Author Archives: Dad

OKC Spring Break

So we went to Oklahoma City for spring break this year.

I know, I know – not exactly Fiji or Key West.

Mom was tired of going to the hill country. New Mexico is still half closed down with COVID. Dallas can be boring. And – we didn’t want to have to fly.

Unfortunately, we had a bit of random bad luck.

In short, our hotel was a dump. It was understaffed, dirty, and all-round unpleasant. On top of that, the heater for the indoor pool was broken.

So we witched hotels.

Our next hotel was much cleaner, but one of the elevators was broken. And we ended up on sketch side of town – us not knowing our way around and all.

Their pool heater worked though! But others noticed this too. The least night we were there I swam with you (H and K) while mom tried to put you (T) to sleep. There were 23 other people in the little pool…

Ugh, I hate crowds.

Which reminds me that we also went to the zoo while we were there. We went – along with everyone else in the state of Oklahoma, I think.

I mean, I have never been to a more crowded zoo. The San Diego had fewer people standing in line breathing on each other.

The food in OKC was fantastic though!

Everyone seemed to especially enjoy Hideaway Pizza and Ted’s Mexican food.

We even got to drive through Archer City on the way home and shop at Booked UP (Larry McMurtry’s old bookstore).

I love you.

-Dad

Chicken Fried

H, the last few days mom and I have been listening to some old country songs.

Some old. Some not so old.

Fast forward a few days.

You are walking from one end of the house to the other.

I hear you singing to yourself Chicken Fried, By: Zach Brown Band.

You sing:

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Ahhhhhhh! Mom and I just gasp at each other…

Our precious seven year old singing about beer!

I text Aunt Jenny later to laugh about the whole thing.

She says: “Raising that girl right if she knows Zach Brown songs.”

Mom laughs and simply says:

It’s a good song!

We just love you to pieces.

I love you.

-Dad

Your Personal Pastry

T, you made it through your first birthday party!

We had a lazy morning getting ready for the party, playing together, and watching TV.

Pop and Grams, Aunt Jenny, Baily, Hannah, and Coco all got to come and celebrate.

You were full of grins and smiles – just like every other day.

We got you an obligatory “smash cake” and everyone else got a cupcake.

You simply picked a few bits of icing off the side of your personal pastry – and wondered why you didn’t have a cupcake like everyone else.

You smashed the cupcake we gave you and mom gave you a bath when you had your fill.

We all sang happy birthday to you – and a grain of sand dropped that made the moment bittersweet.

We all went to Rosa’s for dinner afterward and said our goodbyes in the parking lot as the temperature began to drop.

I love you.

-Dad