Day 24: Walking on Sunshine

Saturday was a perfect, sunny, warm, dry day.  Just perfect for one of the most anticipated days of the year.  In the past we hadn't talked the Buddy Walk up too much with Samantha beforehand.  It would have been too hard to explain.  This time I tried to throw some additional information in, about the fact that the Buddy Walk is about Down syndrome, that she has Down syndrome and several of her friends do, too.  That Down syndrome makes her special, and that so many of the people she loves are coming to walk with her on her day.  By the time Saturday rolled around, she was so excited! 

And, having so many of her favorite people surrounding her, carrying a sign with her pictures on it, seeing everyone wearing badges with her face and name on them, she truly felt special.  Like a princess. 

And it showed.

On her face, illuminated, beaming, the whole time.  Not a single cloud, not a single whine, never overwhelmed, smiling throughout.

And it was wonderful.

Sammi with a classmate.  We were so thrilled to have K. and her mother there, as well as Samantha's teacher! 

When Batman asked Sammi who her favorite superhero is, she smiled just about as big a smile as you can get and answered, "Me!!!"  Nevermind that I don't actually think she really knows what a superhero is...but maybe she does...?  She'd have been absolutely right, too.

Her former preschool teacher, Miss K. joined us for the 2nd year in a row.  We're so fortunate to have the support that we do!  Miss K. is now thinking about getting into Special Education!

Put my kid in a classroom full of her peers and ask her to get up in front of them to recite something, and she shuts down.  Stick her on a stage in front of a gazillion people and hand her a microphone, and she's a natural.  Go figure...

Y M C A!

Daddy got all the love. 

These two little scamps were not out to make friends.  Heeeey, who's that under there?

 

I am in pictures, I swear it!  Just not the ones taken from my own camera.  I'll post the team photo when I get it back from the photographer.