Today - April 14th - my adorable niece Ainsley Lynn turns one year old.
I remember her being born - on a snowy Saturday afternoon - and it really seems like it was just a couple months ago.

But she's a one year old now.

And she is just the smartest and sweetest little girl.

Her parents - my little brother and sister-in-law - have been incredible parents. I used to say before Ainsley was born that this baby was going to "rock their world."

Ainsley has rocked their world - and they wouldn't have it any other way. She has rocked their world in the best way possible.

Speaking of "rocking your world" - this rocker son of mine will always rock our world...

You can always count on Aunt Cindy and Uncle Brad to provide video game entertainment at their birthday socials!

The birthday party was a great time - bbq burgers, cake and ice cream, and lots of presents for Ainsley to open. She will be kept very busy for the next few months with all the fun toys she received.

Labels: birthday; memories

Perry's cousins from Atlanta have come into town for a visit -


We've had a great week together and I will post stories soon that include...

• Family pictures taken in our living room
  
• A spa pedicure with a special tween
• Getting a kid out of school early two separate days for adventures with his cousins
  
• Meltdowns that are healed with movie musicals
• Giggling in a movie theatre

Who knew that my post on Thursday would bring comments from many readers - some I didn't even know that read my blog. As well as the comments left on my blog, I also received private emails from friends and family - all of them which have served its purpose - to support and encourage me in this journey of being a mom.

Oh how sweet it is!

First lesson learned in this drama I call "parenting"? Let your son fight his own battles. This is not the last time that Perry will have an argument with Blake, or any other kid for that matter. They are boys - and this is where they exert their "male-ness."

Second lesson - Perry and Blake got over it - by the next day - and are back to being good friends. Kids are resilient and get over things so much faster than their parents mom.

Third lesson - Apologize for your mistakes. I slowly walked to Christina's house next door on Friday morning and admitted that I yelled at Blake and was very sorry for my actions. She knew about it. She understood. She said that she lives with boys arguing on a daily basis and if she were to referee and yell at her boys every single time they were in a fight, she would get nothing done, and she would have no voice. Thank you God for good friends who will accept your apology and won't hold it against you.

Fourth lesson - Just because the calendar says it's April, baseball season has begun, and the sun is shining outside, it is still cold here in the midwest and you must dress like you are watching a football game. We froze watching Perry play baseball yesterday... and will do so again today. But I won't forget my stadium blanket today!

Fifth lesson - leave the game at the field.

Thanks again to so many friends and family who are honest and encouraging to me. I really appreciate all of your responses. They were really helpful and I will be going back to all of them when this happens again.

I think I will bind them up in a mini-notebook so that I can look at them all the time!

Next time I get myself into a pickle, I'll know where to turn.

Labels: Perry; baseball; thoughts