Banana Pants

Game Day!

2012-01-22T11:14:00.001-05:00

The family is gearing up for a big game today!

Go Pats!

Stylin'

2012-01-16T14:14:00.000-05:00

Anna is ready to hit the mall...

Track suit - check!
Shades - check!
Trendy purse - check!

Grab some shoes and we are ready to go! =)

Happy New Year!!!!

2012-01-05T22:55:00.000-05:00

Happy 2012!!

We had a GREAT Christmas and Christmas vacation in Arizona at my parents. We were there for 10 days, so instead of boring you with details, I will give you a Beta Recap (i.e. - no fluff) of our Christmas and trip. Then, I will follow it up with LOTS of pictures =)

Christmas is coming. Children getting excited. Lots of baking. Lots of wrapping. Packing for trip. Gift arrived from China - Christmas Miracle! School parties. Lots of sugar. Children even more excited. Christmas Eve at Grammy's. Aunt Lily loving. Yummy food. More Sugar. More excited. LOTS of presents. Even more excited. Nice Candlelight Christmas Eve Service. Santa is coming. Children about to pop with excitement. Children sound asleep - Christmas Miracle! Santa came. Stockings stuffed. LOTS of presents under the tree. Frantic packing. Racing to the airport. Soaring through the sky. Anna getting restless. Flight arrives an hour early -- Christmas Miracle! MORE presents at Grandma's house. Still on NJ time. Up early. No coat wearing. Grandma's cooking. Waistline expanding. Hiking up a mountain. Hiking up a mountain again. Dinner with Aunt and Uncle. Waistline expanding. Boondoggle to San Diego. Enjoying new sites on the way. Anna is fussing. Glasses throwing. Glasses sliding. Glasses falling. Glasses crunching as the elevator goes down. Loving on Sweet Ella Grace. Zoo. Good food enjoying. Breakfast with Cousin. Waistline still expanding. Return to AZ. Soaking up the warmth and sun. Lots of swimming. Geocaching. More swimming. More Grandma's cooking. Waistline about to pop. Racing to the airport. Soaring through the sky. FREEZING! Home sweet home! Retrieve Maggie. Hugs, Kisses, Wags all around. Mess assessing. Mess ignoring. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Whisper What You'll Bring to Me...

2011-12-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

Oh, how I wish Anna could tell us what she really wants for Christmas! We are stumped as to what to get her! Any suggestions??

Anna must be excited about Santa is bringing her =)

Covering All Our Bases

2011-12-15T07:02:00.003-05:00

The kids and I had a fun evening taking care of some very important business.

First, we finished our letters to Santa.

Then we went to the post office and mailed our letters in the special, Direct to the North Pole, mailbox.

Finally, after a fun dinner out (no cooking for Mama - that was the fun part for me!), we went to the mall to do a little Christmas shopping... and to see Santa, of course!

Anna is telling us to "smile"

Other than just being good for goodness sake - I think we have covered all our Santa bases. See you on Christmas Eve, Big Guy!

Special Delivery

2011-12-14T21:00:00.002-05:00

Dear Grandma -
If I could fit in the box, I would be on my way to you. But, apparently you did not send enough fudge because the box is not big enough. =)

BTW - Thanks for the fudge! It is yummy!!

Christmas Concerts - Fa la la la la, la la la la!

2011-12-11T20:14:00.001-05:00

One of the great joys of having children is watching them perform in their school and church concerts. Last week Charlie had his Winter Concert at school. And over the weekend, Charlie and Paige participated in the Christmas Cantata at church. Oh, the joyous sound of children's singing voices!

Winter Concert
Charlie is in the second row, red sweater vest. Sorry about the bit that is out of focus.

Christmas Cantata
Charlie is in same red sweater vest, and Paige is in black sweater and red skirt. Again - video is far from professional. During one performance I had Anna on my lap, and I was late coming into the other one because I was tending to Anna in the nursery. I am guessing she was jealous that she was not the star of the show (or at least allowed up on the stage with a microphone- ha!)

Paige has her Kindergarten Christmas Concert next week. I can't wait! She has been practicing, and I can only hope for a preview as good as this one!

Sweet Fun!

2011-12-06T12:28:00.002-05:00

Over the weekend, the kids made gingerbread houses with Jonathan. They all had a great time! They all made a great mess! And they all made some great memories! =)

I am glad that Jonathan is willing to participate in such craftiness with the kids, because I am pretty sure they would never get the experience otherwise. I love to cook and bake, but I also don't like a huge mess. (Even though I ended up cleaning up most of it anyway so I could have a clean sink and counter to make dinner- ha!)

I was pretty impressed, though. I would have bought one of those kits, but Jonathan insisted upon actually baking their own gingerbread and cutting out the shapes. So, Charlie and I went to the store to stock up on candy decorations while Paige and Jonathan mixed, cut and baked the housing pieces. (Anna was napping like an angel -- or there definitely would have been a mess!!)

This just may have become a new tradition for Daddy and kids! =)

DSGNWNJ Christmas Party - Our Fun Annual Tradition

2011-12-05T12:27:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we had our Christmas party for the DSGNWNJ. This is quickly becoming one of our favorite annual traditions =)

We look forward to this event each year...especially the kids. I am sure it has nothing to do with a visit from the Big Man bearing gifts. =)

We got all dressed up and posed for a few pictures. (Well, we tried, anyway.)

We danced.

Stupid glasses glare

We visited with friends, and made some new ones.

Anna loves making friends

And we had a little chat with Santa. =)

Apparently Santa told them they have been good...I question his judgement! =)

Can't wait for next year's party!

Thankful!

2011-11-24T06:07:00.006-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!

Yes, Thanksgiving -- that little holiday that is slowly getting squeezed out to make way for the bigger, louder, and brighter holiday, Christmas.

It is a shame that Thanksgiving is getting the squeeze - especially because here in America we have SO MUCH to be thankful for. (What is even more of a shame is that Christmas is starting to encroach on my birthday, Nov. 19...but, I digress.)

I guess I, and others who love this November holiday, should be thankful that Americans love their food and won't be denied an opportunity to feast. In addition to that, here is my (very incomplete) list of 2011 thankfuls:

- I am thankful for my husband. He loves me in spite of all my flaws (that's a whole different kind of list!). =)

- I am thankful for my children. There are days that I have considered giving them back (just kidding), but mostly I am overjoyed with them and I miss them when I am not around them.

- I am thankful for tiny hands...look at these cute pieces of art that I have been treated to recently.

Paige's handprint turkey

- I am thankful for Down syndrome. Yes - you read that right. Having Anna in our lives has opened our eyes and hearts to so many new and beautiful things. She is also teaching us so much about the type of people we want to be...patient, kind, understanding, patient, and did I mention patient?

- I am thankful for my parents. They have always been supportive of me - but have also told me when I was being a bonehead. =) I also am thankful that they are still married after 40 years (on Nov. 27th)! Happy Early Anniversary!

- I am thankful for my sister whom I don't get to see nearly enough.

- I am thankful for my in-laws. They are fun, welcoming, and I am lucky to have them as my family. (BTW - my in-laws also just celebrated their 40th Anniversary on November 13 -- Congratulations!)

- I am thankful for my husband's job...that he has one, and that he works so hard at it so he can provide for our family.

- I am thankful for health insurance. We have used our fair share that past couple of years.

- I am thankful for good health. Though we have been to the doctor a lot, we are all in good health. In fact, we just had Anna's annual cardiologist check-up. She is good to go for another year!

- I am thankful for my friends, both past and present. I am thankful for the women who have known me for years and still want to be my friend. And I am thankful for the women who are my friends today, and are willing to help me out with watching my kids, or praying for us, or just listening.

- I am thankful for my children's teachers. I will probably be even more thankful by the time that this long weekend is over =)

- I am thankful for my God. Without Him, there would be nothing else to be thankful for. I am thankful that he loves me in spite of my sins, and that my salvation is secure in Jesus.

This list could go on and on and on...but, I am sure you all are wanting to get to your turkey, or football. So, I leave you with this Turkey Day blessing...

May Your Stuffing Be Tasty;
May Your Turkey Be Plump,
May Your Potatoes N Gravy Have A Nary A Lump,
May Your Yams Be Delicious,
May Your Pies Take The Prize,
May Your Thanksgiving Dinner
Stay Off Of Your Thighs!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

Goal!!

2011-11-23T20:19:00.000-05:00

Fall Sports have finally wrapped up.

Paige ended her soccer season on high note, scoring 2 goals on her last day!

The Steal!

The Break-away!

The Goal!!!!!!!

Looking forward to next season!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T21:06:00.000-04:00

Well, this has got to be one of the craziest Halloween's ever!

We had a major snow storm on Saturday (12+ inches) that downed trees and knocked out power all around us. Halloween festivities were canceled all around, including the event that we were excited to attend. I was completely bummed because I worked hard to make our costumes this year...and even Jonathan and I were planning on wearing costumes.

School was canceled today because the schools were still without power -- meaning no Halloween party or parade.

But, fortunately, Trick-or-Treating was still ON!!!

So, we donned our Angry Bird costumes (that I made, all by myself, by hand) and hit the streets =)

It was a crazy Halloween - and definitely one we will remember! =)

Buddy Walk 2011 - What a Great Day!!

2011-10-24T15:30:00.000-04:00

On Saturday, we laced up our sneakers and enjoyed the DSGNWNJ Buddy Walk! What a great day it was!!

Anna's Banana Pants team had over 40 people turn out for the walk and raised almost $2500!! (not all funds raised were reflected on the website because it didn't take into account day-of registrations and donations as well as a couple of mail-in donations.)

To say we are blessed is an understatement. When Anna was first born and we were learning about her having Down syndrome and what it all meant, I remember thinking and wondering what had I done so horrible that God was punishing me. And now, 3.5 years later, I sit and think and wonder what I have done so great that God is showering us with such blessings.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To everyone who came out and walked, donated, prayed for us on Saturday, and throughout the year. Your support and encouragement mean the world to us.

PS - check out the new glasses =)

Some Pig

2011-10-12T20:36:00.000-04:00

I am not so sure Charlotte would spin us such a web, but I think she is pretty cute!

Anna as King Pig

My kids decided that they want to be Angry Birds for Halloween. Charlie wants to be the black bird, Paige the blue bird, and we decided that Anna should be the King Pig =)

There is no way I was going to buy them Angry Birds costumes...they are at least $40+ and not in stock anywhere.

So - I decided to try my NOT CRAFTY hand at making them. (Insert snide remarks here) I do not own a sewing machine, barely own needle and thread, but I can manage to get two pieces of material to stay together - if pretty doesn't count.

Anna's is the first one I did. It is a little small, and you definitely don't want to see it up close, but not too bad for a first try. I definitely learned a lot for when I make Charlie and Paige's. And, I may go back to the fabric store to get more fabric to redo Anna's. At $4/yd, it is a bargain compared to buying the costume!

Why do I get myself into these things? =)

School Pictures Fall 2011

2011-10-03T11:07:00.002-04:00

Love my beauties!!

Anna - 3-yr. old Pre-school

Charlie - 2nd grade

Paige - Kindergarten

I think we actually did pretty well this year!

Like Any Other

2011-10-01T06:38:00.152-04:00

Today is the first day of October!!

Once again, it is Fall. For many, this is their favorite time of year. The cool air has moved in to give us a break from the sweaty summer, but doesn't freeze us like the looming winter months. The hills are ablaze with color from the leaves. Everywhere you go you can get pumpkin flavored goodies (muffins, coffee, ice-cream, etc.), and Halloween candy is out in the stores.

Yes - there are a lot of reasons to love October. But, allow me to add one more!

October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

In case you didn't know...
...we have a beautiful daughter, Anna (Banana Pants), who has Down syndrome.

We like to spread awareness about Down syndrome, in hopes of increasing acceptance in society. We want to let others know that having a child/sibling with Ds is not a life sentence, nor does Anna "suffer" because she has Ds. Anna is a much-loved (probably the most-loved) member of our family. We would not trade her for anything! She is valued and accepted - like any other.

Are there things I would like to change about Anna? Of course! I would love for her to stop flipping her plate over when she is done eating. And, I would like for her 5-yr. old typical sister to stop sucking her thumb, and for her 7-yr. old typical brother to hit the toilet. She is a child - like any other.

Anna is just like you and me. She has thoughts and preferences. She throws a fit when she doesn't get her way. She goes to school and has friends. She likes to watch cartoons. She loves to dance and sing. She loves her babies and her stuffed dog. She is a person. She has feelings - like any other.

Anna was perfectly made by God. Her life (and ours, for being the given the responsibility of raising her) is not one to be pitied, but rather, one to be enjoyed and celebrated - like any other's.

Fall = Football, Futbol and Fun!

2011-09-17T14:11:00.000-04:00

We are now fully immersed into the Fall Sports season.

This year, Charlie has decided to play Football instead of Futbol (aka Soccer). As a second grader, he still plays flag, and he is having a great time! This being his first year to play football, he is still learning about the game and what he is supposed to be doing -- but he is getting it. And, did I mention that he is having a blast? His team is now 2-0 - Go Tigers!

Goofing around with teammates!

Now that Paige is in Kindergarten - she is old enough to play Soccer (aka Futbol). You may remember my post about how entertaining Kindergarten soccer can be. Well, it is still very entertaining. =)

Paige, being the social butterfly that she is, is thrilled to have so many friends playing soccer with her. We only hope her poor coach can handle this group of girls. (I know I can't!)

Paige and friend

Paige and more friends

Paige and even more friends and Coach

It is going to be a busy, but fun, fall season!!

Buddy Walk with Anna!!

2011-09-15T13:49:00.001-04:00

It is Time.....

Time to sign up for the 2011 Buddy Walk, that is!

We are inviting all our family and friends to join us in supporting Anna, and all individuals with Down syndrome, on Saturday, October 22, 2011.

The online registration is now up and running. Click here, or on the Buddy Walk logo on right sidebar to go to the Anna's Banana Pants Team Page.

Please let me know if you have any questions about the registration/donation forms - they are not exactly intuitive. This is our 4th year doing this and I still mess up! =)

**** Updated to add:
Check-in/Registration for the walk begins at 12:00 noon. The actual walk is at 1:30 pm.

It Is Going to Be a GREAT Year!!

2011-09-06T12:43:00.000-04:00

First Day of School!

Waiting for Anna's bus

It is a soggy one here, so things were a little chaotic, but everyone made it to their first day of school with a smile on his/her face. =)

backpacks all ready to go!

Paige started Kindergarten this year. She has the same teacher that Charlie had in Kindergarten =) I am so excited for Paige to start school. I think she is going to do great - if she can keep her mouth shut! (Please pray for her teacher.)

Charlie is in the 2nd grade. Last night at dinner he was telling Paige all about how things run at the school -- because, you know, he has been there for two years now. Charlie is extra-excited to have his best buddy in his class again this year. (Please pray for his teacher).

This will be Anna's first full year of pre-school. No pictures of her getting on the bus this morning because the bus never came - at least not on time. And, no pictures of her walking into school because I had the camera with the other kids at the other school. But, she looked like a big girl ready for school and her teacher reported that she had a great first day! (You can pray for her teacher also -- I am sure she is the one who will need the prayers the most!)

We are looking forward to it being a GREAT year at school!!

(Picturefest!!!)

Save The Date!! 2011 Buddy Walk

2011-09-01T15:48:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe that it is already September -- which means that it is almost October which is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

What an amazing year Anna has had! She learned to walk. She is going to pre-school. She tells me to "Stop Mommy! No! No!" all the time =) Our little girl is growing so fast!

On Saturday, October 22, we will be walking in the Northwest New Jersey Buddy Walk to show our support for Anna, and the more than 350,000 individuals with Down syndrome in the United States.

We are asking you to Buddy Walk with Anna to make a difference for people with Down syndrome in our community and help the National Down Syndrome Society create change nationwide.

NOTE: I do not have registration information at this time -- but will post it and send an email as soon as I do!!

The walk is less than a mile – so anyone can do it! Last year, the Anna’s Banana Pants team raised over $2500 and had over 50 people who came out to show their support and to to walk with Anna. What a blessing it would be to exceed both of those numbers this year!

Last year, Anna got to walk in the Buddy Walk for the first time by herself. This year we are fully expecting her to run the whole way! =) We would love to have you there to help cheer her on.

So, put Saturday, October 22 on your calendar, and I will send registration information to you as soon as I have it!

Short, But Sweet!

2011-08-31T07:20:00.000-04:00

My parents were in town for a short, but sweet visit. They headed out of town before Irene decided to flex her muscles -- and I will have to say that that was a good call! For those wondering - we are high and dry at our house (Praise the Lord!!), but surrounding areas are littered with trees and roads everywhere are still closed due to flooding. It is a mess.

Anyway, the kids always love having their grandparents visit. It means lots of snuggles and extra attention for all of them. Jonathan and I like having them visit, too. It means 2 extra set of hands to help keep up with the craziness of our household. It also means Jonathan has to give up the remote for a week, I get my dishes done for a week, and we have someone to play cards with for a week. Oh yeah - we also just like getting to see them =)

me and my daddy =)

Some Grandpa time at the ballpark

Checking out the stars with Grandma

Can't wait to see you in December, Mom and Dad!!

That Will Be $.50, Please!

2011-08-25T14:38:00.000-04:00

Charlie and Paige have been hit by the entrepreneurial spirit the past couple of days. I am pretty sure they have been watching too much Phineas and Ferb.

The other day, they announced they wanted to have a garage sale. Me, not really caring what they were doing because they were not fighting for once, told them to go for it.

So, they rummaged around upstairs and pulled out a variety of toys they no longer wanted, mis-matched doll clothes, and a few random items from their junk drawers. They made signs out of cardboard, and neatly laid out their merchandise on a blanket in the yard.

Then they harassed the neighbors.

Our poor neighbors. Charlie and Paige were yelling at everyone who walked, rode or drove by to come to their garage sale. There was a group of about 8 older kids hanging out at the house on the corner, and my two kept walking up there and insisting they come to their sale.

Finally, they found a couple of ~~suckers~~ shoppers. A couple of neighbor kids and their mom came over to check out the sale. They looked at everything, found something they were interested in, and asked how much it was.

Charlie: $15
Neighbor: Oh, that is a little expensive. Do you think you could go a little bit lower.
Charlie: How about $5
Neighbor: Mmmmm... Still a little much
Charlie: $10

Such great bargaining skills we are building here =)

In the end, each of the neighbor kids chose a little activity tray for $1 each. The neighbor handed Paige a $5 and she put in in her money box....end of transaction.

Such great money skills we are building here, also! =)

After having so much fun with their garage sale the day before, the kids begged me to do a lemonade stand the next day. Not wanting to stifle their creativity, I agreed. So, we baked some cookies, mixed up some lemonade, set up a table and made signs. They were open for business once again!

The lemonade stand was a huge success. Lots of neighbors stopped by for a $.25 cookie and a $.25 glass of lemonade. And Paige learned that $.25 + $.25 is $.50, please! =)

Just over a week until school starts here....oh, what exciting things will we come up with next!

Vacation 2011

2011-08-07T21:31:00.000-04:00

We are back from our family vacation!
Once again, we went to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, or as we call it...OOB.

It was a great week filled with Beach, beach, more beach, lighthouses, mini-golf and lots of fun memories with the family.

I could write all about it...but I will just show you in pictures instead =)

Anna LOVED the beach. Begged to go out each day and pitched a fit when we had to go home.

Water was so clear and calm our first day there

She loved the sand AND the water!

Practicing her surfer moves

Searching the rocks for crabs and starfish

What we found at the rocks

Weather was chilly so we visited lighthouses instead of beach

Lunch at the Lobster Shack at Two Lights

Rides at the pier...Anna still does not like them!

Sand Art by Paige -- this was a card for her Aunt's bday =)

Now it is back to the grind. School starts on September 6, but swim lessons start again on Monday morning and Charlie starts Football (his first time playing) on Monday night!

Just Some Anna Cuteness

2011-07-16T07:32:00.002-04:00

Just a little Anna cuteness to make you smile =)

Digging the crazy hair, and no pants look! =)

And the Crowd Goes...

2011-07-15T07:31:00.001-04:00

My kids love Lemonade Mouth -- the movie and the soundtrack. I am pretty sure I have heard those songs over 100x each!

Paige got a cute little CD player w/ a microphone for her birthday. The kids take turns belting out their favorite songs...even Anna.

Here is a clip of Anna singing along with "And the Crowd Goes..."
Note the pretend microphone.

We have to work on her dance moves, but otherwise a solid performance =)

Splish! Splash!

2011-07-13T11:51:00.000-04:00

And, what would the summer be without swimming?

We have been blessed with some great summer weather, and even more blessed with some good friends who invite us over to use their pool =)

Here is a quick video of Anna getting the hang of her "Puddle Jumper" life vest. She seems to really love the freedom in the water =)

I Love Summer!!

Summer School

2011-07-05T09:02:00.000-04:00

Anna's Extended School Year (ESY) starts today!

When I woke her up and told her she was going to school today, she sat up, signed school and then smiled really big. I think someone is excited =)

Have fun, Fancy Pants!!

Anna's First Camping Trip

2011-06-27T13:06:00.001-04:00

We went camping last weekend -- and for Anna, it was her first time!
We had a lot of fun. The weather was perfect - warm in the day, cool at night -- and NO RAIN!!!!

We went with some friends of the family that we like to hang out with. They are outdoorsy and adventurous like we pretend to be. Their kids are close to the same age as ours, so there was plenty of playing going on.

Anna did a pretty good job on her first campout. We had her sleep in the pack-n-play, so that she would stay in one place when it was time for bed. Otherwise I am sure she would have crawled all over the tent until she finally tired out.

The first night we were up late. I think the excitement of camping and all being in the same tent was just too much for the kids. They giggled until at least 11:30. Then, at 5:30 the next morning, Anna decided that talking back to the birds that were chirping, crowing and cawing in the woods would be fun. I have to admit, even though I was annoyed to be waking up at that hour, I had to laugh at her cawing like a crow. Fortunately, the campground was pretty empty so we didn't have too many neighbors to disturb.

The second night was much better. Everyone was pooped after a long day of fun outdoor activities. Kids went to bed early and didn't get up until after 7 -- a much more respectable time to start waking the neighbors with our noise. =)

All in all, it was a really fun weekend!!

skipping rocks

a late night and early morning means a nap is required!

See, this why Anna was in the pack-n-play

And, the pack-n-play covered this huge whole in the ground under our tent =)

Anna is much like a raccoon at the campsite -- into everything!

Best Greeter!

2011-06-15T11:29:00.000-04:00

Today Anna's school had a little graduation and awards ceremony for the pre-school kids. It was really cute and special.

Each child, whether graduating or not, was recognized and given an award. Anna received the award for "Best Greeter" because she always had a smile and wave for everyone, and she gives the best hugs =).

I am surprised she didn't receive the award for "Best Arm", because at the reception afterwards she chucked her glasses across the room and into the cake. And back to the eye doctor we go.....

Put Me In Coach...

2011-06-14T22:29:00.001-04:00

Charlie had his last baseball game tonight. It was an exciting season -- and one in which Charlie, not only improved tremendously, but also found a love for the game.

Charlie played in a league with 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. It was coach pitch to the 1st and 2nd graders and the kids pitched to the 3rd graders. Man -- there is a HUGE difference in the skill level/coordination between 1st and 3rd graders!

At the beginning of the season, we weren't too sure how Charlie was going to do. He would pick dandelions in the outfield and barely swing the bat. Which, by the way, is apparently very typical for 1st graders. But, Charlie just didn't seem to have a lot of interest (he is not a big "sports" kid as it is), and didn't really put a lot of effort into it.

We would try to get him to practice with us in the backyard, but he never wanted to. He would rather goof around and make jokes instead of listening to our instruction and trying what we were suggesting. And this, of course, frustrated us because we were trying to help him, but he didn't seem to care.

But then, something clicked. I am not sure what it was, but all of the sudden Charlie became a baseball player. I am not sure if it was the start of the games (let's face -- games are way more fun than practice), or something we or someone else said, or what -- but there was a definite and sudden shift in his attitude toward the game.

Suddenly he wasn't afraid of the ball and actually learned how to catch the ball with his glove. Suddenly he figured out how to throw the ball straight (not all the time...but when he concentrated on it). And suddenly, he found some aggression with the bat.

We started playing whiffle ball in the backyard to work on his hitting. Soon he was whacking the ball into the neighbors yard each time, breaking or denting more than one whiffle ball each outing.

He then started to take those whiffle ball skills and apply them to the real game, and he started to get real hits...not just little dribblers in front of home plate. By the end of the season, if he didn't get a hit, it was huge disappointment for him. He had gone from being a typical 1st grader who always strikes out, or if he gets lucky, dribbles one in front of home, to a being a hitter.

He also started wanting to play catch with us...like, real catch. I am not talking us softly tossing the ball to him and him kind of sticking his glove out, and then him "throwing" the ball back at us and us having to chase down his erratic throw. I am talking us throwing the ball to him, him catching it, and then throwing the ball back to us where we can catch it. It was amazing (and fun!!).

And he started wanting to practice -- even on his own. He got a pitch and catch for Christmas, and it has gotten quite a workout the past couple of weeks! Here is a quick video I took of Charlie from the upstairs window. He was out there for a solid 45 minutes playing by himself.

Too say we are proud of him would be an understatement. We aren't proud because he is doing well, though that is exciting. But rather, we are proud because he worked hard, and improved so much, and had a great attitude about playing. He really looked like he was enjoying himself.

But mostly, I think Jonathan and I are most excited because he seemed to have found a love for a game that we love to watch and play so much.

...And we will always have baseball.

The Final Stretch

2011-06-13T12:09:00.000-04:00

This is the last week of school for Charlie and Anna! Hooray!!!
Paige finished up last Friday! Hooray!!!

Then Anna has a two week break before she starts up again for Extended School Year (ESY). She will be going to school M-F 8:30-11:30 am for the month of July. Then she will have August off and start again in September with the rest of the kids.

We have a busy summer planned with swim lessons, VBS, vacation, pool time, baseball games, grandparents visiting, beach, camping -- all that fun summer stuff =) It should be a fun, and busy, one!

So we are digging in for the final stretch this week. Then we all plan to sleep in next week before our fun begins! =)

Enjoying the Memorial Day Parade

....And a few updates....

We met with Anna's teacher a couple of days ago to discuss how she is doing, etc.

We were quite pleased (but not surprised) to hear that her teacher, Ms. O, could not have been more thrilled with Anna's performance in school so far. =) Anna is joining in during circle time, trying to sign (not sing...yet) the songs, participating in group therapy activities, and is getting along famously with her classmates. Her teacher also said that she is the office staff's favorite little princess, and that Anna insists on giving them all a hug each morning when she gets to school (such a lover).

At home, we are also seeing some progress. If the last time you saw Anna was in December, then you would be amazed at how far her communication skills have come. Signing is still her preference, and she still only has a handful of words. But she is trying. Her babbling and back and forth jabbering have really taken off. She pretends to talk on the phone all the time. I often wonder who she is talking to and what on earth she is telling them. I am pretty sure she is talking to Grandma, and telling her how poorly we treat her and that she had better come visit soon!

And a few updates on our other "experiments", and noteworthy points we have going on around here...

Operation Big Girl Bed is a huge success! Ok, so I block the little opening so she can't get out of bed, but she could move what I am using to block it if she really wanted to. I think the biggest problem we have is that she loves to look out her window and has pretty much destroyed her blinds. But - sleep, both at night and naps, are great!

Potty Training is slow, but we are not moving backwards! Anna continues to be a champ at going no. 2 on the potty. And, most of the time, she will also tinkle when she is sitting there. But, she still will not tell us when she needs to go tinkle - so we are still in diapers and pull-ups. Too be honest - I am okay with where we are. Wet diapers are easy to change, and the nasty smelly stuff is going in the potty. We keep working at it, though =) BTW - they also take Anna to the potty at school, and she has gone there a couple of times also!

Glasses -- HELP!!!!!!! Forget about it - she refuses to keep them on.

Endocrinologist - We met with the pedi. endo. last week, and as of right now, we are just monitoring Anna's thyroid levels. No meds, yet, but most likely at some point in the future. We also met with the nutritionist at the the endo's office, and I am proud to report that she said I am doing a "great job" of feeding my kids a healthy diet. That's right -- we are going to McDonald's to celebrate! =) ha!

Movin' On Up

2011-06-08T14:35:00.000-04:00

Today was Paige's pre-school closing ceremony. We are excited for Paige to be moving on to Kindergarten next year --- especially since she has been ready for it since October! =)

They do a cute little, age-appropriate, ceremony at her school. Each child is recognized individually, and as a class. Paige was excited to get to be the first one to walk on to the stage.

We say good-bye to Heaven Sent after four years (Charlie 2 yrs., Paige 2 yrs.). I remember when Charlie first started pre-school, I was newly pregnant with Anna, and dreaming of 6 years at Heaven Sent. Well, things didn't quite work out that way, but we are more than thrilled with Anna's school, so no tears were shed over that. But, saying good-bye is a little bittersweet -- excited to be moving on, but we are going to miss this great school and the wonderful teachers and staff.

Congratulations, Paige!! We are so proud of you!!!!

And, if you want to re-live Charlie's pre-school graduation, here is a link to that post. I still think the best part is Paige's version of "All Night, All Day". =)

Kickin' Off Summer

2011-05-28T21:10:00.000-04:00

Nothing says "Summer Has Arrived" like a little backyard pool action!

Getting Friendly

2011-05-24T14:44:00.001-04:00

Anna has been getting a little too friendly with the ladies at the eye doctor's. They love to have her visit and they let her play on their phone and give lots of hugs.

Apparently, Anna loves to go visit them too. Especially if you consider that we have been in there 4 times since she got her glasses only 4 weeks ago to have them repaired.

I have a feeling we will be best friends with these nice ladies before the summer is out -- and long before Anna decides to keep her glasses on! =\

Cuteness Overload: Anna's First School Picture

2011-05-13T13:06:00.000-04:00

Reader Beware -- You may just die from cuteness overload!

During Anna's first week of school, they did spring school pictures. I was unaware, otherwise I would have chosen a cute little dress and maybe thrown some bows in her hair. But if you ask me, they turned out pretty darn cute anyway =)

And yes -- we are buying some of these! =)

Deductibles and a New Specialist

2011-05-09T15:06:00.000-04:00

Well, this year we made it all the way until April before we met our health insurance deductible. That is a great improvement over last year when we hit it before the end of February!

We were fortunate to have a healthy winter (i.e. no hospital stays). But new orthotics, a trip to the ER for a busted open chin and 6 stitches (Charlie), and new glasses have helped put us over the top.

Medical expenses have become the norm the past couple of years. I am just thankful that God has provided my husband with a good job that has pretty great benefits.

So, now we are adding a new specialist to our repertoire -- Pediatric Endocrinologist. Anna's 3-yr. bloodwork showed increased levels of TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) indicating Hypothyroidism, a condition common in individuals with Down syndrome. The increased levels and Anna's heft (35 inches, 34 lbs - she's a beast and completely off the Ds growth charts!) prompted our pediatrician to refer us to an endocrinologist to determine if meds and/or diet modification are needed. -- Blech!

But, I will save my complaints because I know that in the big picture, this is such a non-issue. Because today I just read two blogs that made my heart soar and have me singing praises to God!

You may remember Sweet Ella Grace and Emily (on right sidebar)? I am so happy to report that Emily has finished her final round of chemo! We are praying that it is her final round Ever! And Sweet Ella - it was just about 1-yr ago that she was first diagnose with leukemia. She finished her chemo in December and has been in remission since!!

So, in comparison to leukemia and chemotherapy and having your child's life at stake, I will gladly (ok- not gladly, but quietly without complaint) deal with glasses and hypothyroidism. Someone please remind me of this when I am grumbling about having to take Anna to the Eye Dr., yet again, to have her glasses repaired. =)

Happy Birthday, Paige!!

2011-05-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

Happy 5th Birthday, Paige!!

What a big year Paige has had...she learned to ride her bike with no training wheels, learned to read, learned to ski. Now if we can just get her to learn how to be quiet for longer than 10 seconds =)

She is the life of the party and the ring leader of her friends. She is the fun sister, and the annoying sister. She is the ultimate cheerleader and the slowest eater you will ever meet. She is extremely determined -- which is both good and bad. And, she never ceases to entertain us with her spunk and spirit.

We love you, you Crazy Beautiful Girl!!!

If the video above does not work, you can Click here for Paige's birthday video. (Still working out the kinks on the website, but the video should work).

Anna Birthday Video -- Another Try

2011-05-03T23:05:00.002-04:00

We have been having video difficulty recently. Sorry about that!
I have tried uploading Anna's birthday video directly into Blogger. We will see how that works! =)
Enjoy!

Can You See Me Now??

2011-05-03T12:45:00.001-04:00

Well - maybe if she left them on for more than 10 seconds at a time!

Anna got her new glasses today. I am pretty sure it is going to be a "fun" struggle to try to keep them on. Too bad because she is pretty cute in them! =)

Testing out the flexibility of her new frames

Anna's Birthday Video

2011-05-01T03:57:00.020-04:00

Here is Anna's birthday video (a couple of weeks late!)
Enjoy!

Click Here for Anna's 3rd Birthday Video

This is a link to my new MobileMe website. We are still working out some of the kinks. But, hopefully soon you will be able to access all our fun videos in one place.

If you have trouble playing the video, try clicking on the video and hitting your space bar. (One of those kinks we are working on) =)

Happy Birthday, JR!!

2011-04-30T15:55:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday to my most awesome husband, Jonathan!

We are the luckiest family in the world to have you as a husband and a father. We hope you have a wonderful day and a great upcoming year!

Be Still My Heart (Anna's First Day of Pre-school)

2011-04-25T18:16:00.002-04:00

Anna's first day of pre-school was a success!

We were all up bright and early and waiting for the bus (probably the only time we will be waiting for the bus). Anna's Grammy and Papa got up even earlier to help see Anna off on her first day.

There were no tears - at least not from Anna. A phone call from her teacher confirmed what we all knew...Anna was doing great! =)

Here is a little video of Anna's first day (hopefully it is working now!)...

Let's hope the rest of the week goes so smoothly!

Easter 2011

2011-04-24T21:24:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter to all!!
He is Risen!!

We were surprisingly blessed with a beautiful day for Easter. After a month of cold weather and rain, today the sun was shining and it was warm. No jackets required to cover up those cute little Easter dresses =)

Here we are trying to look our best...

Our attempt at a family pic on Easter

Funny Face Out take

Ready for yet another egg hunt

Cute hat!

Attempting a cute picture, but Anna is more interested in texting on her new phone

About the best we could get

My handsome boys!

One more try...maybe not!

Super Saturday

2011-04-24T20:56:00.000-04:00

Super Saturday is that day in April when we get together with family to celebrate Anna's birthday (4/15), Paige's birthday (5/4), Jonathan's birthday (4/30) and, if it is in April like this year, Easter.

It makes for one crazy day =)

Here are a few picture highlights from our day....

Oreos!!!!

Paige found the golden egg

Cousin Hudson

Cousin Eliza

Baby Matthew's First Easter!

The Easter Bunny brought lots of goodies

Anna getting cozy with Uncle Les

Cake for the girls...Paige requested a cake with "Paper that she can eat"

The Birthday boy and girls

Want more cake!!!!!

Decisions, Decisions...

2011-04-23T08:10:00.000-04:00

We went to pick out frames for Anna's glasses today. She was a pretty good sport about letting us put things on her face.

Here are a few samples...

a little big =)

And my favorite...

Ha!

We didn't choose any of these. We should have the ones we chose next week and you can see how cute she is in them then! =)

And, for those wondering - we went with a pair of regular frames instead of Specs4Us. They seemed to fit pretty well, and we decided to see how these worked before spending the extra money for the Specs4Us frames (not that they are outrageously expensive - but for insurance purposes).

So, Anna should be seeing well soon!

Glasses

2011-04-18T20:26:00.000-04:00

I am not surprised. Her eyes have given her trouble since birth (tear ducts), I started wearing glasses when I was pretty young, and children with Ds have a tendency to be farsighted, so I kind of figured it was inevitable.

Her doctor described Anna as extremely farsighted, with the left eye being far more so than the right. He was concerned about the difference in the eyes because this could lead to the left eye basically shutting down, then we would have the eye drifting, and a host of other problems.

So, now we begin our quest to find the perfect pair of glasses to accentuate Anna's beautiful blue eyes. Specs4us.com ? We will see.

Don't worry, when we get the glasses - pictures will definitely be posted because she is sure to look cute in them =)

The Great Experiment (That MUST NOT Fail!)

2011-04-17T20:01:00.000-04:00

So, now that Anna is a big 3-yr. old, I have been thinking it is time to ditch the crib. Actually, I have been making plans in my head for months now about where the furniture is going to go, what to do with the crib and glider, what kind of bedding, etc. But, in all my thinking and planning, I really gave very little thought as to whether Anna is ready for this transition.

But, tonight, we find out!

Anna's bedding arrived on Friday. As we were admiring it yesterday morning, Jonathan says to me, "So, are we doing this today, or what?" Ummm... I guess so!

So, we spent a good portion of Saturday morning taking the crib and glider out of Anna's room, listing them on Craigslist if anyone is interested ;), disassembling the bunk beds in Paige's room, and carrying the top bunk twin bed into Anna's room.

Everyone was pretty excited! Especially Anna.

Anna's new bed!

Naptime was, well....active. I am pretty sure we put her back into her bed about 20 times. She did eventually fall asleep, but I think that was only because she was up so late the night before and had a very short nap on Friday, so she was exhausted.

Finally crashed at naptime

Last night went great! She went right to bed, slept all night, and was sitting there nicely when we got her up this morning. Again, I am pretty sure she is completely wiped out from Friday, so we will see what happens when she is not so pooped at bed time.

Where we left her

Where she was when we checked on her before we went to bed

Waiting for us in the morning

But, I love her new room. We still have a few items to get (curtains, pictures, a few storage bins), but it is so cute and girly - just like Anna.

So, this is the Great Experiment going on in our house right now. I say it must not fail because I refuse to move all that furniture around again!

Here's to sleeping well!

Oh -- and an update on our other great experiment, a.k.a. potty training... Things are going pretty well. The good news is that I have yet to change a stinky diaper since my last post on March 24 (4 weeks)! She has been doing her business on the potty! She goes tinkle on the potty every now and then, but nothing consistent. But -- she would sit there all day reading books if you let her. =) So - moving in the right direction...slowly.

Anna's Birthday -- Lots of Fun and Lots of Love!

2011-04-15T21:44:00.000-04:00

Despite not having a huge birthday bash, I think Anna had a pretty good day! She was definitely showered with love and attention. We had countless birthday wishes via phone, email, facebook, etc. She is one loved little girl!

She started off her morning by being greeted by her adoring siblings who could not wait to go in and wake her up =)

silly faces!

Later, we went for a special birthday lunch.

After a quick nap, we had a few friends over for cupcakes. But first, we had to make them!

sneaking a taste of the batter...yum!

And then, we went to our church for their annual Faith Fair and Egg Hunt. Anna loved running around carrying her bucket like she was actually looking for eggs...

...but this was her take =)

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Happy Birthday Anna Banana Pants!!!

2011-04-15T07:12:00.004-04:00

Happy 3rd Birthday to my sweet little girl!!!

We are celebrating today with some cupcakes here at home. Then later this evening we are going to a little fair at our church - including a puppet show and an egg hunt. It is so nice of them to throw a party for Anna, isn't it? =) We will be doing more celebrating next weekend when we get together with family to celebrate birthdays (Anna, Paige and Jonathan), and Easter.

Charlie Spring Concert

2011-04-14T22:18:00.000-04:00

Seriously, elementary school concerts just never get old. The kids are all so cute, especially when they are all dressed up. This was Charlie's first time wearing a tie, and he was very excited about it. We will see how long that lasts. =)

Ready for the big show

Handsome boy: Front Row Center

Here is a little video montage of Charlie's class. Note his starring role as a "penguin" during one of the songs =) He was so proud. (Please excuse my shaky camera work)

We Are Done!

2011-04-14T13:11:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was Anna's final therapy with Early Intervention. She will, of course, be getting therapy once she starts school.

So we said good-bye to Ms. Cindy (ST), who will probably remember Anna as the most uncooperative client she has ever worked with. "At least Anna didn't bite her", is what I often thought after our speech sessions. =)

And we also said good-bye to Ms. Jill (PT). I am positive Ms. Jill will never forget us - especially since Anna pushed her down our stairs during one session, requiring me to call an ambulance (aack!). Thank goodness Ms. Jill was okay other than a few bumps and bruises! Anna really didn't push her, but there were days that Anna was about as cooperative for Ms. Jill as she was Ms. Cindy -- so it is not out of the question. =)

We thank all of Anna's therapists who worked so hard with Anna and showed her so much care and compassion and support. They were all wonderful and worked so hard to prepare Anna for our transition into pre-school.

Tomorrow is Anna's birthday -- my baby is turning 3!

The Beginning of The End: The Beginning of the Beginning

2011-04-08T12:13:00.029-04:00

This week was the Beginning of the End as we bid farewell to two of Anna's therapists. Next week will be our last week of therapy. Hard to believe the time is here!

Anna and Ms. Corine (DI). I am sure Anna will always remember Ms. Corine as the lady who made the best rooster sounds =)

Anna and Ms. Jennette (OT). Ms. Jennette was Anna's first therapist, starting when she was just 2-months old. Thank you putting up with us for 3 years!! =)

It may be the beginning of the end, but it is also the beginning of an exciting new beginning! We met with representatives from Anna's school again this morning to finalize her IEP and get her all registered to start on April 25!

Here she is with Daddy going to visit her school. We also get to go visit the classroom for awhile next week. We are all very excited!!

What Was I Thinking?

2011-04-06T20:54:00.000-04:00

This could very easily be the title of my post for a number things. I am constantly walking around with my head in the clouds and forgetting something, doing something completely bone-headed, or, in this case, taking on a project that I just don't have the time or patience for.

At Paige's school, they have a monthly "Creative Family Fun Project" that they are to do at home and bring in for show and tell. As the name would suggest, everyone is allowed to participate, but the ideas and the bulk of the work should be that of the child. Well, first off, the name is a complete misnomer, unless of course, you really are a Creative Family...we are not. Well, I take that back. We are creative - we just aren't "crafty". I prefer to call these monthly projects "Messy Family Madness".

Each month there is a theme. In the past there has been, "What can you make with a paper towel tube?", "What can you make from a paper plate?", and "What kind of critter can you make with a paper cup?" Oh, yeah, we have had some interesting looking princesses, because after all, can't you make a princess out of just about anything?

This month's theme was, "What can you create out of something recycled?", in honor of upcoming Earth Day. You can use (reuse) anything that you would recycle, such as cans, bottles, newspapers, etc. (Last year, Paige (and I) made a bird feeder out of a milk jug. ). Paige and I looked through our recycling bin for ideas. Of course Paige wanted to make a princess out of a soup can, or a princess out of a water bottle, but I told her she needed to come up with a different idea this time. Let's be creative, right?

So, we looked online for some ideas. And that was our mistake. That is where we saw the paper mache eggs. I described to Paige what paper mache was, and she was beyond excited.

We decided we would make paper mache eggs, and use a cranberry juice bottle to make a basket...What was I thinking?

We gathered our supplies, and let the mess begin! We used little balloons as our egg molds, and I fashioned a basket out of the cranberry juice bottle. We mixed the glue and tore our strips of newspaper.

Originally we had planned on making a dozen eggs, but after the first one, I quickly cut the number to six, and was tempted to cut it to 3. Oh, boy...What was I thinking?

What a mess!

And, what was Anna doing while Paige and I were elbow deep in sticky icky glue? Bar-B-Queing, of course! Uh-huh...What was I thinking?

In the end, the project turned out to be pretty cute. When the paper mache was dry, Paige painted the eggs and the basket. She decorated the basket with stickers. Then I helped her make some grass out of tissue paper, and we displayed it all nicely on a paper plate.

Not too bad, huh? Ok -- no laughing at my lack of Martha Stewart skills. I am just glad it is done, the mess is cleaned, and this is our last Creative Family Fun Project of the year!

Oh - and yes -- that is a sleep mask that Paige is wearing as a headband. She is so creative -ha! =)

Birthday Wish!

2011-03-29T19:48:00.000-04:00

It looks like Anna will get to make a birthday wish this year!!

Once Anna learned how to blow on a flute and her harmonica, I made it our (my) goal to get Anna to blow out her candles on her cake this year on her birthday.

We have been practicing blowing on our fingers. We have been practicing blowing on a pinwheel, and she has gotten really good at blowing bubbles during therapy. So, tonight, we decided to practice with a candle...

Oh, what will she wish for?!? I know my wish has already been granted. =)

Potty Time?

2011-03-24T13:17:00.000-04:00

So, the other day, Anna came to me, signed "potty", and then grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom.

She obviously wanted to go potty, so I took off her diaper and set her on the toilet with the little potty seat.

She sat there for a bit, and then signed "book".

So I went and got a couple of books, including her current favorite, "The Little White Duck".

I started to read, and it wasn't long before she signed "potty" again, and then signed "stinky".

Ok - "Stinky" isn't really a sign, but when I change her "stinky" diaper, I always pinch my nose and shake my head and say, "Stinky!" So, that has become her sign for going number 2. The funny part is that Anna's "stinky" sign looks a whole lot like her sign for "flower". =)

Anyway, after she signed "stinky"and "potty", she went!!!

Then she signed "all done" and asked to get down.

Seriously?! I couldn't believe it. Until, it happened again the next day!

I really had no idea that Anna could do this, and I am pretty good about knowing what Anna can and cannot do (yet). I was completely flabbergasted that 1) she clearly communicated via sign language what she wanted, and 2) that she knew what to do (including the book - ha!) once she was on the potty.

So, is it potty training time? I think it might be.

Anna definitely knows when she is going "stinky" and can communicate it, but she doesn't seem to know (or care) when she is peeing. We will have to work on that.

I am not one to force potty training. I prefer to wait for the child's lead. Ok, take that back..I pretty much forced Charlie - or bribed him is more accurate. He was a late trainee, but he mastered it within 2-days once he decided to do it. Paige, on the other hand, had a fascination with the potty early on, so we just went with it. It took her a little longer, but she was trained much earlier.

Anna may be ready, but I am not sure I am. Anyone who has potty trained a child knows what a humbling (and tiring, and frustrating, and messy) experience it can be. But the reward is soooo great - right?

Anyway, stay tuned for more possible adventures in potty training coming soon!

Don't Hate Me 'Cause I'm Beautiful (Dance-A-Rama!)

2011-03-23T10:57:00.018-04:00

Paige had her final dance class yesterday. At the end of the class, the girls gave us a little performance (2 actually -- so it was twice as cute - and funny!)

The song they used was "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson. Appropriate for 4-yr olds? Questionable. But the girls were clueless to most of the lyrics, so I won't harp too much.

Keep in mind this was a little 6-week (45 min.) rec. department dance class for pre-schoolers, so it is far from Broadway. And, this was supposed to be an intro to all types of dance class (ballet, jazz, hip hop, etc.) I think it is mostly hip hop, though. Either way, it is, ummm, entertaining?

Enjoy the show!

Ha! I think my favorite part is when they are walking forward and back and Paige looks like a turkey or a peacock. Too funny! Definitely saving this gem for future boyfriends! =)

March! March! March!

2011-03-22T14:07:00.000-04:00

Anna finally has her new orthotics.

She has pretty much been without them since Thanksgiving because her old ones were just way too small. Her old orthotics fit a size 4 shoe. Her new ones - a size 8! Anna has done just a little growing over the past year. =) Then, we had to go through a lot of red tape with the insurance company, had weather delays and scheduling conflicts in making the appointments, but...we have them now!

Since she has been without orthotics for so long, and has basically never walked in them considering she didn't really start walking until around Thanksgiving, she was not a happy camper when I first put them on. In fact, I don't think she walked for the first two days...just crawled.

She has gotten used to them now (fortunately!). They really make a difference in the way she walks. They force her to lift her knees more and be more deliberate about her stepping.

In PT, we have been working on marching and stepping over obstacles. In the video below, you can see that Charlie and Paige wanted to get in on the act as well. They got out my metal measuring cups and spoons and had a little parade =)

And, once again, we went with the Converse All-stars because 1) they are really cute, and 2) they open up nice and wide to be able to get the orthotics into them. I might have to get her a pair in every color !

The Day is Coming...

2011-03-15T13:45:00.001-04:00

The day that Anna turns 3 is coming.
The day that Anna turns 3 and ages out of Early Intervention is coming.
The day that Anna turns 3, ages out of Early Intervention and starts pre-school is coming.

And it is coming soon!

One month from today, Anna will turn 3...our Tax-day baby (do you have yours done, yet?). Anna will start pre-school on Monday, April 25, the day after Easter. We have spring break the week before, otherwise she would have started then.

Ever since our initial meeting with school representatives, this inevitable day has been looming on my calendar, and in my mind. I am not sure I am ready for it.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself" - Matthew 6:34

I am not a worrier. In fact, my husband gets upset with me because I often show no concern about a matter that should concern me. And, it is not that I am not concerned - I just don't outwardly worry about it. I see no point in it.

And, it is not that I am worried about Anna starting school. I know she will love it. I know it will be great for her. I know it is the right thing to do. I am just having a hard time coming to grips with putting my sweet angel on a bus with her not really knowing what is going on.

I had no problems with Charlie going to school, and will not fret when Paige starts Kindergarten in the fall. They are ready. They know where they are going, what to expect, and they are excited about it. Anna doesn't have a clue...and that is what bothers me, not that my baby is going to school (I am also not an overly emotional person).

I am sure it won't take long for her to "get it" and be excited about it as well. Over the past couple of months, Anna has made huge strides in her cognition and communication. She is so much more engaged in conversations and activities, and she seems to be making a real effort to communicate. Her signing is beyond impressive. I have lost count of how many signs she knows, and uses appropriately. She has been trying to learn her animal sounds. Current favorite: the Rooster - cock-a-doodle-doooo! =) And her babbling has really taken off. Now, if we can only get real words out of her =)

Yes - school is the right next step for her. I know all this. I just have to get my heart to accept it.

I know that God will be with her and protect her. I just have to remember to trust in Him.

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." - Psalm 55:22

A Whole Lot of Fun, and a Healthy Helping of Hope!

2011-03-06T21:42:00.000-05:00

This past weekend, the Bigs (Charlie and Paige) and Jonathan and I went to Lake Placid, NY for a little ski vacation. We had so much fun!

Charlie and Paige both did AWESOME at skiing this year. This was only their 2nd time, and they both really learned a lot! They did lessons for one full day, and then another half-day. Their instructors were great, and you can see the lessons really paid off.

The next time we go, Charlie will probably be ready to move over to the big mountain. Paige still has a little work to do, but I dare anyone to try telling her that. Her response to when we suggested that she follow us down the hill to work on her turning: "I know how to do it, Mom. I like to go fast!" Yep! That is our little daredevil!

Here is a little video montage of our ski weekend.

Oh, how I wish we could do that more often!

Anna didn't make the trip with us because she is still too young for skiing. Instead, she stayed with her Grammy and Papa, where she was showered with attention and love by them, and by her aunts, uncles and cousins. I am pretty sure she didn't miss us a bit -- but we missed her TONS!

As Jonathan and I were riding up on the gondola, we wondered aloud to each other if Anna would ever be able to ski and join our family in this super fun activity. We plan to make skiing a regular winter activity, and we can't imagine Anna not joining us when she gets old enough and strong enough.

And then, God answered our unspoken prayers and gave us a HUGE helping of hope! Sitting in the lodge having her lunch was a young lady named Mia. Mia is a 12-yr. old girl with Ds. She is in a club that skis every Saturday. We talked with her grandfather who was there with her this weekend and he told us about how Mia is doing and how much she loves skiing.

She looked so much like Anna with her long straight braids. And, maybe I was just really missing Anna, but I just wanted to give her a big hug. But, Jonathan said that just because we have a kid with Ds, that doesn't give me the right to touch her - ha! =)

It was a really, really great weekend...and, now we are ready for summer!

Harmonica Harmonies

2011-02-23T18:46:00.000-05:00

In Speech Therapy, we have been working with Anna on trying to get her to blow on a whistle or flute or horn...or anything!

She finally started tooting on a recorder, but I had to take it away because it was so loud and obnoxious. But, I think we have found a happy substitute.

We may have just discovered her true talent and passion. =)

PS - please excuse my rude son in the background -- boys!

Smiles From Ear to Ear

2011-02-18T23:00:00.000-05:00

In case you did not see Paige today (because if you had, she most certainly would have told you herself, even if she had never met you before)...Paige got her ears pierced today! =)

Now, I have been wanting Paige to get her ears pierced for a couple of years now (no reason other than I think earrings are cute and fun), but she has always refused, arguing that it would hurt. But, over the past couple of weeks, a few of her friends have gotten their ears pierced. So, I encouraged Paige to ask them if it hurt. (Why trust your Mom, right?)

Finally, she agreed that she wanted them pierced, and actually has been asking when we were going to get it done.

So, today we took her to the mall under the guise of looking for a new dishwasher (ours broke -- grrrrrr). We were wandering through the mall and stopped by the Piercing Pagoda and asked her what she thought. You could see the excitement about to bubble right out of her.

We picked out the earrings she wanted (cute little white gold hearts) and got all the paperwork signed. There was a moment of hesitation because there was only one worker at the time...meaning she would have to do one ear at a time as opposed to doing both at the same time. I was nervous that we were going to be walking out of there with only one earring.

But, Paige said she would be brave, and she was! Here is a video of how it went down.

All Smiles from Ear to Ear!!!

I Can See This in Anna's Future...

2011-02-17T04:07:00.003-05:00

Knowing how much Anna loves Kindermusik (see post), I can definitely see something like this in her future...

http://www.wltx.com/news/article/121995/2/Teacher-Born-With-Down-Syndrome-Breaks-Stereotypes

Adorable Centerpiece

2011-02-15T11:28:00.000-05:00

She makes an adorable centerpiece, don't you think?!

I am fairly certain a post about a big fat bump on her forehead is not far off considering this is where I find her every 5 minutes.

Any suggestions on how to baby-proof a table other than removing all the chairs?

Star Wars Sleepover - Success Story!

2011-02-12T11:29:00.000-05:00

Last Night Charlie had a sleepover to celebrate his 7th birthday. It was his first sleepover, as well as the first sleepover for all of his friends.

We had a great time, but I will be honest and say that I was very happy to send our guests home. =)

As the guests arrived, the lightsaber duels began.

Even Anna got in on the action.

Then, it was time for pizza and Yoda Soda.

Followed by cake (my favorite part!)

We watched a movie (Star Wars - of course!) And the boys got excited about the lightsaber action scenes and felt the need to act them out.

The boys finally started to quiet down around 10:30, and all was quiet by 11:00. The late hour didn't stop them from waking up a little after 6:00 this morning -- and picking up right where they left off with their lightsaber action.

After Star Wars pancakes for breakfast, the boys finished off the party by taking down the Evil Sith Lord, otherwise known as the mean Dad who wouldn't let them jump on the furniture, slam doors, or scream when it was well past bedtime. How dare he?! =)

All in all - it was a great party, and huge success for a first sleepover. Our house is still standing, at least!

And, I can see the wheels turning in Paige's head already about when she has her first sleepover. I am pretty sure I will have to stock up on sedatives for Jonathan before that ever happens.

Dance-A-Rama

2011-02-11T11:15:00.001-05:00

Paige had her first dance class this week.

I am pretty sure that Paige is blessed with about as much grace and style as her mother, which is very little - and I have the scars on my chin from tripping over the free-throw while running down the basketball court to prove it. But, I am quite certain that she is having a ball! =)

So, when Paige was getting dressed for dance, she asked if I would give her "exercise hair". I found out "exercise hair" is a pony tail with a headband -- like how I fix my hair when I am going to workout.

Well, the headband wasn't going to stay on Paige's head, so she then asked for "dance hair". Not knowing what that was, I gave her some little piggie buns. She was quite thrilled with the results.

Crazy kid! =)

Happy 7th Birthday, Charlie!!

2011-02-10T07:41:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday, Charlie!!!

I can't believe my baby boy is turning 7...he is over half-way to becoming a teenager (aack!)

I can't say enough about how much I love this kid. He is sweet, smart, funny, adorably handsome...and the Force is strong with him =)

Here's a video that Jonathan put together to celebrate Charlie's past year. Enjoy!

After Hours Party

2011-02-03T13:14:00.000-05:00

Anna's current bedtime ritual...

1. Insist with flailing arms, grunting and pointing (and screaming if I don't comply soon enough) that I play the music the comes from the heart. Tune: "You are my Sunshine"

2. After I turn off the lights and close the door, the "After Hours Party" begins.

3 I return to her room to see what all the ruckus is only to find Anna stripped down and giggling her little head off. Praise the Lord she leaves her diaper ON!

4. I redress her.

5. Repeat steps 1-4 until she tires herself out or until I decide that she can just freeze that night (it gets cold in her room!)

6. Final check on my sweet angel, dress her again, a quick squeeze and sleep tight.

I know, I should probably buy her some new pj's that don't zipper and she would stay dressed all night...but the whole scene is actually pretty funny. That is, until the diaper starts coming off -- then I will be investing in duck tape!

Go Into the Kitchen and Take a Peek...

2011-01-17T22:02:00.000-05:00

Anna is really loving Kindermusik! And, she is so cute doing it. =)

Ok, she is all over the place a good portion of the time, and she shakes her eggs when they are supposed to be quiet, but she is starting to "get it", and starting to participate with all the other kids.

Her two favorite songs are "Shakin', Shakin'" and "Go Into the Kitchen". (We are doing the Milk and Cookies curriculum for anyone familiar with Kindermusik). I have tried my best to get videos of her "dancing", but she is a hard one to catch. She sees the camera come out and the show is immediately over. Also, she is looking at me for what she is supposed to be doing, so I am trying to video while dancing and (ahem!) singing.

I almost can't stand the cuteness =)

Paige also loves Kindermusik (as if that wasn't apparent from the video - ha!). We used to go when she was Anna's age. She was thrilled last week when Anna's class was rescheduled due to snow, meaning she got to go too! She was the "big girl"in the class, and got to show all the little tikes how to do it.

Here is Paige showing the little kids how to take a peek....

...and here is Anna =)

Such fun!

Snow Days Are "Snow" Much Fun!!

2011-01-12T15:25:00.000-05:00

We are enjoying a snow day here in the Northeast.

Fortunately, we were spared the worst of the storm (we are a little farther inland) and we landed only about 6 inches, but that was more than enough to make for some good ol' winter fun this morning with the neighbors.

Here is a little slide show of us frolicking in the white fluffy stuff with our friends.

As much fun as snow days are...I would much rather be taking fun pictures of us at the beach or the pool. When does summer get here?

Getting Excited...

2011-01-07T13:12:00.001-05:00

Today we had our Eligibility/Evaluation Planning Meeting with representatives from, what will soon be, Anna's pre-school.

We met with the Child Study Team Director, the Speech Therapist, the school psychologist, the school social worker, a general education teacher and we got to meet the ladies who will be her pre-school teacher and aide in the classroom.

To sum up our feelings about the meeting....We are Very Excited!!

Everyone we met with was so nice, and a friendly, and oohed and ahhed over Anna. They were helpful with our questions, and offered us plenty of information.

We also got to visit the classroom and Anna got to play in there for a little bit. It was oh, so cute, and Anna is going to love it there!

Yes - this is definitely going to be a good experience for Anna.

Next Steps: Evaluations in February/March timeframe needed to be able to develop Anna's IEP. We will be doing a Speech evaluation, and a general education evaluation. But, they will also be supplementing their evaluations from information and reports from her current Early Intervention therapists, including OT and PT. (We gave consent for them to be in communication).

Getting Excited about school!!

Anna about to enter her new school for the first time!

Increased Security

2011-01-06T20:41:00.000-05:00

Anna has made it imperative that we increase security around the house.

Every door must be shut...especially to the bathroom. She has found a strong fondness for the toilet...and not for going potty.

And even if the door is shut, there may be a need for even tighter measures. The door to our pantry is the only one with a lever handle instead of a knob...thank goodness!

Making a sandwich. First I need the bread...

But, the other day, I caught her sitting in a pile of spilled crackers enjoying a little snack. I had to put an end to that.

She has at least tried to put some of her mischievousness to good use. Now that she can reach the silverware, she likes to take it out and put it on the table. It almost looks like she is trying to set the table for lunch. =)

At least the Christmas decorations have been put away. I can breathe a little easier without her taking the ornaments off the tree every chance she got.

Winter Wonderland

2010-12-27T13:39:00.000-05:00

We didn't have a white Christmas, but the day after it started to snow about 11 am, and now we are enjoying a Winter Wonderland!!

My Pink Snow Bunny

Hey - This stuff is pretty fun!

Ours Was Merry...

2010-12-26T15:00:00.000-05:00

Hope yours was too!!!

A Last Ditch Plea...

2010-12-22T15:34:00.000-05:00

After screaming her head off the last time she met Santa, Anna decided that she had better "make nice" before it was too late.

We were at the mall today, and not planning to visit with Santa, let alone take pictures. We were just going to wave from the sidelines. But, Anna was jumping out of her seat to go see him, so how could we resist?

Look at the joy on her face!

Too bad Mommy didn't think to comb her hair or dress her in jeans w/o grass stains on them.

Paige was also quite stoked to see the Big Man. It was fun to see/hear her talking to him with the true belief that only a child can have.

We shall see if their efforts to kiss up to the Big Man has paid off. I'm sure it has =)

Charlie's Winter Concert 2010

2010-12-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

There is nothing cuter or funnier than elementary school concerts.
Here is a quick snippet of Charlie's performance. He is the handsome boy with the red sweater vest in the middle of the front row. =)

I think the kids did a great job of singing Mele Kalikimaka, but I still think Jonathan's and my performance from a couple of years ago takes the cake =)

Ha! Merry Christmas!!

Warm Up the Bus!

2010-12-12T15:13:00.002-05:00

Anna is just over 2 1/2 yrs. old. She will turn 3 on Friday, April 15, 2011.

She just started walking about 2 weeks ago. (And she is doing so well with walking now -- pretty much walks 90% of the time vs. crawling. But more on this later).

Anna is tiny. (Ok, she is actually pretty big for her age - and actually huge for a child her age with Down syndrome - but she is still tiny in my eyes.)

Anna doesn't talk. (Yet - we know it is coming...eventually.)

Anna is very much a Mama's girl. She does not like it when I leave.

So, you can imagine my heart when I was told during our meeting with the local school representative that Anna will take a bus to pre-school starting in April.

I am having a hard time picturing it, and therefore, I am glad that I have 4 months to prepare myself for that day. Anna has no clue that she is going to be going to school. I just keep picturing the bus pulling up to our house, me putting her on the bus and waving good-bye. And I can only imagine what will be going through her mind about where she is going and why Mommy isn't going with her. Oh, what an adventure it will be!

Actually, though, we are very excited about the program that Anna will be entering. It sounds like they have a great program, and we have heard nothing but good things from other parents' whose children have been through the program. She will get all her therapies at school in addition to "academics", and socialization and friends. =)

She will go to school 5 days/wk from 8:30-10:30. Because the pre-school is located in the elementary school on the other side of town, she will take a bus to and from school.

They do have extended school year which runs for about 4 weeks in summer.

Anna will start in April, but not on her birthday. Her birthday falls on a Friday, and the following week is our spring/Easter break. So, we will start her after that.

This year (Spring 2011), and next year (2011-2012), she, and the other 3-yr. olds will go from 8:30-10:30. The following year (2012-2013) when she is 4, she will go from 10:30-2:30pm (still busing across town - which really isn't that far). Then, when she is 5, and hopefully ready for kindergarten, she will be going to the same school as Charlie and Paige (no bus) 8:30-3:00 pm.

We have our next meeting, our "Eligibility Meeting", scheduled for Friday, January 7. I thought her extra-chromosome made her a shoe-in, but apparently not. She still has to go through all the evaluations.

So, between now and April, I am going to have to some serious prepping for that inevitable day. I wasn't teary for Charlie or Paige, but I am pretty sure the sight of Anna getting on the bus will just about do me in.

Warm up the bus!!

Three Weeks Mashed into One Post

2010-12-06T16:00:00.001-05:00

I have been busy (or so that is my excuse), so I am going to try to mash about three weeks worth of posts into one...

First, Anna went for her annual check-up with the Cardiologist just before Thanksgiving. Basically, her status is "No Change" - which is a good thing. Anna has a small coronary fistula (coronary artery dips back into one of the chambers), but the Dr. sees no reason the be concerned. At this point, we monitor once per year and take antibiotics for dental work. That we can handle!

Anna had a follow-up with her pediatric ophthalmologist today. Her eye looks good -- or good enough, at least. There is still a little tearing in the right eye, but nothing like it used to be when we had to use a warm washcloth each morning just to get the eye open from all the gunk. A vast improvement that we will take! I am hoping that this silly issue finally behind us

And the fun thing we have going on -- Anna and I just started Kindermusik! We go on Wednesday mornings. The girl loves her music, and now that she is vertical, I think she is going to love dancing as well! =) Look for more posts, and hopefully some pictures, on this topic. =)

Did I mention we got a new computer? It has a built in camera, and Anna loves to sit on our laps and watch herself on the computer screen. Here is a cute little video Anna and her Daddy made one night while the Bigs and I were out.

We were supposed to be going for a fitting for new orthotics this week, but they called us to tell us that our insurance only covers new orthotics once every three years?! An okay rule for someone over 18... but a 2-yr. old? They said all we need is a note from our doctor stating that she needs new orthotics because she has outgrown her old ones (ya' think? She has gone from a size 4 last January to a 7 now). Just a minor bump in the road, but I was really hoping to get them in under this year's already met deductible. No such luck.

We have Anna's 6-month IFSP on Thursday...Her final IFSP before she starts pre-school in April. Also on Thursday we have our first transition planning meeting with our service coordinator and a representative from the local school district. I am not anticipating any issues, but am nervous, none-the-less. I can't believe Anna is less than 6 months away from going to pre-school!

And so go the days of our lives...Crazy Wonderful!! =)

DSG Christmas Party!

2010-12-04T21:59:00.001-05:00

Today was the annual Christmas Party for the DSGNWNJ. We were very excited to attend this fun event, and it is getting more fun each year because we are getting to know more and more people.

Of course, I forced my kids to try to take pictures before the party. We managed an okay one -- but not too bad when you consider it was well past Anna's naptime.

The party was hoppin' with music and dancing. But, Anna was queen of the dance floor as she strutted around and showed off her new walking skills!!

Too much dancing...need a drink!

Then...the Big Man came!! Oh, the excitement!!

Patiently awaiting Santa's arrival

And the terror!!! Anna was not too thrilled with Santa, but again, it was well, well, past her naptime at this point.

Charlie and Paige, on the other hand, were quite cozy with Santa. They seem to think they have been good this year...we'll see!

And finally, we tried to get a picture of all the kids with Down syndrome around this lovely, and yummy cake that made and donated by The Cake Boss. As you can imagine, it was a bit of a fiasco =) But, we managed to get Anna to sit for a few minutes.

By then, she was completely wiped out.

Can't wait for next year's party!!

Kickin' Off the Season in Style!

2010-11-25T17:17:00.000-05:00

Wishing everyone a Rockin' Christmas!!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

(Link in case you are not able to play video in blogger...http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/s6q6eZSVFZMm6OcZ)

Give Thanks!!

2010-11-24T23:59:00.003-05:00

Every good and perfect gift is from above...James 1:17

Wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

Go stuff yourself with some turkey! =)

Standing and Walking!

2010-11-20T20:13:00.001-05:00

After Anna's bath this morning, she just couldn't be contained! Look at her go! She is getting so much better at standing and walking. She just kept going and going.

Happy Birthday Lori !!!

2010-11-19T08:36:00.000-05:00

Hi Blogworld,
This is Jonathan...Lori's husband. I'm guest blogging in celebration of Lori's birthday today.

I could go on and on about how much I love Lori, how beautiful she is, what a great woman, wife, mother, and friend she is...and it would all be true. But I'll save you all from that...and instead I'll share with you a video I made about Lori a few years back. I made this video when Lori went away for the weekend and I really missed her. Hope you enjoy.

Happy Birthday Lori. I love you.

A BIG Week!

2010-11-14T21:00:00.000-05:00

Paige has had a big week. Scratch that...She has had a HUGE week!

I am always bragging about Anna's milestones (and there are a few more to come as soon as I can catch them on video), but this is Paige's turn in the spotlight.

Paige (4 1/2 yrs.) decided to tackle some major milestones this week, and I have to say that she is doing quite well, and I am quite proud of her =)

First, she decided that she was ready to learn to read. I thought, "why not?", and broke out the Hooked on Phonics material that we used (with great success) with Charlie.

She has worked very hard, and is starting to get it. Here is a video of her reading one of her first books.

It won't be long before we are no longer able to talk in "code" (what she calls when we spell words) with Paige around.

Then, Paige decided it was time to ditch the training wheels! Woohoo!

She was a little nervous and scared at first; she didn't want to fall and get hurt. But, we encouraged her to keep trying, and in no time she had it down. Now she whizzes around the cul-de-sac (or corner sac as Paige likes to call it)!

Paige and Daddy taking off her training wheels...forever!!

Paige has also declared that she is going to stop sucking her thumb this week. We shall see! But, it appears that when this little girl makes up her mind to do something...watch out, world!

Rapunzel in the Making

2010-11-11T12:47:00.000-05:00

I love little girls in braids, so I was very excited that Anna actually let me braid her hair the other day. I am, by no means, any good at braiding, and I can't do the french braid, but look at how cute she is!

I will probably never be able to get her to sit still that long again, so I am going to relish this one for a little while =)

Origami Yoda

2010-11-10T20:46:00.000-05:00

We just finished reading a very funny book with Charlie. It is called "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger.

He picked this book from his school's book fair. We read it out loud to him because we thought it was a little bit over his reading level, though he probably could have handled it. He is such an awesome reader. (I am such a proud mama!) But boy, I am glad we did read it out loud. I think Jonathan and I were laughing harder than Charlie through a lot of it.

Anyway, if you have a Star Wars fan at home, I highly recommend this read. I do caution about some crude humor/language that is probably typical of 6th graders like the characters in the book, but nothing I want my 1st grader repeating.

At the end of the book, there are instructions for how to make your own Origami Yoda. Here is Charlie's...

Origami Yoda: Read it you must!

There's Nothing Like a Pile of Leaves...

2010-11-06T21:27:00.000-04:00

There's nothing like a pile of leaves to bring a smile to a child's face.

The kids were itching to get outside, but claimed there was nothing to do. So, I gave them each a rake and told them to go rake a pile of leaves and jump in it. ( I know, my 'motherly wisdom' never ceases to amaze me - ha!)

Here are the results...

School Pictures 2010-2011

2010-11-02T11:38:00.002-04:00

School pictures are in!

My handsome boy! (Going for the serious student look this year)

And my crazy beautiful girl! (Wish she would leave her hair alone before pictures!)

BTW - for those wondering...after our debate last year, I didn't even bother asking Jonathan about pictures this year - I just bought them. =)

Halloween, Halloween...Such a Spooky Scene!

2010-11-01T11:52:00.002-04:00

"Halloween, Halloween...Such a Spooky Scene"

That was the title of a poem I wrote when I was in the 4th grade. It is quite humorous and I should include a copy on here sometime; it would give you a good laugh. Only problem - my husband won't let me anywhere near the box in which it resides as I am sure to get lost in memories for at least a couple of hours. But it is good stuff, I tell you...good stuff. =)

So, it is on to current memories in the making!

We had a great Halloween weekend. This year we had Anakin Skywalker, Merliah (from Barbie in a Mermaid Tale), and Sleeping Beauty.

Charlie and Paige were both thrilled to wear their costumes to school on Friday where they had a party and parade.

Merliah - "The Queen of the Waves"

Merliah's totally gnarly pink hair

Anakin Skywalker (The Padawan years)

Side Note: If you are thinking that Charlie's costume is missing something, it is not his light saber (not allowed at school). He is missing his Padawan braid.

This was not due to lack of effort on my, or Paige's, part. See, the day before Paige had a couple of friends over for a playdate. During a brief moment when they weren't being watched like a hawk by me, Paige managed to grab the scissors and cut a chunk of each of the girls' hair (yes...both of them!). Trying to make lemonade out of lemons, I took the discarded strands of hair and made a very nice Padawan braid out them. But, Charlie refused to wear it citing the arguments that it was "gross", and it was "girl hair". =)

On Saturday, we carved pumpkins.

Storm Trooper pumpkin...Nice Work, JR!

And on Sunday, we got dressed up again for trick-or-treating and bringing home bags and bags full of candy!

Merliah, Anakin, Sleeping Beauty and Dr. MD =)

Paige and her guinea pigs...their hair doesn't look lopsided at all!

"Trick-or-Treat!!!"

I think my poem for this year would read: "Halloween, Halloween...Such an Crazy Scene", but then again, that wouldn't be very distinctive from any other day around here. =)

I know what is in here!

Candy!!

I knew it!

Can't stop thinking about it

Candy!

Pleeeaaaasee!!!!

Fine - I will just go out trick-or-treating and get my own candy!

And now, it is November. It is my birthday month in case anyone was curious =)

Buddy Walk 2010: She Did It!!!

2010-10-24T15:14:00.000-04:00

Saturday was our Buddy Walk for the Down Syndrome Group of Northwest New Jersey (DSGNWNJ - yes, it is a mouthful!) What a glorious day!!!!!

After two years of pouring down rain, God blessed us with a picture perfect day. Sunshine and warmth was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone.

Signing "grass" while playing in the grass

The warm and sunny weather was not what made my heart soar, however.

This year, Anna's Banana Pants team had 50 people walking!! How incredible is that?! God has blessed us with such a great family and so many wonderful and caring and supportive friends. I am overwhelmed just looking at the group picture of our team.

And, as a team we raised over $2,500!! Seriously folks, this is amazing, and truly the work of God. I merely sent out a few emails to family and friends and they willingly and generously opened their hearts and wallets and gave.

But, I think what had me floating the highest, was watching Miss Anna walking at her own Buddy Walk for the first time! I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I was to see this. I was choking back tears for a good part of it. God does answer prayers because I have been praying so hard that Anna would be able to walk at her Buddy Walk this year...and watch her go!!

It may be a technicality that she is using a push toy...but that doesn't matter to us...She Did It!!!

Thank you so much for everyone who came out to walk with us, who donated to the Buddy Walk, who prayed for good weather and wished us well. Words cannot express the gratitude we feel.

Here are a few (ha!) more pictures from the day.

Warming up in the pavilion

Our youngest walker - Baby Matthew

Anna and Miss Cindy (ST)

Look at all these kids who came out to walk!! Notice, Anna was not interested in the picture - she wanted to walk!

Charlie and his classmates, Andrew and Payton

Launch Party!

2010-10-20T23:05:00.000-04:00

There was quite a rukus coming from Anna's room after her nap today. I opened the door to find that she was throwing a "launch party"

Maybe she plans to try out for centerfield when she gets older =)