Tuesday, May 31, 2011

New Rides

We will be having two new rides this year at the Celebration that the kids should love.  First is a barrel train ride and it is just as it sounds, a train made from barrels.  The second is a carnival ride called Tubs of Fun. 



Friday, May 27, 2011

Magic on Stage

This year we are excited to announce that Magician BJ Talley will be on stage at 1:00.  If you were able to join us last year, you were able to see some of his up-close magic tricks and take home a balloon animal as he walked around the crowd.  This year he will be wowing us all with bigger tricks as he takes the stage.  Here is a link to his website to give you a little preview of what you are in store for.    http://bjtalley.com/

Work Day

Sunday we will be having a Celebration work day at our house starting at 2 pm.  We will be making signs, doing a few construction projects, and grilling out for everyone too, so bring a side. 

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Helping Joplin

Yesterday I delivered several boxes to the truck headed to Joplin.  Mady and I boxed up 50 Abby's Hugs stuffed animals, 2 paper boxes of coloring books, 1 filled with crayons, markers, and colored pencils, 1 box filled with reading books, and 1 filled with fun stuff (games, cards, matchbox cars, dress up clothes, yo-yos, etc) for the kids affected by the tornado.  Hopefully these can help bring some smiles to the little ones down there that have lost these things that are important to them.   

Monday, May 23, 2011

Celebration Approaching!

The Celebration is fast approaching and we have so many new and exciting things planned for the event, but of course your old favorites will still be there!

Abrielle Neff Foundation
presents the
4th Annual Celebration of Children

June 12th 12:00 ~ 4:00
Beal Park

Families young and old, bring your lawn chairs
& enjoy the stage entertainment, petting zoo,
carnival games, rides & BBQ.

Inflatables      Ferris Wheel      Tubs of Fun Ride
Barrel Train Ride      FOOD      Games        Dunk Tank
Petting Zoo      Spoofy      Silent Auction

 
On The Stage!
12:00 Maryville Dance Academy
1:00 Magician BJ Talley – BJ will be here to mesmerize you
with his magic! You might even find yourself on stage!
2:00 MHS Drum Line
3:00 Kids Contests – are you brave enough to participate?

Weekend Memories

Saturday we had dance recital for our girls.  It is always hard for me to watch the dance recital as I am reminded of our little dancer that is not there, but do enjoy watching our other two perform.  It is one of those events that I now mentally prepare myself for before I go.  Unfortunately I was not prepared enough.  Three routines had me fighting tears.  Two were sister dances, the first song even talking about how to dance after her sister died.  The other was a tribute song that had a little girl talking about Heaven.

We also had another first this weekend.  Sunday we went fishing for the first time without Abby.  Elly had gotten a Princess fishing pole for her birthday and was ready to try it out.  The girls dug up worms for the outing and I was reminded so much of our last fishing excursion with Abby.  I remember taking pictures as they pulled worms from the dirt as Marc scooped it up with the shovel.  I remember how the worms didn't even phase our bug-loving Abby, but Mady didn't like touching them.  I remember how excited and proud Abby was as she caught her first fish on her Nemo fishing pole.  These memories were echoed as Elly gladly got muddy and slimy gathering worms and then again later as she was thrilled with her catches on her Princess pole.      

Blog Featured

Check it out, the blog is featured in the NNL
http://www.nodawaynews.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=14383&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Planting Pictures

Since I am still receiving a "security error" message when I try to upload any pictures, here is a link to the article in the paper that has some photos. 

http://www.maryvilledailyforum.com/topstories/x600906616/Planting-party-offers-lessons-on-growing?img=2

If anyone knows how to remedy my problem, I would love to hear from you! 

Friday, May 13, 2011

Music Program

Last night Elly had a spring music program for preschool which they had been practicing for for weeks.  I have heard all the songs daily in the car on our trips to and from town and she was ready to sing them loud.  What I didn't realize about the program was who the preschool class was performing with on some songs.  The note came home a week ago laying out how the evening was to go, from where to drop off your child and where to pick them up to which grade levels would be singing together.  Preschool was to sing with the second graders.   Even as I read this, nothing clicked.  It wasn't until we were walking Elly into the building that I realized who the second graders were.  This was Abby's class.  As I lead Elly through the classroom and to her teachers, several of Abby's friends yelled and waved.  I smiled back glad to see that they still know who I am after all this time.  I sat in silence through most of performance by the second graders as the fact that we should have a second grader up there too.  They were then joined by the preschool class. You could see siblings looking for each other as the little ones were led up on stage.  We should have two girls on stage at this point.  We should have a proud big sister looking for her "mini me".   As the concert ended and we shared hugs with some other parents, I made the comment that of all the classes to perform together, what were the odds.  Bittersweet to watch as Abby's classmates grow up.   

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Pay It Forward

Today was the Pay It Forward assembly for the 5th graders at MMS.  Mady paired with Tara Hull to raise money for the Foundation and for St Francis Foundation for the purchase of new chairs for chemo treatments.  They raised $273 to be split between the two.  They raised their money through a lemonade stand, recycling aluminum cans, and doing yard work.  Thanks girls!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Some Anxious Days

Almost all week I have been having some anxious and teary days.  It all stems from Elly's birthday.  Her 4th birthday.  I have stayed extra busy this week, but the feelings still crept in.  For some reason I have been fearful that we would not make it to age four again.  That our lives would be thrown into a turmoil and we would lose another little girl.  Strange sounding I know but you seem to gain several new  fears after this kind of loss.  I made it through the big day on Saturday with relief that we have a four-year-old, a day we never got to with our Abby.

Garden Planting

Friday we planted Abby's Garden at EFE with the help of the preschoolers.  The kids did great and had fun digging in the dirt.  Elly planted several flowers and just beamed, saying, "Abby will be so happy."

I am having a few difficulties getting my pictures to upload but will keep trying and will add them to this post.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

MTN Speech

Today I spoke to Midwest Transplant Network's staff during staff training they were having.  Some of their staff dows not have the opportunity to work directly with donor families or recipients so this was their chance to hear from both.  It was great to see some of the faces I have not seen in a few years and meet some new people behind the scenes that have had the opportunity to work with Abby in one way or another.  I was also recruited to become an ambassador for MTN so that I will have more opportunities to speak about donation.