Guy Choate's photo-a-day blog with captions addressed to his sons. All original content.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Family walk before dinner.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.12.2025 - 4.49pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
First day of Pre-K and third grade. Gus is over the pictures and he didn't want anyone to come into school with him. But he did help me set up Magnus's toys that said goodbye to him this morning.
I spent four and a half hours at a company who wants to hire me. They're making their final pitch in the hopes I choose to come work there. It was a day well spent -- I could see myself doing well there.
Reports from both of you at the end of the day stated that you liked school. That's good news.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.11.2025 - 7.13am.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Family movie day at the theater to see Sketch, which ended up being scarier than the trailer suggested. Magnus had to step away for a bit, and Gus hid his face a couple of times too (despite saying, "I was never scared," after Magnus said he got scared after the show).
We went to dinner at Yiayia's house afterward to spend some time with her before she flies to Las Vegas.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.10.2025 - 1.22pm.
#sketch#sketch movie#the choates#liz choate#gus choate#magnus choate#guy choate#selfie#movies#movie theater
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
The Choate Boys hit family day at the AMFA studios while Mom went to the gym this morning. We made pipe-cleaner flowers, a necklace, and we threw some pottery. Big fun.
Afterward, we picked up Mom and drove to Nana's house for the afternoon. It was a good day.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.9.2025 - 11.08am.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Today was Magnus's last day at the Village. Mom and I picked him up early and took him to meet his Pre-K teacher at Fair Park. He was a champ. We're excited that Gracie and Meredith are both in his classroom, and he shares a cubby with Sage, who was at Village with him.
Afterward, we took him to Purple Cow for lunch and a milkshake. It's going to be a good year. Mom and I are proud of the confidence you both have in your own independence.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.8.2025 - 11.57am.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Gus had a better day at Lake Nixon today, thank goodness. But we picked him up early because we had his meet-the-teacher this afternoon. He really wanted Ms. Hall as a teacher and I can see why. She's fun and organized and made us take a picture, which Gus probably wouldn't have allowed if I'd suggested it. Also, Ms. Hall said, "Did I teach your cousins, Gus?" She did -- both Norah and Bo. And Mom and I both love that she's already started communicating with us through the app.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.7.2025 - 4.33pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
I'm the chair of this year's Downtown Food Truck Festival through my work with the Downtown Little Rock Partnership. Today we had a press conference (right in front of the Garver Comms office) to announce that we're moving the festival from Capitol Avenue to the green space at 30 Crossing. Then I went on KATV to talk about it.
I can't remember if I've ever done live TV like that, but it was fun.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.6.2025 - 3.14pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
I took this at Lake Nixon drop-off. I've always been proud to watch Gus walk so confidently into unfamiliar situations.
But pick-up didn't go as well. When I got to the truck, out of eyeshot of campers/counselors, I watched his face all into tears. I picked him up later after he requested to have extended care yesterday, but I don't think he understood how much longer he would be there today. He said he thought something had happened to me and Mom. But then he also told me an older kid pushed him down. And then he pointed the kid out to me. My blood boiled. I knew I couldn't do anything about it, that I can't even say anything to the kid in that situation, but it doesn't mean I didn't think about it. We drove home and I promised him I wouldn't pick him up that late the rest of the week.
And then later Mom figured out that maybe Gus had beaten the kid in a game and then bragged about it. So...maybe it was a lesson that he needed to learn about staying humble.
Tomorrow's a new day.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.5.2025 - 8.06am.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Gus started his week-long day camp experience at Lake Nixon today. He came home and said, "IT WAS AWESOME." He spent most of the day in/on the water. He said he even got to fish and caught a large-mouth bass. We're so glad he liked it.
In the meantime, Nene and Pam brought Nana to UAMS to the ER because her platelets were low. After helping get you two to bed, I went over to join them in the ER. They admitted her into a room shortly after I got there. They're running tests and giving her blood infusions.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.4.2025 - 9.50pm.
PHOTO CREDIT: Nene.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
We went to PHE this morning to ride bikes for a while. Then Yiayia brought us Zaza's for lunch. She and I went down the street to an open house, then we hung out on the porch for a while. It was a good day.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.3.2025 - 1.29pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
I helped Darla clean out her storage unit today while Mom took you two to the pool with the Calhouns and the Baileys. Then all three families went for dinner at Waldo's and ice cream at Scoops. (I've been wanting to try Scoops since they opened a couple of locations around town, but it doesn't hold a candle to Loblolly.)
I took this picture after we ate and everyone was playing on the artificial lawn right outside the restaurant. I feel like the photo captures Magnus's playful nature at this age (and his obsession with climbing on his parents). And, of course, it also captures how beautiful your mother is.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.2.2025 - 7.48pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Gus spent the night with the Calhouns last night. This morning Laura sent us this photo of Gus and William passed out on the couch together. We've decided it should go in their senior yearbook.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 8.1.2025 - 7.08am.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Among other things today, you two and Mom made seafaring vessels out of air clay and then tested them to see if they would float.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.31.2025 - 4.34pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
I didn't take a picture today, but here's one from this day 16 years ago. I had been laid off from Alltel for a few months and I was waiting on a court date for my divorce. I was lost and eager for a reset, though I wasn't sure how to get one.
I drank a lot during that time, and I had a habit of drinking too much and calling my dad in the middle of the night -- I'm still emotionally unpacking why I did that. But mostly I know it was a reaction to feeling like a failure. Like I could never live up to the standards he had set for me. He didn't want me to get a divorce, he didn't like that I wasn't working. He didn't like that I had spent that day in search of an inkpad so that I could get Kaia's paw tattooed on my chest.
He made me dinner that night, and -- looking back -- I recognize his behavior that night (and most times) as the best way he knew how to help me get control of my life. He loved me, but he wasn't emotionally equipped to help me handle that kind of thing. And that's okay.
I miss him. And -- as always -- I wish he could see me now. I wish he could have gotten to know you two and Mom. I know he would have been extremely proud of what I've accomplished at this point. (And also shocked, because he thought I was a train wreck waiting to happen.)
Dad.
Judsonia, Arkansas. 7.30.2009 - 7.54pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
Family movie night: Night at the Museum. None of us had ever seen the whole thing before. Mostly positive reviews from everyone. The only bad part seems to be that Magnus has adopted "Dumb-Dumb."
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.29.2025 - 7.50pm.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
I didn't take a photo today, but I found this one in the archives from 13 years ago. Jacob and I had just finished a doubles match in the Beebe Community Tennis Tournament. I was 30 years old and still had the stamina to compete in two events -- doubles and mixed doubles. Jacob and I ended up winning the whole thing.
Dad.
Beebe, Arkansas. 7.28.2012 - 3.54pm.
ANOTHER PHOTO FROM THAT DAY: Here.
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Dear Gus & Magnus,
We ended up hosting the Baileys, the Calhouns, and the Morgans for a front-yard pool party and dinner tonight. It was a good time, and hopefully will contribute to fantastic childhood memories for you two.
Gus and William went home with the Baileys to spend the night.
Dad.
Little Rock, Arkansas. 7.27.2025 - 5.22pm.
#gus choate#william calhoun#jack calhoun#magnus choate#meredith calhoun#kids#pool party#summer#summer vibes#grapes#ridgeway drive
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