Growing up in a large family, one of the more exciting parts of the Christmas season was Pollyanna where we would pick each others names out of a hat and secretly leave little gifts or candy for the person we picked. With the boys as young as they are, we […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Our house sits at the top of a t-intersection, looking straight down the road that connects with ours. The bathrooms in our house are in the front with toilets that are right next to the windows. They look directly down the street so that if the blinds are open, well, […]
It's The Papa 