Ice Skating

Josie has wanted to go ice skating for a really long time now. I just couldn't quite figure out how exactly to make that work. After school we went to the Pasadena ice rink to give it a try. I brought the Crocodile walker thinking that would be the best idea. After I got her skates on (after 2 pairs) I put her in the walker and onto the ice. Immediately the feet went out in front of her. After realizing that there was no good or safe way to make this work, I put her back in her blue cadillac. Bingo it totally worked. We skated for an hour and she couldn't have been happier. She was moving her arms all over like a professional skater. She would spin in circles> most importantly she was having a ball and was really safe. Tomorrow I am taking the whole Brownie troop there so we wanted to check it out first. Tomorrow I am going to use the blue Cadillac again but remove the blue foot plate so she can put skates on, feel the feeling of the ice under her feet and still be extremely safe on the ice. Loved hearing her laughter on the ice. Don't tell us know, just let me figure it out and it will be done.

At school today she got %100 on her purple words spelling test. She was so proud of all her hard work and accomplishment. We are moving onto the blue words tonight. She is doing really well in school. I am so proud of her. Thanks for checking in. Jenny and Josie

Went to the pet store for rabbit food today...

And guess what jumped into our basket...


Josie and I just couldn't resist and the man at the store didn't make it any easier. What's 3 when you already have two. Speaking of 2, we picked up our old male bunny from the neighbors who so kindly bunnysat it while we were in Michigan. I would love to return it to the neighbors but Josie won't hear of it. George (what the neighbors named him since they didn't like the name Fatty da Tatty (Josie named of course) if happily hopping in the back yard. He didn't forget a thing being gone 6 months. I walked out tonight to put him away and he hoped right over to the cage, got in and waited for his food. I didn't realize before having these bunnies that they were so smart.

The keeper of the kingdom, Lolly, isn't warming up too quickly to the new bunny. Every time the bunny goes into the little castle thing, Lolly flops herself at the entrance so the bunny can't get out. They are also separated right now because Lolly is chasing her like a crazy lady around the pen. Speaking of crazy ladies, my suspicion now is that they didn't sex Lolly right at the pet shop and that she may actually be a boy. Acting that way if you know what I mean. I'll have to sun her to the vet for a second opinion.



Keeper of the Kingdom...Miss Loly blocking in the new bunny


Liz, you shouldn't give us days off. We run ourselves into all kinds of trouble!!

Not much more happening in our world. Tomorrow we are going to measure out the run way measurements for the fashion show in March. We have to start timing these practices so we can get them under 5 minutes. 5 minutes with an audience is going to be the trick!! Perfect practice makes perfect...we just have to practice. Night from bunnyland, Jenny and Josie

PS. IF Lolly turns out to be a boy, you all can have first pick of the litter!!

Weekend in the OC

Josie and I headed down to Orange County right after school on Friday for a couple of meetings I had to attend. Josie is so amazing during these meetings. There are very few 9 year old that can sit quiet and patiently during something that is so boring to them. It was cute today when we were asked to got around the room and introduce ourselves. When we came to Josie she spoke right up and said, "Hi I am Josie Hull. I got into this business with my mom. I sell Fusion for her and I take Omega." She was adorable and probably more poised than most of the adults that were in the room. After our meeting ended yesterday, she asked to make a quick announcement and told everyone that she was selling Girl Scout cookies. Let me tell you how many orders she took!! She is my little entrepreneur. I love my business and I love even more how open and welcoming everyone is to her.

When we weren't in meetings we were at the Amigleo's house in San Clemente. Josie absolutely loves being with Tony and Anne Marie's 4 kids. The kids are 11, 10, 9 and 4 so they all play together well. We are thankful to have them and are able to stay with them. Thanks Amigleos.

Hope all of you are having a great weekend. Love, Jenny and Josie

300

I know what you are all thinking because I posted a number. I wish you were right in thinking she stood independently for 300 seconds, but unfortunately that isn't it. 300 represents the number of posts to date. Who knew I had so much to say..oh with me of course I had so much to say.

So let's take a quick recap of what has transpired over 300 posts which includes 1 and a half years. Here is the bottom line...post number 1 she couldn't walk, post number 300 she can walk. I hope and pray by post 600 that she is walking without canes or anything. I think it is in the realm of possibility. There is still a lot of hard work ahead of us. I need to reeve the engines back up in me. I feel a tad burnt out but can't let down after all this time. Josie isn't burnt out and that is what matters most.

Thank you to all of you who check in on us. Knowing we have your support makes the journey worthwhile. Thank you to our friends and especially family who have been so supportive and caring. We could not have gotten this far without you. Stay tuned more exciting things to come. Jenny and Josie

Happy Birthday to my Darling Sister, Stephanie

It is Steph's birthday and we had a nice celebration at our parent's house tonight. Brian and Michelle and the boys came down today from Tahoe. Gary and Carol Richards (Mike's parents) got to join us. Grams and Gramps were there. The kids loved helping blow out candles and open presents. Happy birthday my sweet Stephanie!!

Cute Josie is loving school so much. I think the social part is the true draw even though I would like to believe it was the academics...haha. Every Monday she has to leave school during lunch time to get to therapy on time. She doesn't like leaving early in fear that she will miss some big event at school. Last year she was leaving 2 and 3 days early so she lucked out this year. Anyway, just before we got in the car this morning, she asked if she could stay at school until night time and that it was more fun there. Stab to the heart in one sense and overjoyed that she likes it so much in another. I don't blame her for wanting to stay. After school she either has to go to therapy for hours or do her walking and workout with me at home with homework. I must not be the fun mom to her since I am always making her work. I do try to keep life fun for her. Oh well.

Before the party she did a good job with an hour and a half of homework. The page that I thought she would struggle with she actually totally understood. She amazes me daily. She also had to do a lot of cane walking today since we have slacked off on it this past few days...sorry P and S!! I will pick it up again I promise.

Speaking of P and S, aren't you guys impressed that I am posting for the 3rd day in a row!! I apologise to my main subscribers for the lack of posting happening lately. So great to Skype with you guys last night. Josie was still talking about it today. Hugs to the big Max Man for us.

Over and out. Will check in again tomorrow. Jen and Jos

Snow in Santa Clarita

It snowed in Santa Clarita yesterday and the snow actually stuck. It has been 22 years since that has happened. There was even snow on the ground when we went to Liz's today at 1:00 PM. Liz sent some of these pictures that she took yesterday at her house. You would think from the looks of it that we were still in Michigan..but no it happened 34 miles away from the center of Los Angeles. Fun.





Happy Teresa
The girls get to go to therapy together on Monday. Teresa is there for the first hour that Josie is there. Teresa works with Cindy and Josie obviously with Liz. It is a bit distracting for Josie but the girls love to be together. I think somewhere it motivates Teresa. Today she really showed it. Usually when Cindy puts her in standing she complains and cries until she gets out. Today she was smiling and "talking" the whole time. Maybe she made a new New Years resolution...stand more and don't complain. Boy I love that little girl. She has every right to complain. She is tough as nails. It is great to see her doing so well. It can be touchy but today was great.

Teresa standing, smiling and working hard


...and Josie is busy putting Liz's hair in a rubber band!!

Sweet sisters holding hands

Miss Cindy and Liz who we need to thank daily for helping our darling little girls.

Josie was spent tonight with going back to school and therapy. Good for her to work hard again. Tonight I jumped on the computer and randomly Skped Przemek and Sylwia. Low and behold I got ahold of them. I ran in the other room to get Josie so she could see them too. When she saw Przemek she just started squeeling and laughing like crazy. She couldn't believe it was him. Then Slywia popped into the picture and the laughing and squealing began all over again. Then there was Max..I think you get the picture...yes she definitely misses them. We got the great pleasure of seeing and meeting Sylwia's lovely sister, her husband and 2 adorable kids. We spend so much time together and get to learn about each others families it will be a treat to be in the same room someday, but for today it was fabulous to see them on Skype.

Off to see the wizard before tomorrow comes around. I am still trying to move back into our house. Hopefully I will be done tomorrow...minus the 15 boxes in the garage.. those are for another time and place. Night, Jenny and Josie

New Year's Resolution 362....

New Year's Resolution 362....post more often on blog when home in California. I have been awful about this and I apologize. Everyone has been so supportive of Josie and her journey and I need to resolve to do this more often.

Having said that, we have been extremely busy with the greatness that comes this time of year. We bask in the glory of the Lord's birth and are blessed to have shared this time with our wonderful family and friends. So here goes some pictures of many fabulous holiday moments...


The beautiful creche at St. Bede's Church. It is such a magnificent scene on Christmas Eve. Josie loves when they bring down Baby Jesus and puts him in the manger. She always says, "Now he is born."

The double rainbow that was outside the Mending Kids office. It had rained here for days but here is what we got to see at the end of the storm. May double rainbows appear over every child we (MKI) helps this year. Off to a good start with the completion of our Ethiopia heart mission. You can read some very touching stories of the mission at www.mendingkids.org. Click on the blog section.

Josie and I on Christmas Eve. We have a great celebration every year at Steph and Mike's.

Josie seeing her baby bunny for the first time. Grandpa let little Lolly hop out from under the tree. Josie had absolutely no idea that she was getting a new bunny. Her favorite bunny, Gabriella, died while we were in Michigan. We now only have one rabbit left. I like having more than one so they have someone (or some bunny) to be with all day. As you can see here, she has absolutely jumped off the couch and actually stood for a few seconds herself...Przemek, Sylwia and Liz, we should try this tactic!!

Josie holding her new bunny

Meet Lolly, the Holland, dwarf, lopped eared bunny

All the cousins on Christmas day. They are such great buddies.

Carson and Trent playing together.

Josie and her ROLLING suitcase. All she wanted was her own rolling suitcase so when we travel she can take her own suitcase by herself. Why didn't I think of this the past 4 years while we moved our lives back and forth across the country?! Better late than never.

These next pictures are fun for us. Gramps, Grams and I love the horse races. We go a few times a year to the Santa Anita track and bet the big 3 together every year starting with the Kentucky Derby. For Christmas this year, I got a table for opening day at Santa Anita that happens to be December 26th. We all had such a great time. Josie picked the winning horse that day off a hunch.

The Noonan family on opening day.

Watching the races

The Noonan Family Table

Josie's horse, Sydney's Candy, that won. Her is the ironic part, Sydney's Candy is owned by Jenny Craig the diet guru. Funny part is everyone of her horses have been named after candy or chocolate. I guess she gets rich and pays for her horses because we Americans consume to much of these things.

Handicapping the horses...Gramps is really good at this



Sunbathing in Palm Desert with Lolly

Carson and Jack Mitchell (our second cousin) playing today at the Hull side Christmas party

Josie and Luke having a great tea party

Busy and great times. Thanks for checking in. Wishing you all a Happy New Year!! Cheers to 2011. Jenny and Josie