Children's Hospital Christmas Party

I think I told most of you that my family was invited this year to the annual Christmas party that the children's hospital puts on for all the oncology patients. This time last year, Lee was just starting all of his treatment so there was no way we could have gone. This year Lee was a survivor there and we were the PROUD family! It was an unbelieveable party with so much for the kids to do and was held in Ft. Lauderdale at a gorgeous hotel. Because it is a children's hospital there wasn't much for Lee there but lots of Ana Maria to do. Tons of arts and crafts, characters, cotton candy, ice cream, lunch and lots of goodies to take home.
There was a character reindeer and snowman that she loved, but she did not care for the elf or Santa Claus :)
I really think most people thought she was part of the party, not Lee...but Lee enjoyed seeing all of his doctors and nurses, and eating all the food!
Eduardo was able to join us which was nice and then we drove back with my parents to thier house.
We are going to stay with them probably the whole time from now on. Eduardo has another brother that lives here also that we might stay at a couple times, but I really like being with my family here at "my" house!


Sarah, my mom and Ana Maria walking into the party!

There was a huge Christmas tree out front that she loved to look at

My mom is always giving her surprises...of course she had to give her one as soon as we got there!

Seeing the elf for the first time with Sarah

Inside the party was so nice and full of good cheer. You could tell the kids who had just finished chemo like Lee, who were just getting their hair back and ones that have been cancer free for much longer. It was tough to hold back tears sometimes meeting people and knowing thier stories!

There was a balloon man who made her a heart wand

She really liked touching rudolphs nose :)

She got a snowman "tatoo", but we say :sticker" instead!

They had fancy irish cream coffeee's for the adults!!

Ana Maria attacked Sarah's key lime pie...mmm!

Ana Maria did not want her face painted so my mom got hers painted for her instead... :)

The necklace she is wearing is the surprise my mom gave her when we got there. It is a santa claus with a bell that she can shake!

I got her a cherry off of the ice cream bar but she didn't like it...look at her face!

So I told her to give it to mama to eat!!

She loved to watch all the kids dance and sing

She even got a chance to sing on the microphone herself!!

They had these huge jingle bells for the kids to shake...Ana Maria got her turn and loved it.

We never take a picture together....but here we are now!

She was holding on to me for dear life...she did not want to look at him! We'll have to try the mall Santa Claus next and see if she does better.

Eduardo had already left to go to Naples for a conference this week in this picture, and my dad stayed home. We had a great time and so happy we went!