The Writing of a First Grader!

Wonder if Tater interviewed a frog to know this?

Tater's Walk 2011!

Every year our local NephCure Foundation holds a walk to raise money to fund research for Tater's specific kidney disease, nephrotic syndrome.  The event is an amazing day that we spend as a family and focus on Tater.  Not only that, we value the chance to contribute to research that will directly benefit our family and sweet Tater!

For more information, please visit the NephCure's walk website.

Here is the letter we have included to ask for everyone's support!

Hello!

Support our team! The NephCure Walk is coming up, and our team needs you! We are walking to raise awareness and funds for The NephCure Foundation, an organization that is very important to us. NephCure funds research that will help us to find better treatments, a cause and a cure for two devastating kidney diseases, FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome.

Tater was diagnosed with Nephrotic Syndrome in December of 2006, two months before her 2nd birthday. We are still struggling to get her in a good remission. We are trying to control her frequent break-through relapses with experimental treatments but little is known about their outcome and her prognosis. Our hope is to raise funds to support further research in this area.

Our team goal is to raise $1000 and have 10 members come together on this team. More than a fundraiser, supporting us at this walk provides support for those lives that have been touched by Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS while raising awareness in our communities.

Will you support our team?

Thank you!

Daddy and Mommy Sprout

 

 

 

 

 

 
You can make donations directly through the Nephcure's site (Team Kate's Keepers!) or mail your check to:

Nephcure Foundation

Attn: Nadia Stadnycki

15 Waterloo Avenue

Berwyn, PA 19312

(include Kate's Keepers, Hingham, MA in the memo line!)

 

Know that every donation, thought, and prayer is appreciated and valued!

Keeping Them Busy!

We spent the first official day of our vacation with Daddy's family.  It was super-hot again, so we headed to the lake for some cooling off!

Uncle Jeff brought his boat and Bruiser was in LOVE!

He checked it all out and would leave it be!

Tater went for her first tube ride!

Sassy spent some quality cuddle time with her cousin.

Bruiser drove the boat...all by himself...for real!

Sassy went swimming...

and rode the tube too!

The next day we went on a short drive and visited a FREE butterfly house and working farm.  It was definitely worth it and the kids loved it. 

There was a nest of babies in the barn and the mommy bird kept flying in to feed them one at a time.

Sassy was "feeding" the Rhode Island Reds...how ironic!

The highlight of Tater's vacation!

That face says it all!

After that farm visit, we headed back closer to Memaw and Pop-Pop's to meet up with the cousins and great-grandparents at yet another farm.  But this one had ice cream!

Sassy dropped her dish and fed the kittens.

Nanny and Poppy and all the great-grandchildren.

Too super-sweet!

Sassy and Nanny!

Immediately after this picture, Sassy walked behind a wooden Amish swing that Tater was swinging on.  The swing hit her and she flew through the air.  The entire right side of her face instantly bruised and swelled.  We spent the next few hours in the ER making sure there was nothing broken.  Sassy walked away with a nasty bruise (that is still there as I type!) and good head bump.  As you have come to know, there is NEVER a dull moment in the House of Sprout...whether home or away!

Is It Really A Vacation????

Looks like Papa and Mimi have put Tater to work while she's visiting!

Hope she's earning her keep!

Not A Problem!

I spent the afternoon helping out a friend and watching her two kids.  After I took all five kids to Tater's school to drop her off and then took the remaining four kids to Bruiser's school to drop him off (and lost count of how many seat belts I buckled and unbuckled!), the three little one - ages 1, 2, & 3 - headed to the basement and played there for hours!  Yes, HOURS!  It has been the best rainy afternoon with multiple children I have ever had! 

Just don't ask me if I change my mind tonight when I have to clean up the play room!

"Celebrate America" - Dance Recital 2011

We dressed up.  We glittered up.  We smiled.  We moved.

We danced!

This weekend was Tater's third dance recital and Sassy's first.  It was busy, stressful and time-consuming...but the girls had fun and did great!  Here is the re-cap in pictures...lots of pictures!

Tater is ready to head to rehearsal.

Sassy posing with her bandaged knee!

Tater and her camera smile.

Sassy had a catnap on the way...but don't worry - she was just recharging!

Tater and her friend, M, waiting for things to get started.

Tater watching Miss Michelle give directions.

"Sweet Caroline"

Sassy danced like a professional!

It was especially entertaining  because she didn't dance a single step in class all year long...must have been saving it for the stage!  She did a lot of bouncing from side-to-side, even though it wasn't part of the routine...but she looked cute!

Our friend, Judah, froze halfway into the routine and Sassy had to figure out how to dance around him...again, it was entertaining to watch!

The group shot!

Sassy spent a fair amount of time on stage doing just this...not sure where she learned it!

Super sweet Sassy!

Tater during the family dance.

(Unfortunately, Mommy was at the back of the stage and there aren't any pictures...darn!)

Mommy being a "stage mommy"!

Tater's Ballet

"Let's Get Together"

Tater's Tap

"When The Saints Go Marching In"

Tater's Jazz

"Surfin' in the USA"

The rehearsal lasted almost 4 hours.

Sassy went home with Daddy, Mimi, and Bruiser early on...and Tater did amazingly well and danced all her dances the best I've ever seen her!  Because there is no photography allowed during the actual show, these pictures are from the rehearsal...so say a little prayer that the real thing goes a bit quicker!

Oh, and here's a shot of Sassy!