It was fun being with you on Christmas day.

You came to our house late morning and stayed until 5 o’clock.  After opening lots of presents, we had a scavenger hunt…. the object of the game was to go into eight different rooms and find one white envelope in each.

Inside each envelope were letters… each one spelling a word. Put the words together in the proper sequence…. and a mystery message would emerge.

After lots of running around and craziness, you all returned to the Great Room and figured out the puzzle.  Here’s what it spelled:

The Fearless Five (that’s what I call you, Camden, Ben, Emma and Molly when you’re together) were excited! So were we!

We haven’t been to Disney World (all of us together) since 2007 so we will be counting down the days. The Wilderness Lodge will be our home away from home in the Magic Kingdom.  It has a beach, several pools and a giant atrium –  I can’t wait.

Here’s a photo of you on Christmas day holding a very appropriate new shirt:

I’ve looked through my Canon lenses a zillion times, trying to capture unique images of people (especially my grandkids) and interesting places I’ve been.  I post my favorites every year on my web site:  www.beauprephotography.com.

Ainsley, you’re a a natural when it comes to photos – you’re not shy and you always give it your best effort.

Here are some of my favorites of you from this year:

Peer pressure didn’t change your mind.

Camden, Ben, Emma and Molly all went in the hot tub. They screamed with delight. Laughed. Dove under. Sat, swam and splashed.

But none of it mattered.  You weren’t going any further than the highest hot tub seat.

Despite pleas from Molly to come in, you stuck to your guns, cried and were generally quite upset.

I asked  why you weren’t going in.  “The bubbles,” you exclaimed, “I don’t like the bubbles.”  (You probably also didn’t like the loud noises that accompanied the bubbles when the jets went on.)

There you are in the photo… the one waaaayyyyy in the back sitting up high with your feet touching the water.

Miss Ainsley you are moving to the beat of your own drum.  I hope you retain this no-matter-what confidence and always chart your own course.

You’re a mouse but you’re not afraid Miss Ainsley!

For the second year in a row, people smiled and applauded as you did your thing at the Portsmouth Ballet’s Nutcracker performance at Exeter High School.

It’s a big auditorium… I’m guessing it must hold at least 500 people.  It’s intimidating to be on that stage… but you don’t hesitate.

It’s so cute watching you enter stage Right in your pink leotard with gray mouse ears.  You carefully tiptoe across with over-sized white gloves dangling beneath your chin… simulating the quiet movement of a little mouse.

Molly was so excited to watch, as were Emma and Camden.  When you joined your family at intermission (“Release the mouses!”) you sat on my lap for awhile to watch the second act – tansfixed – then you & Molly sat in one seat.

Way to go Ainsley, Grammy and I are so proud of you!

Ainsley, the fearless Nutcracker mouse on stage