GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Awareness Walk

Today was the annual Down Syndrome Awareness walk in Sioux City.  It is hosted by GiGi's Playhouse.  GiGi's Playhouse is a Down syndrome awareness and educational center that provides resources, specialized teaching, and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community.  Sioux City is lucky to have such a great organization!

My mom was awesome at organizing Clay's "team"; we just showed up and had a great time!  We had a few family friends and three of my aunts join us for bagels and coffee at my parent's, carnival fun at North Middle, followed by the 1 mile awareness walk.  A good time was had by all!  

Look at the man of the hour soaking it all up! 

Our awesome team!

Mo Pape, aunt Nina, mama and Clay, Murph, Julie and Wyatt, Mo Haley, Kath and Hazel, Grandma Sue, Becky, Reagan, and Mason - thank you, thank you for your support!!!

The kids at a TON of fun at the carnival.  It was raining AGAIN this year, so they moved the festivities inside.

Hazel was infatuated with Reagan.  I think this picture about sums it up!!! 

I love how Hazel was copying Reagan in all the poses!

The awesome slide! 

Clay was lovin' on my aunt Nina, who was so sweet to drive from Kansas City for the walk!

The rescue squad :-)

I hope they didn't like the back seat too much!

Future crime fighters

I love when I get to hang out with my dear friend Becky and her beautiful family.  We have been the bestest of friends since our freshman year of high school....and through a lot of sh*t throughout those years.  I know I can always count on her to wipe my tears, listen to me vent, or order another round of shots at the bar.  Watching our kids play together is so surreal; it seems like we were cheering at football games and getting ready for prom not so long ago.  I love her and her littles.

And last but not least, of course the petting zoo was a huge hit with my little superheroes! 

We are ready to do it all over again in September in New York City and in October at the Omaha Buddy Walk!  Please join us! http://www.dsamidlands.org/teams/janke-clays-crew.html

Wyatt is officially a DC West Preschooler!

Wyatt was SO excited for school today!  

We made this morning routine chart last week and started practicing it on Monday.  Wyatt LOVES routines and schedule.  Talk about type A.  I have no idea where he gets that from!?  He was so excited to be in charge of getting himself ready in the morning.

He has an alarm clock that turns green at 7AM, when it is okay for him to get up.  He was up, teeth brushed, downstairs, dressed, and ready for breakfast by 7:07 this morning.  

Don't let the military know; he is all mine!

I found this cute printable sign online and stuck it on a pencil for Wyatt to hold up.

Practicing during breakfast!

Look at the excitement on his face.  

Wyatt loves school.  

I hope his thirst for learning & socializing never stops.  

He is so brave.  

This was his first day at a new school, new teachers, new friends and he wasn't scared one bit!

AHHHH!  Daisy and Wyatt are both so excited!

Okay, mom - NO more pictures!

"Can we go, yet!?"

...and a few more at school ;) 

This was last year's 1st Day of Preschool at Bethany Lutheran Church.  

Look how much he has grown up!  

He will probably have facial hair in his Kindergarten picture next year!

This is Wyatt's teacher Miss Ginny.  

At the end of the day, she reported that Wyatt was a huge helper and picked up all the toys he got out; something no one else did!  

She said she wished she had a class full of Wyatt's.  No wonder he loves school.....(brown noser!).

He has another awesome teacher, Miss Shawn, who is friend's with Grandma Chris.  She was busy so we will have to get a picture another day!

A wink from the big preschooler

Hazel had to photobomb.  A little too much attention for Wyatt!

Crazy mom paparazzi picture.  He has his own cubby; how cute is that!?

Wyatt got to pick his locker name tag shape and picked this soccer ball because, "a circle is my favorite shape!"  Duh.

Our little scholar got right to work!

Look out DC West.  There is a new man on campus!

Last Day of Summer Road Trip

So, remember a few days ago when I was crying (in my wine) over Wyatt starting "full-time" preschool???  Well, I am kinda over that.

....and, a little bit of that may have been the wine talking.

Oh my Wyatt, how I love him so.  He is smart, funny, kind....the list goes on and on - BUT - the kid has to be entertained 24/7!!!  No toy we own (and we own them all) is fun unless MOM is playing with it.  Books are boring unless mom is reading them, legos are a pile of nothingness unless mom helps build a tower, action figures have no destiny unless mom gives them life, even the iPad is not much fun unless mom is playing, too (I mean seriously!!!!).  Sometimes Hazel will fill this void for maybe 5 minutes but then it is mom or nothing.  I have been told by friends that this is an oldest child thing???  I don't know, but thank God Hazel & Clay are a little more self entertained....for like 20 minutes.

This constant need to be entertained has run it's course for this summer.  Preschool here we come!!!!

Wyatt loves a schedule.  I love a schedule.  Things will be good.

Today was our last day of summer so we took a trip to the Lincoln Zoo to really live it up.  We all had a great time!

Clay REALLY wanted to touch that butterfly!

Best big brother!

Bearded Dragon! 

Wyatt wasn't so sure about that turtle!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

Today was a great day full of new things.  

We hung out with new friends that we made through our Down syndrome group. Angie and Luke have Erik, who is a few months younger than Clay, Joey, who is 3.5, and baby boy #3 on the way. We are so lucky to have this family in our lives.  I have a feeling we have a lot of fun times ahead of us!

They were nice enough to invite us over for lunch and take us to Werner Park to watch the Storm Chasers play baseball.  It was a perfect summer day!

Buddies!

This was another new thing for us.  We had never been to Werner Park.  

It was a great time for the whole family!  Especially, Hazel.  

The girl is boy crazy.  Seriously, she is not even 3 and LOVES boys...men...papas.  

Lord help us.

   

Hazel and Joey holding hands

....and watching the game together.

Thanks for taking Hazel for a ride, Luke!

Sister and brother love ;)

And our final "new" was Clay signing book.  (Or giving a good enough attempt that I knew what he was doing).  Clay LOVES to read books.  He turns the pages, listens intently, and points at the pictures. I love every second of it.  I know his mind is absorbing so much information with each turn of a new page.

This is how you sign "book".