Ainslee is like my Aunt Marg in a way. She has a birthday season instead of just a day. It was a short season this year, but a good one. We started out on Thursday the 24Th hiking with our new homeschool group and playing with her new found friends, Hanna and Ella.
On Friday the 25Th we went canoeing as a family. Our first stop was Mermaid Island (Island 9B on Lake Keowee) where we found lots of mermaid gold and the rocks the mermaids lounge on in the sun. We even think we might have seen a mermaid! From there we paddled too a neighboring island to explore and swim. Daddy relaxed in the sun, Case wrestled with untamable paddles, and Amelia and Ainslee went to the deep. On our way back, Case and Amelia tipped the canoe and could not get it righted. I threw a float to Amelia (Case wouldn't take one - tough guy) so they could swim to shore. In a panic, as I held on to the canoe full of water, Brian paddled to the shore where we were able to empty the water and paddle the rest of the way home.
Exhausted, we went home, cleaned up, and although she appeared tired, Ainslee decided she wanted to go to Ryan's for her birthday dinner. Even though I would have been just as content to stay home, I was also glad not to have to clean the kitchen. On our return home, the kids watched a movie and Brian and I, with an occasional Amelia, fixed the strawberry birthday cake(which didn't turn out). After a long and adventure filled day we headed to bed. Today Ainslee turned 4.
On the 26Th, I ran to the store to replace the cake that didn't turn out and was lucky enough that they would fix one just like I wanted, with plain white icing so Ainslee could decorate it with M&M's just as she wanted. Ainslee did a fantastic job decorating it. As Amelia and I headed to Aunt Stephanie's baby shower, Brian, Case, and Ainslee prepared for Ainslee's birthday party which was at Kids Planet in Greer.
Once at Kids Planet, the skies were menacing. It was dark and windy, but we held out. We found a shelter and finished setting up just as everyone arrived. Ainslee was tired from all our adventures over the last few days and was having a hard time being excited about her party. She didn't want to blow her candles out on the cake so we all helped her. We ate cake and ice cream soup (because it had melted by this time)the tried to get her to open her presents. She wasn't doing it. She clung to Mommy. She did pick someone to have a go at her butterfly pinata, then another , and another until it fell to the ground and Hanna whacked at it until it split open and the candy scattered. Ainslee was a bit upset over this. I do not think she quite realized, despite me having a conversation with her, that it was going to get torn up. she recovered and decided she woudl get a horse pinata. We moved on to presents and once again she needed her friends to assist her. Caitlin helped her start and after a few, Ainslee needed no more help. She had it down. She received many wonderful gifts and loves them all.
As the rains poured down, the kids ran to play in the playground and had a most wonderful time! Thank you to everyone who contributed to a wonderful 4Th birthday for Ainslee.
(pictures to come)
