Hi sweetie,

Hi sweetie,

This picture is from eight years ago when we went to Aunt Cait’s wedding. You looked so handsome. You had an adorable little clip-on tie and everything. You and Ellie were troopers that day too. We drove from Tennessee to Pittsburgh the morning of the wedding and left the wedding that night and drove back to Tennessee.

As much as I hate roadtrips, you guys did so well in the car. The military life prepared you and got you accustomed to long drives. It was eight hours from Tennessee to Pennsylvania, twelve hours from Missouri to PA, and a little less than six from Virginia to PA. Plus, there was the four and a half hour drive from Pittsburgh to Philly when we did visit Pennsylvania. Then Hawaii made it nearly impossible financially to get us back.

We drove back home for Christmas your first year. You were only about five months old. Ellie was losing her mind in the car. She just kept screaming her head off and crying. We were playing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse soundtrack so loud trying to make her happy. You just sat there quietly in your car seat. I think you were used to her being louder. You were my chill baby.

You were so incredibly excited to come to Hawaii. Although we had a three hour flight from Virginia to Texas and then another ten hours from Texas to Hawaii. You got to sit across the aisle from me and had a smile on your face the whole ten hour flight to Oahu.

Happy Halloween Eve Eve, because you know Lucas has said it a few times today. I’m going to buy and carve your pumpkin tomorrow. I do get bummed that we have to throw out our pumpkins the morning after Halloween or they’ll be melting and destroyed by bugs within hours. I will make you a good one. I love you so much my sweet boy. Goodnight and sweet dreams.