Wordless Wednesday -- Lifestyle Photography Session

We tried something new this year... "Lifestyle" photography for our family photos. I think Penny Sylvia did a great job of capturing our family at the California State Capitol gardens in Sacramento. Here are just a few of my faves... (there were too many to post!)

Photos by Penny Sylvia Photography

NDSC Final Day

4 little cutie pies on the final day... Joey (sorry, I cut you off!), Brennan in the back, Joaquin and John Michael.

John Michael kept bolting... it's like he's saying "No more pictures, I have other things to do..."



Cori holding Joey, Me holding John Michael, Sharon holding Brennan, and Jennifer holding Joaquin.

Nicolas (2nd from left) had an excellent time at the Brothers/Sisters segment of the NDSC Convention.

Even though we all live in other parts of the country, these are friendships that will last a lifetime because of a common bond. It's awesome to see these young people chatting with older teens and young adults who have Down syndrome. At the dinner, Greta danced with a boy who has Ds and Anna had a nice conversation with a self-advocate and his fiancee sitting at our dinner table. Awesome!

Next year we're in Orlando (think positive!) Well, at least I'm hoping to make it!

NDSC Convention Update

All talk and no play is no fun...

John Michael taking a break in the play area.

John Michael with Brad Hennefer (Golf for Life). Brad's an accomplished athlete and helps teach golf to kids with Down syndrome. If we lived closer, Brad, we'd definitely sign up!

Me with Kathryn Lynard Soper. She's soooo nice in person -- don't let her Teletubby persona fool you :-) We had a nice chat after the birth to 2 year old sharing session for moms. I also enjoyed sitting in on Kathryn's talk today on Sharing your Gifts.

Today we had lunch with about 11 other DS Bloggers and their families! That was excellent! But, wouldn't you know it, I didn't get a photo. Jennifer from Three's a Charm took a photo, so hopefully she'll post that.

It's been amazing to see all these faces with Down syndrome and the people who love them. Nicolas is participating in the sibling workshop and made friends within the first minute of walking in the room on Friday. These guys are so great -- they all range from 11 to 12, 6th to 7th grade. I so wish they all lived here so Nic would have them as regular friends. What a difference that would make to have a friend who shares something unique in life. It's awesome that his friends just come up to John Michael to give high fives, shake hands, to hold him or hug him or tell me he's awesome. (I know I've overused the word "awesome" but that's how it feels.) Some adults with Ds or older children w/ Ds have come up to John Michael and said hello. JM's face lights up, as does theirs, and I sense a deeper connection than what I can comprehend. Ben and Alex's mom from Colorado told me that Alex (Ds), who's only 7, can tell who has Ds and who doesn't. She said she's never actually told him what features to look for, but she thinks he senses something as well. Interesting...

Anna chatted with an adult w/ Ds at dinner and Greta danced with a 7 year old boy with Ds. The girls are having a fun time, too, although they spent most of the day at a nearby friend's house. I'm so proud of my girls!

Tomorrow is the final day. It will be bittersweet, as is the end of anything great. I've made some great new friends and look forward to keeping in touch and watching our children grow via blogs and Facebook.

On a final note, but definitely not last on my mind, Gabby did well in her heart surgery in San Francisco. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers for the family! I know it means a lot to them!

Met another new blogging friend...

Saturday was one of those super-busy, every minute of the day is planned, fun days where I really didn't lift a finger beyond vacuuming the living room and entry. We started with Greta's Trik-a-thon at preschool. She rode 15 laps around her school on her trike and raised some money for her school in pledges.

Anna joined us. The girls had fun "hanging" after lunch.

Anna adores John Michael. Seriously!

She and Greta can't get enough of him and

Greta gets jealous when Anna "takes over".

Below: Saturday afternoon, some local blogging moms met up with Chrystal and Malea of "One More, More than One" who were visiting Sheree and Gabby for the weekend.

L to R: Sheridan, Gabby, Malea, and John Michael

And us moms... Chrystal and Malea, Monica (me) and John Michael, Sheree and Gabby, and Lisa and Sheridan.

We're all going to the Convention. How 'bout you?

Come visit us at DS Bloggers so we can meet you at the Convention, too. You can also check out my previous post for more information.

"DS Blogger" ID Tags for bloggers going to the NDSC Convention

If you're someone who blogs about Down syndrome and you're headed to Sacramento this summer for the National Down Syndrome Congress convention, here's a fun way we can identify each other.

Check out our new blog, DS Bloggers.

If you send me your name, blog name and URL, we'll add you to our list and create a custom DS Blogger ID badge to wear to the Convention.

This will be an easy way to visually identify other Ds bloggers who we may not recognize in person. What a great way to strike up a conversation and forge new friendships!

Please share this link with your blogging friends, post to your own blog, add it to your Facebook, and grab a button.

We're also working on finding a time to meet. More on that in the coming weeks.

My team members are: Jennifer Varanini Sanchez of Three's a Charm, Sheree Pham of The Phamily Blog, and Lisa Lindsey of Genetically Enhanced. Come check it out and register your blog.

Memorial Day in Old Sacramento

If you're headed to the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention this July, you'll want to come check out Old Sacramento.

Established in 1849, Old Sac is bustling with shopping, dining, entertainment, historical attractions and world-renowned museums set within the time of the California Gold Rush and the Transcontinental Railroad.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Old Sac hosted the 36th Annual Sacramento Jazz Festival and Jubilee! It featured more than 60 bands at 23 venues, playing jazz music of all types, including sixteen bands made up of teenage musicians on their own stages.

We had a blast listening in on all the free family jazz venues.

My sweet John Michael.

Definitely all boy first...

Down syndrome is way down on the list of things to describe him...

Riding in an open car pulled by an old 1860's steam engine in Old Sacramento. A jazz banjo band entertained us for the 45 minute ride up and down the Sacramento River.

These brothers have a special bond.

John Michael makes a hard "K" sound for Nick!

I just love love love this little guy's smile. Thanks to Anna for helping me get this great shot. She is the best at getting him to smile for the camera. His eyes are sparkling in this photo!

We took a coffee and ice cream break aboard the Delta King Paddle Boat. Just over the rail we could see and hear below an excellent teenage jazz ensemble play old jazz standards. On the front side of the boat, we saw a huge family of Canadian geese and goslings swimming upstream and one lone turtle sunning himself on a rock jutting out of the river.

Me and my girls, Anna and Greta.

And a very special thank you to the men and women who have served and are serving our country. Freedom comes at a great price and we are grateful for all you do. A special thank you to those who gave their lives so that we might have ours.

PS: Drop me a note if you're coming to the Convention and would like to meet. I'd love to meet some of my blogging friends in person!