4 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

There is no way around it. By now, you’ve just accepted it as normal that every daddy in the entire world apparently carries around a camera with him wherever he goes, knowing that any potential event will serve as another quirky story for his website.

Of course, while these letters are available for the free world to read, in real time, my main reason for writing them is to do the best job I can of chronicling your life; as I’ve been doing at least weekly since April 2010, when Mommy and I went public with her being pregnant with you.

It’s my way of helping you travel back in time, as I’m sure you’ll be a nostalgic person like I’ve always been.

With that being said, I made sure to capture some good family Christmas memories for you, like when your new Ninja Turtle decided to hang out at (your cousin Calla’s) Barbie’s beach house.

Seriously, what boy hasn’t played with his sister’s or girl cousin’s toys in a masculine way?

Granted, as a joke, Leonardo came disguised in a pink princess box:

There’s also the excitement of knowing that in our new house, which we close on exactly a month from today, you now have some gear to help us have cool camp-outs in our back yard:

Uncle “Owl” (Al) and Sharon got you a huge Noah’s Ark tent and Spiderman walkie talkies! Not to mention a Bumblebee remote control car to drive around in our cul-de-sac.

You and also had fun after breakfast when we used rolls of wrapping paper as ninja swords. Not the safest idea on my part, but as usual, you managed not to get hurt or break anything in the house.

And then there’s the fun you had in playing with the laundry chute: Mommy stayed upstairs in the bathroom while you threw stuffed animals down to the laundry room, trying to hit Nonna in the face.

Just another classic Christmas memory, which I will assume is relatively exclusive to our family.

That’s the thing. I know we’re not the only family who did weird and funny stuff on Christmas day. It’s just a matter of questioning what weird and random (yet fun) things their family did during Christmas break.

A lot of what makes Christmas such a warm and sentimental holiday is knowing that you get to just be yourself with people who know you way too well.

Therefore, new quirky memories are made and traditions are born.

Like this: How many children in America got to burst open a giant paper Mache egg, carefully created and crafted by their aunt and uncle, to find more Christmas goodies inside?

I’m sure there were some others, but by no means was that normal.

Granted, some of the gifts given and received were full of character as well…

Mommy and I got you the Jack character from Thomas & Friends, who I believe actually pays a resemblance to you.

There was also the “pinball machine” you asked for, which was delivered in the form of a much smaller version…

By the way, this was the first Christmas you were able to spot which gifts your specifically yours, now that can you can read your own name and recognize it on the tags.

Meanwhile, I received a can of “vegan Pringles,” some new pairs of funky socks, deer warnings (because my personal vehicle got hit by an albino deer), a new carabineer for my keys (the last one which I’ve owned for 9 years had a busted compass and didn’t quite mesh well with the keys to the $90,000 Lexus LX we have been reviewing this week), and a much needed new wallet. I immediately gave you my old one, which you instantly began “Play-Dohing” during breakfast.

Yes, our Christmas morning was quite unique, but the quirkiness didn’t end there. I’ve still got more letters to write about the rest of our Christmas vacation…

Love,

Daddy