We just spent a wonderful long weekend with our kids. We planned very little for this weekend to be sure we could spend time with them, and so we could make sure everything would be ready for back to school.
While we spent most of the weekend hanging out with the kids, visiting with family, and doing fun things, today (Monday) was spent tidying rooms, organizing school bags, and getting the kids prepared for school.
They did ask if we could have a bit of an end of summer celebration, so we ordered in a special dinner for them and had some cupcakes for dessert.
Now, our freshly bathed children are sleeping peacefully in their clean rooms with their clothing laid out and their school bags ready to go.
The real celebration is happening now, after bedtime.
Once our busy day came to an end, and we could rest easy that everything was ready for the morning, Tom and I did a little happy dance. I even bought us pop and a chocolate bar as a reward... I know. We are party animals.
Anyone else doing a happy dance now that the kids are going back to school?
You can learn even more ways to get organized and transition from summer to school on our Back-To-School 2014 page.
Much like many 9 year old girls, Emily likes to do arts and crafts, but unlike most, she has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
Emily’s condition makes her joints swell and leaves her in pain. In order to relieve the pain, she takes drugs that make her swell. It makes her look different, and if you know kids, looking different often leads to teasing.
When Emily gets teased though, she doesn’t hold it against the person who clearly doesn’t understand her condition; instead she asks to educate them. She asks to help them to be more understanding in the hopes that they might not tease someone else.
On good days, Emily makes bracelets to raise awareness for her condition. When Emily is having a bad day, and her hands are too sore to make her bracelets, her family and friends pitch in and help her out.
The bracelets, and the people that help, are Emm’s Circles Of Strength.
This past weekend, my daughters and I were lucky enough to be a part of Emm’s Circles Of Strength. We made bracelets. Just wire and beads, but so much more to Emily.
You see, on September 15th, Emily will become the Ambassador of Mac Kids (McMaster Children’s Hospital), and her bracelets will be carried in 3 Wal-Marts in Hamilton.
At 2:00 on the 15th, Emily will be at the Wal-Mart on Rymal Rd in Hamilton launching the sale of her bracelets, raising funds for juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and teaching people to be more accepting.
If you can’t join Emily in Hamilton, join her on Facebook where you can follow her story and see how Emm’s Circles Of Strength changes her world.
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