Heart Ball 2012

Last year we attended the Heart Ball since Thad was one of the heart heroes.  This year the AHA invited   Mended Little Hearts kids to Heart ball 2012.   The kids got all dressed up and stole the show! 

My survivor!

They wanted the kids to hand out the flashing heart pins when people bid during the special appeal. They all wore "Survivor" sashes and had a red balloon tied to their wrist.  Thad did a good job handing out the pins but he wanted to hand them out to everyone even if they didn't bid! I'm always worried what Thad will do in these situations when I really need him to be good......... He did great handing out the pins even though he wanted to take a bite of someone's dessert and wanted to take everyone's paddle.  Luckily he's cute and can get away with things.  After we handed out the pins they called our group to the front and introduced MLH.  Last year at the ball they had a party up for bid for MLH.  The AHA decided to do another one this year so they wanted our group up at the front so people could see the kids.  500 people staring at us, bright lights and lots of photographers (I was really hoping Thad would behave during this).......at this point he didn't want his balloon tied around his wrist, he wanted to let it go.  I managed to save the balloon from going up to the ceiling and I held it instead while trying to smile for the pictures.  Then my sweet little boy decided to run away from me.  I took a deep breathe and started after him.  There were tables everywhere close together and he was running in and out of them until he made it over the dance floor to the back of the room.  The entire crowd was laughing and the announcer said "One of our heart survivors is making a run for it!" I'm slowly making my way in and out of the tables trying to catch up to him carrying his red balloon.  My first thought is "I can't believe I thought he could stand up there for 5 minutes, I'm so embarrassed!" Hearing all the people laughing and them telling me along the way I better catch up, or how cute he was made it a little easier.  I found out he was giving people high fives as he was running past them.  

Adam called it, he knew this would happen and I told him he would listen and be a good boy.  Adam said he wanted no part in going to the front so he was going to hang with Ollie in the back.  He said he heard the announcer make the comment about one of them getting away and he knew right away that it was Thad.  Silly silly boy, but I wouldn't have him any other way.  He is full of life and that is what being a survivor is all about.  I was worried about what the people would think of him running but it actually went okay and people called him the "runner boy."  

When we arrived they weren't ready for us yet so we got to hang out with the Star Wars characters.  Thad wasn't too sure about Darth Vader so he wanted me in the picture with him.  I have to admit, he is a little scary! He is so tall and just creepy in all black.  

 This was Thad's favorite.  He told me when he grows up he wants to be one of the white one's. But then he informed me he would be gone for a long time if he became one of these guys.

The storm trooper even let him try on his helmet.  He looks pretty darn cute in it!

I'm glad we had a distraction with the Star Wars guys and they were great to take all the pictures with our kids and families.  

It was a such a fun night.  Two people ended up bidding on a party for Mended Little Hearts.  The AHA raised over $6000 for our party and now we get to have two parties where they plan everything for our group.  Last year we went to a Sky Sox game and had dinner.

Happy Heart Day! Celebrate a survivor and remember an Angel.