birthday

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Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

6 years old.

Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

Dear Jack,

With your birthday and Papa’s birthday only being 5 days apart, we were happy to have Nonna and Papa up for the weekend; as we were able to celebrate both birthdays together.

You specifically asked for Nonna to make and bring some pumpkin pie. Friday was Papa’s actual birthday, so we had the pie instead of birthday cake. I’m glad you made that request because we all loved it!

After we had already eaten the “birthday pumpkin pie” and I was cleaning up, I heard Nonna say, “Jack turns 6 and Papa turns 60!”

I immediately attempted to correct her: “No, Papa is only 59…”

But then I remembered: A year ago I wrote a special blog post about Papa turning 59. Nonna was right!

So after spending Friday evening celebrating Papa’s 59th birthday, I realized we were actually celebrating his 60th birthday instead… What a major milestone birthday to get wrong!

Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

On Sunday after church, we all went to Grecian Pizzeria for lunch. Despite having lived in Spring Hill now for nearly 2 years, we only recently tried it out. I wish we would have sooner!

Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

It is an ideal place for our family to eat. It is very vegan-friendly and vegetarian friendly; which is vital to our family.

So now we don’t have to drive 30 minutes away to Mellow Mushroom or Whole Foods when we want to go somewhere fun for dinner.

You thought it was pretty cool that the waitress displayed your drawing on their wall.

You thought it was pretty cool that the waitress displayed your drawing on their wall.

During our lunch there, I realized this: Papa is 60 years old, you are 6 years old, and Holly is 6 months old. While that is pretty cool, I’m not sure I feel so confident about three 6’s…

Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

To officially celebrate your 6th birthday, we actually spent the whole day Saturday at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville. But since I took so many pictures of the event, you’ll have to give me about another week to get that all arranged…

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: Celebrating Your 6th Birthday and Papa’s 60th Birthday with Pumpkin Pie and Greek Food

 @GrecianPizzeria

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Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

6 months.

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

Dear Holly,

Today is your very first half-birthday. It was 6 months ago today that I first got to meet you, just 4 days after my 35th birthday. And my life has not been the same nor will it ever be the same.

I have to say, you are such an easy baby to take care of. I say that because, for me as your Daddy, keeping you alive is kind of the main concern during your newborn days.

When I see your smiley face and your bouncy body, I am reminded of what a joy it is to take care of you.

Just look at this Instragram I took of you this morning…

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

It helps that I know what I’m doing this time around, unlike with your brother Jack; back when I was a first-time dad.

But now I know how it works. I’ve just completed the first 2 weeks of sleep-training you, by applying “The Cry It Out” method. And now you sleep through the night.

It was such a scary thing to try out on your brother. But with you, I am not trying out The Cry It Out method; I am simply applying it, in full confidence.

I suppose that’s a big part of you being such an easy baby: Because Mommy and I get to sleep more than we did when your brother was your age.

Your ability to sleep through the night at this age also goes hand in hand with you now beginning to eat solid foods. A couple of weeks ago Chicco sent us their new NaturalFit bottle for you to try out.

https://familyfriendlydaddyblog.com/2016/10/14/dear-holly-you-slept-through-the-entire-night-for-the-1st-time-in-your-life-after-day-5-of-the-cry-it-out-method/

I didn’t even know Chicco made bottles. I just recognized the name from the old car seat we haul you around in, which you inherited from your nearly 6 year-old brother. (See below.)

Dear Holly: Your Uncle Jake’s Wedding at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse (San Diego Vacation/2016 Mitsubishi Outlander)

Mommy quickly admitted the Chicco Natural Fit bottle has an easy flow to it, that it’s easy for her to hold, and that it never leaks; which is a big deal. Too bad we don’t have these bottles this entire time with you!

This past week though, I could tell that the formula alone just wasn’t enough for you. After drinking 6 ounces at a time, you would spit up the final ounce but still seem hungry.

I will say, you’re not totally excited about the concept of actually eating solid food. You act disgusted by  the texture, which is likely the case.

However, you seem very curious when Mommy and I eat chips and salsa.

You’ll have to work your way up to that.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Holly: You are 6 Months Old Today!

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Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

5 years.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

Dear Jack,

Mommy and I bought your birthday and Christmas gifts months ahead of time. It’s funny because I had actually completely forgotten what your birthday gifts were, since they’ve been wrapped and in storage for so long.

So when you opened them a month ago on your 5th birthday, they were just as much as a surprise to me as they were to you.

While you truly loved your gifts, there was one dud; though fortunately, you didn’t really seem to notice. You were very excited to open it, as it was your first one we let you open:

A couple of months ago, Mommy bought a “3D Pirate Ship” kite from Zoolilly; knowing that we would be celebrating your birthday on the beaches of Destin, Florida. We had never considered the assembly process, though.

Granted, I’m not good about figuring out how to put things together, but this kite barely come with any instructions; in addition to being quite complicated to begin with.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

The instructions were very cryptic and minimal. (Without surprise, the kite was made in China.) Mommy and I spent an hour figuring out how to assemble the thing; and we barely got the job done.

On my own, I would have just given up and immediately thrown it in the garbage. Mommy’s help is what saved the kite from instant destruction.

Once we finally got the thing built, I had preconceived ideas on how it would fly: Amazing, but short-lived.

I was accurate in my prediction.

By the time I got the kite flying high enough for you to hold on to the string, it began self-destructing in the air.

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

Its life lasted about 2 minutes. You never got to fly it.

Fortunately, you were too distracted by running in the sand and waves to realize that I snuck in the kite into the garbage can.

Yes, it was the worst present you gave you for your birthday, but it fortunately was also the most forgettable; especially in a beach setting.

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: The Worst Gift We Gave You for Your 5th Birthday

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Dear Jack: Pandy’s Birthday is Today, Blue Cheetie’s Is on Kwanzaa, and Ellie’s is on Christmas (But No One on Hannukah)

5 years.

Dear Jack: Pandy’s Birthday is Today, Blue Cheetie’s Is on Kwanzaa, and Ellie’s is on Christmas

Dear Jack,

Last night as we were finishing up dinner, you stated that you wanted to work on a paper hat for your stuffed Panda bear, Pandy.

I explained that you might not have enough time to really get started on that, as it soon would be time to go upstairs and get ready for bed.

Immediately, out of nowhere, you began crying, “But Pandy’s birthday is tomorrow!”

I had to turn my head to keep you from letting you see me laugh; Mommy too.

Somehow I had not been informed that Pandy’s birthday was coming up. Therefore, I gladly let you work on Pandy’s birthday party decorations. From there, you explained to me that also, Blue Cheetie’s birthday is on Kwanzaa, and Ellie’s is the day before, on Christmas day.

Dear Jack: Pandy’s Birthday is Today, Blue Cheetie’s Is on Kwanzaa, and Ellie’s is on Christmas

Shortly after, I learned that this week at your Pre-K, Rainbow Childcare Center, you have been learning all about the tradition religious and cultural holidays of this month.

You quickly explained to Mommy that Hannukah has 8 days of celebration and Kwanzaa has 7 days.

Obviously, you’ve been paying attention at school; so much so that you are incorporating it into your playtime at home.

Though apparently, none of your stuffed animals’ birthdays happen to be on Hannukah. I was really hoping to see you make a menorah out of paper. Maybe next year.

It’s such a coincidence that their birthdays all happen to be on special days like all these you learned about at school. But I suppose it’s similar to the way that your baby sister, Holly, is due right around my 35th birthday; on April 20th, 2016.

My favorite part of this story is that Pandy is turning 2 today, yet you’ve had her for over 4 years now. I guess in Panda years, a year takes twice as long.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

5 years.

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

Dear Jack,

Six months ago when we stayed in Pensacola, Florida, we had planned a trip to the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach. However, when we arrived, we learned that a baby dolphin had just been born that day, so the place was closed as everyone was taking care of the newborn.

Now, six months have passed and we decided to visit the Gulfarium again, while staying in Destin for your “destination birthday party” for your 5th birthday.

It was a short drive in the 2015 Lexus GX from our resort. The first thing you did was buy some souvenirs with some of your birthday money.

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

You loved being able to see all the marine animals, right there on the Gulf Coast. But by far, the highlight of our visit was when you got to pet and feed the dolphins; for something called Discover Dolphins.

I was particularly impressed by the way the staff handled the situation: After having already paid the extra $22 for you to be able to go out to the tank to pet and feed the dolphins with a few other children, you became afraid to go out there so close to the water.

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

Mommy and I were unable to give you enough of a pep talk to convince you otherwise.

However, the dolphin trainer took notice that you had stayed behind instead of going out to the dock with the other kids. After she had already let the other kids pet and feed the dolphins, she came back especially for you.

She recognized that at the minimum age requirement for the event, which is 5 years old, you needed some extra attention to gain the confidence to out to the water.

Had it not been for her being gently proactive on her end, you would have missed out on such a magical opportunity.

Being able to pet and feed the dolphin is definitely one of your favorite memories from our trip to Destin for your birthday; and that’s saying a lot, because our family did a lot of cool things during our stay!

It was such a “once in a lifetime experience”. It’s not something kids get to do on a regular basis.

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

I totally recommend the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park to all families vacationing in anywhere in the stretch between Destin and Pensacola.

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!

It was a very exciting family experience. Granted, I would recommend budgeting the extra money for the Dolphin Encounter. It’s completely worth it.

I’m so glad we finally were able to go there!

Love,

Daddy

Dear Jack: You Got to Pet and Feed Dolphins at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park!