An enjoyable distraction

Today we went to our nephew's sixth birthday party, and it was such a relief to be able to spend a couple of hours forgetting our stress and worries to just focus on this little boy who we adore.

Yesterday was his actual birthday, but the party was held today at the local bowling alley. About eight of his class mates had been invited along with two little cousins and the eight year old daughter of a close family friend. When we arrived the kids were already bowling (if you can call just dropping the five pin bowling ball and letting it run where it may...lol) and truly enjoying themselves. The scores weren't bad considering that most of them had never bowled before today! After the bowling was done we all withdrew into a party room where pizza and pop was quickly demolished because the serious business had to begin! Gifts were then presented and opened in such noisy excitement and Jackson was truly spoiled.....what else is new? A large birthday cake was then put in front of him and we all gathered around to watch him blow out his six candles. The cake was absolutely delicous...I ate a far bigger slice than what I had intended, but it was worth feeling the sugar rush afterwards! Chocolate with cherries in the middle and lots of cream topping to die for!

Sometimes I think the reason we moved to Windsor is that we had to be in this place so that we could share in the life of this little boy. We have another nephew, Michael, but he lives in the States and we rarely get to see him....about three or four times a year, and then when we do, we have to share his time with the rest of the family. We rarely get time alone with him. When Jackson was born we were at the hospital within two hours of his birth! I held him for the first time when he was two hours old, and my husband and I were the first ones to babysit him when he was only one week old! Up till he turned four years old and started Montessori Kindergarten, we saw him every single week, babysitting at least one night a week, and having him with us sometimes overnight or even for just a couple of hours while his Mother went shopping. Whenever I would get the call I would drop everything, change plans, do whatever it took to make sure I spent time with this precious little boy. For two Summers running, he would come to our house for one full day each week while his mother worked at a part-time job. We shared babysitting rota's with his two Grandmothers. This boy never knew what it was to have a non family member babysitting him! This is the way I was raised and I love that Jackson is having the same type of experiences. As a result we are very close to him, and I know that even though one day he will be much less involved in our lives, I would hope that he will always remember his times spent with his Uncle and Aunt. Happy Birthday Jackson!