World Down Syndrome Day 2026

Today, 3-21-26, we celebrated World Down Syndrome Day!  Actually the boys wore their Tshirts to school yesterday to help promote Down Syndrome awareness so it's been a 2 day celebration.

Helping the general public understand and feel comfortable around individuals with Down syndrome is a win-win.  It brings joys to our kiddos to feel included and accepted, and we believe others are blessed when they interact with individuals who have an extra zest for life!

Here are some great photos showing what our boys have been doing at school this week.

Jonah and Ben went shopping at our village supermarket for classroom snacks.  Here Jonah is comparing produce prices. 

Jonah learning how to use the microwave.  His preferred school snack is cheese tortillas. 

Ben got to participate in a object lesson in History about the dust bowl.  His aide said he did a great job interacting with his typical peers.  

Ben learning how to wash dishes after their cooking class.

The boys wearing their 3-21 Tshirts.

VERY GOOD FUNCLES AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SPRING!

Definition of Funcle: like a regular uncle only more fun.

Doesn't that sound like our dynamic duo?

Seriously, the boys are really good uncles to their nephew, especially Ben.  Ben knows how to talk and play with Baby J.  He is very appropriate with his volume level and is very gentle and careful with the baby.   

Jonah struggles in these areas, but his love for the baby is still strong!  This past week, Jonah really enjoyed Baby J because we were able to have the baby on my lap at the piano and Jonah playing his guitar.  Jonah's dream of Baby J being a member of our family band is coming true!

I love these photos.  Baby J is army-crawling now so he is getting into people's space.  The boys were watching their after school show, and the little guy came over to visit them.  I love how Ben interacts with him so sweetly.  A side of Ben we don't always see.

In regards to looking forward to the spring, we have some cool things happening.

1. Water park hotel night as our spring break!  The boys are so excited to spend the night away.  My hope is to relax in the lazy river...

2. Job Olympics: the boys will be participating for the first time both for themselves, and I believe the first time for our school district.  We are very excited for them to be able to have this opportunity.  Our school district is amazing!!!!

Click HERE for news story about Job Olympics

IT'S BEEN A WHILE!

No news is good news is the theory, and that's actually been our reality.  

I haven't posted for quite a bit because things have been running relatively smoothly with the boys.  School is going great, and they are healthy!  

Ben's dental surgery happened on 1-5, and it went very smoothly.  The mystery is somewhat solved as to why Ben all of a sudden got infection in his gums when he's always had great dental checkups.  The dentist thinks the 3 baby teeth that were refusing to come out were causing a great place for bacteria to build up.  Now that these 3 teeth have been pulled, she is very hopeful Ben's gums will get back to their usual healthy again.  That was a relief to hear.

Special Olympics basketball starts up this week.  A big commitment each week but well worth the opportunity for the boys to exercise and have fun with their friends.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS

In the inside

And the outside!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend: 

good food and great fun.

We are all decorated for Christmas, and we have a good 6 inches of snow.  Our past few Decembers have been brown.  Hopefully, this December continues to stay white.

The boys have hit their groove in school after a bit of a shaky start.  They are working hard (most of the time), and their behavior is quite appropriate at school (most of the time).

Ben and Jonah continue to love being uncles to their nephew.  And thankfully, Baby J loves his uncles!  He is very entertained watching and listening to them.  He gives them many smiles and often babbles to them.  

It's very sweet to watch.

Jonah is going to start occupational therapy outside of school.  School did not want to add OT back onto his plan so we decided we would pursue the help privately.  We are working on the goals of safety with life and job skills and how to interact safely with babies and children.  Jonah loves to show affection to Baby J, but he is not always able to grade his strength when giving hugs or touches.  We are very excited for this additional help for Jonah.

The boys start Special Olympics Basketball skills in February.  We are grateful for this time off since football and bowling/Esports are done, but we are excited for them to be able to have a winter activity.

The boys continue to be super healthy except for Ben's dental issues which will hopefully be fixed with January's surgery.  

They are strong and smart young boys- so much to be thankful for!

 

HEALTHY HEART CHECK!

Ben had is 3 year heart echocardiogram and visit with cardiologist today.  Everything continues to look great from his repair done at 18 mths old.  

The cardiologist also has no concerns for Ben’s upcoming dental surgery regarding the anesthesia.

Ben was nervous for the appointment, but he did great!!!

IT'S FALL Y'ALL

 

Annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Lots of excitement for our Milwaukee Brewers

Final camping trip of the year at Calumet County Park

Campsite right on the water

Great way to end our camping season!

SCHOOL DAYS

Here's what freshman year looks like so far!  The boys are focusing on academic, social, life, and job skills.

Before we get into the school day photos, I have to brag about Ben.  The boys are in the concert choir at school.  The other evening they were in the performance "Rockets on Broadway".  This involved singing and DANCING for two numbers.  Jonah, for all his love of music and dancing, actually gets stage fright and just stands there barely participating.  But Ben, to our great surprise because this doesn't really fit his personality, was up on stage singing and doing all the choreography!  Why didn't I video this you might ask?  Because I was so shocked it was happening that I barely got a photo of it.  I was so happy and proud of Ben to see him working hard and putting forth so much effort.  It was a really fun night!

Now the school stuff:

Cleaning the Fitness Center

Doing laundry for the Fitness Center

Learning to make their own lunches