As Mother’s Day is just a few days away, I thought it might be helpful for me to share this “Interactive Quote Finder” for just the occasion.
It helps to add a thoughtful note to handmade gifts for mom.
This quote finder features 80 famous quotes with helpful filters, like funny or inspiring, as well as who is sending/receiving, like “from son” or “to sister”.
Here’s the link: ProFlowers.com Mother’sDay Quote Finder
4 years, 5 months.
Dear Jack,
I saw it coming; that once we had finally settled into our new house, that the rest of the world would seem to begin to fade away. Or maybe instead, that the I would feel myself unplugging from the rest of the world- which I am, at least compared to recent years in the world of social media.
And I don’t see that as a bad thing.
That’s exactly where I feel I’m at right now; in that place. Gone are the days when I was required to share my soul 6 times a week during those 3 years I was writing for Parents.com; where I would I felt that pressure to check my Facebook home page throughout the day.
After all, I haven’t checked my Facebook page even once since we moved in this house nearly 3 months ago. I assume I must be out of the loop with what’s going on in the world.
But I’m fine. I’m happy. I appreciate our life as a family like it is right now.
The result from me sort of laying low is that I have more time to spend and just hang out, without as many distractions, with you and Mommy.
Life is supposed to be this simple. Well, actually it’s supposed to be much more simple than this, I believe.
I would love to be able to just work from home and live a slower paced life. I’m working on making that happen; as this week I’ve invested a portion of my birthday money into teaching myself to edit videos for my YouTube channel.
It just seems there’s this cliche that you watch your kids grow up way too fast; then you regret that you were too busy worrying about temporary things in the process.
I don’t want to feel that way in 10 or 20 years.
This is me taking time to truly appreciate you drawing funny pictures of monsters that look like snowmen. And letting you squeeze glue into cups of water, just to see what will happen.
These are the quiet and grateful days in the lives of our family; just appreciating what we have.
At least until our upcoming road trip to Pensacola when we go digging for dinosaur bones and treasure chests in the sand.
Let’s just say I’ve got something up my sleeve to make that happen…
Love,
Daddy
4 years, 4 months.
Dear Jack,
Turning 34 years-old means I’m now officially in my “mid-thirties.” It only makes sense that Mommy and I finalized getting set up with a life insurance policy for ourselves this week. Because that’s what you do when you’re 34; you buy a new house and you set up a life insurance policy. Sounds fun, right?
Well, in all serious, we definitely had plenty of fun this weekend as a family for my birthday. Nonna and Papa drove up from Alabama to see your soccer game Saturday morning; then they took care of you while Mommy and I got to go out on an awesome date to the movies, the Nashville Symphony, and out for dinner in downtown at Bakersfield.
It couldn’t have been any better!
Then on Sunday, you helped make my vegan chocolate birthday cake. Mommy used 3 squiggly candles for the “3” and 4 regular candles for the “4”, to make the “34”. (My actual birthday is on April 20th.)
Of course, you blew out my candles for me. Plus, you took it upon yourself to open my presents for me as well; all while accidentally wearing your t-shirt backwards.
You and Mommy had slipped by Old Navy at some point and bought me some new clothes, including some “thunder socks” you specifically picked out for me. I shall wear them with pride!
After removing all the decorative paper in my gift bag, you decided you wanted to make “paper pants.” So you tried them on for everyone.
Then you tried on my size 31 shorts Mommy bought me for our upcoming Pensacola road trip. They fit you about as well as the paper pants.
My 34th birthday weekend was perfect. It definitely felt like a real birthday. And I’m excited to buy Magix Movie Edit Pro 2015 with some of my birthday money, as I begin the process of teaching myself how to edit videos; to enhance Family Friendly Daddy Blog.
Let’s see if I end up being any good at it. I’ll make you a star, kid!
Love,
Daddy
4 years, 4 months.
Dear Jack,
Our Easter tradition every year since you have been born has been to take you to the big egg hunt that Nonna and Papa’s church has at someone’s (very large) house.
I gave you several coaching sessions before the hunt; sharing with you the effective strategy of immediately running to the far corner of the field, where no one else bothers to go. I also reminded you not to stop to open the eggs; just to throw as many as you could into your basket, then worry about opening them after the hunt is over.
Without surprise, you easily obtained more eggs than the other kids by doing so. While you are still not quite inspired to kick the soccer ball during your games, egg hunting is a sport you can get excited about!
What’s funny is that you’ve yet to really look through the eggs, even now. You were happiest about bringing home some of my old stuffed animals from when I was your age; not what was inside the eggs.
Later on, we all went to Hawkins Spring Park there in Fort Payne, Alabama; my hometown. Where I grew up, there were several parks around our house, yet I never really went to this one.
Had I known about it back when I was 4, this might have been my favorite park; especially since a giant creek runs through it.
Of course, I didn’t let you and your cousin Calla have all the fun on the playground. They happened to have an adult playground where grown men like me and your Uncle Andrew could test our agility and strength. We were victorious… mostly.
Oh, and we rescued an old abandoned tire from the creek. We helped the environment!
A common question I have been getting this week is, “Did you have a good Easter?”
I did. We all did. We have nothing but good, fun, quality time as a family… while visiting family.
Love,
Daddy
4 years, 4 months.
Dear Jack,
This Monday you had your first soccer practice… and this weekend you will have your very first soccer game! Pretty exciting stuff these days.
We bought you a soccer ball and have been practicing in the driveway. From these pictures your teacher sent me, it looks like you’re getting some good practice there as well.
Here’s what your teacher had to say about what you’ve been doing at school this week:
We had lots of fun this week outside!
Jack and his friends went on a pirate adventure around the playground. He rowed his boat over to Skull Rock Island, climbed through his way through Vine Snake Jungle, then snuck up on the sleeping dragon to steal the magical fire rubies! (His face running away from the dragon was priceless!)
Today we had a lot of different activities!
He worked with friends to fold pieces of paper and build a tower. He was extremely proud of himself he built it up so high!
His latest craze, is to write his name with “scary letters” They’re beyond amazing! He has such an artistic talent!
And last but not least (We were busy today weren’t we!) we flew kites!
We took out our parrot kite this morning. He asked to hold the kite and he tried to hold on very tight. Ultimately, the wind was a bit too strong and took the kite across the playground, across the street, and into the corn field! Thankfully Ms. Lara came to the rescue and retrieved our kite!
This afternoon, everyone wanted to make their own kites and flew them outside!
We had an absolute blast!
When I read this kind of stuff about you, it makes me so proud. I love your creativity. You are a bright young boy and I’m so glad your mine.
Love,
Daddy
