Tennessee

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Dear Jack: Webisode 11 of Jack-Man, “Panic at the Playground!”

4 years, 7 months.

Dear Jack: Webisode 11 of Jack-Man,

Dear Jack,

Last week’s shooting of “Webisode 11: Panic at the Playground!” couldn’t have gone any better. You had so much fun seeing your friends Sophie and Madison again. They made such perfect superheroes. We spent all Saturday morning there at Pinkerton Park in the hot Tennessee sun.

I love the way the 3 of you interacted with me as I played the Playground Ninja, who was sent by the Green Meanie after Jack-Man refused to buy a boat or use a credit hard; instead, he plans to pay off his house early.

You all have some serious talent!

The number of views of Webisode 11 so far are showing that it is by default the best one yet: In just 4 days, it has received nearly 100 views; whereas it took a whole month for the 1st webisode to get that many views.

Based on the success of this one, I’ve decided I need to replicate that same formula as much as possible; which includes involving guest stars whenever possible, and always including an original song of mine to play during an action sequence.

That means I’ll typically be writing and recording at least one or two new songs each week, but that’s okay… I love doing it! I’m even trying to get Mommy to start singing with me on some upcoming songs…

This weekend we are scheduled to shoot at your school for some special episodes while it rains. I also am planning on having my friend Ben Wilder as a guest star villain.

Our family was very excited to learn this week that for an upcoming road trip, we’ll be able to review a Chevy Colorado truck! That is super cool!

By the way, you are now closer to age 5 than you are to 4. This week you turned 4 years, 7 months old.

Love,

Daddy

choremonsterfinalIG-1

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Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

4 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

Dear Jack,

Friday morning you woke up at 5:30 and wanted to watch something on the Kindle. I explained that it was still time to be asleep, but if you didn’t want to lay in bed for another 30 minutes until it was time to get up; that you and I could make another Jack-Man episode instead.

It seemed like the better option to you, so Webisode 3 was born…

So from 5:30 to 6:30 AM Friday morning, the two of us were filming while Mommy got ready for work. Then you and I had to hurry to get ready for school and work ourselves.

While I do plan to record most webisodes outside, we made this one mainly inside; as Green Meanie sends Monster Man into Jack-Man’s closet to scare him.

I wanted this episode to be a bit more on the thrilling side. I wanted to see Jack-Man confronted with one of the most familiar (imagined) fears of young children: discovering there is a monster in the closet.

Hopefully, this story line is unique in that there actually is a threatening monster in the closet. But of course, Jack uses his quick thinking to utilize a way to quench the enemy.

Obviously every superhero series has an edge of darkness to it. In this webisode, I wanted to introduce a more intense combat scene with the scariest villain yet.

The audience is seeing that while Green Meanie isn’t one to physically attack Jack-Man himself, he prefers to send members of his infinite henchmen army to attempt to defeat Jack-Man.

Green Meanie is more evil and greedy that he appears. After all, he has access to a Monster Man!

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

It is becoming evident that Jack-Man isn’t in this alone. That is why in Webisode 4, “Backyard Brawl”, we meet Jack-Man’s cousin and fellow superhero, Super Calla; which is short for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. However, Green Meanie also brings his family along, which leads to an epic fight in Jack-Man’s backyard.

We were able to do this webisode thanks to my family being in town for Memorial Day weekend.

Dear Jack: Webisodes 3, 4, 5 of Jack-Man: “One Bitten, Twice Nice”; “Backyard Brawl”; “Farmers’ Market”

And actually, last Saturday morning while they still were driving in, you and I shot Webisode 5, “Farmer’s Market”, at the Franklin Factory. It was the first time we did a webisode in front of the unassuming public.

I think my favorite one so far is Webisode 4, “Backyard Brawl.” It was a lot of fun for our family!

Love,

Daddy

1 Comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling, Uncategorized, vegan

Dear Jack: Your Homemade Cinnamon Milk/Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

4 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack: Your Homemade Cinnamon Milk/Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

Dear Jack,

Well, hopefully last week marked the last of the snow for winter…

Dear Jack: Your Homemade Cinnamon Milk/Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

It definitely marked the week in which we watched Pee-wee’s Big Adventure two times within 24 hours.

You confidently expressed to me you liked it better than Big Top Pee-wee, which we watched twice within 24 hours two weeks ago. Even though the scary clown scene technically was inappropriate for you to see in Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, only Mommy covered her eyes.

Dear Jack: Your Homemade Cinnamon Milk/Pee-wee’s Big Adventure

I have to admit, Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure is a solid movie. Here’s a little bit of trivia: I was 4 years old when it came out in 1985; the same age you are now.

We also took a quick family drive to Rooster Tails, a cool retro style furniture store we’ve bought from before. You helped us look for a coffee table for our living room and a bookcase for our office.

Cinnamon

One of the highlights from this past week was when you decided you wanted to “make milk” for our family to drink over the weekend.

Over the course of two days, you would sit up on the counter with a mixing bowl, bumming spare ingredients off of Mommy and me, so you could add them into your bowl of water.

It’s all a blur, but I remember there being cranberry juice, oregano, salt, pepper, cinnamon, and chia seeds in it; among other random items we had in our kitchen. Just a pinch of each led to a big bowl of chucky, brownish gray water that you were so proud to stir up.

For dinner Sunday night, you decided it was time for all us to try your new concoction.

Cinnamon

What you didn’t realize was that Mommy poured some of your chocolate almond milk into your cup instead of what you made, just sprinkling in some cinnamon.

As predicted, you were skeptical to take the first sip. So Mommy and I gladly did. You were curious by how authentically we seemed to be enjoying your “homemade” milk.

You took a baby sip… then a bigger one.

“Mommy! Daddy! That tastes good! It tastes like cinnamon… and chocolate!” you proclaimed.

One day you’ll read this letter and realize why.

Love,

Daddy

Cinnamon

1 Comment Posted on new house, parenting, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: The 4th Week Of Living In Our New House

4 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

Dear Jack,

We’re just about fully moved in by now. We’re still waiting on our living room couch, though. It’s been delayed a total of 7 weeks now, due to it being such a popular piece of furniture. Actually, it was out of stock the day we bought it. Today I was able to convince the store to ship to us for free. It worked!

Still have to wait another month for it to get here, though.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

In the meantime, the matching chair has been waiting in our living room for its counterpart. In fact, Mommy did a really cool job of having your “growing up” pictures. She created an abstract heart shape. It looks really neat.

Mommy didn’t even mean to; it just ended up that way. I think it’s very appropriate, though. In the middle is a sign that reads, “All because two people fell in love.”

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

With it is very true, it’s also reference to a Brad Paisley song from the first CD Mommy ever bought me.

This has been the week of getting all of photo frames off the floor and onto the walls. Therefore, this is the first week we’ve been in our new house where you’ve actually been able to run around like a little boy is supposed to do.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

It wasn’t a surprise to me that you insisted on taking me upstairs so I could help you dress up in your superhero costume that your friend Madison got you for your birthday.

We snuck down stairs so you could surprise Mommy, who was in the middle of making dinner.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

You darted from the living room to the kitchen no less than 17 times before dinner time.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

Afterwards, we made vegan cookies for the first time in our new house.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

Meanwhile at your new school, Rainbow Child Care Center, your teacher Ms. Aimee bought a new gecko!

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

Here’s what she told me about your interactions with it this week:

Jack wanted to make a boat out of cardboard. He worked very hard to cut different shapes out of the cardboard, tape, and construct his boat. He also got to hold our new Crested Gecko! He giggled as the gecko climbed up due to his Velcro like feet. Jack is an absolute joy having in my class. I’m excited to see how he grows throughout the year!

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

Our new life is quite enjoyable. Mommy and I were just talking last night about what an uphill journey the past couple of years have been for us. We were new to being parents, while working hard to get out of debt and find a bigger house.

Dear Jack: Our 4th Week In Our New House

We’re there now. Now we can take a minute to breathe… and focus our attention other things we have formerly had to put on the backburner.

In fact, I’m working on something right now that, if it turns out, could be really good for our family. We’ll see how that works out, in a few weeks or months…

Love,

Daddy

3 Comments Posted on finance, new house, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: We Sold Our Townhouse… It’s Official! Thank The Lord!

4 years, 3 months.

Dear Jack: We Sold Our Townhouse... It's Official!

Dear Jack,

The pictures you see here are not totally recent… they are from December 1st, 2014; more than 2 and a half months ago.

I’ve been hinting that we sold our townhouse. But for me, there just wasn’t closure with the story:

We were waiting on a reimbursement from taxes that we accidentally double paid, which ultimately was the profit we made from selling our townhouse.

Well, that check arrived in the mail last week; about three weeks after moving into our new home. Closure has now arrived.

I don’t want to portray this story lightly. I consider it a miracle of God that it happened the way it did:

After just 3 days on the market, our real estate agent, Dave Stanley with Reliant Realty, informed us that a nice young couple bought our townhouse from us. And we didn’t have to simply break even to sell it.

We had been praying that God would bring the right people to our townhouse. I believe God prepared them in their lives to see our townhouse when they did. (And it turns out, all the little upgrades we had been working on, like repainting the walls, and adding the backsplash, actually impressed them. They also liked our clean we kept it.)

To me, this is miraculous because it was mostly wishful thinking on our part that we would actually be able to sell it (especially for a profit) before we moved into our new house.

Dear Jack: We Sold Our Townhouse... It's Official!

I was miserably prepared to become a landlord for the next couple of years.

Instead, we don’t have to worry about it anymore!

Our townhouse was great for what we needed it for when Mommy and I first got married. It was our brand new starter home.

And now, I am so grateful to know it went to a good home.

No, wait… that doesn’t make sense. What I meant to say was, I am grateful to know that our good home went to such good new owners.

I am so happy to be where we are in life. As I’ve said it before, we worked very hard to get where we are today.

It’s not that things are just handed to Mommy and me. But every once in a while, people like us get a break.

And our townhouse selling (for a profit) in 3 days to happy new owners is definitely one of those breaks for us. Thank the Lord!

The townhouse chapter in our life is now complete. Right on time.

Love,

Daddy