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Dear Jack: Snowball at Christmastime

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

Since we travel nearly 3 hours to Alabama for the Christmas holidays and stay there for a week, that means our Syrian hamster Snowball gets to make the trip with us.

You do a great job of making sure he gets to participate in the festivities with everyone. Since he is nocturnal, his designated playtime happens to be right after we finish dinner.

Whereas I may have forgotten a few times, you always remembered to get him out and let him run around in the aftermath of opened Christmas gifts.

He even had some extra fun this year when he escaped from his cage in the middle of the night. It wasn’t the first time he’s done that though!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Had No Complaints about Our New House…

13 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Over the course of the past five months, our family has driven to Alabama several times to view houses for sale. Through the process, you openly announced your issues with each one we saw.

Fate would have it that the house we ended up buying last Friday was the one house that you and your sister didn’t get a chance to see.

So a few minutes after walking into our family’s new home, as the ink was still drying on the paperwork from us closing on the house, I asked you:

“Jack, what is your favorite part of our new house?”

Your response: “All of it!”

This marked the first time we visited a house that you didn’t even have one complaint about.

What a relief!

Our new house in Alabama is only 50 square feet bigger than our house now in Tennessee. However, our Tennessee house has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a bonus room; whereas our Alabama house has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and no bonus room.

That means that literally every room in our new house in Alabama, including your bedroom, is bigger than our current house; even all the closets!

And your “second bedroom”, the garage, where you are often slipping away to work on your projects, has much more space for you in your Batcave/Fortress of Solitude.

So yeah, you’re going to like our new house.

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: My Standing Offer for Free Guitar Lessons

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

I was your age when I was learning to play the guitar. Obviously, I still play and continue to write songs; which I record and publish on my YouTube channel.

Your entire life, I have reminded you: “Once you are ready to learn to play the guitar, you get free lessons from me!”

So far, you haven’t taken me up on my offer.

I was happy to see that you at least enjoyed learning a few songs on the ukulele during music class at school.

Maybe in a year or two, you’ll be ready for my award-winning free guitar lessons!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: A Popcorn Picnic Before Breakfast

7 years, 8 months.

Dear Holly,

I had just returned from the gym at 6:30 AM, as Mommy was getting ready to go into the office for work in downtown Nashville. Before I could turn the corner to say hi to Mommy, I noticed you on our bedroom floor.

You had taken it upon yourself to set up a popcorn picnic for a couple of lucky stuffed animals.

My immediate thought was, “Yep, that checks out.”

I didn’t need any explanation. That scene perfectly sums up your playful personality.

Of course you set up a popcorn picnic before breakfast on a Tuesday morning!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Your “Cat Turned Potato” Creation from Art Class

13 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

A week ago you walked through the door after school, nonchalantly holding your newest finished project from art class.

I was expecting a smirk from you, or at least a curious pause for me to immediately start laughing.

My obvious initial guess was wrong.

You simply explained, “I was trying to make a cat, but then its ears didn’t look right, so I tried to turn into a potato instead, but I left the legs on so it could sit up straight.”

For the past week, your “cat/potato” art creation has been placed in the center of our kitchen table.

Your sister keeps asking me to move it, as for some reason, your art creation is not providing a very appetizing dining experience.

 

Love,

Daddy