The Goodall Life: Picture Update

In conversations lately, people been asking how we're doing as the blog has been strangely quiet. The answer is always the same, everyone is good, we're just busy. We're that boring type of busy though - the kind of busy that is explained by sports practices, school, work, therapy and then a little something special here and there.

The best way to catch you up on all the activity without boring you to tears, here you go.......

Julia was Star Student of the Week where she told everyone that she wants to be a mom when she grows up and that she's really good at giving hugs. Love that girl!

Anna wanted a winter themed birthday cake - in a moment of creativity, I think I was able to deliver (with a little help from Liz).

For her birthday, Anna collected donations for Ronald McDonald House instead of birthday presents. She needed a little convincing but came around to the idea and was able to help brighten the day for other kids, which is the best gift she could get.

Noah performed in his first band concert. I have to say, my expectations for a 5th grade band concert were pretty low, which turned out to be unfair, as they did a great job!

We haven't had much snow this winter, but the kids had a great time with the snow that we did have.

Kid pile!

Daddy Daughter Dance - Simon got to go twice to have special time with each girl. Anna even let me curl her hair this year!

Jonah, just keeping the friendly skies safe. He and I went to Colorado for a weekend and the folks on Spirit Airline were so welcoming to us.

Uncle Peter recently moved to Bermuda, so Simon and Noah paid him a housewarming welcome.

Jonah joined me on a trip to Colorado to see the family. We spent the day with Grandma (my mom) in her nursing home. Here, she and Jonah are talking about which bird they think is the cutest.

Potentially my last chance to be mystery reader. This special little bit of fun seems to end after pre-k and I didn't want to miss my chance. I was so happy to be able to share one of our favorite books, Smitten, with Julia's class.

Simon and I went to a fundraiser for Cal's Angels. Cal's is a local cancer charity focusing on wishes, awareness and research. They are the group that bought Jonah's bike for him and also the group that we pair up with for the Chicago marathon. Simon thought this to be the perfect event to break out his kilt for. Was he a true Scotsman? You'll never know.......

At the Cal's gala, they put the kids names up in stars - like a walk of fame, but on the walls. It was so special to see Jonah's name included.

We recently discovered GLASA, which is a local adaptive sports organization. They are amazing, and offer so many different sporting options to kids with physical disabilities. Jonah's first GLASA sport was sled hockey which he really enjoyed.

This is our Katie. She started as the APN who partnered with us during Jonah's treatment. Somewhere along the way she because so much more than that. The toll of treating kids with cancer is high, and Katie has made a personal decision to leave Lurie for a more general practice type of role. Her departure is certainly a loss to us, but will just necessitate our connecting outside of the walls of Lurie. We joke that we'll never be able to get rid of each other.

Julia has been loosing teeth like a crazy person. By Christmas, we expect she'll have her 2 front teeth, but for now it's funny to have her try and talk about Sally selling seashells by the seashore.

Jonah at GLASA wheelchair basketball. Of his two GLASA sports, although he liked them both, basketball is in the lead. We'll see if that sticks after Jonah does a GLASA sports camp this summer, but one thing is for sure - sports are in his future!