Our Favorite Day of the Year! Ronald McDonald House 2011

Crazy that 11 years ago today (Tuesday, March 22nd), we welcomed a beautiful red headed baby boy into our family.  Logan Del Ballard, a 6 lb 13 oz amazing "Little Man".  Unfortunately, his life was short, but the impact that he left has blessedd us for a lifetime and the people we met (and continue to meet) because of him have influenced who we are today.  During Logan's short 6 1/2 week life, we spent all but 10 days of it living at the hospital and sleeping our nights at Ronald McDonald Houses in both Sioux Falls South Dakota and Ann Arbor Michigan.  Being able to stay at these houses saved us over $5,000 in hotel and meal costs over the course of that 6 1/2 week span of time.  We were a young couple just starting out, living away from family, and welcoming our first child.  At a time when Brian was taking off work to be with us (3 hours away), medical bills mounting, staying at a hotel was out of the question.  We were grateful for a nice place to stay, with real food, volunteers who cared, laundry facilities, and much more.  Naturally, after Logan's death, we decided that we had much to be grateful for and needed to pay it forward the many kindness that were shown to us.  So, each year we travel to the Ronald McDonald House and prepare a pizza, breadstix and soda pop dinner along with homemade goodies and a candy buffet.  Kelsey always hands out Easter eggs stuffed with stickers and bubbles and Sis. Price sends the darlingest favors for our little people eating dinner at House C.  We are grateful to Logan's grandparents who also contribute to help make this tradition possible and who also believe in this project and the legacy that Logan left.

Each year, Dale and Anna Price make this family tradition possible by tending Spencer who is not old enough to go with.  Each year, Anna makes a sign (or 2) and hangs them on her front door welcoming Spencer Boy to their home.  He is indeed a welcomed guest and this year his stay included a trip to McDonald's and Bedtime Story Time at the library.  We love Nana and Papa Price as Spencer calls them and so appreciate them taking Spencer in and treating him as they would one of their own grandchildren. 

Where is Ronald?  He is is missing from this bench.  Our traditional family photo next to Ronald was missed due to some local teens who thought they needed to remove him and cart him off to another location.  This incidence reminded Brian and I of some of our old college days of steeling the statue of Paul Bunion.  Ronald was missed tonight!


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The traditional Candy Buffet that mommy Paige and Kelsey love to shop for and set up.  Kelsey loves to help select the different types of candy and she is a great helper in putting them all in the jars when we arrive at the house. 



 





Homemade treats this year included, yummy sugar cookies, brownies, and mini cupcakes.  Once again, Kelsey was  highly involved in helping with the cookies and couldn't wait to get to try one of the brownies herself.  Folks who stay at the house are always so appreciative of homemade goodies and I enjoy a good cause for making them!

Kelsey and our favorite volunteer Rick pose for a photo.  Kelsey simply adores Rick and couldn't imagine our evening without him and neither could we!  He is the most helpful person one could ever imagine and usually has things done before we even ask.  He had our ovens pre-heating before we arrived, he helps set up, helps with the dishes, taking out the trash, organizing and setting up to make it run smoothly for us and for the families.  House C is so lucky to have such a person that gives of his time and who does everything with such attention to detail.  We love Rick and hope he will continue to put us on his calendar for March 22nd.

Sis. Price not only babysits Spencer Boy, she also sends with us a beautiful basket full of McDonald Happy Meal Toys, cookies, and fruit snacks, packaged in French Fry cartons and topped off with yellow paper shreds that looked like fries.  The kids loved receiving these tonight along with Kelsey's traditional Easter Eggs that were stuffed with mini bubbles and stickers this year. 

Kelsey added to our tradition this year by designing a poster with design options for the guests to have her decorate their candy buffet take out box.  She was amazing and kept so busy.  We were proud that she herself developed a way to contribute to this project in her own way and all the guests were so great about letting her artistic abilities shine.  Awesome job Kelsey!

Kelsey decorating Eleanor's take out box with a Dr. Seuss "Who" person.  Eleanor has been instrumental in allowing Kelsey to be able to join us at Ronald McDonald House over the years.  She has been given special permission as per it is their policy that volunteers must be at least 13 years of age.  We feel blessed that Kelsey is able to be a part of this tradition and is learning to serve others.  It is our favorite day of the year and we thank Eleanor for making that possible.

Picking up Spencer Boy at the Price home.  We are certain Nana Price will sleep very good tonight after chasing a 2 year old around!  Thanks Anna...