Cousins!!

I adore this picture.

This is Zachary with his cousin Luke. Chris had taken them out to a bigger field at the birthday party, to kick the soccer ball around, and this was them walking back. They were actually quite a good distance from where I was taking the picture. I am so happy with how it came out and love that I captured this moment between them.

I wonder what they were talking about?

Here they are even further across the park walking back:

Wordless Wednesday

The Celebration

We celebrated Hannah's birthday with our family and friends. It was so great to see everyone and we had a wonderful day!!

Having fun coloring before everyone arrived:


"What? These crayons aren't for me to eat??"


"Ha Ha! I am SO eating these Mom!"


Slides are fun:


Presents!!


Cake Time


Zach and Hannah with their cousin Chelsea:


After a long day with no nap, Hannah finally fell asleep on her Auntie Dani.



I am hoping our guests got some better pictures than we did, so I may add more pictures later.

Happy Birthday Hannah Rose!!!!

It is hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since you came into our lives. You are an amazing little person. I don't remember what life was like before you made our family of three, a family of 4. You have an amazing spirit and you do everything whole heartedly.

I love you my little princess.

Rest In Peace Remi

July 1999 - September 10, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

First Soccer Practice!

Zach had his first soccer practice on Friday. It was pretty low key and was more signing up and getting things going, then actual practice. We found a really cool special needs soccer league. It was so cute to see Zach all dressed and kicking the ball around. Of course dad was right by his side showing him the ropes.



Here Dad, this is where you kick it:

First Day of School!!

Today was the first day of school! Zach is in his second year of preschool. He was very excited to go back and we have been talking about it with him for the last couple weeks. We knew his teacher Kay was not going to be teaching at his school this year, she was reassigned to another class, so we have been explaining to him that Jen (his other teacher last year) was his teacher this year. Zach was very close with Kay and we thought it would upset him. He was very happy to hear Jen was his teacher though. He still mentions Kay a lot, he truly has a special bond with her.

Here is Zach in front of our house before school. He didn't want to pose for us.

Putting on his backpack:


Walking up to school with Daddy:


"Cheese":


Zach hiding behind the front doors. After all the excitement, once we got there, he didn't want to go in:


Zach giving Jen a big hug.. she got him to go inside:


Sweeping Up:



We got to meet the new teacher, her name is Judy. She introduced herself to us and told us that Kay told her that she can take the class, but she has to take care of her Zach. How sweet is that? He is so lovable.

what's going on?...

I feel like it has been ages since I posted, but it really hasn't been that long!

Zach is starting his second year of preschool tomorrow and has his first soccer practice on Friday... more to come on those two things.

Hannah cut tooth #7 and is now almost running! She is so fast. She loves to read books and is starting to talk a lot. We have been enjoying the summer with lots of family time and playing.

As always, here's a bunch of pictures:





















This picture was not posed... this was the kids watching cartoons one morning... how cute are they?!?!

Read Me!

When Words Wound by John Franklin Stephens

Stephens is a Special Olympics Virginia athlete and a Global Messenger from Fairfax.


A lot of people are talking about the movie "Tropic Thunder" that opened in theaters last week. One of the reasons that it is being talked about is that the characters use the term "retard" over and over. They use it the same way that kids do all the time, to jokingly insult one another.

The people who made the movie, DreamWorks and Paramount, and many of the critics who have reviewed it say that the term is being used by characters who are dumb and shallow themselves. You see, we are supposed to get the joke that it is only the dumb and shallow people who use a term that means dumb and shallow. My dad tells me that this is called "irony."

So, what's the big deal? Let me try to explain. I am a 26-year-old man with Down syndrome. I am very lucky. Even though I was born with this intellectual disability, I do pretty well and have a good life. I live and work in the community. I count as friends the people I went to school with and the people I meet in my job. Every day I get closer to living a life like yours.

I am a Global Messenger for Special Olympics and make speeches to people all over the country. I once spoke to more than 10,000 people at the Richmond Coliseum. I realize that I am a voice for other people with intellectual disabilities who cannot easily speak for themselves. I thank God that he gave me this chance to be someone's voice.

The hardest thing about having an intellectual disability is the loneliness. We process information slower than everyone else. So even normal conversation is a constant battle for us not to lose touch with what the rest of you are saying. Most of the time the words and thoughts just go too fast for us to keep up, and when we finally say something it seems out of place.

We are aware when all the rest of you stop and just look at us. We are aware when you look at us and just say, "unh huh," and then move on, talking to each other. You mean no harm, but you have no idea how alone we feel even when we are with you. That is why I love being a Global Messenger. I work for days telling my dad what I want to talk about and he tries to write it down for me. Then we do it over and over until we have something that says what I mean. We wrote this letter the same way.

So, what's wrong with "retard"? I can only tell you what it means to me and people like me when we hear it. It means that the rest of you are excluding us from your group. We are something that is not like you and something that none of you would ever want to be. We are something outside the "in" group. We are someone that is not your kind. I want you to know that it hurts to be left out here -- alone. Nothing scares me as much as feeling all alone in a world that moves so much faster than I do.

You don't mean to make me feel that way. In fact, like I say in some of my speeches, "I have always depended on the kindness of strangers," and it works out OK most of the time. Still, it hurts and scares me when I am the only person with intellectual disabilities on the bus and young people start making "retard" jokes or references. Please put yourself on that bus and fill the bus with people who are different from you. Imagine that they start making jokes using a term that describes you. It hurts and it is scary.

Last, I get the joke -- the irony -- that only dumb and shallow people are using a term that means dumb and shallow. The problem is, it is only funny if you think a "retard" is someone dumb and shallow. I am not those things, but every time the term is used it tells young people that it is OK to think of me that way and to keep me on the outside.

That is why using "retard" is a big deal to people like me.