9th Annual Pumpkin Run

Last Saturday was the 9th Annual Pumpkin Run for Le Bonheur!  It was a really fun time to get together with family and friends for a wonderful cause and a little exercise!  This is the first year we had a cardiac team.  A group of heart moms got together and spread the word to form this team of over 90 participants!!!  Our team was the second largest - only behind the corporate sponsor, Jabil!  Pretty cool, huh!!!  We had t-shirts printed that really helped unite our group! A sweet heart baby's Aunt Julie designed our shirt - a heart with Psalm 31:24 written inside... this Psalm also inspired our name, Team BraveHeart!

Here are the Medina Flacks and their good friend, Hannah!

Nonna and Dada with some munchkins!

Our super friends, the Mangusos!

Madeline and Lindsey raring to go!

Eli and Sus enjoying the ride....

And they are off!

This is Owen, Eli and Susanna!

Susanna leads the pack.  Madeline had gone in front of us to walk with Lauren Ashley and Hannah, Parker and Nonna and Dada were ahead, too.  And, Chris and Lindsey were running way up ahead with Steven and Vadessa!

Eli wanted to run ahead to run with Parker!

Nearing the end.., and still smiling! That is a feat for sure!

 

Dada finished a 5k!  

Nonna finished the 5k!  Awesome!!

Congratulations, Dada, for placing 3rd in your age group!  So exciting!

Madeline, Susanna and Jessica!  

Jessica is Madeline's nurse, and we love her to pieces - as you can see!  Jessica was born with only half of her heart!  She is now 26 and a pediatric cardiology nurse! AND, she finished the 5k!  

She ROCKS!!! 

 A great way to spend a Saturday morning!

Susanna Started Preschool!

Uggh, I am so sorry I have not posted in so long!  The weeks are getting away from me!

Susanna started preschool two weeks ago!  Special Kids and Families did start a two morning a week preschool for kids ages 3-5.  So, she is in preschool from 9-12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays!  

We are so very excited to be able to stay with this wonderful program!

Here she is on her first day!  She is sporting a new backpack that Aunt Stephie found for her!

So big!

Putting her backpack in her box.

She was very excited about the "baby area!" She loves playing with babies, feeding them, and especially changing their clothes!  This is true for real babies, too - she is a baby magnet!

This is her new teacher, Mrs. Kate.  Mrs. Kate has four children of her own and is so patient and kind.  We are very happy to have Mrs. Kate nurturing and teaching Susanna every week!

It was a great first day of school - every morning she asks if she gets to go to school today!  

She seems to really enjoy it.

Susanna's First Trip to the Dentist

Susanna is such a big girl!  She was so excited to go to her first dentist visit!

What do you with your mouth at the dentist?

Our sweet hygienist showing Sus how the "tooth tickler" works! 

And how "Mr. Thirsty" works!

Counting teeth....

Polishing...

All clean!

Dr. Brad checking things out...

Great job!

School is starting again!

I can't even believe it... where did the summer go?  Truly!  

Madeline started THIRD grade last week - Are you kidding me - third grade?  Surely not ... but yes, it's true!  She is our big 8 year old and so excited for school.   

She has a super energetic, amazing teacher, Ms. Osias.  Madeline comes home each day with some awesome stories about how Ms. Osias taught them that day - from talking with English and French accents to standing on her head to 

review the class rules!

This super wiggly top front tooth that's dangling lower than the others is 

just on the verge of falling out...

The evening of the third day of school, she lost it!  This makes a total of 3 lost teeth!  The Tooth Fairy was generous with $2 for that top front tooth!  She's been singing "All I want for ____ is my two front teeth!" Filling in the blank with various holidays!

And today, our little big boy started kindergarten.  I can't even believe it!  My adorable little baby boy is not even a tad bit like a baby anymore!  

He was so ready to start school asking for days when he was going to get to go!  

Here's Mr. Bernie, the security guard at the front door.  He worked here when Madeline went to kindergarten, too.  It's so fun to see him again!  

He learns all the kids' names and offers a comforting, warm welcome every day!

We found his bear with his name on it!

His cubby...

Hanging up his backpack...

His patient and loving teacher, Mrs. Ward....

And he's off playing Legos and ready to start the day!

We are so proud of our precious boy!

Susanna will start preschool in September, we hope!  The word on the street is that Special Kids is starting a two morning per week preschool class for 3-6 year olds!  This would be amazing - we cannot sing enough praises about Special Kids!  Hopefully we'll have her first day pictures in about a month!

Happy Birthday, Susanna!

Last Tuesday, June 25, Susanna turned 3!  I can't believe my sweet baby girl is three years old already!!!!!  I know I always say this, but HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN SO FAST?!!!!

It really seems like a minute ago that she was born or learning to crawl or starting to talk.
 Now, she is a full fledged kid, no baby in her anymore!  

I treasure the times she says to me, "I'm not big, I'm still little!"

Here are some shots from her special day!

She got a wooden rocking chair!

Her birthday streamers!

All the kids the morning of her bday!

Our niece Sabrina is visiting for a couple weeks!  We were so happy to get to celebrate with her, too!!!

Not only is this Susanna's third birthday, but it's also her last day at Special Kids!  Boo Hoo big time!!!!!  We have loved this school and all the teachers for over 6 years!

Ms. Linda has taught all of our kids when they were 1 1/2- 3 years old!  We just love her.  Good thing she babysits for us - couldn't bear to say goodbye!

Cupcakes at home after a birthday dinner!

Happy, happy day!!!!