In Awe

I've been in awe this week.  

In awe of the love, support, and encouragement our family has as we travel on this journey to Holland (actually, we feel like we are going to Italy most of the time!  If you are a little confused, be sure to read "Welcome to Holland").

Billboard 8

In awe of the generosity of SO many.  These are challenging economic times.  Making donations of any kind (treasures or time) is tough.  Yet, donations continue to come pouring in.  

Billboard 9

It so warms my heart. You've touched our lives.  And you've made a difference.

We've surpassed our original goal of raising $2500.00.  AWESOMENESS.

Billboard 10

The 2011 DSI Buddy Walk team competition ends tomorrow (however, registrations to walk AND donations to DSI - through Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness - are still welcomed after that!).  I don't know that we will be the team on those billboards next Fall, but I DO know that, no matter what, we are still a winning team!  

I'm in awe of the AWESOMENESS we are achieving!

Billboard 11

 

We'll post the last billboard this weekend!  (If you can't wait, visit our Sycamore Sisters Facebook page tomorrow!)

AWESOMENESS CHALLENGE - Part 2

Awesomeness.  This word encompasses so much.  I am having trouble putting into words all of the thoughts and emotions that express my appreciation, gratitude, and love for the AWESOME people who are a part of our lives.  

The people we have surrounding us – our family…our friends…our neighbors…our community…our readers...our therapists, teachers, doctors, nurses and dentists…people we know well…people we don’t know at all – define AWESOMENESS!  

For me and my family, Down Syndrome Indiana is an organization that also defines AWESOMENESS.  This organization has been an extraordinary resource…a place of support…a beacon of hope for our family over the last year.  It is an organization that has welcomed us, educated us, supported us, encouraged us, and inspired us. 

Billboard 1 - keep reading to find out about our Lauryn billboards!

Down Syndrome Indiana is dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with Down syndrome…which means they are dedicated to enhancing the life of our little Lauryn.   

DSI's mission is to "serve as a conduit of information, support and advocacy for individuals with Down syndrome and their families, which promotes growth and inclusion in the community".  In other words, DSI’s mission is to help Lauryn (and many, many other AWESOME, extra-special people like Will ♥ Ashton ♥ Emery ♥ Hunter...etc.!) continue her AWESOMENESS…and to help us help her to do that!

Billboard 2 - keep reading...:)

As a non-profit organization, DSI is supported by a dedicated board of directors, a six-member staff  and countless volunteers. The programs and services provided by Down Syndrome Indiana are supported totally by individual and corporate donations combined with annual fundraisers and special events.

Some of the programs and services DSI provides include:  the Buddy Walk, New Parent Information & Resource Packets (invaluable to us!), support for research and advocacy, monthly newsletters (Common Bonds), informational and educational conferences, community and parent support groups (such as Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome – DADS, Mom’s Night Out, family picnics, and Raising Special Kids Down Syndrome Support Group), parent networks, involvement in public policy and self-advocates meetings, support and social activities.   

Billboard 3 - a little further - it will make more sense in a minute!

 

As many of you know, we are currently super involved with the 2011 Down Syndrome Indiana Buddy Walk.  

The Buddy Walk® was established by the National Down Syndrome Society in 1995 to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October.  Buddy Walks® take place all over the country.  The Down Syndrome Indiana Buddy Walk is on Saturday, October 8, 2011.

Buddy Walks® have three primary goals:

• To promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome.
• To enhance the position of the Down syndrome community, enabling us to positively influence local and national policy and practice.
• To raise funds locally and nationally for education, research and advocacy programs.

We all know that raising money for any cause (AWESOME or not) can be a challenge!  DSI has incorporated creative ways to help Buddy Walk teams raise money.  One such way is taking part in a Team Challenge.  The team that is able to raise the most money will be featured in FIVE billboards promoting the 2012 Buddy Walk next Fall!  

Billboard 4 - Does it make more sense now?

The billboards posted throughout this post (and those to come over the next 6 days) are meant to help you envision how AWESOME it would be to see Lauryn’s precious face on those billboards!

Billboard 5

So – we need to ask for your help.  We want to ask you to consider helping us spread awareness about Down syndrome AWESOMENESS by making a donation to Down Syndrome Indiana through Little Lauryn’s League of Awesomeness Buddy Walk Team.  Help us get our girl on those billboards. 

Donating is easy.  Click on any “Little Lauryn’s League of Awesomeness” link in this post/on this page OR click on the link below OR click on the 2011 Buddy Walk - Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness link on the sidebar.  

Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jennifer-buechler/downsyndromeindianas14thannualbuddywalkr/nonprofit

You can also help us by spreading the word!   

The team/billboard competition ends this Friday, September 30^th.  

Email all your contacts.

Share with all your Facebook friends.

Tweet your followers.

Link this post to your blog.

Give a little…give a lot.  No matter what, know that your donation (and/or your help in spreading the word) is truly, truly appreciated…know that you are AWESOME!   

By donating (your time or treasures) to Down Syndrome Indiana, you are making a real difference in the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families.  

Billboard 6

 YOU ARE MAKING A REAL DIFFERENCE IN LAURYN’S LIFE!

For that, we are awesomely grateful.

Sneak peek at Billboard 7

To see the billboards posted daily, check out our Facebook page!  We will also post the remaining billboards later next week!

♥  Now, go spread some AWESOMENESS!  ♥ 

Stick To Your Chores

If your household is anything like mine, your kiddos aren’t thrilled with the idea of doing chores. I understand their lack of interest but keeping an ordered home is essential and really benefits everyone. Having a family approach to keeping our household in order is something we are working on. We are also working on the understanding that running our household is a family project, not just the work of one person. I think having kiddos participate in household chores is a great way to promote teamwork, to work on responsibility, and to help them feel like they are contributing to the family in a valuable way.



This past summer, there was not as much harmony between siblings as I would have liked. I decided that working toward a fun family activity would help. That is when I came up with the family chore sticks. 

Each child has their own bucket and set of sticks with age appropriate chores listed on them. We did not use pictures. We have two readers and one emerging reader so we are working on word recognition.

Once they finish their task they put their stick in the bowl and pick out a bean. They put the bean in the glass and off they go.

Once we have filled up the glass with a certain number of beans by working together and everyone pulling their weight with their chores, we get to choose a fun family activity like going to a park or movie night. Right now we are working toward a trip to our downtown library. 




This project was very easy to make. I used different post-it notes for each child. I also used the same post-it for their "morning routine tags" that we posted about in our Back to School post. I wrote the age-appropriate chore on each post-it and then used laminating paper to help them last longer. I attached a tiny piece of velcro to the stick and the laminated post-it. This way, I can change the chores as our needs change. We use coffee beans but any kind would be fine. I got the buckets in the dollar spot at Target. Love Target! We keep it in our kitchen so that it is easy for everyone to access. 

I have also included a list of how we try to make chores more fun!


1. Play some music! Our chores always go faster when we have some music going.


2. Use a timer! I am constantly setting our timer and we all try to beat the clock!


3. Catch them while they are doing something great and tell them! My kids love it when I compliment their hard work. It keeps them going and makes them really want to do a good job. 


4. Be consistent with the rewards. I know this seems like a no-brainer but if we have promised something, we make sure we deliver in a timely way so that our kiddos feel rewarded. This helps keep everyone motivated. 


5. I always make sure I am working while they are working. There is nothing more frustrating than feeling like you are the only one doing something. If they are busy, I am too. This way no one feels overwhelmed. 


I have also included a list of age-appropriate chores that I found on workingmom.com/age-guidelines.htm

3-4 YEAR OLDS CAN:	10-12 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO:
Pick up Toys	Clean mirrors
Fold Dishtowels and Washcloths	Clean kitchen counters & sink
Match Socks	Fold and put away laundry
Put small items in the garbage	Put away groceries
Give food to pets	Pack their own lunch
Water indoor plants	Light yard work
	Load the dishwasher
- - - - - - - - - -
5-6 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO:	13-14 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO:
Answer the telephone	Clean the bathroom
Sweep a deck/patio/porch	Change bed sheets
Wipe the bathroom sink	Mow the lawn
Put forks and spoons away	Wash dishes by hand
Put their own clothes in the drawer	Wash the car
Sort laundry into color piles	Do laundry
Use a hand-held vacuum	Shovel snow
- - - - - - - - - -
7-9 YEAR OLDS CAN ALSO:	15 YEARS AND UP CAN ALSO:
Take out Garbage	Use a leaf blower
Set the table	Use a snow blower
Clear the table	Clean the refrigerator
Vacuum an area rug	Reorganize storage areas
Clean the inside of the car	Make Dinner
Empty the dishwasher
Put away clean dry dishes
Water the garden
- - - - - - - - - -
* The ages listed are approximate, and capabilities will vary depending on the individual child.

We know that maintaining order in your home is so important and beneficial to all. We hope these tips help you to do that. Be sure to share with us how you maintain order.
sycamoresisters@gmail.com

AWESOMENESS CHALLENGE!!!

The 2011 (Down Syndrome Indiana) Buddy Walk is just around the corner!!! 

Because we only have a little time left, we have decided to turn things up a notch to try to raise money for Down Syndrome Indiana (through Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness). 

• There are lots of teams that have formed / are being formed for the 2011 Buddy Walk.
• Our (Lauryn's) team is Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness! 
• Down Syndrome Indiana is great about trying to tie in fun incentives for the Buddy Walk teams - incentives that encourage teams to both raise awareness and raise money for the Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation. 
• The most recent incentive is this: The team that is able to get the most money in donations this year will be featured on FIVE (5) billboards in the Indianapolis area next Sept. and Oct. (2012)! 

SO AWESOME! 

No matter what kiddo ends up on that billboard - it's AWESOME! 

What a wonderful way to raise awareness! 

BUT...wouldn't it be totally AWESOME if our Little Lauryn was the one up on those billboards?!? 

(drum roll please...) 

Enter the...

What is the AWESOMENESS CHALLENGE, you ask? 

The AWESOMENESS CHALLENGE is just a fun way for us to encourage others to consider supporting Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness in some way...by making a donation, by taking part in the walk on October 8, 2011, and/or by just sharing pictures/information/links about Lauryn to help raise awareness about Down syndrome and how AWESOME people with Down syndrome are!!! 

Please click on the 2011 Buddy Walk - Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness link on the right sidebar to see specific instructions on how to donate and/or register for the walk!

To inspire you to think about what it would be like to see Lauryn's face and name in "lights" (headlights...cars passing by billboards...get it?), we have come up with several sample "Lauryn Billboards" to share with you. We are emailing and Facebook posting one billboard each day through September 30th. If you'd like to see the billboards as they are posted each day, be sure to check the Sycamore Sisters Facebook page. Otherwise, we'll be posting Lauryn Billboards in "bulk" every few days so that you can see how AWESOME it would be if the Little Lauryn League of Awesomeness team could win! 

The team competition goes through September 30th. We have about 10 days to see if getting Lauryn's face up on those billboards is a possibility. We have a ways to go! (As of 9/19/11, the current winning team has raised $5700). 

Billboard 1 - 9/19/2011

 How can you help us achieve AWESOMENESS?

 
1)  Share this post, Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness links, etc. with others! Pass it on to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.! 

2) Consider making a donation through Little Lauryn's League of Awesomeness team to the Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation. 

• By donating through Lauryn's page (Firstgiving site - http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/jennifer-buechler/downsyndromeindianas14thannualbuddywalkr/nonprofit), you will be making a donation straight to the Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation (your donation does not go through us/Lauryn's family). 
• All donations are tax-deductible. 
• The Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation has a matching program! Check to see if your company will match donations! This is a great way to increase our totals! (The EIN number for Indiana Down Syndrome Foundation is 35-1957015).
• EVERY donation counts and is truly, truly appreciated!!! 

Billboard 2 - 9/20/2011

Since it's so late...if you are reading this post on 9/20/2011, you get a sneak peek at tomorrow's (9/21/2011) billboard!  

Billboard 3 - 9/21/2011

THANK YOU FOR BEING SO AWESOME!!!

(expect the word AWESOME to be overused here at Sycamore Sisters the next couple weeks...) 

Now go spread the AWESOME word!

Shared on:

For Three Days In September

Growing up, I was blessed to have great cousins! I mean really great cousins! The kind of cousins that seem more like siblings. The kind of cousins that took care of each other and loved each other no matter what. The kind of cousins that let you have the best sticker in their sticker book. The kind of cousins that you share endless inside jokes with...

    ...cousin hug, presidents of funny clubs, a certain musical organization’s director...

Over the years, we have shared some great celebrations such as weddings, the birth of our children, and wonderful family reunions. We have also shared some pretty tough stuff such as losing best friends, broken hearts, and health scares with our kiddos. No matter what, we have each others' back. It is a bond that is unbreakable. I think it is a combination of sharing the same family background and the sheer fact that we know so much about each other. I mean you have to stick close to the people that know how long you really sucked your thumb!!!!  

 

With this amazing bond, you can imagine how excited I was for my children when my nephew and niece were born! I love them so much! I love them because they are amazing little people all on their own. I also love them for the way they love my kids. I love them because they already have that bond with my kids that I have with my cousins!

When my sister-in-law and I were expecting our girls, we discovered that for Three Days In September, our kiddos would be stair-step ages! So from September 16-September 19, our kids are all one year apart. Since 2006, we have taken their picture, on the same blanket, to document these special days where they are all stair-stepped!

Claire (0), Maria (1), Anthony (2), Andrew (3), Matthew (4)   *2007*

Claire (1), Maria (2), Anthony (3), Andrew (4), Matthew (5)  *2008*

I know one day (sooner than later) they will all be rolling their eyes and complaining about how their weird parents make them sit on this blanket every year in the same order. I also know one day they will cherish these pictures and understand why we make them do this each year.

Claire (2), Maria (3), Anthony (4), Andrew (5), Matthew (6) *2009*

My dream is that they will always take this picture during these “Three Days in September.” Someday, they may be spread out, living in different parts of the world (hopefully not!) OR in different stages of their life. Wouldn’t it be so amazing if they made sure they got together and took that picture. One of the girls will bring the blanket because, let’s face it, the boys would have lost the blanket! They would all spend those “Three Days in September” catching up and being together. A mom can dream!  I am so glad they have this same special bond that I have with my cousins. I know they will be lifelong friends!

Claire (3), Maria (4), Anthony (5), Andrew (6), Matthew (7)  *2010*

Claire (4), Maria (5), Anthony (6), Andrew (7), Matthew (8) *2011*

Makin' Meals

Planning meals and shopping for groceries are both activities that we find to be time-consuming and challenging!  We've found that, with a little organization, "Makin' Meals" can be a little easier and less "agonizing".

We both use pre-made grocery lists that we have out on our counter or on our fridge all the time so that we can easily add to it. We have prepared our grocery lists to reflect the order of aisles at our particular grocery stores. This makes shopping so easy and saves time. We have also utilized menu planning so that when it comes to dinner time, there isn’t too much thinking that has to come into play at that crazy time of day.

Click on the picture to print the GROCERY LIST template (this one is for Meijer)

Our menu planning is pretty basic...We come up with five dinners for the week and then repeat them each week during the month. We come up with four months of menus and then repeat. This way, we only have to come up with a minimum of 20 dinner options for the year.  Of course, we can always come up with more dinner options/choices (depending on our schedules) if we want.

Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook!  Once we reach 100 fans, we will be giving away a $10 Kroger card!

Also, don't forget to check out the new things on the blog:

• Information and Resources about ADHD (in the Special Needs area of Sycamore Sisters)
• Organization Tab (at the top) - tips and tricks to help you stay organized!

Finally, we've been featured on I'm An Organizing Junkie!  
Check out this AWESOME organizing blog (she has a website, too)!

Workin' on Organization...

One thing we keep learning with doing this blog is “Change is good!”.  We are learning a lot along the way...so much so that we find ourselves with “Blog Brain” quite a bit these days!  
 

As a result of our growing and learning over the last couple weeks, we're workin' on ORGANIZATION!  We’ve reorganized and additionally organized the blog a bit!  Read below to learn about changes/additions we've made to the blog AND organizational tips for menu planning and grocery shopping!

Prayer Requests...we still love the concept of offering a space for others to make prayer requests, to pray for others’ needs, and to comment/support others in times of need and thanksgiving.  We just haven’t figured out the best way to go about doing this yet!  Our first idea of having our readers email us with any prayer requests didn’t work - at least not how we’d hoped.  So, we have a new idea!

• We have moved our Prayer Request Page to our Facebook Profile Page.
• In order for requests not to be “lost” in the shuffle of things being posted on our Wall, we have created a “Note” for Prayer Requests.  
• Be sure to “LIKE” us on Facebook so that you can access the Note.
• You will have the ability to submit a prayer request and also comment on other people’s prayer requests.
• We can add pictures to the main area of the Note - if you’d like to email a picture to us to post, you are welcome to do that.  
• We will continually update the Note so that prayer requests are easy to read and it is easy for you to comment on them.  
• If you are not a Facebook user and have a prayer request, please feel free to email us that request and we will get it posted for you.

This is all trial and error at this point so don’t be surprised if we change it again. Our goal is to be able to reach as many people as we can and to help hold each other up in prayer. We have seen the power of prayer in action and hope that you will let us pray for you!


Our Tabs and Sidebar are Reorganized and Additionally Organized!

• We've added SYCAMORE SISTERS LINKS to our Sidebar that are quick-links to the Sycamore Sisters Special Needs area, information about the 2011 Buddy Walk (how you can be a part of it!), and the Sycamore Sisters HOME page.   
• We've moved our Contact information from the top tabs to the Sidebar. 
• LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! (Be sure to read about our giveaway!) Just click on the Facebook icon to go to our Sycamore Sisters Facebook Page! 

• Sycamore Sisters was recently featured on another blog, Delightful Order!  We've added a section to our Sidebar where we can share where we've been featured and link to other great blogs!

 
We've ADDITIONALLY ORGANIZED:

Information about ADHD...we have added some information about ADHD to our Special Needs area of the blog. We have included some general information about ADHD, characteristics of ADHD, myths and facts about ADHD and answers to common questions. We hope you find this information helpful. This is such an important and increasingly common diagnosis that can be really difficult and challenging to manage as a family. We hope this page becomes a resource for you and a place to come for information.
 
Organization Tab (at the top)...we now have an “Organization” area on the blog where we will share all kinds of organizing tips and ideas that have worked for our families and others. We are very excited about expanding this section of our blog and welcome any organizational suggestions and tips that work for you. Feel free to email us at sycamoresisters@gmail.com.

*****************************************************************
Since we are workin' so much on ORGANIZATION, to end this post we thought we'd share with you some helpful organizational hints for menu planning and grocery shopping!

Planning meals and shopping for groceries are both activities that we find to be time-consuming and challenging!  We've found that, with a little organization, these two tasks can be a little less "agonizing".

We both use pre-made grocery lists that we have out on our counter or on our fridge all the time so that we can easily add to it. We have prepared our grocery lists to reflect the order of aisles at our particular grocery stores. This makes shopping so easy and saves time. We have also utilized menu planning so that when it comes to dinner time, there isn’t too much thinking that has to come into play at that crazy time of day.

 
Our menu planning is pretty basic...We come up with five dinners for the week and then repeat them each week during the month. We come up with four months of menus and then repeat. This way, we only have to come up with a minimum of 20 dinner options for the year.  Of course, we can always come up with more dinner options/choices (depending on our schedules) if we want.

******************************************************************
We are super close to 100 "LIKES" on our Sycamore Sisters Facebook page!  To share our excitement, once we have 100 fans on our Sycamore Sisters Facebook page, we will be doing our first giveaway!  Keeping with the theme of menu planning and grocery shopping, we will be giving away a $10 (reloadable) Kroger card!  Make sure you don't miss out!