The Life and Times of Miss Madster

Maddie just started taking piano lessons from my mom and takes it VERY serious. I feel bad that we don't have a piano at home for her to practice on.

Maddie is learning how to read and write and spell out words. It's awesome to find random thoughts of hers around the house.

Maddie's field trip to Nellis Air Force Base. Look at her smile. :o)

Maddie's Fun Times

Maddie Day Saturdays are back!! As you can see, Maddie loves them.

Cutest couple at the Father Daughter Valentine's Day Dance at Maddie's school. Don't you think?

Maddie wanted to practice dancing because she was nervous. :o)

Skiing at Lee Canyon

It's amazing to me that this is available minutes outside of Las Vegas.

My mom joined us too.

Maddie was adorable and brave her first time skiing in her ski class. There were boys twice her size that laid down and gave up and cried, and she just skied right around them. That's my girl!

Mad Hatter Tea Party Bridal Shower

I love having a friend who throws amazing parties (Kara) so that I can steal her ideas and borrow her decorations. When I get good ideas from people I like to try to pass it on.

And congratulations to my sister-in-law, Juli, who is getting married in a few weeks. We are so happy and excited for her!

San Diego Zoo

Dang it. I hate it when I am really behind on my posts.

Here is the wild and crazy Madster.com, who doesn't care if it is New Years Eve and freezing. She is getting in that ocean!

We flew down to San Diego for a weekend to visit the zoo and my brother Kyle, who is attending law school there. In a store in the Gaslamp District, Maddie wanted to by this.....um.....accessory. She didn't know that it was part of the store's decoration and the lady who worked there was wonderful to play along that it was a barrette. Except then Maddie wanted to wear it all weekend in her hair. It is absurd and adorable all at the same time.

We waited in line forever to see the brand new baby panda. He was so cute!

Our favorite animal was the party animal, Kyle, who always seemed to show up during meal times. :o)

If You Can......

So....Have I waited long enough to ask this without wrongfully taking advantage of people's sympathy? :o) Spinal Muscular Atrophy is genetic, and not extremely common, so it is difficult to get funding to find cures and treatments for the disease. I remember after Evan died,wanting to do anything I could to help. We were poor law students, so we did a walk-a-thon and got around $5000 donated from family and friends. Then, slowly, I lost touch with FSMA (the organization) because SURELY I would never have to deal with it again. Little did I know that I would lose another adorable son to this disease. And then I also realized that Maddie is probably a carrier. And so are at least a quarter of my nieces and nephews and cousins. Not to mention all of the other families around the world that are watching their children suffer and die. And I realized I have to try again.

I would like to try to quadruple our last donation. My goal this time is $20,000. Josh and I contributed half (if you look at the top of the website, you can see Charlie's cute little picture), and I am going to try to match that with donations. So, IF YOU CAN, I would like to ask for anyone who is able to contribute through the website below. Even $5 matters!!! You pay on the website with a credit or debit card, and then there is a place for you to put the name and address of the person you are donating for. Make sure you put in our name and information (you can send it to Josh's office, 801 S. Fourth Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101) so that we can be notified and keep track of what we have earned on behalf of Charlie and Evan. And also so I can send you a big fat thank you card!

http://www.fsma.org/2009AnnualCampaign/