Years Gone By.

Dear Boys,

So I'm absolutely terrible at keeping up with things, or following through with them. I can start something, but most of the time it's difficult to finish. Don't know why. This is one trait of mine I hope none of you get. Get my handsome looks and my charisma, but don't get my inability to keep up with things as simple as writing letters about what you ate for dinner that night, or what we did that one weekend in August. A lot has changed since my last letter and rightfully so it was almost three years ago. Our family has grown in size with the addition of our own Baby Bear! Well, he's not an actual bear... but he responds to it! One of my regrets with this whole project is that there aren't any letters from the last until now expressing my overwhelming joy that your brother came into our lives. Mommy and Daddy had more love to give and our family wasn't complete until your brother came around. The three of you fill our lives on a daily basis with so much happiness and that these words couldn't even begin to express the feeling we get looking at each of you. You all have your own personalities and each one of you have just the perfect mixture of both mommy and daddy.

Will there be more letters? I'd like to say so. But being my last one was about a thousand days ago I won't speak ahead. Just know this. Regardless of whether or not there are more letters... we will continue to make experiences for you that you will remember the rest of your lives because we are incredibly lucky to have each of you in ours. 

Love Always,
Daddy, Da-Da, Dad... and that one time you called me Edwin.

...don't do that again.

First WWE Live Event!

Dear Benjamin,

Yesterday you went with Daddy, Uncle Steve, and Grandpa Kevin to your first WWE Live Event! You've been getting into wrestling alot more lately and up until yesterday Daddy would assume you liked it so much because Daddy likes it so much, but last night you went crazy for it. Cheering, throwing your arm towards the ring and screaming at the top of your lungs. It was awesome!


It was awesome to see you get so into it, and when the show first started and you were sitting in your seat watching the action in the ring Daddy felt himself tear up just because of how happy he was. Daddy has liked wrestling since he was very young and now this is an experience he gets to share with you, and someday soon with your brother. Jonathan couldn't join us this time because he's still a little young, but he had a great night with Mommy and Auntie Sara. He'll be ready to go soon though!

On the way to the show we stopped at McDonalds to get something to eat. When you saw where we were you asked where Sheamus was. This would be the first time of many that you would ask where Sheamus was. Daddy asked you if you wanted nuggets or a cheeseburger and you picked a cheeseburger. However! When Daddy gave you the cheeseburger to eat you said you only wanted to take one bite of it. Just one bite! After we finished we headed straight to the show!

Once we got inside the building Grandpa walked with you to our section, but you were so excited that he had to stop and take you inside one of the rows to show you the ring. We then made our way over to our seats and once we were there you asked again where Sheamus was. Sheamus and John Cena. As luck would have it that night the villians The Shield would take on both Sheamus and John Cena with their partner Ryback. So, you only had to wait until the main event to see your two favorite superstars!

You were a very good boy during the show. You watched with wide eyes and kept turning back to Daddy to smile. You clapped your hands when people clapped their hands, and then when Daddy was chanting "Y2J! Y2J! Y2J" you started chanting for "Y2J! Y2J! Y2J!". The moment couldn't have been any better! Mommy's favorite Vickie Guerrero came out and yelled "Excuse Me!" with that voice that goes right through your head, and you yelled back "Excuse me!" It was great to see you get so into it!

When it was time for the Divas to wrestle Daddy decided to take you over to the merchandise stand. Once we got there you had a field day with the items you wanted. "Daddy I want the John Cena hand. Daddy I want the John Cena light stick! Daddy I want the John Cena head band! Daddy I want the Sheamus necklace!" Good thing Daddy brought money... due to Daddy's feelings for the night getting the best of him you walked away with all the things you wanted. We even got Jonathan a Zack Ryder headband because that's one of his favorite guys. Woo woo woo. You know it!

The Sheamus necklace is much too big for you to wear around your neck, but you insisted on doing it. You wore the John Cena foam hand, and waved around the John Cena light baton that on it's highest setting could probably cause someone to have a seizure. Daddy is going to put the foam hand away for when you're bigger. Something to remember your first WWE show by!

You took turns sitting between Daddy and Grandpa, and then you said you wanted to sit near Uncle Steve so you switched seats with Daddy. It was Uncle Steve's idea to bring you to the show and it's probably the best idea he's ever had!

Finally the moment had arrived. Sheamus would be making his way to the ring! As soon as his music hit the speakers you started going crazy and screaming his name. Uncle Steve says when you yelled you actually got some spit in his face. Better him than a stranger! Once Sheamus was in the ring there was a moment of silence. Then... John Cena's music hit! You were already going crazy for Sheamus so when John Cena's music went off it sent you right over the edge. You were throwing your Cena foam hand high into the air and screaming "JOHN CENAAAAAA!" it was hilarious and Daddy wishes he recorded it. There's always next time! When we were walking out of the arena you looked at Daddy and said "Daddy, can you believe what we just saw?"

The only downfall of the night was when we were leaving the parking garage. We were stuck on the highest level for about a half an hour without any movement. You kept saying "Daddy go! Daddy go!" because "I want to go home and see my Mommy now." We finally made it out and you fell asleep on the way home. When we got there Jonathan and Mommy were wide awake and Jonathan was running around playing with his new toys that Auntie Sara got for him. She got you some too!

Daddy is very proud of how good you were. It shows that you weren't too young to be there and that you loved every second of it, but there's no way you loved it more than Daddy. Daddy has loved wrestling for as long as he can remember, but last night wasn't about Daddy loving wrestling. It was about Daddy loving you and the special bond that we share with each other. I love you so very much... even if you like John Cena. Daddy can't wait until we go again, and we can bring Jonathan with us. My future tag team champions!

Seriously though... John Cena?
Ah well.... love always,  
Dad

And One More Makes Five

Dear Boys,


I know I know I haven't written a letter in quite some time and we've had so many exciting things happen to us over the last few months. For starters the two of you are both a year older now! We had a Cars 2 birthday party and we rented a moon bounce! It was so much fun to jump around all day. We even got to do it again at a moon bounce place at the mall.

We watched every Patriots game, and we watched the season come to an end. Benjamin you got to meet one of your favorite WWE Superstars Sheamus! Daddy took you just up the road to a car dealership where we waited in line for over an hour to meet him. He was really nice to you, taking the time to shake your hand and talk about your Sheamus Brawlin Buddy. He told you not to leave it in the sun because it sun burns very easy due to it's really white skin. Just like his! Daddy is very happy that the two of you like wrestling as much as he does. You'll catch a lot of grief about it because for some strange reason people think it's fake, but don't let those people get you down. Wrestling is as real as you want it to be! We just have to get past the whole not trying it at home thing.

Brady has grown a lot over the last few months. He's still very crazy and likes to jump on anyone who visits us. Jonathan you have a special bond with Brady. The two of you like to attack each other and jump on one another. Daddy believes that Brady is just misunderstood and after awhile he'll tone down. Hopefully he tones down just a little over the next few months.

We celebrated Halloween. Benjamin you were Batman, and Jonathan was Spiderman. Thanksgiving came and went, and Christmas did too. Santa was very good to the both of you this year bringing you more toys than two kids could ask for. Daddy thinks that our Elf on the Shelf Buddy might of had something to do with that. Buddy joined us shortly after Thanksgiving and stayed up until Christmas Eve. Every morning the two of you would come downstairs and most days Jonathan, you would find Buddy and point him out. He sat on the light, the Christmas tree, and even one day hung on a pan the whole day! His stamina is pretty good to keep his arms hanging for that long. Buddy has joined Santa back at the North Pole, but I'm sure we'll see him next year!

You both became obsessed with Thomas the Train. We even went to Edaville USA and spent a day with Thomas. We started watching the Star Wars movies and you guys loved it.

You both had a major change in your daily routine! Mommy had to return to work during the day so the two of you are now going to day care! You've both been there for about a week now and the way the two of you are it's like you've been there the whole time. Daddy brings the both of you in the morning, and the two of you argue over which song we are going to listen to. "Life is a Highway" the CARS SONG or "You've got a Friend in me" TOY STORY SONG! Mommy picks the both of you up when it's time to come home. At first Daddy was uneasy about making the transition from home to day care, but Daddy is happy that you're both able to play with other kids and have new experiences. Your day care provider Jodi is very nice and after the first day you met her you guys couldn't stop talking about her. This week has been different, but the two of you are so happy with going to day care that Daddy doesn't mind having to leave the house even earlier every day to get you there on time!

Oh, and how could Daddy forget? Jonathan you're officially going to join Benjamin as a big brother! Mommy and Daddy are having another baby! While we are hoping it's a girl we will be happy as long as the new baby is healthy and has ten fingers and ten toes. Daddy was worried at first, but only for a little while. Mommy and Daddy love the two of you so very much and we have so much more love to give that another baby will fit in just fine around here. Some people would think that we've gone mad, but Daddy believes that God only gives us what we can handle. As long as our family is happy and healthy then everything else can fall into place. Benjamin, you're fully expected to be able to change diapers and feed your new baby brother or sister when the time comes. Oh, and mow the lawn, and take out the trash, and all that other good stuff. It's after three years old that you can start doing all those things right?

Daddy loves the two of you very much and I'm very proud of the things you're doing. You're both talking up a storm and doing new things every day, but don't grow up too fast. Daddy can mow the lawn for another year if need be!

Love Always,
Dad

Brady!

Dear Boys,

Yesterday, after a couple of months of waiting we were finally able to pick up our new puppy! For weeks leading up to his arrival Mommy and Daddy would talk to the both of you about the newest addition coming to our family. We picked up our puppy from a breeder out of town, and on their website they posted a few videos of the puppies so we could see how they were coming along. You both loved watching those videos so much that our views must be 80% of the total view count! But yesterday was the big day to go and pick up Brady our new Golden Retriever! Picking his name was an easy task. He rocks his Patriots jersey just as well as who he is named after.

After leaving Cousin Wendy's cookout Mommy and Daddy brought the two of you to Grandpa Kevin's house where the two of you would stay and wait while Mommy and Daddy went to pick Brady up. Mommy and Daddy arrived at the Breeder's home and she had multiple puppies left over, the majority girls, and two boys. It was very difficult to pick between the two boys as they were almost identical, but one puppy stood out. One puppy came up to Daddy and took a bite of his shorts and then after he started to lick Daddy's hand it was settled. We had found our puppy!

Mommy and Daddy brought the puppy back to Grandpa Kevin's home and the two of you went crazy! Finally Brady was with you and you weren't going to let him out of your sight! Benjamin you were very vocal about how Brady was "your puppy" and no one elses. Even getting into an argument with your Great Grandmother when she said she was going to take him. No one was going to take your puppy away! After we left Grandpa Kevin's we headed over to Grandma's house to introduce Brady. They loved him too! Grandma bought Brady a bunch of new toys, even a stuffed football!

Brady's first night in his new house was similar to yours Benjamin. Brady cried in his bed for a little while at night and Daddy had to sit by his side and pet him to let him know that everything was going to be alright. That even though he left his brothers and sisters he was with a family who loved him very much and would take good care of him. He went off into puppy dream land like you guys do.

This morning when the three of you woke Daddy up Daddy brought Brady outside to go to the potty and when we came back in Daddy got the both of you out of your beds. Brady came out of his shell this morning! He was very playful with the two of you and Jonathan he was giving you a run for your money. Brady was chasing the two of you back and forth and you guys were having a blast! Daddy told the two of you to go into your play room and play with your toys, but you wouldn't budge! Benjamin you even said you did not want to play with your toys you just wanted to play with your puppy.

We had an early morning photo shoot as well! Now the three of you are all taking your naps after a long morning of running around and being little terrors. Nana and Grandpa just came by and met Brady. They wanted to take him home too! Benjamin again you wouldn't allow it, even crying this time at the thought of losing your puppy! But don't worry. Brady is here now, and he will always be your puppy, even when he's a big giant dog. Which I fear is when you will try to ride him like a horse, Jonathan. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now let's just enjoy our new puppy and show him that we are the best family he could have.

Has three kids now, well, two humans, one puppy,
Daddy

What We've Been Up To.

Dear Boys,

Daddy hasn't written a letter to the two of you in quite some time. It's something that Daddy hopes to get better at in the coming weeks because the two of you are getting bigger now, and older, and we are on the verge of your birthdays! Time sure does fly by when you're raising two little monsters. In the time since my last letter to the both of you we have had some exciting changes in our lives!

First we moved to a new house because Mommy and Daddy bought one! Benjamin the first few nights you were scared and wouldn't go to sleep unless Daddy slept on the side of you. Thankfully Daddy has lost a little weight because he was able to squeeze in on the side of you until you fell asleep. You've since come around and go to sleep on your own which is a good thing. Daddy is so proud of the little man you're becoming and it helps a little that you look just like him! You were excited about moving to the new house and over and over you would say "The new house is cool!" now you're excited about your Cars Bedroom. Jonathan you were too young to really realize what was going on, which in a way was helpful because you went to bed each and every night without a problem.

Speaking of beds Jonathan you're no longer in your crib! Daddy put together your toddler bed a couple of weeks ago and you took to it quickly! Although the very first night you were up and running around the room like a mad man. Daddy had to clean up a sea of baby wipes that covered the floor like a fresh blanket of snow! You certainly couldn't be trusted with all the items in the bedroom. You scattered toys all over the place and removed all the items from the changing table. Grandma even said she found you stuck in the middle shelf of the changing table one day! I'm not sure how you fit yourself in there, but I'm not even mad I'm impressed. You're quickly finding your personality and even though you look like your mother you have the temper of your father. Crazy little peanut!

Benjamin you went with Daddy, Uncle Brian, Auntie Amanda and Cole to Patriots Training Camp! You were good for the first half, and upon the second half you were pretty much over it. We ate at Red Robin and Daddy ordered you chicken, but you decided your wanted a hamburger so we made the switch. When the burger came though you refused to eat and was causing a stink! Then when we left it was time to head over to the actual field where the Patriots were practicing, but you didn't want to hold Daddy's hand and instead wanted to take a run for it every chance you got. Daddy would hold your hand and you would drop to the ground in defiance. It was quite the task to try and take care of you without your Mother. When we got to the field though there were already thousands of people there so we did not stay long. We all got back into the car and headed home where you took a much needed nap. You're too young for things like this now, but Daddy is excited for the trips we're going to take a few years from now when both you and your brother are old enough to understand what's going on. Even though Daddy remembers when he and Uncle Chris were small enough to understand what was going on with our trips... we were still terrors! I suppose Nana and Grandpa were right. Some day we would have little boys and hopefully they wouldn't be nearly as crazy as we were.

Daddy hasn't been writing these letters lately because he's been busy writing something else! Daddy has just completed work on his first novel, and only a couple of people have read it so far, but the reviews have been good! Daddy just has to edit the entire thing now and then ship it off to see if it's good enough to be published. Here's to wishful thinking! I have the two of you and your mother to thank for the novel because without any of you I wouldn't be inspired enough to write a hundred thousand words to form a story.

No matter if this is the last letter, or the beginning of another series of letters. Daddy loves the two of you so very much and not a day goes by that I'm not proud of the young boys you're both becoming. Time goes by quickly, but even when you're both old and grey you'll always be my babies. There's a Mariah Carey joke in there somewhere I'm sure of it. I love both of you and I'm excited we are on this adventure together.

Love Always,
Dad