The other day, I went to your house to pick up you & Ainsley for a “play date” at Grammy/Papa’s house.

When I got there, you and your sister brought me over to your Christmas tree and pointed out all the “presents” you had made, laid out at the bottom.

I said, “Wow, you guys have been busy!”

You replied, “They’re for you.”  I thought ONE of them was for me… because there were so many, and told you so.  Then you said, “No, they’re ALL for you.”

I was blown away and felt so incredibly special. Here’s a photo of all the “presents,” many of which had special envelopes.

I’m a very lucky Papa…

presents for papa by Ainsley & mostly Camden

the cardboard "town" you & I made - years later, it's still fun

“Papa can we go in the basement?”  That’s a familiar cry when you guys come over.  The basement – aka the rec room – is a cornucopia of toys, games and activities.  We play football, bowl, shoot pool (or play on top of the pool table), dance to music, make popcorn, play board games, hockey and Wii.

And we run around… a lot.

The other day when you & Ainsley came over, we got re-acquainted with an old friend… the cardboard “town” you and I made a few years ago.  It has streets, a neighborhood, parks, a school, playgrounds and even a hockey rink.  We drive the cars around the town, stop to play frisbee in the park or eat lunch at Panera.  The vehicles are characters with personalities and speech… not inanimate objects.

We had forgotten some of the things we used to do… like take the hockey guys off the play table hockey game (one of three we have) to simulate a game.   We each took a guy, positioned him at center ice for the faceoff and shot the puck into the two-dimensional hand-drawn goals. You asked if my car was still in college… it wasn’t… so he couldn’t sit in the “college section” at the rink.

I’ve often found the best games are the simplest games… the ones that run on one fuel: imagination. A piece of cardboard, a magic marker and pictures we cut out and paste.  Making things up as we go – is fun, uninhibited, inventive freedom.

A lightning quick brain. A killer smile.  A bull in a china shop. The best room enterer in history. A classic boy. One of the messiest eaters on the planet. A fearless competitor.  Thoughtful.  My Legacy boy.

Lightning: you’re one of the most inquisitive kids I’ve ever seen…. analytical and observant.  You ask questions and listen intently for the answer.  It’s easy to have a conversation with you… there’s a natural back and forth pace that’s very unusual.

Smile: your blue eyes and killer smile will melt the heart of scores of future women. They won’t be able to help themselves.

Bull in a china shop: when you make up your mind and want something, there’s no stopping you.  Persistent and focused you are (Yoda talk) .

Best room enterer: I’ve always loved the way you enter a room or show up for an event. You just don’t walk in and blend… you come in with an agenda on your mind… something to share. You burst onto the scene.

Classic boy:  while I dislike lumping people into categories – because each of us is so special – you have the interests and temperament of a man-in-the-making.  Star Wars.  Legos. Video games. Hockey. Baseball. Soccer.  Food. You can be rough and tough.

Messy Eater: no one handles food like you do.  It’s entertaining to watch… heck I’d say it’s semi-legendary.  The food flies, your face is covered, clothes are forever transformed, chairs and carpets suffer the consequences. Your Mom doesn’t find it that entertaining though.

Fearless:  you’re a competitor, and not shy.  You want what you want and won’t back down.  You’ll fight for what you believe in when you’re older and have the confidence to stick with your guns and make things happen.

Thoughtful:  you’re a classic boy but you’re also thoughtful with people.  You won an award at school this year because of how you treated some of your classmates… with kindness, patience and goodwill.  You’ve made me a ton of special papers and “presents” which are always special.

Legacy:  you’re the Beaupre Legacy Boy… my BLB… the little guy who will someday carry the family name. You’ll be up to the challenge, just like your Dad was.

Camden, not long after you were born, your Dad created a video of you and set it to music. The song he used was “Miracle” by the Foo Fighters (one of your Dad & my favorite rock bands).  “Miracle” was the perfect choice, because that’s what you are.

I’m writing this blog so I can capture the stories of your life, the ones that feed my Papa Soul.  You’re very special to me C-Man, and I wIll always love you very much.