Nashville

Leave a comment Posted on January 30, 2015 new house, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: We Closed On Our New House Today (We Officially Bought It!)

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Yes, there are blue lines on your forehead in this picture. That’s because while Mommy and I signed the paperwork to “close on our house” (in other words, to officially buy it, closing the sale), you were busy drawing pictures with a blue pen on a note pad, as well as on your face.

Oh well, it kept you entertained for the 45 minutes it took to close on our new house.

You and I also had to officially inspect the house to make sure all the proper changes were made, based on our final inspection last week.

No problems there.

You and Pandy made sure everything was legit. For some reason, it was important for you to take with you some straw from our yard; I suppose as a souvenir.

After our closing, we walked over to Burger Republic to celebrate the official sale of our new home.

We made a “cheers” to our new life in our new home in Spring Hill. Here’s to life in the suburbs!

In many ways, it’s a sense of closure. Of course, by no means does this bring an end to the story of “Our New House.” As the cliche goes… this is only the beginning!

We still have to move in and get settled.

Actually, tonight while you were asleep, since we are still living with friends who were here in case you needed something, even though you didn’t… Mommy and I both drove separately with both our cars fully loaded; to get a head start on the official move taking place this weekend.

Tomorrow will be your last day at your current preschool, as Mommy and I will be getting the new house set up, making some Lowe’s trips, and waiting around for the Internet to get set up; as well as for the delivery of the refrigerator.

Today, I have been thinking a lot aboutt his: Our first payment will begin in March; the month before I turn 34… Mommy turns 34 a few months later.

My realistic goal is for us to have this house paid off by the time Mommy and I both turn 50.

We’ll do what it takes to reach that goal, yet still have fun as a family.

And so it begins… here’s to life in the suburbs!

Love,

Daddy

2 Comments Posted on January 24, 2015January 24, 2015 Nostalgia, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Our 1st Time To The Circus- Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! (In Nashville)

4 years, 2 months.

Dear Jack,

Your first time to the circus was my first time to the circus too! Our family was able to go see Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! last night, where we live in Nashville, Tennessee.

We went Friday, opening night, but there are still Saturday and Sunday shows as well…

Show Times:

Friday, Jan. 23 – 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

There is no denying that in this 2+ hour show, the entertainment is non-stop. Let’s see if I can remember some highlights of what we saw… thanks to some help from the pictures I took.

Granted, you kept a pretty much baffled look on your face the whole time; having never seen anything like we saw last night at the Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! show.

We saw many kinds of animals, including kangaroos, pigs, and elephants; but you told me that the lions and tigers were your very favorite part of the whole thing. It was pretty fascinating to see one man controlling all those big cats!

There were also the motorcycles that all drove into that sphere and somehow never crashed into each other. We saw the extremely talented acrobats as well. I imagine all they ever do is just practice!

It was like the whole time we were there it was hard to imagine what we were seeing was real.

I think you’re still wondering whether the Chinese dragons where real or not… you really didn’t know what to think of them!

While we were there, we got to hang out with our friends, the Hendricks, who won my ticket giveaway earlier this week.

Our family geniunely had a purely entertaining experience at the circus. I totally would be up for going again. There’s really just nothing else like it.

You even got to stay up past your bedtime! You’re one lucky kid…

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on January 20, 2015January 20, 2015 Uncategorized

We’re Going To Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! This Friday Night, Jan. 23rd

This Friday, I am taking my wife and son to the circus here in Nashville.

Somewhat amazingly, I’ve never been to the circus! But Ringling Bros. is going to be at the Bridgestone Arena all this weekend and we are really looking forward to it.

I was able to ask the ringmaster, Johnathan Lee Iverson, a few questions:

What is a typical day in the life of a circus performer?

The unexpected! There are no typical days at The Greatest Show On Earth.

What’s the closest you’ve come to getting hurt while practicing or performing?

Riding my float. The Ringmaster literally has the safest gig in the entire company.

Do you have to abide by a certain diet to maintain your agility on stage?

I’d like to. It would help with this baby gut of mine. However, no dietary restrictions are imposed. Each artist is responsible for the maintenance of their body.

How do the animals travel from city to city?

Train, truck and trailer.

And… today I’m giving away a set of 4 tickets for the show Friday night, Jan. 23rd at 7 p.m. at Bridgestone Arena.

Update: We have a winner! So the giveaway is now closed:

Joe Hendricks‎Family Friendly Daddy Blog

2 mins ·

Did I just win 4 tickets for my family to go see Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! At The Bridgestone Arena for Friday night, Jan. 23rd at 7 p.m.?

Family Friendly Daddy Blog

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Family Friendly Daddy Blog You got it dude! That was quick. I’ll take care of the details from here! See you guys then, you’ll be sitting with us.

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- Joe Hendricks So Awesome!!!
  
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Just be the first person to post on the Facebook wall for Family Friendly Daddy Blog (not a private message), asking me, “Did I just win 4 tickets for my family to go see Ringling Bros. Presents LEGENDS! At The Bridgestone Arena for Friday night, Jan. 23rd at 7 p.m.?

If you’re the first person to do so, I will respond by saying yes… After that, I will follow up by getting your family’s name and address to get you all set up with the tickets!

TICKETS TO RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY^®

PRESENTS LEGENDS^℠ NOW ON SALE

Ringling Bros.^® Presents LEGENDS! Comes to Bridgestone Arena – Jan. 23-25

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is proud to present LEGENDS! Drama, surprise and wonder build the excitement so BIG that it could only be The Greatest Show On Earth^®. The show runs Jan. 23-25, 2015, at the Bridgestone Arena.

Show Times:

Friday, Jan. 23 – 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 24 – 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 25 – 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Tickets start at $15 with limited VIP and Circus Celebrity tickets available while supplies last.

Experience unimaginable family fun, as amazing performers from around the globe perform awe-inspiring feats of daring, spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder to summon the mythical and the mysterious: a Unicorn, a Pegasus and Woolly the Mammoth! Join us for an unforgettable family night of legendary proportions at Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents LEGENDS!

An hour before show time and free to all ticketholders, the All-Access Pre-show allows circus fans to learn juggling and balancing skills, meet the performers of The Greatest Show On Earth, get autographs, take photos and enter to win a one-of-a-kind Pachyderm Painting.

For more information, visit www.Ringling.com or Facebook/RinglingBros.

1 Comment Posted on January 6, 2015 parenting, reviews, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: Monster Jam 2015 in Nashville- Family Friendly Review

4 years, 1 month.

Dear Jack,

Last January, our family drove to Huntsville, Alabama to see Monster Jam 2014 because the Nashville arena only had show dates at night, which would have kept you up way past your bed time.

However, this year, with you being 4, Mommy and I can get away with letting you cheat your bedtime every once in a while like we did a few weeks ago for Marvel Universe Live.

Well, turns out that this year in Nashville for Monster Jam 2015, there was a Sunday afternoon show date. So we went!

Yes, that is an anteater in your arms. That was one of the specific things you asked for your birthday in November.

You named her “Annie.” And she apparently loved the monster truck show as much as you did!

One of your favorite monster trucks was there: Grave Digger.

Not to mention, Son-uva Digger showed up too.

Something I have learned after seeing two Monster Jams is that the location of the venue determines which trucks will show up, because I supposed that’s based on which drivers live closest to the arena it’s being held. (We were at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN.)

As you can see from the shots of the crowd, it was a packed stadium! Nashville shows up for monster trucks, that’s for sure.

I think your favorite part was seeing both Grave Digger and Captain’s Curse flip over and have to be rescued by the machine.

They also had some ATV racers there as well. Which, speaking of, I hate it that we’ll miss the Arenacross event at the end of this month. However, that’s the weekend we move into our new house!

We sat next to the winners of the ticket giveaway I did on the Facebook page for Family Friendly Daddy Blog. They had a blast as well.

Granted, I should define “had a blast” when referring to 3 and 4 year-old little boys like the two of you.

You weren’t necessarily screaming and cheering the entire time… That’s because typically when something overwhelmingly entertains you like that, you just sit there and soak it all in.

From there, you will go on to tell all your friends and teachers about it at school for the following weeks. Going to the show also feeds your ongoing interest in playing with your growing collection of toy monster trucks.

It was no surprise that as soon as you got home, you began racing your Monster Jam trucks on the bedroom floor: “Vvvvvvvrrrrroooo! Eeeeeeccckk! Jch-jch-jch!”

You are a kid who loves Monster Jam. And your anteater, too… at the same time!

Love,

Daddy

Leave a comment Posted on December 24, 2014December 24, 2014 parenting, Spirituality, Uncategorized

We’re Going To Monster Jam 2015 In Nashville! (January 3-4th)

Last January, our family travelled to Huntsville, AL to see Monster Jam for the 1^st time. Now at age 4, my son Jack is still just has excited by monster trucks, so we’ll be attending Monster Jam 2015 in January; this time in Nashville, TN.

And… today I’m giving away a set of 4 tickets for the 1PM show on Sunday, January 4th, 2015!

Just be the first person to post on the Facebook wall for Family Friendly Daddy Blog (not a private message), asking me, “Did I just win 4 tickets for my family to go see Monster Jam in Nashville for the 1PM show on Sunday, January 4th, 2015?”

If you’re the first person to do so, I will respond by saying yes… After that, I will follow up by getting your family’s name and address to get you all set up with the tickets!

Update: We have a winner!

Congrats and Merry Christmas to Charles Van Dyke: