happy birthday Ainsley, our July birthday girl! 

I love these two photos – the first one is from this summer… you were hitting the ball like crazy and took a break so I could capture this shot. 

Grammy and I went to your house and brought you “Grace” the American Doll of The Year 2015.  You loved her! We also gave you some cash which your brother promptly put in his pocket – ha!  Then we went out to dinner in Portland and had a blast on a beautiful, warm summer night.

Here are eight things I love about you:  Eight cool things for a cool  eight year old:

1.  always trying hard – when you decide to do something, you’re “all in” and there’s no stopping you. I love that determination and drive.  This will serve you well as you get older!

2. smart – you take school seriously and excel, trying hard to do the best you can.

3.  sweet –  I love it when you come over to me and want me to put my arm around you, hug you, listen to you.  It’s done in a low key Ainsley style, so sincere, caring and kind.  I have so many memories of watching you dance, or endlessly do gymnastics, or racing you in a field… a smile on your face, trying so hard and loving how I watch you, do things with you, care about you.

4. beautiful –  what a smile, what a look.  You will always take a great photo Miss Ainsley and people will fall in love with you… not just because of your beauty of course, but for so many other reasons (some of which I mention in this blog!).

5.  a talented, natural gymnast and natural athlete – sometimes you hold yourself back (see onion girl) but the bottom line is that you are a natural athlete.  Believe it!  A fast runner, unbelievably coordinated. a natural gymnast, able to hit a moving softball.

6.  onion girl –  I call you this because the Ainsley (some) people see on the surface often isn’t always the true Ainsley.  You can be quiet and reserved sometimes, but then out comes the precocious Ainsley for all to see!  You can be shy and hold back, but you’re also brave and adventurous!  You can be sad, but in a flash you’re laughing and happy!  Sometimes you don’t want to play sports, and that may lead people to think you don’t like sports (if they don’t know you well like I do), but then you show off your speed, coordination and determination.  As Shrek once told Donkey, “onions have layers, lots of layers!”  That’s you Miss Ainsley.

7.  naturally confident –  last year you had to face a very challenging obstacle:  move from your comfortable home in Madbury, NH up to a new city and new school in Maine.  You didn’t flinch, making friends easily and never having a bad day.  Not many people can do that in life… this says a lot about you!

8.  a fashion sense –  you enjoy looking good, and always do!  You have your own sense of fashion and it’s something I notice every time we’re around each other.

Love you Ainsley and happy eighth birthday summer girl!