We were all together in your bedroom… and it was time for a show, a barnstorming performance.

You cued up your CD player… your favorite dance song came on… and you were O-F-F!

Singing and dancing, twirling and performing, all the time saying:

papa, watch me

which of course I was doing… but whenever I’d talk to Grammy or Camden or Madigan and take my off you, you would instantly say:

Papa! watch me!

which of course I was doing, but as one song merged into the next and the next, Camden was getting bored and speaking up about it.

I’m going downstairs

which threw me for a momentary loop, which in turn prompted you to say:

PAPA!  Watch Me!  Keep on watching me!

Grammy and I clapped our hands and said Wooo-Hooo and you were very pleased as you demonstrated your latest moves.

You’ve always been a performer… the other day when you visited our house I explained how you used to “walk the balance beam” on our Great Room carpet while you lived with us.  You’d stay on the narrow edge strip and twirl around, lift your legs in the air and pretend you were a gymnast. You were – and still are – a very coordinated little girl.

Keep practicing Ainsley, and don’t give up, even when others get distracted and people leave the room (if they do!).  Believe in yourself and always follow your muse.

You were at my house, visiting, when you looked at me and I heard it the first time:

Papa, you’re so awkward.

(Ugh, did she say what I think she just said?)

Ainsley, did you say I am awkward?

to which you replied:

yes, I said you’re awkward!!!

Hmmm, okay.  I’ve felt awkward before in my lifetime, no doubt, but I couldn’t remember a time when someone called me awkward.    It was kind of… awkward.

About a week later, Grammy and I we were up north with your family, staying at the Red Jacket condos.  It was night time, we had eaten and it was getting late.  We were all tired.  Everyone was getting ready for bed.  You and your whole family were upstairs, so I went in the bathroom to put on my football sweatpants.  Only they weren’t there…  they were in my duffel bag, in the living room, where we were going to sleep.

I went out to get them… dressed only in my boxers.  As I entered the living room, there you were.  We looked at each other.  Instantly, you said:

this is awkward!!!

Until that moment I honestly wasn’t sure you knew exactly what the word meant, or how to use it.

But you did. On both counts.

Life is full of surprises.  And sometimes, well, it’s just plain awkward!

Grammy and I were at work yesterday, doing our thing, when she got a text from your Mom. It looked like this:

It was a note, being written by you in real time, intended for me. It said:

Play “Jail”

Play “Statue”

“Put Madigan to bed”

“touch the tree”

Ha!

It was a list of games you wanted to play with me when Grammy and I went over to babysit!

I’ve talked about Jail before in a previous blog, so you know what that game is all about. It’s one of the games I’ve made up in my many visits to your house.  It usually ends badly when you and Camden get out of hand with excitement.  You love it nevertheless.  This time, Madigan kept getting inside the jail and disrupting things, which didn’t go well.

Statue is a new one that we played in December for the first time.  One of us (usually me) is the “curator” of the museum… he/she faces the wall as the other players face the curator… only far away.  When the curator isn’t looking, the “statues” move forward… closer and closer to the curator. The object of the game is to reach the curator and touch him/her and then the roles switch.  The fun part is that while the statues are moving forward, the curator can turn around and catch you in the act of moving… if he/she sees you move, then you have to go back to the beginning.

When the curator turns around, he/she can “inspect” the statues to make sure they are real. During the inspection process, the statues have to be frozen and not move. That makes for some interesting exchanges!  You guys end up arguing:

“You moved Ainsley.”  Or “No I didn’t!”

“Put Madigan to bed” was undoubtedly called out on your note so that she would be removed from the scene and we could play even more successfully without interruption. So funny you called that out specifically.

Touch the tree is a new game YOU made up in December.  The goal is to walk toward the Christmas tree in a funny way and then let your butt touch the tree.  You and Camden love anything having to do with potty talk or butt jokes, so this is a big hit.  Of course this time around, the Christmas tree was long gone and we had to use a plant!

We ended up playing another one of my made-up games… called “Find the Object.” I draw little pictures of various objects around your house then you and Camden look at the drawings and have to locate the objects.  You love it.  In fact, you had more luck finding objects than your brother!

When your Dad came home, you didn’t want us to leave so we played one more game: “Mother may I,”  or in my case “Father may I.”   This has rapidly become a favorite since its debut in December.

I thought that was it for games, but when I finally sat down and paid some attention to Madigan, moving her back and forth via my “One-Two” pulling up and down while she’s standing on my knees game, you decided you needed a turn too!

All I can say is you keep me very, very busy Miss Ainsley, and there is not one moment of rest.  But you know what?  I love it….:-)

Camden was playing flag football at the park across from your house when you came over to see Grammy and me.  I picked you up and gave you a kiss, but then spontaneously decided to add new zip to my Ainsley greeting.

Putting you down and holding you under the arms, my hands around your waist, I started spinning around.  You were facing outward, away from me.  As I moved, your feet and legs gradually straightened as your body leaned back.  Soon you became a carnival ride girl, flying through the air, your body spinning faster and faster.

I periodically checked in to ask you:

am I going too fast? do you want me to slow down?

You instantly replied:

No! no! keep going!

After 10 or so circle spin-arounds, I slowed down and stopped, placing you back on the grass.  I was dizzy from the revolutions that had started slow but then increased in pace.

Not enough time had passed for my recovery (or yours probably), but you were right back at me:

Again, again! Do it again Papa!

We repeated the process, but this time I pushed myself harder, spinning you faster than the first time.  You loved it and weren’t afraid in the least.

Soon Lucy, your friend, came over and another little girl.  They had been watching the carnival ride and wanted in on the action.  I spun them around, but all the while you were barking at me:

It’s my turn! Spin me around now!

We repeated the process, your third go-round.  Then your two friends again, with you wanting more the whole time they were stealing your thunder.

After two more spin around sessions for you and another one for your two friends I was one dizzy Papa, desperately seeking a world that wasn’t in motion.  Despite my protests, you kept at me:

One more time papa, one more time!

I rallied for one more go round so you would get last “raps,” but that was it.  I had had enough.

But you hadn’t.

The following week, back at the same spot, you remembered the adventure and soon implored me to repeat the fun.  We did. As far as you were concerned, it could have lasted forever!

Ainsley, you are a crazy whirly-bird spin-round girl!