Three Word Thursday

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October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month

One month of the year is dedicated to raising awareness in our community about Down Syndrome and the people who have it.  It's a time to be more aware that people with Down Syndrome are  first and foremost people.  They have feelings, personalities, talents, likes and dislikes. They have family and friends who love them for who they are, not just what they are.

Our favorite person with Down Syndrome happens to be Brendan!  Here are some of the highlights of his past year.

* Brendan transitioned out of Early Intervention and started school!  Yes, there were tears, but they were very happy tears!

*  Brendan started walking all on his own, and I promise you we are about to embark on the world of running...watch out!

*  Brendan had his second set of tubes put it, and they fell out about 5 months later, and he's only had one ear infection since!

* We moved from Kansas to Texas.

* Brendan started school 5 mornings a week, and he LOVES it!

* Brendan started wearing his glasses without a "safety string" around his neck..and he actually leaves the glasses on!

So here is just a little bit of how he has grown..he continues to make great strides just like all 3 year olds do!

Three Word Thursday

Until Next Year....

Our first family trip to the beach!

Since Fall has finally arrived, well at least according to the calendar, certainly not by the Texas weather we are experiencing, we decided to head out to the beach!  Rory has been asking to go for a long time, so why not!

We are very luck here at Fort Hood to have BLORA, which is the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area.  We get in for $2 and we had the beach and the water slides all to ourselves for about 2 hours! 

We arrived around 10:30, because it is still Texas and it was 95 degrees yesterday and these little Irish kiddos don't do well in the sun for too long!  We unpacked our shovels and pails, Rory got her goggles on, and we had our beach experience!

Rory kept saying for the rest of the day "This was the best family day ever!  Thank you Momma and Daddy!"  So precious!!

Three Word Thursday

Cheering on Fall!!

Homework...getting it done!

Her homework...

..my homework in order to keep the boys busy so I can help Rory.

It's a tough call as to which homework assignment was more difficult!

That Summer went by fast...at least I think it did!

It's hard to believe that it's already September!  What a whirlwind non-blogging summer it was!

Just some of the highlights:

A month full of swim lessons!

Backyard fun..

Backyard cool downs.

Octopus hunting..

Getting ready to move..

Finding lots of uses for boxes...

Attempting to pack themselves..

Enjoying some play time!

Lots and lots and lots of train playing...

Playing one of her favorite games..."Tornado"...when you get in your "safe place"

Making the Move..

Saying goodbye to our Kansas home...

..and hello to our new state..

..and our OWN house!

We made some new changes to our "old" house..

We bought and installed a new light in the dining room all by ourselves..

..and it looks pretty good with our new dining room furniture.

Bryan bought, assembled, and cooked on the new grill..

...mmmmmmmmmm.

It was also time to get ready for the new adventures ahead...

Of course, back to school clothes shopping!

We are looking forward to all of our new Texas adventures!!