I wrote this seven years ago…It was just after we discovered that Andrea was pregnant with Benjamin. Christmas was bittersweet. I never thought it possible have joy clash with grief in the manner that it did. We found out after Christmas Eve Mass that Andy’s grandmother had possibly suffered a […]
I’ve said it before…I love Christmas. It was always magical to me as a kid, but that magic was lost for a while. Now, as new magic is created through my children, I always think back to my own childhood (and after) memories. I wrote the below a few years […]
Last night, Benjamin and Matthew decided to make Christmas presents for Andrea and I. They disappeared into the office and proceeded to discuss and create the perfect gifts (with some arguing and lots of giggling). At one point, as I passed the office door, I heard papers quickly get shuffled […]
It’s the Christmas season, obviously, and the boys are beyond excited. They are up at least an hour earlier than normal, they run around like chickens without heads and the most popular question (it accounts for at least 50% of their questions) is “How many days until Christmas?” They ask, […]
Perhaps I should have written this a week and a day ago, but I don’t think it is ever a bad time to contemplate those things in your life that you are thankful. I can remember so many times in my life where I have wanted something more for my […]
About a year or two ago, we were visiting with friends of ours who own a house up in the Poconos. As I was walking out with Ben, I turned to my friend and asked, “Do you have any B-E-A-R-S here?” (I spelled “bears” in case that wasn’t clear.) Within […]
Last week I was driving in the car with the boys and said to them, “Do you guys know that I love you?” To this Benjamin responded, “Of course, daddy, you’ve told us that thousands of times.” “Well,” I said, “I could tell you it a million times a day […]
This past weekend was my 20th high school reunion, as well as Andrea and I’s 12th wedding anniversary. Needless to say, the weekend was dripping with sentimentality, nostalgia, flashbacks and, of course, alcohol. A lot of it (not the alcohol, thankfully) continues to stick with me. While the boys hung out […]
On Sunday, I was watching the end of a football game when Benjamin came over and sat with me. He seemed a little bit interested in the game, but more interested in being near me (so sweet), until he noticed one teams helmets and logo at midfield. “Daddy, do you […]
Within minutes of giving Matthew a donut last night, he came into the kitchen holding a small bag of Skittles and asked if he could have it for his snack. I said to him, “I just gave you a donut!” To which he replied, “Donuts have grains in them, so […]
It's The Papa 