Allie is amazing

A few months ago Allie was very let down and discouraged when she did not make the high school soccer team. She worked hard all summer but it was not meant to be. We were all worried at how she would handle the disappointment. As a parent you want to take away all of your children's hurt, frustrations, and disappointments. You go through every ounce of pain with them and only pray that you are making a difference in their suffering. You wish you could take it away. But you know that they will grow in times of trial. Allie surprised me with her resilience after not making the soccer team. Her immediate reaction was to get some girls together and form an AYSO soccer team. Which she did. She also pretty quickly announced that she wanted to try out for the FHS basketball team. On the outside I encouraged her and said "that's the spirit, Allie". But on the inside, I didn't want her to tryout for another sport. I didn't want her to go through all the hard work and then not make it...again. I didn't think I could go through it with her again. So she started attending some of the pre-season strength and conditioning a few months ago with the basketball team. Monday and Tuesday night were tryouts. And she found out today that she made it! She made the JV basketball team. Allie is courageous. She was not about to let the fear of failure stand in her way of trying again. While she had our support, this was something she did on her own. She put herself out there again, opening herself up to possible defeat. I am so proud of Allie. I wish I had her courage. She is amazing.

Stylish Sydney

Sydney is a teenager. It's almost official. Between the phone talking and the fashion opinions she's pretty much there. A few weeks ago I was having her try on all of her last year's winter clothes to see what we needed to buy for this year. As she tried on all the clothes she enlightened my on her new style. First and foremost she let me know that she did not like Gymboree anymore. That store is for little kids. As I picked up one shirt after another from that very store trying to talk her into believing that they were not too little-kiddish she says: "mom, you've just got to let me grow up." What?! You are 9! Ok, deep breath... She continues on to tell me that she really wants to go shopping with me and show me the kind of clothes she likes. "you know mom, like the t-shirts with writing on them that Allie wears?" Uh Sydney, I hate to break it to you but American Eagle and Aeropostle don't carry size 8 girls in their stores! Boot cut jeans are not on her "in" list right now, only skinny jeans go on her body. She is very into the whole look: shoes, accessories. It bugs her to no end that you have to wear tennis shoes to school for safety reasons. Oh boy.

Buddy Walk

Trey was invited to read a proclamation from the mayor to announce October to be National Downs Syndrome Awareness Month at the 12th annual Buddy Walk. The Buddy Walk is a fund raiser attended by thousands of people in downtown Knoxville to raise awareness about Downs Syndrome. They invited Trey to read the proclamation and then surprised him on stage with a plaque expressing their appreciation to him for all he has to done to raise awareness. We were very touched and honored by their thoughfulness.

Trey's first date

It's not often you get to document your child's first date I guess...but since Trey's first date was the Homecoming dance I got to take pictures without it embarrassing him too much. He had a great time with a girl named Emily. They ate a Lakeside, were too late to go to the game, but had fun at the dance. Rave theme.