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We’ve been waging war with a particularly stubborn bottom front tooth for what seems like eternity. Oliver either literally has the world’s longest baby tooth root system, or has secretly superglued his teeth to his gums.
We’ve tried everything, but apparently this particular tooth is very special to Oliver as he refuses to allow anything near his face that might cause the minute chance of it dislodging from his mouth.
After all the tears… the refusing to eat anything that’s not yogurt… the constant vigilance and keeping his head on a swivel as to ensure nothing could or would knock out his tooth it was time.
Sadly, even with all of the added protection, a loose tooth sometimes just has to loose tooth. That little chiclet choose 8:30pm on a Wednesday night to just be free and live it’s best life.
… thank God for that!!
And with that being said, the tooth is sealed and ready for the Tooth Fairy.
Interestingly, the tooth has been placed under the spare bedroom pillow, not his own. He claims it’s so it doesn’t get lost. (AKA: he’s scared shitless of the tooth fairy).
Hopefully the Tooth Fairy comes through because Oliver thinks he’s getting $100, baseball cards… AND. I. QUOTE.: “A CVS credit card.
This blog entry will Chronicle (pun intended) a father and son’s continuation of the first time reading the Harry Potter series together. We finished Book One, Two, Three and Four… now will move onto Book Five: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I’ll update it after each chapter so that I can capture the most memorable moments. Come back often and check in on our progress and leave us a note or some feedback!
INSERT OBLIGATORY REQUEST TO COHOST MUGGLECAST HERE
I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I know Jax and I will!
Chapter 1: Dudley Demented
Why can’t Harry just be like, “BYE FELICIA…” and go live with Sirius?
Is that the first time HP and the Bye Felicia meme have been intertwined, or is it weird my kid knows that meme?!??
Chapter 2: A Peck of Owls
Dumbledore: “Remember my last, Petunia.”
Jax: “OHHHH… MY….. GODDDD…. Is Aunt Petunia a….. WITCH?!?????”
Chapter 3: The Advance Guard
Jax: “Ok… so I think I have an idea about how the book is called the Order of the Phoenix. The name The Goblet of Fire… was like if you want to enter the Tri-Wizard Tournament… then you can you take a piece of paper and put it in the Goblet of Fire that’s why the GOBLET OF Fire is important and that’s how the book gets it’s name. So, I think this one’s called the Order of the Phoenix, because there’s probably people trying to protect Harry from Voldemort called the Order of the Phoenix?”
Me: “So you think the ‘Advanced Guard’ it’s a group or something?!”
Jax: “Dumbledore‘s bird is called a phoenix remember, the Phoenix’ name is Fawkes. That’s why I think it has to be Dumbledore sending his group to protect Harry!”
He’s a critical thinker and definitely a smart kid!!! I love the fact that he grabs my arm and points to my Fawkes tattoo!!!
Chapter 4: The Order of the Phoenix
Someone sent me this meme today and it perfectly sums up reading this chapter with Jax tonight:
It was like pulling teeth until the last few paragraphs tonight. As the chapter (and Jax’ energy level) wound down we find Lupin and Sirius talking to Harry about what You Know Who has been up to. Jax then asks, “Why does Voldemort like killing Muggles?” Another smile that was hard to hide widened on my face as he asked another extremely important question (that I just can not answer yet).
However it wasn’t until he unknowingly answered his own question (got to the CRUX of the issue) that my face turned from a smile of excitement into a look of awe: “Does Voldemort get some sort of special powers from killing people?”
Chapter 5: The Order of the Phoenix
Jax isn’t having it that Harry isn’t allowed to be in the Order of the Phoenix! “He beat Voldemort like three times already! What else does he have to do!!!!”
Chapter 6: The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black
Jax begins to wonder what Voldemort’s new terrible weapon is. His initial guesses:
Chapter 7: The Ministry of Magic
SUMMARY TOLD IN JAX’ WORDS: “So, Harry and me and Mr. Weasley went to the Ministry of Magic and went underground through a telephone booth. They went to the right room, but then the time and place was switched to 8 o’clock and they were five minutes late. The elevator wouldn’t take them all the way down, so they had to run down very dark stairs and then Mr. Weasley suddenly stopped, and Harry said, “aren’t you coming?” But, Mr. Weasley was not allowed!!!”
“I predict that they’re doing it down down and down in the Ministry, because they want it to be super secret! Remember they don’t want to believe that Voldemort is back!!!”
PS: Jax, you’ve taken that very same telephone booth to the Ministry:
Chapter 8: The Hearing
Harry goes to the court room. Everyone is talking about how he used a spell outside of school, but he kept telling them it was to help his cousin. Then suddenly Dumbledore shows up to help him. We also meet Dolores Umbridge. Mrs. Figg comes to testify for him too., she said she saw the Dementors.
I think Fudge sent the Dementors to Little Winging to try to get Harry to say Voldemort isn’t back.
(Not too far off buddy! Not to bad if a prediction)
Chapter 9: The Woes of Mrs. Weasley
Mrs. Weasley sees her family dying when she finds the Boggert. Also Ron and Hermione became Prefects. Harry was mad! He wanted to be a Prefect.
Chapter 10: Luna Lovegood
He meets Luna (Looney Lovegood) on the train. She’s reading the Quibbler (a magazine). Harry sees the weird horses (Thestrals) and only Luna can see them too!!!
You never get a second chance for a first impression… Jax summary of Luna after meeting her for the first time:
Upside down magazine.
Wand in her ear
Flower on her head
Her Eyes are so wide open she looks like she was is surprised all the time
Her name is Luna LOVE-good, her name sounds like she has a crush on someone
Chapter 11: The Sorting Hat’s New Song
Some background info on the Four Founders leads Jax to again question me being sorted into Slytherin.
“But Dad, what if I’m in Slytherin?”
The whisper was for his father alone.
In The Sorting Hat’s New Song. The Sorting Hat came up with a song about the four founders of Hogwarts: Helga Hufflepuff. Salazar Slytherin. Godric Gryffindor and Rowena Ravenclaw.
The Sorting Hat told about when Slytherin left the school and the founders split up and went their own way because they were fighting. Slytherin only wanted pureblood students.
The most important part of this chapter is when the sorting hat says, “we all have to come together to fight.”
Chapter 12: Professor Umbridge
“Hem, Hem…” we finally settle on the perfect voice for Umbridge. It’s horrifically annoying and perfect for her character. Jax enjoys doing the “Hem, Hem!”
Chapter 13: Detention with Dolores
He knew right away… as soon as he sat down and Harry said he didn’t have ink for his quill… Jax knew. He literally said, “she’s going to make him write it with his own blood!” How he knew this I’ll never know, but in one of the more terrifying scenes in the series, Jax is now completely sure that Umbridge is a, “right foul git.” (Which Jax has now become accustomed to calling his little brother as well… Thanks Ron!)
Chapter 14: Percy and Padfoot
“Wait, wait… Dad… read that again! I knew it… Sirius just said that Harry scar hurts when Voldemort is Covid back! I knew it!!!”
I am not allowed to reread what I was just asked to reread, because Jackson rereads it himself! Cue the eye brow raise as he realizes he’s right 😳
Chapter 15: The Hogwarts High Inquisitor
“So Umbridge is going into all the teachers’ classes and watching what they do? Isn’t that kind of what you do Dad? She’s kind of like a mean Principal. You’d be a really good principal at Hogwarts, except you don’t know magic!!!”
Chapter 16: In the Hog’s Head
I couldn’t remember the specifics of this chapter… But I kept asking Jackson if he read any hints about the owner of the Hogsheads Inn.
Although his name is never mentioned, we assume the owner is Aberforth, who serves Butterbeer to the students attending the first Dumbledore’s Army meeting secretly being held at the inn.
Jax hasn’t figured it out yet… but he picked up on the “goat odor”.”
Luckily there wasn’t a “Goat Odor” when we visit it the Hog’s Head Inn in Florida!
Chapter 17: Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four
“BY ORDER OF THE HIGH INQUISITOR OF HOGWARTS all student organizations, societies, teams, groups and clubs are henceforth disbanded.”
Jax: Wait? “So what about Quidditch?!??“
(Good catch dude!!!”)
Chapter 18: Dumbledore’s Army
“So that’s where “Dumbledore’s Army” comes from!??!!!”
Chapter 19: The Lion and the Serpent
Umbridge kicks Harry, Fred and George off the quidditch team… Jax response: “Ok so this lady is the worst!”
Chapter 20:
I’m not sure when Jax mentioned Hagrid was out in a mission for Dumbledore, but we now have confirmation that he has been on a “mission for Dumbledore” to find and recruit giants to the fight against Voldemort.
The looks this kid gives me when he knows he’s right should upset me… but honestly… they’re impressive.
Chapter 21: The Eye of the Snake
“Dad, Harry was dreaming, but seriously could he be seeing into Voldemort’s dreams or something?”
He summarizes the chapter and is confident that somehow Voldemort is trying to posses Harry.
I’m now confident that my son is smarter than me!!!
Chapter 22: Chapter Twenty-Two: St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries
Jackson is starting to struggle with who is right and who is wrong (is that a thing). Harry is trying to figure out what is happened; the Weasley’s wan to know why he is dreaming about attacking their dad; but Jax is just S confused as Harry is.
There is nothing better as an educator than eliciting confusion and wondering. Having a student (son) wonder what’s happening and measure their thoughts with facts and data from what they’ve read is why we do what we do.
Jax fan theories:
Chapter 24: Occlumency:
POSTSCRIPT: Also, click here for our other alouds:
Sorcerer’s Stone: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud:https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/07/01/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-our-first-read-aloud/
Chamber of Secrets: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud:https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2021/09/24/harry-potter-and-the-chamber-of-secrets-part-two-in-our-read-aloud/
Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2022/02/23/harry-potter-and-the-prisoner-of-azkaban-part-three-in-our-read-aloud-series/
Goblet of Fire: Chapter by Chapter Read Aloud: https://chroniclesofanewdad.com/2022/08/17/harry-potter-and-the-the-goblet-of-fire-part-four-in-our-read-aloud/
Have as much confidence in yourself as Oliver did when he presented his art teacher with his self portrait:
I usually reserve this blog for original stuff, but came across this and needed to share! There is nothing better than a conversation about nothing and everything at the same time with my boys!!!
When I sat and held Buster as he passed away and then did the same for Max, I said I’d never do it again. I had been trying to write this for a week now and I couldn’t figure out exactly what to say, but then I read Stephanie’s post and realized I didn’t need to write anything, because she already said it so perfectly.
“You never know after losing a pet when you will be ready to replace them. It’s been 1.5 years since Buster and almost 1 year since Max. Once we saw this girl we knew it was time ❤️. We surprised the kids with a road trip to Maryland and they had no idea! When we finally met Wednesday Jax said he was so happy that he was confused why he was crying! Oliver has called her Buster at least a half dozen times… then again he’s also called her ‘Girl and Sunday’ ❤️ We will always remember Buster and Max, but we are ready to make new memories 🐶”
With that being said, meet Wednesday:
Dear Steph,
First off Happy Birthday… secondly, we wanted to write you a letter to tell you how much we love you! But we decided to do it a little differently this time! I wrote the letter and Jax and Ollie filled in the blanks MAD LIBS style! We hope you like it!!!
Dear Mom,
We love you because the way you love AMAZON PRIME. We know birthdays can most certainly be overly commercialized, the fact of the matter is if it gives me another opportunity to tell you “MY MOM IS THE BEST”, and we will gladly take it. You, like all PRINCESSES, you deserve to feel loved and EXCITED and SMELLY.

Immediately when we think about the way you love us I think about how you love FLOWERS and MAKEUP. Love is different for each person. We know you love each us differently because we are each different.
For Jackson, you love him because he has a tender BUTT and you can tell when he is happy and when he is GOING TO PUKE. For Ollie, you still display that “classic” Mommy love sometimes just by GETTING DRESSED UP NICE or hugging his STINKY TOES. and that makes a difference. These are the images that I think of when I think of your love for our boys.
Then there is dad. You make him feel FAT and FRIGHTENED, and loved, especially when you GO TO THE GYM AT LIKE 5AM– and in today’s society that is something to be cherished. And as you know we also talk about “HOW PRETTY YOU ARE” a lot in your relationship with dad and how much he loves you. Even more than he loves his BASEBALL CARDS.
It is the small choices and TOOTS that you use each day that make us feel loved. Hopefully with this letter will make you feel YOUNG I since you are 41 today, but don’t worry you don’t look 41 at all… you actually look 7!!! Have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! You make us HAPPY!
Love,
Dad, Jax, Ollie, Wednesday, Ivy and Pumpkin
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Key:
Dear Oliver,
As I lay next to you on the eve of your sixth birthday (mind you, I wrote “fifth birthday” two different times already in this blog and I’m not even two sentences in) I can not believe how fast you are growing up. Writing tonight, one handed as you hold my other hand tightly in yours is tough, but worth every second. I know that the years continue to fly by so I continue to remind myself to relish in every second I get to spend with you.
This year you took on three new major challenges: basketball, football and kindergarten and have taken them on like you do everything in your life… with: energy, enthusiasm and with an all out CraZy passion that is unmatched by anyone I’ve ever met. It doesn’t matter if it’s running a new play as the quarterback (and remembering to stop running when the whistle blows), dribbling the length of the court for red-light green-light at basketball practice, or accessing the regulation station for an extra recess, your love for whatever you do is inspiring.
You are reading and writing and are so proud of yourself every time you come home from school. You make new friends where ever you go and see the world through rose colored glasses, but still know right from wrong and are not afraid to speak up for what you believe in (especially when that belief is advocating for chocolate instead of vegetables at dinner).
I know this year will continue to bring amazing things for you. I’m sure sometime in late May or early June you will set the World Record for consecutive days eating a peanut butter sandwich for lunch. I’m positive you will read your first full book on your own, you’ll continue to take sports head on. But mostly, I want you to just keep having fun.
There’s plenty of time to find your niche, and I’m confident you will, but for now, just keep doing you… Creeper Face and all!
Love Always,
Dad
Five year old: “Dad watch us play RHINO!”
Me: “That sounds dangerous?!??”
Eight year old: “Pshht… does it look like anyone’s gotten hurt yet?!??”
In a world that so often focuses on the negative, it can be exhausting trying to be a positive for so many people. Sometimes, a kind act, even a small one can be the one time someone smiles on a particular day. The very definition of a random act of kindness is when you do something unexpected, thoughtful, or helpful without expecting anything in return.
Today was the day I needed a random act of kindness to remind me how good the world can be. Today was even better considering that particular act of kindness was initiated by my older son and directed towards his younger brother… it was completely unsolicited, unprovoked and even better un-observed… (or so he thought).
As an aside, I recently read an amazing book, The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children. The book was mentioned by a staff member and a few parents had even discussed it at a recent PTO meeting. So, I decided to check it out. The focus on values of community, compassion, and tolerance are themes that will resonate with any educator.
With increased concern about around SEL instruction, I was impressed with how simply the authors discuss how kindness spreads. Also, described is how children who not only expience others being kind, but those who demonstrate kindness are more apt to also show unity, respect, empathy and compassion for others. As a school leader and parent anything that supports a climate of respect and rapport is something useful that can be taught and also benefit the environment in a classroom and at home.
So, as I stood silently, just beyond the small crack in the bedroom door, I watched my eight year old finish reading a book to his younger brother. As he tucked him in, he whispered just barely audible, “Good night buddy. I’m proud that you are my brother. Thank you for coming into my life.” You see sometimes, kindness isn’t just for the person giving, or even for the person receiving. Often times it’s for the person observing.
Today, one random act of kindness filled three buckets and left this dad smiling from ear to ear.
Sorry Son: Chronicles of a New Dad 