In a poignant display of family life amidst ongoing legal turmoil, retired MLB star Jim Edmonds took to Instagram this Sunday to share joyful moments from his daughter Aspen's ninth birthday party.
A Festive Celebration in Franklin
The 55-year-old former center fielder, who boasts 149,000 followers, posted a celebratory slideshow from the festivities held in Franklin, Tennessee. The party featured a specially crafted Taylor Swift-themed birthday cake iced with the playful message 'Feeling Nine (Aspen's Version)', paying homage to the pop superstar's trademark album rerecordings.
Adding to the football connection, the cake was decorated with a football stamped '87' in honour of Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end famously dating Swift. Nine-year-old Aspen appeared delighted with her presents, particularly a $114.99 Pop Mart 'The Monsters' Labubu plushie that she proudly posed with after unwrapping.
Contrasting Sundays for Separated Parents
Edmonds captioned his Instagram post: 'What a week! A lot to be thankful for!' The celebration comes during a difficult period for the co-parents. Meghan King temporarily lost custody of their three children recently, though she is permitted supervised visits twice weekly according to sources.
While Edmonds hosted the birthday party, the 41-year-old Real Housewives of Orange County alum reportedly spent her Sunday morning differently. King was seen enjoying a snack with two beverages while reading a hardcover copy of Ken Follett's new Stonehenge novel 'Circle Days'.
Aspen's birthday technically fell on November 24, on which date King made sure to share an Instagram Story tribute to her daughter. She wrote: 'My favorite female to ever walk the planet. The brightest light, my greatest joy. A spectacular gift from God that was born 9 years ago today. When I learned what love is. I love you Aspen King Edmonds, I love you to infinity.'
Ongoing Custody and Legal Challenges
The birthday celebrations unfold against a backdrop of serious child welfare concerns and legal proceedings. Child Protective Services launched an investigation into King after discovering she had allegedly instructed a school nurse to administer Ritalin to her seven-year-old son Hayes 'multiple times', according to Page Six.
The situation is complicated by the fact that Hayes has not been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). King previously claimed in 2020 that his twin brother Hart had periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) and 'hypotonic cerebral palsy'.
A temporary restraining order is currently in place for the Dielmann Sotheby's International realtor, who's due back in court for a hearing on December 9. This isn't the first legal conflict between the former spouses - on May 1, Edmonds' third wife Kortnie O'Connor called the police on King for allegedly entering their home without permission and filed a restraining order against her.
King and Edmonds ended their five-year marriage in 2021 amid his alleged affair with their nanny Carly Wilson and 'engaging in an inappropriate conversation' with 'The Baseball Madame' Jennifer McFelia Villegas in 2018. The former reality star has since transitioned to being an influencer with paid partnerships for various brands and clinics.
