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Dear Holly: The Memorial Day Block Party 2021

5 years, 1 month.

Dear Holly,

Last Saturday in Alabama, Aunt Dana and Uncle Andrew hosted a block party in their backyard for Memorial Day Weekend.

You and your cousin Darla especially loved the big inflatable jumpy house with a waterslide!

A year ago, people weren’t able to get together like this. I feel like here lately, at least for our family, we’re finding reasons to have big gatherings with family and friends; like the Easter Egg Hunt and my 40th birthday party at Nonna and Papa’s house.

The summer is here- and this year, we get to hang out with other people too!

Love,

Daddy

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your 1st Overnight at a Friend’s House

10 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

Despite you spending a week at a time out at Nonna and Papa’s house 3 hours away in Alabama multiple times now, you had never spent the night at a friend’s house… until this past weekend.

With as much time as you’ve been spending with your friend Landon over the past month or so, including his entire family driving down to Alabama for my 40th birthday party, we’ve definitely got to a certain level of comfort where it made sense to say yes when you asked if you could spend the night at his house.

Needless to say, it was a success.

This is a milestone in you growing up!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Now Bike Over to Your Friend’s House Everyday After School

10 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

I feel like my generation, The Oregon Trail Generation (in between Generation X and Millennials), was the last generation to be able to freely roam around as kids, while our parents didn’t really know where we were… until we drove our bikes back in time for dinner.

But now, as you are about to finish 4th grade, you are officially at the point where when you get off the bus after school, you now come in, grab a snack, then bike over to your friend Landon’s house until it’s time for dinner.

And he doesn’t simply live down the street. He technically lives two neighborhoods beyond ours.

I bought you a digital watch with an alarm, to alert you when it’s time to come back home for dinner.

You are growing up!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Day at the Lake, in Our Front Yard

5 years.

Dear Holly,

What happens when Mommy runs out for errand on a Saturday afternoon and I stay home with you and your brother?

I never know… it typically is something random that I wouldn’t necessarily plan for the two of you.

This particular most recent time, it ended up being you wearing a life vest and holding on to a little boogie board, while your brother chased you down with his new water gun.

So basically, it was like a Saturday afternoon at the lake… only the lake happened to be the cul-de-sac connected to our driveway.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Chose Acapulco Mexican Grill for Your 5th Birthday Dinner

5 years.

Dear Holly,

For dinner the night of your 5th birthday, Mommy and I let you decide where you would like to go; out of all the restaurants in the area of Spring Hill, Tennessee; where we live.

You chose Acapulco Mexican Grill, which is in walking distance from our house.

(In fact, we’ve walked there for dinner on more than one occasion!)

It is a Mexican tradition that at the end of the meal, the wait staff comes to smash dessert in your face.

Since you are only 5, our waiter went easy on you by just barely dabbing your nose with whipped cream from a slice of cheesecake.

You thought it was so much fun!

Love,

Daddy