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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Mom and Gus went to see William at Peter Pan in Shrek Jr. at the Argenta Contemporary Theatre. Magnus was envious that he wasn't going to the play, so I told him we could do whatever he wanted. "Go to Yiayia's house," he said. So we did. While we were there, the TV was on in the background and Magnus said, "Dad, have I been there?" I looked up to see the Lincoln Memorial, where we were earlier this month. I wasn't sure if anything we did in DC registered with him (other than the Metro), so that was a nice surprise.

We picked Mom and Gus up after the play and met the Calhouns for dinner at Kamakaito. When we all made it back to Ridgeway, the Calhouns found a baby bat stuck in their bathroom drain. And when they woke up the next day, they found another on the floor beside their bed. INSANE.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.25.2025 - 5.26pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

You have both always loved corn on the cob.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.24.2025 - 7.29pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Nate Coulter called me a few weeks ago and said he wanted to give me a tour of the renovation project at the library, so I did that this afternoon. Here's a post I made about it with more photos.

When I was a kid, I knocked on doors with my dad in an effort to get Nate elected Arkansas Lieutenant Governor instead of Mike Huckabee, and then I didn't see Nate for decades until I got involved in civic things in Little Rock back in 2017ish. Nate's become a friend, and I wish my dad could see it. I wish my dad could see so many things -- most notably how fantastic you two are.

As I've spent the last couple of weeks looking for a new job, I'm thankful to have built up so many networks in this city. I've only applied for one job so far, but I'm having lots of conversations with people from my networks and I'm hopeful that one will lead to my next professional role (because Dad's going to have to get paid and find us health insurance before too long).

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.23.2025 - 3.42pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus got drums for his birthday and he loves them. Plays all the time. Nene came by to borrow our tent for a vacation Bible school thing and Magnus asked her to join his band, so she played the guitar while Mags drummed. He's in his element.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.22.2025 - 1.22pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Magnus's Octonauts-themed party was a hit, complete with a Kwazii cake that Nene made. Lots of friends came and played in the two pools we set up. The only real issue we ran into was the big kids throwing water bombs too hard at the little kids, but we mostly stopped it before it got out of hand.

This party has been the major responsibility on our radar for a while, so it's nice to get it behind us. Well, I guess THE major responsibility is that I need to find a job, but the major domestic responsibility...

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.21.2025 - 10.11am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I went out to mow the yard before getting everything set up for Magnus's Octonauts-themed birthday party tomorrow. Gus said he wanted to mow the yard, so I let him take control. He lasted less than a lap before he said, "Dad, I don't think I want to mow the yard after all."

Mom and I worked our butts off today, but I think the party is going to be cool.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.20.2025 - 8.24am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

For the second year in a row we've gotten a summer membership to the Leawood Pool. Mom and Gus have gotten the most use out of the membership, but the whole fam got into the action today. It's a good vibe and a lot of our favorite family friends also have memberships. Tonight we ran into Will and Lu, which was nice.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.18.2025 - 6.47pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I didn't take a photo today, but I found this panorama on Mom's phone that Gus took while we were at the Grummers' pool with a few neighborhood families. In addition to playing in the pool, we ate pizza and watched the Razorback baseball game.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.17.2025 - 7.18pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I found a baby turtle in the back yard while mowing this morning. Gus played with it for a while.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.16.2025 - 10.45am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

For Father's Day I wanted to have muffin-tin movie night with a classic. Gus nearly peed his pants from laughing when Squints pretended to drown in order to kiss Wendy Peffercorn. I'm going to love introducing you both to movies as you grow up.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.15.2025 - 6.29pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

We took your new bikes to PHE today to let you ride around in the parking lot. You loved it, and we loved watching you both experience that brand of freedom.

Nene stayed with you while Mom and I went with Yiayia to Davis's wedding. I was shocked that the first person I saw when we walked into the venue was Sydney Kincaid, who apparently had some Greek Life crossover. We also ran into my friend Misty, who started a cocktail company that was working the reception.

Dad.

Conway, Arkansas. 6.14.2025 - 7.04pm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Yiayia.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Today is Gus's birthday and he started it out with a birthday card from Rob & Rese -- "Dad! $50! I'm going to make them a Thank You card right now!" And he did. Afterward, he joined Mom and me at Magnus's school where Mags celebrated his birthday with his class. I've always seen the photos of the kids walking the globe around the sun (candles), but because Gus came here during COVID, I didn't get the chance to actually witness the tradition. Ms. Courtney lit one candle, then Mags walked around the sun and everyone talked about what Magnus did when he was one. And then she lit another and he walked around and they all talked about what lessons he learned as a two-year-old. And then three and four. It was touching and made me so thankful, yet again, that you two got to spend your early years at this school. Ms. Courtney is a dream teacher.

William joined us in celebrating Gus's birthday with a dinner at All Aboard followed by ice cream at Loblolly. Having both of your birthdays so close together makes things in our lives feel like a huge jump -- a 7- and 3-year-old vs a 8- and a 4-year-old? Oof.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.13.2025 - 9.26am.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

I started what I'm calling my Hardcore Networking Tour, in which I say yes to basically every invitation I get to meet with people. Today:

Lunch with Arlton.

Second lunch (to celebrate Father's Day) with Monkel, Will, and John.

Happy hour with my Leadership Greater Little Rock classmates.

Sat by Chancellor Drale at the UA Little Rock table for Serving Up Solutions, which is an Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance fundraiser where state politicians are the table servers.

I was exhausted by the time I made it home to find Mom and her friends hanging out on the porch, but it was a good day and I got a solid lead on a job I think I would like.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.12.2025 - 1.53pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Today was my first real day to start the job hunt. I began by reaching out to people who have been asking to meet for lunch/coffee anyway. I got a lot of meetings set up for the days and weeks ahead. And I had a Downtown Partnership Board Meeting. It's weird (but good) to be without a job, but still have meetings on the calendar because of my civic involvement.

After my board meeting I came home and put Magnus's new bike together. He was stoked and rode it around the house for a while.

Gus spent his day with Nene and they hit the bowling alley in Cabot for a good time.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.11.2025 - 4.37pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

We had dinner with the Calhouns and the Morgan-O'Leary family tonight, but I also went and cleaned out my Garver office. Earl helped me pack everything up. I can't believe this won't be my work home any more, but as I said yesterday, it was a good run, and I'm excited about whatever might come next.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.10.2025 - 6.54pm.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

Yiayia took us to a hibachi dinner tonight so we could tell her about our vacation and we could celebrate your birthdays. Last time we were here, y'all weren't that impressed with the cooking display, but this time you enjoyed it.

Of note: Today was my last day at Garver. I had a good run, but it was time to move on. I have no idea what's next, but I'm excited about the possibilities. And I'm going to stay plenty busy as president of the UA Little Rock Alumni Association Board and as chair of this year's Downtown Food Truck Festival.

Dad.

North Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.9.2025 - 7.05pm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Yiayia.

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Dear Gus & Magnus,

It's good to be home after more than a week away. It was weird to spend most of the day in the car on Magnus's birthday, but we celebrated with ice cream at home after dinner. Mom did it up right for us.

I cannot believe he is four years old. He is fun and smart and handsome and we love him so much.

Dad.

Little Rock, Arkansas. 6.8.2025 - 6.49pm.