Buddy Walk 2007!

We would love to have all our friends and family join us this Sunday, September 30, at Furman University!

Buddy Walk in Greenville Celebrates Down Syndrome Awareness Month

WHAT: The 2007 Down Syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville Buddy Walk at Furman University is one of 190 Buddy Walks planned in cities across the country this fall. The Buddy Walk was developed by the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to promote acceptance and inclusion of all people with Down syndrome.

Carol Goldsmith will be the Master of Ceremonies for the walk. She shares the news desk with her co-anchor Michael Cogdill each weeknight at 6 and 11 p.m. on Channel 4 WYFF. We are very excited that Carol has agreed to emcee our event!

WHEN: Sunday, September 30th. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the one-mile walk kicks off at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Furman University at the Herman W. Lay Physical Activities Center (PAC).

WHO: About 400 people are expected to attend. Participants include people with Down syndrome from the Upstate area and around the state, their families, friends, teachers, coworkers and other supporters.

If you would like to register for the walk, please download the “ Buddy Walk Registration Brochure” and “ Buddy Walk Pledge Form” and follow the instructions. To guarantee receipt of a t-shirt, please return your registration form by September 1st. Remember, you are welcome to register to walk up until and including the day of the event, but if you do so following the September 1st you may/may not receive a t-shirt.

BACKGROUND: Each year, the Buddy Walk touches thousands of lives. When it began in 1995, there were walks in 17 cities. This year, at least 190 Buddy Walks are scheduled from mid-September through November, with more than 200,000 people expected to participate.

Last year alone, Buddy Walks raised more than $1.7 million to benefit national education, research and advocacy initiatives, as well as local programs and services. All funds raised through the Buddy Walk support both local and national programs. For more information about the National Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk organization, please click here.

DSFA-Greenville 2007 Buddy Walk Highlights

Participants will enjoy many exciting features unique to this year’s Buddy Walk. Some of the features planned for walk day include:

• Free Hot Dogs, Ice Cream and Beverages available to all walk participants
• Free T-Shirts available to all walkers registered before September 1st
• Live Musical Entertainment
• Wall of Advocacy celebrating the achievements of individuals with Down syndrome
• Live Butterfly Release Ceremony to be held following the walk
• Duncan Chapel Fire Department Fire Engine and Fire Fighters will be on hand, visiting with walkers
• Mr. Earl Frady and the Shriner’s Clowns to entertain walkers
• BI-LO Supermarket’s Walter’s Pals will attend the walk
• Buddy Walk and Down syndrome Merchandise Table open to walk participants

Please make plans today to join in the fun on Sunday, September 30th!

Please feel free to go to our Down Syndrome Family Alliance of Greenville website for more details!
www.dsfagreenville.org

Packed Bags!?!

Just wondering who out there packed their bags and were ready to go to the hospital for delivery? I don't want to pack my bags too early and jinx myself. I think I can just pull my stuff together real quickly. What I do need to worry about packing, is stuff for the kids. But this gets hard. What will the weather be like then? I will probably pack a mixture of outfits for the kids! For Marley, no bags were packed. I didn't think she would come a week early. I thought I had time, this was my first baby. With Carpenter, I was in shock that he came 5 weeks early, so of course no bags were packed. For Sadie, we were induced and I just packed them the night before! I guess by not packing helps me live in denial about how busy it may get. But I will definitely get the kids stuff together.




Baby Name Update: Still no confirmation on a name for a baby girl or boy. Any new suggestions? They can be either biblical or non-biblical. Maybe when we see our baby we will just know. God will tell us. When I say my prayers concerning my kids and break them apart and have certain prayer concerns, I always say "the baby in my belly."

Good bye Summer?

Is summer over? The weather this week has been awesome. Just the way I like it, not too hot or too cold! Perfect play outside all day weather! Watch, it will be HOT next week! Maybe now I will be back into walking the kids around town more. It has just been too hot to push the kids in the double stroller. But now, I think I can do it and not pass out! Thank you dear Lord for this wonderful weather!

This week was my second week in a new bible study on the book of Daniel by Beth Moore. I am absolutely loving it! There are about 25 women from many different churches coming together to study the word of God. We go one night a week from 8-10 pm. Because most of us have children. My kids are usually in the bed by 8pm so it works out good for Jon. We have a snack/greet each other time for 15 minutes, group questions for 30 minutes, and 60 minute DVD lesson from Beth Moore. Whoa! Does she talk fast! She is just filled with information. Hopefully I will be able to keep up with the Homework.

Marley is growing up so fast! Marley has alot of school work, has dance and Awana's once a week! She enjoyed her riding lesson yesterday with Papa.

Carpenter is really enjoying school. When I picked him up from school today, he didn't want to come home! I love seeing Carpenter and Sadie play together. Yes, they fight, but they are also extremely sweet to each other. They are 16 months apart! And I am loving it! I know it seems like twice the work sometimes, but I love seeing the bond that they share! Sadie woke up this morning and the first thing she said was "I want bro-tha!" I can't wait to see how the new baby will fit into our family! I love our family! Sorry mommy moment!

Here's a quick slide show of summer fun!

Carpenter's Birthday Party

Carpenter had a wonderful birthday party on Sunday evening at Gran's house. We had a awesome cookout, play time, cake, and presents. I can't believe my "little man" is three. Thank you for everyone who traveled to come to the party: from Columbia, Greenwood, Lyman, Simpsonville, Clemson, and Fountain Inn. We had a great time seeing all our wonderful family and friends. Thank you all for coming and celebrating Carpenter's birth!

Special thanks to Gran and Pop-Pop for letting us have the party at their house and for providing the hot dogs! I know it took a lot of work and we appreciate it! Thanks also to Meme and Papa for the chips, drinks, and making of the goodie bags! We could not have done it without our wonderful parents. We have had an exhausting week with Sadie having Hands, Foot, and Mouth and Carpenter having a case of the Croop on his birthday! We are very blessed to have family close by!

Happy Birthday Song video! Check it out!

Favorite Lines!

I just wanted to share one of my favorite lines from a book! I thought maybe everyone else could share.

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

"I am a common man with common thoughts, and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough."

I just love that book. I can read it over and over again! And cry everytime!

Happy Birthday Mom!

I just wanted to send out a Happy Birthday to my mother, Roxann. This is a very special year, the BIG 5-0! I hope she doesn't mind me saying that! But I just wanted to say thank you for being such a wonderful mother and grandmother! I don't know what I would do without you! I hope you have a wonderful Birthday!

Swimming Pool Fun!

This was the first time we have been in the pool all summer. Marley has been swimming, but I have had no energy to haul 2 babies and my pregnant self to the pool. So we were excited that daddy was home. We enjoyed Gran, Pop-Pop, and the Thackston's company at the pool. Marley has become such a better swimmer this summer! She can do head stands, flips, and dives! Sadie did fall into the pool! I was right behind her, I swear! She just thought she could go down one more step! We want to say a special thank you to Jimbo and Kathy for letting us borrow their pool. We used it while they had gone on an Anniversary trip to Gatlinburg! I hope you both had a great anniversary! After pool fun, we had a cookout at the Thackston's! It is great to have such wonderful neighbors to play with!

Meet the Teacher Night!

Carpenter enjoyed going to "Meet the Teacher Night" at Fountain Inn FBC 3K. We left Sadie and Marley at MeMe's and Papa's house while we got to spend some time with our little man! We met his teacher's, Mrs. Jan and Mrs. Karren. All the kids got to go on a treasure hunt in search of fun stuff in their new classroom. Carpenter loved all of the new toys!

Side notes:
Taylor enjoyed her first football game as a Clemson student! Thank goodness that on tuesday's she doesn't have an early class. I hope she remembers to study!

Sadie keeps saying no! No! No! And "I want....brother, shoes, eat, drink." She cried when we left "brother" at school, she wanted to stay and play.

Marley has more HW this year! But she is still loving school!