The Hershey's Games

Kaylee competed in the Hershey's Games on Saturday and had a really good time.These games are only held once a year for young kids interested in clean competition. She ran the 100m, 200m and the softball throw. She amazed herself for throwing a longer distance than last year and actually placed 2nd in her division. That means....she qualified for State.
Last year Kaylee also went to State for throwing and placed 8th overall, competing against all the kids from around the state. It was such a great opportunity for her to compete and learn sportsmanship. She loves meeting other people with the same drive and ambition. We figure with this record she really needs to play softball, its just a matter of getting her to believe in the sport itself.
We never know what we are competing against until we show up. This year Kaylee got bumped up to the older division because of her birth date. So basically she competed against girls 2 years older and 1 ft taller than she is(not to mention they are all team athletes). Even with all the bets against her, she still wanted to run against them. She actually didn't do too bad. She didn't come in first, but it didn't bother her non-the-least. Our neighbor competes in just about anything and everything. You can call him "Mr Athletic". He also competed in 4 different events and placed 1st in all his categories. I wouldn't have expected any different from him. Good job Darian!
I love Kaylee for just going for it, no matter the cost. I think she gets that drive from her mom...me. We are like energizer bunnies who go and go and go.
Congrats Kaylee!

Student of the Month

Kaylee was chosen as "STUDENT OF THE MONTH" at her school this week. She was caught off-guard when her teacher walked up to her before the morning flag raising ceremony and said that she was the student of the month. Kaylee's teacher e-mailed us to let us know a few days before the event so we could come and take pictures. This is such a special acknowledgement at her school and only a few kids get chosen. This month it was for "Compassion". Her teacher wrote up a beautiful paper about how Kaylee shows compassion to others by helping them when they are in need.
I am so grateful to have such willing and special child. You can't go wrong with anything when Kaylee is involved. Kaylee is my super sweet special star!

"Fight For Air" Asthma Walk April 2nd, 2011

Yesterday we participated in the "Fight For Air" asthma walk to support the ongoing need to help fight those battling asthma and lung disease. It was a very inspirational day and not to mention a very fun morning. The event was held in Scottsdale, AZ. It was so moving to see every one show up to donate to a common cause. This is the 9Th year the American Lung Association has put on the event and every year it gets bigger and better.
Delia's doctors came out to walk, along with most of their staff. I decided to have t-shirts made for the day to honor Delia. She was walking as a team captain for "Team Crazy" and was representing her pulmonologist docs, but I really wanted her to know how much we were in support for her specifically. I called on a neighbor who happens to do shirts and we had some made for those family members who showed up. It was so nice to see how much attention we got. It really was amazing.
One of the teams, that had over 164 people show up, came from the north to honor and walk for a girl who died from asthma last year. It was very touching and moving. That team alone raised over $6800.00 for asthma prevention. Just goes to show how much one person can touch the lives of hundreds or even thousands.

We hope that next year will be even better and bigger for "Team Crazy". We look forward to walking, donating and supporting this event. It was great to see Delia see many other people who struggle just like her. I hope this day will stay with her and she will be more open to sharing her disease with others. We love and honor her!
We love you Delia Brown and you are our ASTHMA WARRIOR!

Our Garden is in!!!

Another season arrives and a new garden is in for the spring. This year we were running a little bit behind on our planting, so I took matters into my own hands after work one day last week and planted the whole thing myself with the girls help of course. I just love a yummy garden when it all starts to grow and you can walk out our back door and pick off an entire salad with fruit for dessert. This year we also decided to plant sunflowers against our back fence and decorating squash in between the sunflowers for the fall season. I can't wait to post the pictures when it all starts to come along.
We also are in a transition with our back yard because the grass is a huge trigger for Delia's asthma, so we have to tone it down a little and not have an entire back yard full of grass. We are going to put in some fruit trees and planter boxes along the edges and make a few other changes. Redesigning a large backyard is such a painstaking task, but must be done.
This year we planted:peas, green beans, onions, carrots, spinach, leaf lettuce, radishes, asparagus, romaine lettuce, zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, buttercup sqaush, peppers, squash, cucumbers, watermelons, strawberries and a rasberry bush. Whew, I think we got a lot of work ahead of us, but most importantly the girls enjoy the process and learning along with us!