It's Christmas Morning - sort of...

It's the first day of school for Brendan and Áine.  Yay!!!

Summer Randomness - Part 2

And now for the wee lass...

 At the mall.

 Waiting for her orthopedist aka "Áine's bone doctor" as Ciara called him when she was younger.

 Ditto.

 Hanging out in her room in her big girl chair.

 Having fun at Ability First.

 End of summer blues with the ever patient big brother.

Love the expressions. 

Summer randomness - Brendan

Thankfully for all parties involved school starts tomorrow for Brendan and Áine.  I thought I would post some random summer shots of them just 'cause they're so darn cute.  Enjoy!

 Back from a fun day at Ability First.

 Waiting to see the neurologist.

 Getting hooked up for his EEG.

 At the mall.

 At CHLA waiting for Áine's orthopedist.

Summer cuteness captured by Ciara.

First Official Day of High School

The latest (and one of the greatest) Alverno Jaguar!  

Class of 2016

Our combat boot wearing, drum playing, "Anastasia" loving girl is on her way!

Make friends, work hard, and have fun!

WE LOVE YOU, CIARA!

New uniform...

New lunch box...

Years past...

Such a simple thing, but then again... maybe not.

A pair of sand-filled navy blue Crocs.  Doesn't seem like much.  But it is.

These belong to Miss Áine Clare and while we've never limited what we thought she could do in life, this little scene from last week moved me.

Áine had returned from a beach and boat (!) trip with her brother and sister and the rest of HBIC.  (Ciara is volunteering there this summer.)  After getting everyone off the van and cleaned, fed, and down for a rest, I set about putting away their things and there sat these little sand-filled shoes.  Not DAFOS, not orthopaedic shoes, no socks even.  Just a pair of child's summer shoes.  Filled with sand.

With all that she has been through in  her short life, a trip to the beach isn't just an every day happening.  It is something to be celebrated.  Sand and all.

First Day of Summer School at HBIC

Brendan and Áine waiting to go to their first day of summer school.

Miss Áine Clare

The sleeping boy.

Posing for Momma.

And another pose.

 

Happy 4th from the Madigan Kidlets