This is what I replied with to Mikes note
Mike,
Hey, I'm doing great thanks. Thanks for sending you're tax return so quickly. You actually don't have to provide it until the 1st of June every year. Thanks for making sure it got to me. I'm enclosing the receipts for the last couple months as well and I really do apologize that they are actually late but to be honest I forgot about them until I got your stuff in the mail. I've enclosed the receipt for next month as well just in case because I'll be busy packing and such. I also heard about Buddy and I'm very sorry for your loss. :(
Bailea's birthday is coming up in June. I'm having her party at Sunrise stables at her request, she loves horses. Would it be possible for you to help out with some of the cost of tha party? To rent it alone is 120.00 for just 10 people then 5.00 for every additional person and then the cake and treat bags and then for pony rides is another 25.00 for 1/2 hour. It's ridiculous but she rarely asks for anything.
I'm glad you liked the pciture. I can send some more with this package. Any time you want some I can send them or as I get them I can just send them. She's doing really well in school now. She was having a hard time at first because she never went to daycare or anything so she was a little behind some of the other kids, but she's caught up and doing great. I can photocopy her report card when I get it and send you a copy. She's making friends great, apparently according to the teacher (Frances Burton (Ross) ) some of the other kids are fighting over who's going to sit with her or play with her etc. LOL. She's also got a crush, his name is Cole Gillis (Suzie Bishop's son) who she mostly wants to play with. We're having a hard time with her teeth right now. She's losing more then most kids because there's not enough room in her mouth for all of her teeth, she's going to have to have some pulled and will also need a retainer and braces once she turns eight. She's in SPARKS this year and loved it as well she was in skating and loved that. She's quite interestedin playing hockey as well when she gets a little more steady on her skates. We got a new black lab puppy named Rose (GAG lol) and she's taking up a lot of time as well, but Bailea loves her and the pup is great with her. Mom and Dad have finally started camping season! Dad bought a new boat about a month ago and they had that up there and Bailea got to drive it so that's been the highlight for the last week lol. That's all I have for that much anyway although there will always be more!
Now to address your note. I really don't have any idea what it is that you want. I gave you visitation a year ago and I haven't heard from you at all regarding that. If you want to see her then you have to tell me that. I will do everything I can for her to make it easier for her. She knows who you are and she knows what you look like as since she's started school she has asked who her dad is. I told her your name and that you work away. She's turning 6 and it's getting harder and harder to put off answers to her. I will do whatever I can to make it convienient for both of you. However that being said, I don't want you to feel like you have to take part in her life. This is completely your decision. I have been doing quite well raising her and teaching her and looking after her while she's sick, making sure she has milk money and pizza money and whatever it is she needs. I don't feel like I should be sucking up trying to convince you to see your own daughter, that's a decision that you have to make. When I say that you need to be consistant that doesn't mean that you have to see her every week or every month. That means that you keep contact with her. It means a phone call once a week or a card or some kind of comunication to let her know that you haven't forgotten about her. The only thing I don't want is for her to feel the loss if you decide to meet her and then she never hears from you again, for example your parents. They come around to see her on special occasions e.i Birthday, Easter, Christmas.. And then in between she doesn't hear from them at all and she feels the loss of that and wonders why they don't like her anymore. Now I must say I'm guilty of not calling them for her but I don't feel it's my responsibility to make sure that they see her. I don't have to make any effort to make sure my parents see her. They call, they take her places etc etc. I have come so close to stopping visits with your parents because of this but I haven't because Bailea LOVES seeing them when she does. I don't want you to feel pressured into seeing her or being part of her life as that's completely your decision and I support that. If you decide that you want to see her and be a part of her life I also support that 100% and I will do everything I can to make it convienient and make the transition easy for both of you. From the look and sound of your note that you sent it looks like you're trying to make excuses as to why you can't be part of her life. If you want to see her then tell me straight out that you want to see her and we'll make arrangements and figure *something* out,but if you don't then there's no pressure from me.
Anyway I just wanted to get this out to you soon enough that you have time to decide what you want to do. Let me know, you can call if you want and we can discuss the issue. My door is always open.