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

Apparently the plan was for you and your brother to ride with Nonna and Papa in the Christmas parade last Friday, as Papa is part of the local Jeep club.

But the night before, there was so much logistical planning involved. I explained to Mommy, “Okay, so before the parade starts, we need to park one of our cars on one side of the town to pick up the kids once the parade is over, so we can easily get to the kids to take them home. It’s going to be so cold and they will already be outside for so long already.”

She simply responded, “Do we all just want to be the parade?”

And that is how our whole family ended up throwing candy in the Fort Payne Christmas parade. I feel confident that we have now begun a new Christmas family tradition here on our first Christmas as a family in Alabama.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Earning Money to Afford a PS5

14 years old.

Dear Jack,

You have your sights set on getting a “PS5″… a PlayStation 5, that is.

It’s interesting to think how you have never actually owned a video game system; your entire life. You’ve just always played games on your tablet or phone.

Granted, at $400, a PlayStation 5 is a lot to ask for. Fortunately, Nonna and Papa have been hiring you on the weekends to help them keep bugs, mold, and moisture out of the house.

Maybe you’ll afford that PS5 sooner than later…

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: I’m Not the Handyman, but You Are!

14 years old.

Dear Jack,

One of my many life mottos is this:

“Be proud of your strengths and make jokes about your weaknesses.”

With that being said, there has never been any question that the “handyman gene” went straight from one Jack Shell (Papa) to the next Jack Shell (you).

In other words, it totally skipped me!

But I am happy for you that you have the kind of brain that is eager to get in there and figure out how to fix whatever it is that needs fixing; when it comes to home repairs.

Yes, it’s true we paid off our mortgage a few weeks ago. However, that doesn’t change the fact that owning a home means that there is always something that must be considered “under construction”.

And I am certainly not the man for the job!

Love,

Daddy