Hello Everyone!

It's hard to believe that Charlie is quickly approaching her third birthday!  Time is flying by, and our little girl isn't so little anymore.  She is walking incredibly well these days (even bordering on running at times), and her teachers can't believe how advanced her fine motor skills are.  She is starting to speak her mind as well, with some of her favorite words being "no" and "mine".  She definitely knows what she wants (or doesn't want)!  Charlie and Bobby continue to get along great, and they love to play and wrestle on the floor.  We believe that Bobby has been a big influence on how quickly Charlie has developed.  She is always chasing after her big brother, and tries to imitate him all the time.  We went through a bit of a rough patch when Charlie's attitude started to come through a bit (terrible two's anyone??), but it appears that we might be past that now.  We continue to be amazed with how well she is doing, and there isn't a day that goes by where she does something to put a smile on your face.

This will be the third year we will be helping to raise funds for the ODSPN.  After a one year absence from the Buddy Walk (we were vacationing walk weekend last year), we will be back again participating in the walk on October 9th at noon.  Friends and family are welcome to join us on the campus of UNO.  There are fun things to do for the kids, and the festivities start at 10.  All of the money raised goes towards the information provided to parents of kids with Down Syndome, along with some fun events for the kids throughout the year.  The organization plays a big part in bringing families together so that we can discuss challenges we encounter as our children go through the different developmental stages of their lives. It allows us to share ideas in a fun environment, while allowing the kids to play with others that are just like them.

We set a goal of $1500 this year.  We are a little behind in our fundraising efforts.  We understand that it might be difficult for some to contribute.  This is a great cause that means a lot to our family and our little girl.  So, anything you can do would be appreciated.  We welcome anyone that wants to walk with us.  Just let us know you are coming!

Thanks everyone!

Doug, Carrie, Bobby, and Charlie