Sunday, March 29, 2015

Shave Shots

It's the 29th, so we are one month away from Georgia's THREE year off treatment anniversary! We are looking forward to celebrating and continue to be grateful every day that she is healthy and well.

There are really no words to describe how wonderful the shave was last Saturday. Despite the rainy weather, the sun was shining indoors with happy faces and beautiful bald heads all around. Ivy was an absolute rockstar, and she made us all so proud with her dedication to this cause and her poise in doing such an amazing thing. I could post pictures from now til next Tuesday (shocking that we documented the event so well, I know : )), but here are just a few favorites. Methinks we need a short video of this special moment, so be on the lookout for that. Thank you again to all who have donated, and remember that you can still donate through the end of the year. And you can double your gift if your employer has a matching program. We are full of gratitude, pride, and determination today - and every day - and we can't wait to wake up and fight another day tomorrow.

Ready to brave the shave!

Georgia takes the first swipe!


And makes the first joke.

Pure joy! And teeth!


Georgia gives Poppa a chrome dome.



Beautiful.


First look! I think she likes it.


All done!


*Thank you to Kaylyn Betts and Jennifer Mayne for some of these wonderful shots!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Tomorrow!

I think this may be the most exciting shave event our Peachy Keens have participated in! Ivy is READY to roll - sign and all:


There is still time to donate, and boy would we love it if you would! Click HERE to let Ivy know how brave she is and to help us put and end to childhood cancer once and for all. Pictures and a full report to follow! Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Lucky 500!

This is our 500th post! And we are feeling very lucky on this St. Patrick's Day! We are so grateful to be here with a happy, healthy Georgia and so many of you who have been with us since Day One. We have learned so much, made lots of new friends, and raised a ton of awareness and funds for research, so thank you, thank you!

This is also a big, big week for Ivy! We are so excited to share that she was accepted to the Ann Richards School, so we have another STAR in the house! She got the good news on Saturday, and I'm not sure who was more excited - Ivy or Georgia. We are so proud of both of them and look forward to the great, great things they will do with this incredible educational opportunity. Hooray for the newest member of the Class of '22!

Looks familiar, no?

Georgia got the news in 2011 with a face full of paint
from a St. Baldrick's event!

And we might have mentioned this a time or two, but this Saturday, Ivy is shaving her head in support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation! Everyone has been so generous already, we've pushed her goal a couple of times, and there is still time to give. Click HERE to donate to Ivy, and HERE to donate to her Poppa, another member of the Mighty Peachy Keens! We are looking forward to a great event and a very special day with two very special girls. Lucky us!

Monday, March 9, 2015

Moving the Needle

Well, THAT was a huge success! Our Amplify Austin campaign far exceeded our expectations as we blew past our $10K goal and pulled in over $30K - every dollar of which will be matched by a generous family at our school! The grand total for the city-wide campaign was over $7.7 million, in just 24 hours! We know first-hand how generous people can be, and the fact that some give so much, so often (we're looking at you, Friends of Georgia! Thank you!) is just amazing. Helping others has always been a priority in our family, but having also been the "helped," it makes it even more important for us to give back. 

We toasted to the love and support of our school community 
with Joe and Claire, our directors and angels on this Earth.

We're also humbled by the success so far of our 15 for 15 in '15 campaign, and in particular, Miss Ivy's fundraising abilities! She's spreading the word far and wide that she's shaving her head to conquer childhood cancer, and the response has been so great, she's upping her goal - again! She's instructed me to raise it to $1500 "because this IS our 15 for 15 in '15 year, Mommy!" I do as I'm told, and if you haven't donated yet, please consider supporting our fierce girl! The big day is just under two weeks away! Thanks, y'all!

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Amplify the LOVE

As expected, Georgia's survivorship follow-up appointment went very well, and we are going to stay the course in our hunt for the cause of her headaches. Unfortunately, Dr. Neff had a newly-diagnosed patient in the office that morning, so we weren't able to see him, and we, of course, feel for the family just beginning a similar journey. All the more reason to continue raising awareness, hope, and funds for research - it's the Peachy Keen way!

In other fundraising news, we are currently in the thick of this year's Amplify Austin online giving campaign, from 6 PM tonight to 6 PM tomorrow. We have benefited from so many of the over 500 non-profits that are participating this year, but we are personally fundraising for our beloved Parkside Community School's scholarship program. Georgia and Ivy are both the wonderful students and amazing humans they are thanks in large part to their experience at Parkside, and we are grateful every day for the last nine years we've spent there. If you believe in educating the whole child in a creative, challenging, and nurturing environment, please consider supporting this magical school! Click HERE to donate by 6 PM CST tomorrow - thank you!!!

June 2011 - Georgia and Ivy's last day together at Parkside

Sunday, March 1, 2015

March Madness!

March is a BIG month for St. Baldrick's events - over 700! - mainly because the very first event was held on St. Patrick's Day, hence the organization's name: St. Patrick's + Bald = St. Baldrick's. The color green, the shamrock symbol, and our old pal Lucky are all reminders of that fateful day when the greatest hope for childhood cancer research funding was born. ANY day is a good day to shave your head for the kids, but here are some great reasons to shave on St. Patrick's Day in particular. Or if you'd like to join The Peachy Keens and shave with Ivy on March 21st, that can be arranged, too!


We follow up with survivorship on Tuesday and will report back pronto. Have a great week, y'all and Happy March!