Get out of this place.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Gus started his post-season tournament Monday night, but it got postponed after the first inning for weather. I was kinda happy about it, so I could be at the game. We played the Pirates and didn't play great, but the season on the whole was fun. I liked this team, and I liked even more than Gus got passionate about baseball. As Gus packed up his stuff in the dugout for the last time this season, I got overwhelmed with pride and asked Coach Joe to take a picture of us.

Emerson's mom took lots of photos tonight and shared this one of Gus playing second base with us.

Nene & Rick came down, and Yiayia & Errol were there as well. After the game, Yiayia & Errol joined us at Buffalo Grill for dinner.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Andrea gave a great speech at the Board of Directors meeting. She talked about working together to move the association forward, etc. She also announced that she's promoting Joale to Education Director, which I'm so happy about. Joale has been crucial in helping me with my professional development duties. I'm excited for her.

The meeting ended around lunchtime, I picked up Chick-fil-a on my way out of town, stopped to pick Mom some flowers off the side of the road, and then got home earlier than expected. I missed you three. I'm not used to being gone like that any more -- even for relatively quick trips.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

This is a photo from my GRLA class that I'm facilitating. They are deep into working on their legacy project, which will help REALTORS know who to call -- the association vs the commission vs anyone else -- with various real estate issues. The highlight of my day was giving a communications report I built to the Communications Committee, which gave me a chance to really dig into the progress I've made since taking this job. I didn't realize how successful our communications have been. My proudest stats were that our Facebook views are up 49% in 2026, and that 49.9 percent of our views came from people who are not already following us, which means we're expanding our audience and engaging them with our content. (And, honestly, I don't like most of things I'm posting because I'm not even getting close to the quality of content I'd be able to post if I had Bryan, Darla, and a graphic designer on staff.)

I sat in on the Diversity Committee meeting and had a very real conversation about the topic. I had multiple people I respect tell me afterward that I was responsible for steering the conversation where it needed to go, which made me feel good.

It was a long day, but I did my job well today. Board meeting in the morning, then heading home.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I left this morning for El Dorado for our Summer Meetings over the next couple of days. I think it's the first time I've ever been to El Dorado.

I had dinner with the ARA Executive Committee at the Country Club, where the Arkansas Razorback baseball team was losing on the big screen and everyone was pouty. I spent the whole dinner telling everyone they were welcome to get on the Little Rock Trojan bandwagon. "Game starts at 8!"

I rushed back to the hotel to catch the Trojan baseball team in their NCAA regional final. It didn't end until nearly midnight, but we won! So we're headed to the Super Regionals for the first time in program history.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

This morning you two and I took Tutu to the Hillcrest Farmer's Market, then Mom took them to the hardware store to grab supplies to make some planter boxes. I mowed and fought back against the vines on the back fence when I noticed some poison oak amongst the Virginia creeper.

The Calhouns joined us for a fried catfish dinner -- G&T brought us a fryer. The Trojan baseball team played in the regional finals and ultimately won, so we're headed to the super regional for the first time in program history. Go Trojans.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Grandpa & Tutu wanted to go estate sale'ing today, so you two and Mom went with them to Hot Springs. I spent my lunch break at the Little Rock Trojan Baseball Watch Party at Waldo's. The team is rocking and rolling in the Hattiesburg Regional. They're only the 11th four-seed to start 2-0 since 1999, when this format started. It's exhilarating.

When I got home from work, Gus said, "Dad! We went to an estate sale and I spent $48!" I asked what he spent his money on and he said, "Come upstairs and I'll show you." When I got up there, he showed me this.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Grandpa & Tutu came in this afternoon for a few days. They brought some additions to the costume closet. And lots of carbs.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Yiayia and Nene are alternating days with you two this week while Mom and I are working. This afternoon she took you to a kids tennis day at Rebsamen. I didn't get much of a recap because I stayed late at the office to work and didn't get home until after bedtime.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Gus experimented with hairstyles after getting out of the bath tonight. Not in a silly way, but in an exploratory way. He's becoming much more aware of the image he's projecting. His favorite outfits these days involve matching a clothing brand head to toe -- Adidas shirt, Adidas shorts, Adidas socks, Adidas shoes.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

The Calhouns invited us over to their house for brats. It was good to catch up with them. Sonny is wearing a cone of shame because something was wrong with his ear. The vet was certain it was a hematoma until they investigated further and realized that while Meredith was playing dress up with Sonny, she put a hair-tie around his ear and nearly castrated it overnight.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I took you Martin's house for his birthday party this afternoon -- Mags was excited to see his PreK friend Evan there -- and then we grabbed Mom and her fruit salad from our house before heading to Beebe for a cookout on the Compound. Gus got to play the role of the oldest cousin, which I think he enjoyed.

It was good to sit around Nana's table with everyone.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

This was the first Saturday morning we've all had together at home since March 7(?!). It felt good to be able to drink some tea/coffee and read a book on the reading couch. Mid-morning, though, Mom said she wanted to go do something active -- maybe climb Pinnacle Mountain. I suggested we make it a picnic, so that's what we did. Magnus's first ascent, and he did great. I only had to carry him a few times.

When we got to the top, we saw a tarantula, which was cool. We ate our lunch, then a rain cloud started to move it, so we headed back down the mountain. It was a great family outing.

Mom took you to Professor Bowl, where you hung out with the Baileys and the Walls, while I stayed back and took care of some work things at the house.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I didn't take a picture today, but Mom sent me this one that she took of Magnus and Meredith playing. First day of summer break.

I'm so grateful to live on this street with good kids you two can grow up with.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Today is your last day of PreK/3rd grade. Mom and I can't believe how grown you both are. We're terribly proud. She took you for Loblolly after school, then when I got home, we all went for a celebratory dinner at a restaurant you two chose (and agreed upon) -- El Sur.

We had you both in bed by 8pm, but then Laura messaged Mom to say Jack Bailey was on his way to their house to spend the night, so we went and got Gus out of bed and sent him over. He was ecstatic. A good way to kick summer break off.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

This is the only photo I took today, which is kind of embarrassing. I accidently left my sunglasses at home, so I had to use my worst-case scenario backup pair that I keep in my consol. I don't know where they came from. I only took this photo to flirt with Mom.

Dad.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

I didn't take a picture today, but here's one from three years ago. Mom was working that entire weekend, so the Choate Boys loaded up and spent the weekend at Nene's house.

ANOTHER PHOTO FROM THAT DAY: Here.

AND ANOTHER PHOTO FROM THAT DAY: Here.

Dad.

Beebe, Arkansas. 5.20.2023 - 5.45pm.

PHOTO CREDIT: Nene.

Dear Gus & Magnus,

Gus had his final regular season baseball game tonight -- the end-of-season tournament starts in a couple of weeks. When we walked out of the dugout after the game, we found Mom, Yiayia, and Magnus playing on the little-kid field. Gus joined in. Everyone giggled the whole time. It's fun having a playful Mom and Yiayia.

Dad.