breakfast

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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 Holly: That Time We Technically Couldn’t Afford Your Smiley Face Pancakes

7 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

On our recent annual visit to California, our family finally checked out the town of Chico; where Mommy went to college in Northern California.

She insisted we stop for breakfast at one of her favorite restaurants from 20 years ago, called Sin of Cortez.

It was never openly broadcasted when we walked in that this was a “cash or check only” restaurant.

We only found this out after we had eaten our breakfast and the waitress brought us the bill.

I purposely do not carry much cash in my wallet anyway, but especially not when I am on vacation.

Between the cash I had in my wallet, and the change Mommy had in her purse, we were still a dollar short.

The waitress excused the dollar and allowed us to pay her tip through Venmo.

All you knew was, you really liked your smiley face pancakes!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: Our New Family Tradition of Saturday Morning Breakfast

11 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack,

I pay a lot of attention to our family dynamics… and I plan our activities accordingly. Sometimes, it’s me taking you and your sister birthday parties, without Mommy. Other times, it’s Mommy taking you both to the zoo, without me.

Similarly, I also look for ways to spend one-on-one time with both you and your sister throughout the week.

But I noticed that for much of the time the four of us are together as a family, it’s in either boring or stressful situations; like trying to get through homework and dinner on a busy school night, or rushing to get to church on time.

Therefore, we are now 3 weeks in for the new tradition I started for us: “Saturday Morning Family Breakfast.”

I now clean all the bathrooms and take care of all the garbage on Friday mornings before work, so that on Saturday mornings, we can all just casually wake up and head to a fun nearby restaurant for breakfast as a family. No stress about having to clean the house when we wake up anymore!

We go to places that have a good family atmosphere where we can enjoy a solid breakfast, but not feel rushed- like the nearby Grecian Bakery or any of the local coffee shops.

Saturday Morning Family Breakfast is a hit!

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Cake for Breakfast on Saturday Mornings?!

6 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

This morning I took you for a 7 AM dentist appointment… just your typical check-up and teeth cleaning.

Good news: No cavities!

I told your dentist that I take part of the credit for that because of how thoroughly I brush your teeth every night.

And of course, I have to do a good job scrubbing your teeth:

Mommy always lets you have a “treat” after dinner… which may or may not be leftover Halloween candy from last year. That’s not my department, so I really don’t know for sure…

But I definitely contribute to your sugar intake on Saturday mornings now, since I recently initiated “Saturday Morning Family Breakfast” at 8:30 AM every Saturday.

I choose a fun nearby place to go eat a fun breakfast- and then we start off the weekend right as a family!

Last weekend, we returned to Grecian Pizzeria; which happens to have their own bakery.

The week before, you ordered French Toast, which you loved… But to me, sugar is sugar.

Therefore, this past Saturday, you enjoyed Mint Chocolate cake for breakfast!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: What Will Really Matter a Year from Now?

6 years, 4 months.

Dear Holly,

For nearly a month, I had an event on the calendar:

I had been invited to a men’s breakfast for last Saturday, that I heard about through my F3 group.

In my mind, I had really built up this event; it was announced there was be Texas beef brisket.

However, the day before, you learned that Mommy would not be available to take you to your classmate’s Chuck E. Cheese birthday party; which just happened to be taking place during the same time as the men’s breakfast.

You began crying.

But not for long. Because I decided to take you to the birthday party instead.

And as for breakfast, I took you and your brother to a perfect Greek bakery near our house.

It was a no-brainer, choosing you over my own plans.

I just simply thought, “A year from now, what will really matter?”

The answer: Memories with you.

 

Love,

Daddy