Halloween is almost here...

There is nothing the kids like to do more than decorate our house for various holidays. So the spiders, the webs, the "billy bob" teeth, and wigs came out the other night. In addition, the kids made a Halloween gingerbread house so watch out for the black frosting. It looks like they all have it on their faces in one picture or another.

We also wanted to thank everyone for the amazing response we have had in selling the Team Grace bands. In fact I think we have sold out our stash and are going to be ordering more to make sure we have enough.

Team Grace band details...

We first wanted to say thanks for such a great showing of support with the Team Grace Bands! It will be so empowering for the kids to be proactive about her Cancer by helping others along the way. Each of you is instrumental in that! So, thank you sincerely for supporting us! Some quick details about the bands...there are two sizes :adult and child and the bands are 3 dollars each. Oh, and of course-they're super stylin' and sure to nicely accessorize any outfit!

Team Grace Bands

Some of you may have seen the pink bands Kim, Tanner, Grace and I have been wearing. Thanks to Nick, Grandma, and Grandpa we received a bunch. Gracie would like to sell them and donate the funds to the Doernbecher Hematology Oncology Department. Of course, they are hot pink and say Team Grace. If you would like one please contact us.

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!