Down Syndrome Camp! Part 1

Last year, a couple of my friends were telling me about this awesome Down syndrome camp their little ones were attending, so I was sure to sign us up this year!  It's held at a church in southern PA- about 35 minutes from our house, so not too bad! :)  SO worth the little drive too.

There was no registration fee at all- we all received a super cute T-shirt, and we could sign our DS campers up with a "buddy" to help them around with their activities.

We started out with an opening in the sanctuary- this is a very modern church, so the sanctuary looks like a big room with a bunch of chairs, and lots of room to sit on the floor in front- on either carpet squares or cute little bean bag chairs.  I haven't managed any pics of this yet since Lina can be clingy at times when it gets loud and overwhelming.  Overall she's doing great though. :) Evan gets clingy when he's tired, or if he needs a Mommy fix as he is still not sure about people he doesn't know, especially men.  So, while in the sanctuary I generally have at least one kid on my lap. ;)  Our first day- Evan was all OVER the place checking everything out!  The people who coordinated this camp must have known what they were in for with him, because Evan was assigned not just one buddy, but a family of four! :) They are all SUPER sweet and have been having a ball with him. They are also awesome at keeping him wrangled! LOVE them!!

Mom buddy on the left, Kaylin sitting with the pigtails, then sister buddy and brother buddy, and Evan sitting on the Dad buddy's lap. :)

Lina with her sweet Buddy, and Justin sitting on the other side of Lina.  Lina could have sat and colored there for HOURS! LOL I was able to pry her away with snack time. ;)

After snack we head outside for some more fun and games- Lina particularly enjoyed this game of squirting ping pong balls off golf tees. :)

All the kids enjoyed the adorable tractor train ride!!

Seriously- this was SUPER cute.  They each have a horn to honk and a bell to ring as well as the awesome steering wheel.  And yes, Evan is in DESPERATE need of a haircut!

There were several cute little beanbag toss type games

Cute little boat ride

And the bounce house!  Evan's "sister" buddy was itching to take him in there, but he's not as big of a fan as Lina is!  Evan pretty much just sat there while the "daddy" buddy bounced a little with him.  Lina on the other hand- went to town! :)

Last night, there was an awesome musician who performed- Steven Courtney.  Kids- especially the big kids- LOVED him!  Tonight's feature is "Bob's Critters"- anxious to see how Lina reacts as she is still afraid of most animals.  We were reading a book the other day and she fussed when she saw pictures of a horse and a cow.  Not sure where these extreme fears come from but we'll work through them.  Wish us luck! :)