"Basketball doesn't build character it reveals it." ~ Author Unknown

Your father registered you for "Little Dribblers".  It was supposed to be ten weeks of basket ball fun!  But with your slow-to-warm-up personality, the first class turned out to be a little more challenging than what we had anticipated.  You were so shy that you clung to dad and didn't speak a word to anyone.  After much discussion about how this might turn out, and fearing it could become another swimming lesson nightmare, I suggested that we pull you out.  But your father insisted that we keep you in.  He never gave up on you, not ever.  So, we put awesome reinforcers in place (Popsicles are always a hit), gave you limits, your father stood by your side for the next two lessons and before we knew it, you were practically whistling Sweet Georgia Brown as you walked on to the court ;-)

"So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land." ~ Peter Pan

We celebrated aunt Emily's birthday with Laura and Peter.  Peter is aunty's brother, but you Mac, were convinced his name was Uncle Peter Pan!  Every time one of us called him Peter, you would remind us, with sustained volume, that his name was "Uncle Peter Pan".  When they arrived, we played, ate curry maple chicken pasta followed by princess cup cakes, opened presents and then went skating.  It was an especially fun time skating that day, since we wheeled Laura around the ice.  She had such a great time.  I think everyone mostly enjoyed watching Uncle Peter Pan push both Jilly and Laura around together.  I'd say he got a work out, but then again, he is Peter Pan, he can do anything!  By the end of the day, we were all believers ;-)

"The only gift is a portion of thyself." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

It was your father's 50th birthday.  Robert, you had given your father the crowning gift.  It was a framed list of "50 things you learned/got from your dad".  When he read the title of the list, he immediately began to weep. By number 5, he was blubbering mess!  I don't think there was a dry eye at the table, that day.  Things on the list varied from humorous lines like "You taught me that I could be anything in the world other than be as good looking as you." to sensitive lines like"When I was little you were my playground as you are now for Mac".   I suppose it would be safe to add that the 51st thing you learned from your dad was how to give a  stellar gift!