2011 Step Up for Down Syndrome Walk

Hi all!

What a great and busy weekend we've had.... I got to go to Steamboat Springs with Mom from Thursday afternoon until Saturday morning.  We went to see Grandma and Grandpa Iowa (Mom's parents) who were on vacation there.  Mom and I had never been there, so we enjoyed it and hope to go back again sometime when Dad can come along!

After we returned from our trip, it was time to kick into high gear to get ourselves and our spot for the Step Up walk all ready for the big day on Sunday.  We had another successful year of fund raising and recruiting people to walk with our team.  We had 34 walkers with our team and raised almost $2,200 for the Mile High Down Syndrome Association!  Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, participation, and donations for another great year.  This was our fourth year participating in the walk and all four years so far we've enjoyed picture perfect weather - it's great to live in Colorado this time of year!

These events led to some great photo ops - and since Grandma was along, you better believe I have about 300 shots to choose from.  I tried to keep it to a manageable amount for the sake of you, the viewer!  Here are some highlighted shots:

It was not overly hot out - maybe 65 degrees - but it was nice and sunny and the water was warm.  I loved splashing grandma, grandpa and mom and making them chase the ball when I threw it!

Even on vacation Mom put Grandma and Grandpa to work on the buttons for the Step Up Walk.

On Friday we headed to Fish Creek Falls - it was an easy enough hike that I was able to stay in my stroller even though that was not always my choice of transportation, I wanted to walk most the time, but I never like to go the same way as everyone else. 

Here we are headed to the falls through the forest.

Here are the falls and Grandpa went where I wasn't supposed to and we all praised him and took his photo - would've that happened if I had gotten my way?!

This horse was outside a western store in downtown Steamboat.  A worker from the store insisted that I needed a cowgirl hat to have my picture taken by the horse - I wanted to buy some cowboy boots there, but Mom didn't think they were necessary.

Here we switch gears.  This is the setting for the Step Up Walk at City Park in Denver.  There were just over 3,000 registered walkers this year.

Our tent in the Team (Tent) Village.  I like to make sure my teammates are happy, we brought some Panera bagels and pastries and we had some nice shade from our tent for our team to enjoy.

Here's the majority of our team - a few straglers didn't get the memo that the picture was being taken... oops! 

I walked for awhile during the walk, but I preferred to be on Daddy's shoulders!

Here I am with Daddy, my cousin Liv and my Aunt Lauren - it was so fun to have them there!

Here are the family members accounted for on the day of the walk:  Grandma and Grandpa Colorado, Uncle Jason, Aunt Lauren, Liv, Daddy, Me, Mommy, Grandma and Grandpa Iowa.

We are Blue Bunny people, but when Blue Bell is giving out free samples, I think we can deviate for one day - besides they gave me a cool hat!

Oops, this is out of place, but here Mom and I are enjoying the Falls by Steamboat!

   Well, that was the big weekend.  Yesterday we spent one more day hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa before they headed back to Iowa this morning.  We spent the day yesterday hanging around in Boulder and got a tour of Daddy's work.  It was another beautiful day!

Here we are working in the lab!

Here we are riding the "bus" at Chataqua Park in Boulder.

That's all for this post.  Hope you enjoyed the update!

Love you all,
Lydia