Summer Haircut

Mom took me to get a haircut the other day. Since my curls make knots and I don't like to wear my hair up in ponytails or barrettes, Mom thought a haircut would be a good idea. I agree that it is cute and much cooler!!

Goose Route Dance Festival

While Dad was home recovering from his surgery, Mom took me to a dance festival in Shepherdstown, WV. You have to drive over a huge bridge across the Potomac River to get there. We watched professional dancers then got to try out some moves. I volunteered to be the 9th leg of a tarantula during an interpretive dance. They only needed 8 legs, but Mom didn't come and pull me off stage so I guess it was ok. I love playing with other kids. We visited their library and had lunch out before heading home.

4th of July

Dad's band Acedia played for Frederick's 4th of July festivities. Just after he played, it poured rain for like 4 hours. Other bands were cancelled. My friends Tabby (from swim class) and Hutch came by the park with their parents. We ran the bases and then pretended to start our own band on a stage like Dads. Once the rain started, we went to Hutch's house. His parents are friends with Mom and Dad and Becky and Damien. It was so much fun. Hutch has tons of toys and I went crazy over there.

Aquatots Class - Summer 2008

Mom and Dad signed me up for swim class again. This time I am in Aquatots I. My friend Tabby from Kindermusik is in the class too. We swim with noodles, go under water a lot, sing songs, and float on the mat. Mom has come once or twice. Usually Dad takes me to class. We meet Mom for lunch afterwards at the park. My teacher's name is Morgan. She is nice. She tells me that I know all the songs and could almost teach the class.

Cunningham Falls State Park

Dad brought me to Cunningham Falls to hike to the falls, have a picnic, and go swimming in the lake. I can walk the entire trail to the falls - it's over a mile. I am very adventurous. We met some other kids that were there with their grandparents. They were cool. I went in the lake up to my chin. Then I decided to go under.

5k . . . or 5 mile walk for diabetes

On April 19th, Bree and I joined my mom and a team of ladies from her office in a 5K Walk for Diabetes. The organization that we were supporting is the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (http://www.jdrf.org/). We raised over $1,000 (Bree and I raised $150 the day before the walk). We really enjoyed the day. The foundation had a terrific kids area with moonbounces, crafts, face painting, tattoos, you name it. There was a live band (at 8am!!) as well as breakfast and lunch. We walked the course around the Frederick Community College campus after joining in a jazzercize warm-up with a gal in her early 60s and a very loud song from the 1980s. There were 500 people participating.

Apparently, we walked 5 miles rather than the planned 5K, which is only 3.1 miles. They didn't tell us how many times to walk the course, but had little shoes staked along the course that you were to follow. We noticed on the 2nd lap that the crowd had thinned dramatically. We just thought everyone was cheating . . . It was a terrific day with great weather in the 70s - Bree was a good girl in tow in my Ergo backpack and we made some new friends. And raised $ for diabetes research.

We walked in honor of my dad, Dan, and my grandfather Buddy Benson. We also walked for Elaine Gleaton's dad Chuck, Rick Brace and Tim Blaser from my work, Carole Larsen's husband Pinoake and Amy a previous employee in Planning. Our other sponsors were Harris Bradley and Kristin Turner. Thanks to everyone who supported us!!

Here are some pics from the big day . . .

Passing of Pop Pop McLelland

Our Pop Pop passed away this past Sunday. A year ago, he found out that he had myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder (autoimmunity is the failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which results in an immune response against its own cells and tissues) that inhibits the normal neuron response from brain to muscle. The result is that your voluntary muscles do not work because they can't receive the brain signal (breathing, swallowing, and moving limbs can be affected). The initial treatment was very intense and while in the hospital, he had a stroke affecting his right side and speech.

It was a very difficult year for Pop Pop physically as he built back his body's strength and mentally/emotionally as he learned to speak again and attempted to deal with his new reality. He never "fully" recovered to the point where he could drive, run errands alone, take the boat out, that kind of thing, which was frustrating for him. But, he was blessed with many visitors over the year and of course the company and care of Grandma.

Bree, Jason and I will miss Pop Pop dearly. We will forever hold his memory in our heart. Pop Pop was always there for us and we will remember him for that. We thank him for his devotion to our family and for providing us with strength and guidance when we needed it. Be at peace Pop Pop. We love you.

The egg hunt . . .

Bree had lots of fun looking all over the yard for Easter eggs - they had chocolate from Candy Kitchen and money - quarters and dimes for the piggy bank. She had a blast - although she was SUPER tired and kind of freaked out at one point. A neighbor was hammering nails into a barn nearby and she got kind of scared at the noise. I think she was just out of it. Anyway - with help, she found the eggs, ate lots more chocolate and then went insane in the yard. It was a really nice, peaceful family day. And much warmer than yesterday - when we went to get a portrait in spring clothes/shoes and it started snowing/sleeting.

Easter Dress from Tucson Mimi

Here she is in her Easter sweater dress. This outfit was so cute. She really liked it -- it was comfortable too which is important for Bree. The frilly dresses with puffy stuff underneath tend to get on her nerves. Anyway, here she is in her dress and silvery shoes. She looks so pretty.