Mexican

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Dear Holly: Learning Secret Family Recipes from Nonna

8 years, 1 months.

Dear Holly,

One of the reasons we moved here to Alabama was to make more memories with family, as opposed to just waiting for the holidays or the rushed weekends trips from Nashville to see them.

This week, I loved being able to observe Nonna teaching you her secret family recipes, as she taught you the way her Mexican side of the family made empanadas and the way her Italian side of the family made calzones.

You were all in! You loved being able to help Nonna help cook dinner for us.

It is moments like this that say so much about our new life here in Alabama.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Our Friday Dinner Out for Mac-and-Cheese at the Mexican Restaurant

5 years, 7 months. 

Dear Holly,

At this point in my life, I truly do not enjoy eating out at restaurants. I like having complete control over what I eat- and I don’t want to have to pay more for food I can just prepare myself.

However, you have been asking for me to take you back to Acapulco Mexican restaurant near our house; as you declare they make the best mac-and-cheese! That’s where you had your dinner out for your 5th birthday, 7 months ago.

Needless to say, last Friday night, you completely cleaned your plate!

Plus, you were excited because when you ordered root beer with your meal, they brought it out in a real glass bottle instead of a kids’ cup.

I’m glad I could spend that time with you- as I know it meant so much to you!

And spending quality time with you is one of the most important things to me!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You are the Brightest One and Nonna is the Darkest One

5 years, 3 months.

Dear Holly,

Sometimes while I am giving you a bath, you randomly tell me some of the most insightful discoveries going on in your head, as a 5 year-old girl; like recently:

“Daddy, am I the brightest one?… And Nonna is the darkest?”

You are self-aware of the fact that you are curiously the fairest complected member of our entire living family tree; as it is simply a natural response when people see you with any family members; to point it out.

And true, it’s most obvious when you are next to Nonna.

You managed to get all the German and Norwegian genes, and apparently none of the Mexican or Mediterranean.

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: You Chose Acapulco Mexican Grill for Your 5th Birthday Dinner

5 years.

Dear Holly,

For dinner the night of your 5th birthday, Mommy and I let you decide where you would like to go; out of all the restaurants in the area of Spring Hill, Tennessee; where we live.

You chose Acapulco Mexican Grill, which is in walking distance from our house.

(In fact, we’ve walked there for dinner on more than one occasion!)

It is a Mexican tradition that at the end of the meal, the wait staff comes to smash dessert in your face.

Since you are only 5, our waiter went easy on you by just barely dabbing your nose with whipped cream from a slice of cheesecake.

You thought it was so much fun!

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Jack: You Love Nonna’s Authentic Mexican Burritos

7 years, 10 months.

Dear Jack,

Last weekend as we spent the weekend in Alabama at Nonna and Papa’s house, you quickly learned how much you loved Nonna’s burritos. In fact, that’s all I remember you eating the whole time.

I guess it helps that Nonna’s mother was Mexican. You’re getting the real deal.

Her burritos even look Mexican. What’s funny is that when our family goes out to Mexican restaurants, you never order a burrito, so perhaps Nonna’s burritos are the most authentic burritos you’ve ever had.

You ate a lot this past weekend… thanks to Nonna’s burritos.

Love,

Daddy