'Nuggles

 

Snuggling Daddy is the best way to end a busy day.

Thanks!

The response to our Candy Wrapper Drive has been amazing!  Thank you so much to everyone who has been collecting their wrappers to help raise money for SMARD research.  It's exciting and uplifting to know that people all over the country are learning about Nate and his other SMARD friends! 

Check out this article about a junior high school in Utah that has embraced Nate and this fundraiser.  They have already collected 6,000 candy wrappers.  We owe a huge thank you to everyone at Mapleton!

We know there are so many others helping to collect wrappers in your schools and communities.  We want you to know how much we appreciate your efforts.  We feel so loved and supported by your hard work!

Happy Halloween!

Halloweens Past

Nate was 6 months old on his first Halloween.  He was a hunter and spent the day playing in a hospital bed.

 

home from the hospital

 

zombie hair

 

In 2011, Nate was a chubby He-Man.

loved that shaggy 'do

 Stay tuned to see what Nate's going to dress up as this year!

 

 

Have No Beard

Today while I was holding Nate he looked at me lovingly, stroked my chin, and said, "Have no beard.  Only Jesus have a beard."  I love him.

Gilbert & Graham

Nate has taken a cue from his dad this year and really embraced Halloween.  Pumpkins, witches, and especially ghosts are a very big deal at our house this year.  I can't remember how he got here, but there is a ghost in our house named Gilbert (who happens to look a lot like a burp cloth).  Nate flies him around all day and makes him say "oooooooooo" and "boo!". 

Graham the Ghost came to our house one day when we were playing in Nate's room.  Nate asked for Gilbert so I reached into the dresser drawer and pulled out a burp cloth.  He was not fooled, he knew the real Gilbert was out in the living room on the couch.  So I told him this ghost was Gilbert's brother Graham, which seemed to satisfy him, and now there are two ghosts making mischief at our house.

 

Bike Party

Saturday was the first ever SMARDy Pants 40 Mile Ride.  It was a huge success and we felt so much love and support for Nate.  We had 18 riders representing 80 donors and amazingly we surpassed our fundraising goal.  I just can't tell you how blessed we feel and how excited we are to get Nate a wheelchair accessible van and to be able to contribute to SMARD research. 

 

Saturday morning we told Nate we were going to a bike party.  He took the idea very seriously and barely cracked a smile the whole day.  The rest of us had a lot of fun.  The weather was perfect for a morning ride and we enjoyed getting to welcome back the riders and chat with everyone. 

 

We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to all of our donors and volunteers and especially Mike Jacobsen, who first conceived the idea for the ride and made all of this happen.  The funds we raised will make a huge difference in Nate's life and the lives of other children living with SMARD.

 

We still have some t-shirts left from the event, so if you are a donor and would like one, please let me know!  If you're not a donor, shirts are $10 each and come in S-XL.  You can email me at smardypantsnate@gmail.com to get your shirt.