Lona's First Buddy Walk

We had a great time at our first Buddy Walk and we were honored to help represent Reece's Rainbow.








Lona played a little soccer and baseball.




She had so much fun running the bases!




Lona made some new friends.




You wouldn't believe some of the stories they were telling.




Who is this cute girl?




Hey, it's me?




Lona met a lot of really nice volunteers from the National Charity League.




And had lots of Bounce House fun!!!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!!!

Lona had her first field trip today to Tanaka Farms! She had such a great time, and enjoyed everything from picking out the perfect pumpkin...




...to the wagon ride...




... to the petting zoo!




Lona was so glad to see her little four-legged friends.





Yes, she is brushing the goat.




Then it was time for picking vegetables (onions, carrots, and radishes),




and a run through the corn maze.



I am so glad she had such a great day today!

See Ya Summer!

Thanks for the fun!

Lona went to Camp TECHie this summer at TASK (Team of Advocates for Special Kids) and had a great time. The goal of Camp Techie is to help reinforce social skills, academic skills, and gross and fine motor skills with the use of assistive technology (computers, iPads, and Wii), arts and crafts projects, and group activities.




Making new friends.




We went to the San Diego Zoo and unfortunately were only able to see the goats in the petting zoo before we had to leave. We just hate it when one of our backs go out. I'm glad that Lona was able to enjoy her visit, however brief it may have been.

Who knew goats were just the right size to do this?




And this.




And this.




Hey, are you paying attention?




We made up for it with some yummy pizza with Daddy overlooking San Diego Bay.




Lona enjoyed the Orange County Fair and getting to see all kinds of creatures, both big...




... and small




and everyone in between.




They were sharing a moment.




Her first pony ride was a huge hit. Lona loved it and did not want to get off,




and the funnel cake disappeared in record time.




Girls night out. Lona thoroughly enjoyed her first trip to the Hollywood Bowl. Every year we see John Williams conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic and like a true Swerdfeger, she loved the music.




Wow! So much fun in just one summer! Next up... preschool!!!

It's Picnic Time

If anyone was wondering, Lona loves picnics. We attended two picnics this summer and she had the BEST TIME EVER!!! The first picnic was the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County's Annual Summer Family Picnic. The other picnic was for Nightlight Christian Adoptions Summer Reunion Picnic. Nightlight had sponsored a group of children ages 9-14 from a detsky dom (children's home) in Ukraine this summer and they performed traditional Ukrainian folk songs and dances at the picnic as well as various local churches and even Disneyland.


Here are a few of the many fun picnic firsts:
- Water balloon toss






- Limbo






- Hula hoops



You start like this.




::: SIGH::: Those big kids made this look so easy!




- Water Games










- Bounce House



Bounce house again... after water games



Whew! That's a lot of fun and we can't wait to do it all again next year!

Beat the Heat

Last week when we went to the beach the waves were too big and except for getting our feet wet, we were not able to go in the water. Let's just say that Lona was not happy. Today, I decided it we should head over to Newport Dunes and enjoy the bay.




She was so silly. Every time I would hand her a shell, she would immediately throw it into the water.




Lona had a great time.




We also squeezed in a haircut. I can't believe how long her hair has gotten.
Before




After