Early spring, Maddie was asked as one of 25 Seattle Children's hospital patients from our area to be featured at the 25th Anniversary Harvest Ball. The Harvest Ball is an annual event presented by nine Tri-City guilds that support Seattle Children's Hospital. Mom, Maddie and I went down to the ball last night to enjoy a 5-course dinner, auction and dancing in the Tri-Cities. Bryan has been very busy with harvest and opted out (not really his thing so he and boys had a fun night at home together). These photos were taken back in March of the patients and were used to decorate with as well as on the invitations and pamphlets for the event. Photos by Brittney Kluse.
Maddie and her heart sister, Teagan, were the cover of the calendar given at the event as well as the the month of February with the cute kissing picture. We missed having the Maxwell's there last night. I would have loved seeing these two together!
Many of the patients spoke last evening, giving short stories of their health issues and how Children's has changed their lives. It was touching. We were very proud of Jackson...he did a great job (not pictured in our photo session).
So, to gear Miss Maddie up for this big night, we kept telling her we were going to Cinderella's ball. We often call her our "princess" and she surely lived up to her name last night!
She was given her own special dinner of elegant but tasty kid's food. She had manners just like a princess by...
sipping her chocolate milk from a beautiful glass...
to posing by charming boys like our friend Jackson (this is as near as she'd come to him or any young man, I hope she's this way in her teen years with boys!) We enjoyed sitting with Noftles, Andersens, Courtney and Jenks. It's always nice to have familiar faces at an event like this.
to having many adore her, especially her Nany. She was pampered!
But once the band started, our princess perked right up and wanted to hit the dance floor!
Dancing with Nany and Mama, as well as sweet little girls who'd come and take her hands and whisk her away
She came right out of her shell! She loved, loved, loved the live band.
More dancing, or shaking her "booty" as she calls it
It was an evening fit for a princess and this little girl had a grand time at the ball! It was precious and just watching her brought many smiles, tears and a big sigh in our hearts. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine she'd be this healthy and living life so fully. It was magical.
Maddie and her heart sister, Teagan, were the cover of the calendar given at the event as well as the the month of February with the cute kissing picture. We missed having the Maxwell's there last night. I would have loved seeing these two together!
Many of the patients spoke last evening, giving short stories of their health issues and how Children's has changed their lives. It was touching. We were very proud of Jackson...he did a great job (not pictured in our photo session). 
So, to gear Miss Maddie up for this big night, we kept telling her we were going to Cinderella's ball. We often call her our "princess" and she surely lived up to her name last night!
She was given her own special dinner of elegant but tasty kid's food. She had manners just like a princess by...
sipping her chocolate milk from a beautiful glass...
to posing by charming boys like our friend Jackson (this is as near as she'd come to him or any young man, I hope she's this way in her teen years with boys!) We enjoyed sitting with Noftles, Andersens, Courtney and Jenks. It's always nice to have familiar faces at an event like this. 
to having many adore her, especially her Nany. She was pampered!
But once the band started, our princess perked right up and wanted to hit the dance floor!
Dancing with Nany and Mama, as well as sweet little girls who'd come and take her hands and whisk her away
She came right out of her shell! She loved, loved, loved the live band.
More dancing, or shaking her "booty" as she calls it
It was an evening fit for a princess and this little girl had a grand time at the ball! It was precious and just watching her brought many smiles, tears and a big sigh in our hearts. Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine she'd be this healthy and living life so fully. It was magical.