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Dear Holly: You Like to Help Put the Groceries Away

4 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

We’ve stumbled into a new routine over the past few weeks now on Saturday mornings: I buy groceries right after I go to the gym. Then once I get home and unload the groceries, you immediately start helping organize them so Mommy can put them away.

You also have this habit of when I unload the dryer, you run over and start folding all the towels- that’s your specialty!

It’s always such a sweet surprise whenever you volunteer to help me with household chores, without ever even asking me if you can… of course, you know the answer is always yes.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your Red Ryder BB Gun

10 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

No doubt, you had quite a big Christmas. But you also had some money in gift cards that was burning a hole in your pocket; thanks to the idea you came up with…

To get a Red Ryder BB gun!

Our backyard has been converted into a shooting range. We have spent a good amount of time now, having shooting contests to see who has the most accurate shot.

I’m decent… but you are really good!

And on top of that, you take gun safety very seriously.

It is a fun activity we both really enjoy doing together.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You and Isabella Have Matching Dolls of Yourselves

4 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

Recently, your friend Isabella came over to our house to visit. She brought you a fun Christmas gift, that happened to match one of her own:

It is a miniature American Girl doll that looks like you, to compliment the doll that Isabella got that looks like her.

You have been carrying around your “Little Holly” with you everywhere we go- in the car, to school, and to bed.

It’s always a nice surprise to get a Christmas present, after Christmas.

And this one was especially thoughtful- as you and Isabella both now have one!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Turning Our Living Room into an Army Base

10 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

While your sister has been using the new folding cushion beds to make a house downstairs in the living room, you and your friend Levi are using them to construct a military fort; as you shoot at each other with Nerf guns. (Your sister likes to hang out right in the middle of the action!)

It’s a good activity in the dead of winter, during Covid Culture:

Invite a friend over to the house on Saturday morning and play live action Fortnight, in between rounds of Battleship eating pizza.

Sounds perfect for a 10 year-old boy.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Friday and Saturday Movie Night!

4 years, 9 months.

Dear Holly,

One of the many new additions to our home, in the midst of our home recent makeover, has been the new folding cushion beds.

While you do enjoy setting them up downstairs in the living room to “make a house”, their main purpose is to be used as beds/couches for our bonus room upstairs.

We now have a new tradition everyday Friday and Saturday night of letting you and your brother pick out a movie and fall asleep up there afterwards.

It’s more fun to sleep there because it’s somewhere other than your own bedroom.

And Mommy and I like it because it makes the bedtime routine much easier for us! The two of you basically just put yourselves to bed on those nights.

Love,

Daddy