World Down Syndrome Day 3-21

In honor of world down syndrome day I created this cute lightweight bracelet that I will be sporting around.  It says love for 3-21 (I say 3-2-1 cuz I like how it sounds).  I love down syndrome!  I do!  I have been so blessed by people with down syndrome.  I am so grateful for my beautiful sister who never ceases to make me laugh.  She is so much fun to be around and says the cutest things.  She has blessed my life so so much.  I am so lucky to have her as my sister.

Yep thats Catie playing in the ballpit at my daughters birthday party.  She just does what the rest of us only wish we could do.  Oh I love her joy for life.

This is my Aunt Alexis.  I am so blessed to be related to her as well.  She has shown me how to love and just be happy with who she is.  She gives AMAZING hugs!  What a cutie!

DOWN SYNDROME IS THE BEST!!!

Fun Article about Down Syndrome!!!

Here is Catie with our cute Dad!

So I recently came across this article about Down Sydrome.  "If People with Down Syndrome Ruled the World"  If you know someone with Down Syndrome you should seriously take the time to read it.  A lot of the things I found to be very very accurate.  There were a few things that I could see as being pretty close but I hadn't observed them quite as much.  Here are some of my favorites...I will tell you which ones I just love -most have to do with Catie (of course) but I have experienced a lot of these with some students as well.

1. Refreshingly Honest and Genuine- oh yes.....Watch out....if Catie wants your man, she'll let you know it!  If she thinks someone has a wierd name you won't hear the end of it.  Gotta Love it!

2. Having special rooms for people to self talk- Oh I love this, there is no shame in it, sometimes I will come into Catie's room and ask her who she is talking to and she will say "myself" almost like uh well who do ya think?  Its so cute.  Confession-my husband has caught me a few times talking to myself in front of the mirror....big deal, its just more of Catie thats in me!

3.The words hurry and fast would not be uttered- This is so true, sometimes I think we all forget that everyone does things at different paces...I mean would we say hurry up if our boss or one of our co-workers was taking a little longer to get something done....probably not.  This I think is good perspective to keep in mind.  I think my experiences especially in teaching have just taught me that there doesn't need to be a rush.

4.News-  100% accurate, weather would be the only necessary news-Catie always checks the weather.  Mostly to see if its going to Thunder-if it won't you can expect a smile on that face for the rest of the day!

5. Behaviors-I have always tried to use and explain this perspective to parents all the time.  If any of us were followed around and watched as closely as some of our students with special needs we would all have a million "incident reports" or "issues" that people needed to document.

6. "You probably would not hear a great deal about exercise, but you may hear a phrase like, “Dancing tonight ... absolutely.”"- This quote is right on. Watch out, Catie has some very "saucy moves"- although I might add to this, other forms of exercise you might see often woudl be -swimming and basketball...anyone agree?

7.Musicals would DEFINITELY be very BIG!

8.  "There would be fewer movies, but they would be replayed over and over. "- That quote is RIGHT ON!  This is why Catie likes to watch movies by herself sometimes- So she can rewatch her favorite parts over and over again!

Speaking of Catie

Speaking of Catie I thought I would share one of her creative teaching ideas that I found a few weeks ago on one of the walls at my parents house.  Every Monday our family has "Family Home Evening" its a time to study the gospel, spend time together, learn about our Father in Heaven and just have fun.  Everyone in the family has a job and I guess Catie must have had the game.  When I asked her wjhat it was called she said "Matchmaker."  She made it the week of Valentine's Day!  I think it is adorable and feel like you could do something very similar very quickly for the things your students or children may be learning, weather they be sight words, shapes, colors etc.  Make your own matchmaker game!  Thanks Catie!!!

World Down Syndrome Day!

Today being March (The third month) the 21st. 

It is World Down Syndrome Day. 

Isn't my sister Catie a dream!!

Trisomy 21 - having part or all of a third 21st chromosome.  And I love it!  Its another day in addition to the other 364 to celebrate Down Syndrome and my sweet sweet sister Catie.  Oh I love this lady.  She is by far one fo the funniest, sweetest, most loving and terrific people in the world!!!!!!  I feel so blessed to have her as my sister.  We have so many amazing memories together.  Not only was I blessed to have a sister so close in age but one that is so amazing and just perfect!  I always say that she took care of me spiritually- teaching me to have pure and perfect faith and how to love unconditionally among millions of other things and I that I was sent to take care of her physically- watch over her, protect her, stand up for her -ask my parents....sometimes I went a little overboard but I LOVE IT!!  She is incredible and although the word Down in Down syndrome solely has reference to the physician who first explained it.....there is nothing down about it!!!

Here she is lovin on my new baby.

She is such a great Aunt!

Celebrate the blessing that Down Syndrome is in your life today!!!