Dear Patrick,
- On Sunday 11/8, Mark Vehorn was in town and had dinner with us. You ate quickly and then asked me if you could be excused from the table. With a nod, you jumped out of your chair and pointed two fingers at your father and Mark. “I finished before both you guys!” you declared victoriously. Your dad could not stop laughing about that for two days.
- I found a tiny, toy turtle in the front pocket of my jeans on 11/6. This must only happen to those who live with a five year old.
- “Look at my new kicks,” you told your friend Ella at school, showing her your shoes when I dropped you off in the morning. The brand is Merrell so you’ve also been calling them “m-kicks.”
- At your first hockey game, Pop told me that you were more interested in the folding seats than the action on the ice.
- You will give me a back-rub by crawling on my back on your hands and knees and it’s actually pretty good.
- Phinneas and Ferb is your favorite TV show lately. You and your Dad sing the whole theme song out-loud together.
- You paired a red turtle-neck shirt with khaki shorts on 11/10. Your dad said to you that morning, "It takes a self assured guy to pull off that look, pal." Especially since you call your shirt a duck-neck, which I love and don’t want to ever correct.
- You are hot natured - you don’t want covers or really clothes in general. And you really dislike a hot pillow.
- On Wednesday morning 11/11, I asked if you and Elephant slept well. “You bet we did!!” you answered. I swear you are the most positive person on the planet.
- “I know everything,” you told me on 11/13. I said that, yes you did know a lot, but you still have a lot to learn...especially about humility.
- “You can go home now,” you told me after I helped you get your bike up the to the top of the hill. You wanted to ride bikes with your Dad - just the two of you.
- You went to your first Gamecocks game and in the cock-a-boose outside the stadium and seats on the 50 yard line. You came into the house chanting “USC Go Cocks!”
- We went to the neighborhood block party on Saturday 11/14 at Community Tap. There were some older kids throwing the corn hole bean bags at each other and you jumped right in and played with them. When the game turned to chase, you ran fast like lightening and kept right up with them. You called them both “bro.”
- “I don’t mind the breathing treatments, Mom - I’m like a green Darth Vader,” you told me on 11/17.
- You pronounce the word mirror as “mir-ra.”
- After 100 games of baby lizard this month, your dad and I have decided that you are more bossy than creative, and its time to push back. We can pretend too - without a script from you.
- You have some sweet break-dance moves.
- Thanksgiving this year was pot-luck style. Biggie made smoked turkey and brought it to our house along with a cranberry cheesecake. Gangie made the mac&cheese and I did the dressing. Your Dad made sweet potatoes and brussel sprouts that had everyone loving brussel sprouts! Sal and Tom and Nana and Papa also came, and it was a really nice time gathered around the long table together.
