Buddy Walk 2009

650+ walkers

82 Sponsoring Business

6 huge inflatable games

100 pizzas

500 donuts

1 amazing photo display

and several very incredible kids = 1 very incredible Buddy Walk.

Wow, what a day. The weather was amazing and the day went so smooth! Here are some pictures of the 2009 Buddy Walk. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera so there is none of our family. Praise God for all 40+ NWC volunteers and Dr. Laurie Daily, the director of the Special Education at NWC.

Charlie served as the MC and did a wonderful job!

The photo display. Very awesome local photographer donated all the photos and her time. Caleb photo is below.

One of the many new signs we made for the walk.

We had six huge inflatables thanks to Keller Fun Company in Sioux Falls, SD. They gave us a great deal and the kids LOVE IT!

Sharla and Renita - Two members of the group and two key people in making the walk happen.

Renita - My new amazing friend with her two sons - Tavin and Kadin. I am so thankful for our friendship! Renita and her amazing son Kadin (on the right) have inspired me to keep fighting for Caleb and set high expectations.

Julie giving me a gift certificate from the group for a family get away to King's Pointe in Storm Lake, Iowa for my work on the walk.

Walking for awareness! If you look close to the left of the windmill you can see how big the crowd was - a good 1/2 mile long!

Walk along highway 10

Some of the crowd gathering to hear Dr. Laurie Daily speak.

Buddy Walk Preperations

For the last few months I have had the honor of working with a couple amazing moms to get ready for our up-coming Buddy Walk on September 26, 2009. The Buddy Walk is a Down Syndrome awareness walk that is designed to help promote acceptance and awareness of those living with Down syndrome. Below is some pictures that were featured in local papers. For more information about our walk check out our website at www.tristatedsn.org.

Caleb's First Day of Preschool

It is hard to believe but Caleb started a 3 year old preschool last week. We decided to go full inclusion by putting him in a regular class. We hired a student from the college to help keep him focused and change diapers (working on the potty training thing). For the most part he did well for the first day. He struggled with the transitions, but we kind of expected that. I think once he gets comfortable with the schedule he will do just fine.

First Day - for some reason he really want to sit down for the picture

Caleb in his classroom showing me the new toys!

Did not take Caleb long to find Elmo. Before long they were both in the "Reading Rocket"

Clash of the Classes - slime fight

Several years ago when I started work as the Director of Student Activities at Northwestern College I felt something was missing to the start of the year. With lots of brainstorming and input from students on my staff we came up with Clash of the Classes. It is a series of several large events the first full week of classes where the students compete as class (freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors) in crazy challenges to win a 6 foot trophy and bragging rights. The first challenge is always our Slime Fight. The students try to transport almost 1400 gallons of slime into their class tank with little cups and 1 gallon bucket with holes in them. It is a crazy fun time. Check out the excitement below.

The Slime- it feels just like snot!
Let the challenge begin!