MVP

Mallory and Rachel attended the high school fall sports banquet.
Mallory was surprised when her coach selected her as MVP.

Doesn't they look nice.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Small Groups

Stratton Gang

Our Busy Day

Saturday was a very busy day for us. It started at 8:30am with Bailey's Tae Kwon Do belt test for her red advanced belt. I dropped her and Joseph off for the beginning of the test session which is always the lower belts and one part of the ceremony that I've seen a dozen times. I took this opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping since I had no other kids with me. In the afternoon, we attended the annual Down Syndrome holiday party where much fun was had by all. After we got home from there, we readied the house for a going away party for Mallory's boyfriend, Ryan. Lots of their friends came over for a fun filled night of Wii and S'mores.

Bailey earns Red Advanced Belt

Bailey earned her Red Advanced belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Here she waits for her turn to get her new belt.

Bailey gets her new belt.

Bailey didn't want to turn around for this picture.

This will be Bailey's last belt as she doesn't want to take Tae Kwon Do anymore.

Joseph will test for his 1st degree black belt next week.

Sunny Day

Everyone was hanging out in our very sunny kitchen.
Natalie and Mallory.

Rachel was chilling on the counter.

Taylor too.

Natalie loves to pose for the camera.

Santa Pictures

Annual picture with Santa
Natalie, Mallory, Rachel, Ryan
Bailey, Santa, Joseph, Taylor

Bailey got to talk to Santa by herself.
Natalie wouldn't go near him on her own.

This teenager really wanted his picture taken with Santa, but he was too shy to go up by himself so Mallory went with him. After that, he was very taken by Mallory and introduced her to all of his friends at the party.

Games

There was a game where the kids had to toss bean bags into a board with little holes.

Bailey and Joseph took many, many turns each.

Natalie decided it was easier to hit the hole if you got closer to it.

Hoola Hoops

There were hoola hoops at the party, Rachel is quite good.

So is Joseph.

Bailey won the hoola hoop contest.

Natalie could barely reach both sides of the hoop at the same time.

Joseph was trying to help Natalie.

Face Painting

Bailey got her face painted with a giant butterfly.

Taylor got a snowman.

Rachel got a gingerbread man.

Performances

Rachel and Natalie sing Kareoke.

A local kids group was there singing some songs.

Natalie joined right in at the end of the line.