First Day of School!!!!!!!

She did it! Gracie attended her first day of school. She was apprehensive, at first, but did very well. She lost some steam at the end of the day, but honestly, just the fact that she went and got through it is amazing! I can't explain how touching it was to watch her holding hands with other little girls and chatting away the recess hour. Her favorite subject was spanish, as she recognized many of the words and could count to ten! The other children were absolutely sweet and darling to her. I've been so touched with their compassion, and the way her teacher, Miss Pruneda (greatest Kindergarten teacher ever) prepared them for her arrival! So, way to go Gracie! What a great day!

Picture Day

Five is a magical age. It can be full of bliss, endless possibility, and simplistic joys. All of Grace's magic is embodied in that precious smile and her shining eyes. So, to see those little eyes dulled by potent medicine and her energies usurped by this illness it difficult. Grace's life still contains magic, just dilluted a bit by her realities. She has had a few hard days. She wants so badly to do so many things, but her mind is far more energized than her body. Thursday was picture day. She wanted to go, but couldn't muster the energy to leave bed in the morning. JR is an optimist and very proactive. So that she wouldn't be so sad about missing pictures, he phoned the photo company, took a few pictures-and made sure she would have a Kindergarten picture. Today was one of the harder days. She was angry, and refused to even try to go to school. It leaves us wondering just exactly what we should be doing. When should we push and insist that she try things? When should we just relax and let her find her way? We want so badly just to do things right for her. I think the unknown is the challenge. But, we continue to believe that we are never left without divine assistance. Maybe, at the end of all this, we will understand the gift of childhood a little better. Maybe we will understand that life is more about the pleasure of small moments, discovery, kindness, and relationships. Grace, Tanner, and Eva are teaching us small lessons daily and for that we are grateful!

The gift that keeps on giving

It is usually known as a deathtrap, a place where broken bones, sprained ankles, and tweaked backs usually are born, but for us it has amazing magical qualities. It is a place where Grace goes everyday to jump and exercise, from the house or the front yard or the neighbors yard you can hear her sweet laughter and pure joy in her voice as she jumps forgetting about what has now become common place inside our house. It is a place where Tanner and I can play soccer and laugh until we cannot stand, it is a place where our entire family congregates and plays pass, or dead man, or poison ball. It is a place where Kim, T, and Grace jump like pencils and chase eachother. And now it is the place where Eva finally learned to walk. We never pictured the tramp as such a big part of our lives, but for some reason every night we are out there playing, talking, and enjoying one another. Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, Nick, Max, and Sam for this amazing daily retreat.

Thank you Grandma GiGi and Grandpa Gill for these great "Gracie" T shirts. The kids love them and I know they help Gracie know how much support is behind her.

"TEAM GRACE" Shirts

We have had many people ask about the "TEAM GRACE" shirts. Please contact Grandma Shele if you would like to order one. Ujifusa1411@yahoo.com

Gracie returned from the hospital tired but okay. She had another batch of chemo through her spinal tap. She was brave like always although she hates needles and going to "sleep". We are so proud of her and know that because of her courage she is progressing so well.

Some new pics of the kiddos