Learning As I Go

Batter Up! Bump! Set! Spike!

So, we all know I'm not the greatest at sports. Playing sports, that is. Never was. And I'm okay with that. However, when I yelled, "Have fun on the field, girls!" onto the volleyball court, Jordyn was not okay with that.

We switched sports. I know that it's volleyball now. And I know that volleyball is played on a court... not a field. In fact, I am well aware of that because I appreciate staying much cleaner at volleyball games than softball games. But, can we cut me a little slack? We switched sports overnight. In fact, we switch back and forth between sports right now... volleyball games on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays... softball games ("fall" softball season) on Sundays. So, is there any wonder I'm yelling "Spike!" at softball games and "Strike!" at volleyball games?

Unfortunately, volleyball season can't be quite the family affair that softball season is for us. Rylee, who is not a fan of loud noises, is... well... not a fan of loud noises. And, if you've ever been to a volleyball game, they blow a buzzer. And it's loud. Very loud. And startling. And unpredictable. (Okay, maybe it's predictable, but not to someone who is yelling softball terms onto the volleyball court.)

Carter, on the other hand, would probably be fine with the noise. Except that it seems as though he would like to be with the parent that isn't going to the volleyball game. I don't think it's because he doesn't want to go to the game. I think it's simply that we're saying to him, "Carter, do you want to go with (insert parent who is going to the game here)?" And he says "no." Because, as those of you with 2-year-olds know, saying "no" is what you do when you're 2.

So, Jeremy and I try to switch off going to games. Though we'd love for it to be a family event, I think both of us enjoy a little time alone. Well, as alone as you are when you're at a volleyball game with a bunch of other people.

I enjoy taking pictures without pausing to make requests such as, "Carter, please don't lick the ground -- I know there are sunflower seeds, but they have already been chewed on and spit out of someone else's mouth. It's not polite. Or sanitary."

Or "Rylee, I love the dirt angels you are making on the field, but can you choose a field in which girls are not trying to play a softball game?"

I think Jeremy enjoys a game in which I am not making any requests of him either. "Hon, can you please run after Rylee? See her out in left field? I have to go change Carter's diaper before it starts to leak... oh wait. Too late. Now, where are those extra shorts?"

Yes, I know requests at the volleyball court would be different. But, until I convince the volleyball officials that the buzzer is much too loud, and that there must be another, much quieter way of signaling during a game, I guess we'll never know.

For now, here is our ~~softball~~ volleyball star. Jordyn is #5 #8 and ~~pitcher~~ setter for her team.

Until Sunday. Then she'll be ~~setting~~ pitching for her team on the ~~court~~ field.

Is there any wonder I get a bit mixed up?

Calling All "Buddies"

I shouldn't be telling you about this. I mean, I should be telling you, but not when I should be working on planning it instead!

But, I need a break. And, I really wouldn't mind a little photo stroll down memory lane. So, if you're feeling in the "strolling" mood, then join me!

The Buddy Walk was something we heard about within the first year after Rylee was born. A walk for Down syndrome awareness. Sounds like fun!

So, in October of 2004, we joined other families at our local mall for the walk. (My parents were out of town, but Jeremy's mom was able to come join us at the walk!) Rylee was almost 1 year old, and we had a great time! Somehow, I managed to take *gasp* very few pictures at this walk. The only thing that makes sense to me is that I must have been talking incessantly in order to not have at least 50 pictures from the day. Or maybe I wasn't that fanatic about taking pictures back then. *another gasp* I can't even fathom such a thought.

In October 2005, I was a bit more prepared. Since I knew they didn't have t-shirt sizes small enough for Rylee last year, I assumed the same would be true for this year. So, I got out the 'ole squeeze paint and managed to make her a shirt! How stinkin' cute is she??!!

Again, way too much talking and not enough picture-taking! (We did have a few more family members join us at the walk, so apparently someone snapped a picture of Rylee and me. As for pictures of everyone else... well, I must have been talking!)

It was after the walk in 2005 that I began to get more involved with our local Down syndrome association, called New Directions. (The Buddy Walk is the annual fundraiser for New Directions.) And, surprise, surprise... it was only a few short months before I was a Board Member. (Jeremy says I can't be involved with anything without being involved. And he's right.)

In October of 2006, Rylee and I (and Carter in my tummy) went to the walk together. Jeremy had to work, so Rylee and I swung by work for him to get a quick picture of the two of us.

Then, Rylee and I spent the rest of the day talking with friends (and not taking pictures) and walking with friends (and not taking pictures) and having fun with friends (and not taking pictures.) I know. Can you even imagine? I, for one, am horrified.

October 2007 rolls around... and this year, I helped a little in the walk planning. My mom and aunt were able to join us, and it was fun having Carter experience his 1st Buddy Walk at the age of 6 months!

In October 2008, I decided to get more involved in the planning. Happy to have outgrown the mall, we moved the walk outdoors to a local park, and enjoyed planning lots of outdoor fun!

Here we are, at the start of the walk... (I'm in the navy shirt on the left, holding Carter, Jeremy is in the maroon shirt toward the middle, holding Rylee, and Jordyn was walking and talking with friends she'd invited to come somewhere else in the pack!)

This year, we had HUGE support! Many family and friends came out to be "Rylee's Buddies!" Because I knew I would be busy most of the event helping as a staff member, a friend of ours took pictures during the event, and more moments were captured! (Now that's more like it!)

Here are most of "Rylee's Buddies."

The committee really worked hard, and it all paid off... we more than doubled attendance from the previous year, and profit? Well, it wasn't even comparable.

So 2008 was really a break-through year, not only for New Directions, our local association, but for our family. Now, the Buddy Walk is a huge part of our lives. If I mention to the kids at supper-time that they will get some special "Dad" time that night, they immediately ask if I have a Buddy Walk "mee-ing" (meeting). My family is very supportive of all of the time I put in to planning, and help out where they can.

And now to 2009? I am Co-Director of the Buddy Walk this year, and it's been a very busy 6 months getting ready for the event! It's count-down time now... 12 days to go! We're excited to have more than 30 family and friends currently on the list as "Rylee's Buddies" this year, and visualize a spectacular day, filled with sunshine and family and food and friends and Down syndrome awareness and celebration!

(And now for the salespitch and recruitment speech...)

If you live in the area and want to come enjoy a fun family event for a great cause, here are the details:

New Directions • Down Syndrome Association's

9th Annual Buddy Walk!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Sertoma Park • 49th and Oxbow • Sioux Falls, SD

10 am - 1 pm

(Registration 10 am • Walk 11 am)

Registration: $15 a family*

* The funds raised support New Direction's efforts

to offer services that support and enhance

the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome

and their families.

In addition to the walk, Phil Baker will be providing

children's musical entertainment,

and Dance Gallery's Adaptive Dance students will be putting on a show!

Snow White and Cagey from the Sioux Falls Canaries

will join us as well!

There will be balloon hats, crafts, food and FUN!

And if you want to join the list of "Rylee's Buddies," let me know!

We'd LOVE it!

One can never have too many buddies...

Wordless Wednesday (Already?!)

Hold On One Second...

because I am in total awe of nature.

You know, I'd like to think that I was one that soaks in all of the wonders of nature around me. But, I'll be honest. I'm really not. I like to be outside... in fact, I love our backyard and spend most summer days outside with the kids (you know, when I'm not going to the bathroom or blogging.)

But, it seems like just when I am taking in something beautiful -- pretty flowers (usually our neighbors and not ours), cool puffy clouds (I believe those are called cumulus clouds, and won't my former science teachers be proud) or an unusual insect (just ask my family what I caught outside and is now a family pet in an aquarium) -- I am often interrupted by something.

Oh, say a child roaming out onto the road instead of staying on the driveway like we discuss 217 times a day. (Really, shouldn't someone be watching the children instead of looking at bugs?) Or maybe I'll have to yell at Zoe for chewing on Carter's shoe... while it's still on his foot. Or let's say I have to hurry and go inside and make supper (I said that in hypothetical terms, because if you know me at all I despise cooking, and "hurrying" inside to make supper is something you probably wouldn't find me doing.)

So, anyway, you get the point. I don't often slow down to see all of the neat things in nature.

Until now.

Back in May, I took this picture of some blossoms on a tree in our yard. I just thought they were pretty, and since I'm sure I already had my camera outside taking pictures of the kids, it was easy. Snap. There you have it. A cool picture of some pretty blossoms.

Now, fast-forward to a few days ago. The kids and I were outside waiting for Jeremy to get home from work. We love playing in the driveway (or on the road, if you're a 2- or 5-year-old that has been told not to) and anticipate hearing Dad's loud ~~17-year-old-high-school-male-like~~ car speakers coming up the road. We decided it would be nice to have a little snack (since, of course, it was 6:30 and I hadn't decided which type of cereal to serve for supper yet) while we waited. One of our favorite snacks in August/September is pears. From our pear tree.

So, the kids and I began picking a few pears (running inside to wash them first, of course... though they are as organic as you get since we don't spray our tree with anything -- free, organic pears -- what a bonus!)

As I was picking a pear, I flashed back to the picture I'd taken in May. The same tree. The blossoms. Now pears. The pears, not even closely resembling the blossoms. "How on earth does this tree do that?"

Even if you don't consider yourself "one with nature," aren't you in complete awe? Seriously, it's amazing!!

Now, I was trying to soak in the moment. Blossoms. Now pears. But, as usual, I was interrupted by little ones... Rylee had already gone inside and retrieved a little step-stool to use in picking pears, and Carter had taken a bite out of a pear that had fallen on the ground ~~and was now infested with bugs.~~ (Okay, who is supposed to be watching these kids?)

So, as we waited for Dad, we picked pears.