A big fun day...

Dear Nicky,

The day started off very cold and gloomy, with no sun at all. It was a little depressing, and also anxiety inducing because the absence of sunny weather just reduces our options of kid entertainment that much more. So we took a trip up to Barnegat Light to see the lighthouse. We also took a nice little walk around the bay area and you guys got plenty of sunshine. When we got home you ate a nice lunch and took a good nap. Afterward we went to feed the seagulls then we took a walk over to the bayside. Over there we met a nice lady with a dog named Dallas. The lady gave us six ears of corn, which we took home and cooked on the grill along with some steaks. When dinner was over we went to Fantasy Island again and got on even more rides than last night. You guys really enjoyed it, and Mom and I loved watching you.

Love,
Dad

Another day in the sun...

Dear Nicky,

Once again I'm posting fromy iPhone. We had a really nice day today. You spent a lot of time in the water. Later went out to dinner, then an arcade type place where you guys danced and rode a train and a truck too.

Love,

Dad

We're at the beach...

Dear Nicky,

Well here we are and I'm gonna try and post from my iPhone for real this time. I'll be honest with you: I don't like traveling and I don't think I really like LBI anymore either. The houses are expensive and crappy. Today it was very rainy but it looks like it'll be better tomorrow. Hopefully you and Junie will be nicer as well. You guys sure are a challenge when we travel. Let's not have another Anguilla on our hands okay?

Love,
Dad

This I know...

Dear Nicky,

I ran around a lot today, so I'm tired and fuzzyheaded but I know I love you.

Love,
Dad

More gym...

Dear Nicky,

Went to the gym today, feeling good. Your sitter gave us a quasi notice today that she may no longer work for us. Meh, no big deal. More time with you for me.

Love,
Dad

From my iPhone...

Dear Nicky,

Well, actually it's not really from my iPhone. It started on my iPhone, I tried to make it go from my iPhone, but I think there was some compatibility issue or something. Anyway, today was a fine day. I went to the gym finally and had a good workout. That really helps me feel better physically and mentally. I think it helps me be a calmer, better parent.

Love,
Dad

Nice ending...

Dear Nicky,

It was rough today, but I feel better now. I haven't gotten much sleep, so that's why I'm cranky. I'm going to bed now.

Love,
Dad

Just a day...

Dear Nicky,

Was just wiped out today, not productive at all. You kids were harder to deal with than usual.

Love,
Dad

It's late...

Dear Nicky,

It's late, so I'll be brief. Mom took you guys to church today while I did yardwork around the house. It was hot and exhausting. We had lunch, then later we went out to Granny's, who watched you while Mom and I had a nice dinner at the Plucky Tavern. We came home and Mom put you to bed. I went to the B&N in Livingston, but it had already closed, so I came home.

Love,
Dad

Denied again...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Mom rushed you guys out of here and over to Granny's to spend some more time with Aunt Za and your cousins. Trouble was, Granny was in a foul mood yet again. I was once again lured out there with the promise of food. This time it was an early lunch at a nice restaurant while Granny watched you guys. But when I arrived I heard talk of stopped-up toilets and leaky ceilings and Aunt Za and Uncle Den were making ready to depart ASAP. So we schlepped out butts back home. You fell asleep in the car and Mom and June went to the mall. They hotfooted it back home quickly too, because Junie almost got herself lost and Mom was so upset. After everyone's nap, we went down to Target and got some stuff, then to Chimney Rock for an early dinner, then we got ice cream, which you played with but did not eat. When we came home it was straight into the tub, then we watched Sleeping Beauty, then some Lion King, which didn't really hold your interest. I tried to read you guys a bedtime story, but you were too tired and couldn't sit still, so it was straight to bed, right after the usual hug-kiss-squeeze.

Love,
Dad

Very successful day...

Dear Nicky,

This morning I straightened up the garage a lot and Mom was so happy. You got a nice big boy haircut and you look great and you behaved wonderfully. I got an iPhone. Then I went to the urologist and got good news. Later we went out to Granny's where you guys played in the pool with Cousin Noah. For dinner we had planned on Indian food, but somehow we ended up with Chinese. You had no nap today, so on the way home you passed out like a light and we put you straight to bed, followed by Junie. It was a great day.

Love,
Dad

Daddy needs a checkup...

Dear Nicky,

I think I might have a hernia, and also prostate problems, hopefully nothing major. We'll find out tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Lunch out...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon, since Susana the cleaning lady was still around when I picked you and Junie up from school, I decided to take us all out for lunch at the Chimney Rock. You guys behaved great and you ate well too. I was so proud of both of you. And you've been doing great as far as the potty's concerned. You're still not pooping on the potty, but you do it in your diaper, which you only wear at nap time. After a lengthy nap this afternoon, I made us a nice pasta dinner, which you didn't eat but Mom loved. So it was a great day.

Love,
Dad

Same old...

Dear Nicky,

Not much to report today. Had some steak tonight, then a bath. Had some laughs rolling around this afternoon. You kids kept me hopping for lunch and dinner. It's all good.

Love,
Dad

Sleepy guy...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you went to Santa Fe with Junie and seemed to have a good time. I made you pancakes for lunch. We all took a nap, then had dinner, and went for a ride. In the car you fell asleep. I put you to bed when we came home; you've been out since. Hope you don't wake up too early.

Love,
Dad

Nodding off...

Dear Nicky,

A nice day in a nice weekend, nothing major or new. Too sleepy now, must say good night.

Love,
Dad

Eco center...

Dear Nicky,

For breakfast, I made you some French toast, which you ate with gusto. This morning we went to the environmental center in Bernardsville. We've been there before. It was nice. It was very hot oustide, but nice inside. There's not a lot of things to do or see, really, but it's okay. We bought a couple of electronic bird calls and some organic bug repellent. We came home and had some lunch and made brownies and went for a nap. Upon waking Mom took you to Granny's while I applied mortar to that big gap in the patio. When you came home we watched some Little Mermaid, then went to bed.

Love,
Dad

Last day of Stones...

Dear Nicky,

This morning we went to Jeff the optician, who fixed all of your glasses. Then I took you to Stones. It was your last day there for a couple weeks. When you came home I put you to bed. Later, Mom played with you and Junie in the backyard. We ordered some pizza for dinner. I gave you guys a bath. Then we watched Pinocchio on DVD and it was time for bed.

Love,
Dad

Flare-up...

Dear Nicky,

Tomorrow is your last day of Stones for the summer, so you'll be having a little break for a while. This morning the school nurse called me to say you had taken a little fall. Happily, you weren't hurt, but your glasses got bent a little. We're going to the optician first thing in the morning. In other news, my sciatica is bothering me again.

Love,
Dad

Good meal...

Dear Nicky,

This evening I made you some roast pork tenderloin. Actually, it was for all of us, and I also made some pasta to go with it. You totally pounded it, and even had some pasta. It was a good meal and you ate it well. Later I gave you both a bath and neither one of you freaked out. Then we watched Cars and Mom put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

An early night...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon, when I could have really used the extra time available when you nap from two to five, instead of napping, you and Junie woke up early. So we hung out for a while, then went for a ride. When we came back Mom was home. You hardly ate any dinner. You both seemed tired and rundown, so we put you to bed relatively early, and now I'm going too.

Love,
Dad

Patches delivery...

Dear Nicky,

This morning I delivered some more eye patches to the school nurse at Stones. She mentioned your head tilting when you're patched. I asked about this at the optometrist's office earlier; typical behavior, according to them. Very hot day today, okay dinner, you ate some banana, then went to bed and had some night terrors before you fell asleep.

Love,
Dad

Slow Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

This morning we went to church, then to Wegman's, where you exclaimed "I love you!" to me a number of times, and each time it tickled my toes. Then you took a long nap in the afternoon, followed by no dinner, Mom gave you a bath, then some Cars on DVD, and then I put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

The farm...

Dear Nicky,

This morning we went to this historic farm in Morristown. Meh. It was a'ight, but it smelled terrible, at least to me. You all seemed to like it, although you did act a little fractious there. When we got home, Mom made us lunch, you and June took a nap, and when you woke, I took you two to Target while Mom finished some work. Then she went and got Mary, who came and babysat you while Mom and I went out to dinner, then the bookstore, then for some ice cream. Mary said you guys were okay but a little off.

Love,
Dad

The gym with Jonny...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon when you arrived home passed out sleeping, Mom put you to bed and I went to the gym with your Uncle Jon. It was nice but it took too long. Then I went over to Granny's for a quick dinner. Mom had taken you kids over there earlier. We ate some dinner then I drove Uncle Matt to the train station. When I got home, Mom gave you a bath. Then we watched Sleeping Beauty and I put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

Dinner for grownups...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you were very cute and affectionate as I put you on your transport for school. Later I went to the gym for some cardio, then I went about my Thursday afternoon business. This evening Mom and I and uncles Jon and Matt and Granny and Grandad went out for dinner for Uncle Matt's belated birthday. While some guys were late, the dinner was nice overall. Laurie took care of you guys and put you to bed, so you were out like lights when we came home because you hadn't napped all day.

Love,
Dad

Another ride...

Dear Nicky,

First of all, congratulations on having another poopy right on the toilet this afternoon. You told me straight out, I put you on, and you did your business. Later we went for a ride around Bernardsville, then had some sausages for dinner. We had a lot of laughs in the evening at bedtime.

Love,
Dad

Dinner at the rock...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon you took a really fine nap, then we woke up and got some forms from the doc. We went for a nice long drive, came home to find Mom home, went out to a nice dinner at Chimney Rock, went for ice cream at Zita's, came home, then bath, Nemo, bed.

Love,
Dad

Fingers...

Dear Nicky,

This evening was going smoothly, very nice, we had just watched Nemo, when Junie went off to use the potty. You went to tag along and when Mom wasn't looking, June slammed your fingers in the door. Luckily you weren't hurt, but June has to learn to stop slamming doors, and you have to learn to not leave your fingers lingering in doorjambs. And Mom has to learn to never let her guard down around you kids. Wouldn't have happened on my watch.

Love,
Dad

Science museum...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon we went to the Liberty Science Center. It's a pretty cool facility. There were lots of animal exhibits and a lot of various technological exhibits. It was fun to go there and I could tell you and June had a good time, but I think you kids needed to be a little older to fully appreciate it. Returning home, we went out to dinner at the Chimney Rock, where you ate almost an entire pizza by yourself. Then we went out for ice cream, where you did your usual: have a bite or two of your ice cream, then play with it and your spoon for the remainder of our time there. When we came home, Mom gave you a bath and I put you to sleep.

Love,
Dad

Grumpy daddy...

Dear Nicky,

I didn't sleep very well last night so I've been grumpy all day.

Love,
Dad