Hippotherapy

Joe has been riding horses for 2 years. Doesn't Chris look happy to be leading the horse? Bonnie (the PT) tells us it is good for the parents to get out of their "comfort zone" every once in awhile.

Farmer Emma

Here are the corn plants that Emma started from seed in kindergarten. Emma says, "just call me farmer Emma."

playtime on the patio

Joe says. "Are you looking at me. Are YOU looking at me?" At least that is what I imagine he is saying in this photo.

Landscape

We finally completed the backyard landscape project. Now we are waiting for the birds to find the birdbath.

Summertime Fun

Playdates

Emma is glad that Jelimo returned from Kenya and Joe enjoys parallel playing with his friend, Aaron.

National Portrait Gallery Competition Winner

This is the painting that won the annual competition for the National Portrait Gallery (thanks Lucille for telling us about this). The title is "Sam and the Perfect World." I have posted the portrait and commentary with the artist's permision. The artist, David M. Lenz, provides this statement:

My wife Rosemarie had just given birth to our son Sam, and although he appeared perfectly healthy, something, nevertheless, didn't seem right. There was an awkward silence in the room, no words of congratulation or comments about how cute he was – even though he was cute. Five minutes later the diagnosis was given: Sam has Down Syndrome. "Are you going to keep him?" a nurse asked. Later that evening someone else came by to "console" us. "It's every mother's worst nightmare," she said.

Welcome to the world, Sam.

In America today, perfection is highly valued. We dump loads of chemicals on our lawns to try and get rid of every weed, every dandelion. Models and supermodels are tall, impossibly fit, their clothes stylish and wrinkle-free. Images like this tend to change our perceptions, our ideals, until finally they leave us looking around at the peeling paint on our own houses, and our less than fit bodies, and it leaves us wanting.

Perfection, I would submit, is overrated. And besides, I like dandelions.

In the painting Sam assumes the role of presenter, host, even tutor, of this most revealing examination of the civilization man has made for himself. Sam is not society's accepted definition of perfection. In spite of that, or perhaps because of that, he really does have an important message for everyone to hear.

1, 2, & 3 years

Today we went to the annual CADSA (capitol area down syndrome association) picnic. These are photos of the three pals: Timothy (1 year); Aaron (2 years) and Joseph (3 years).

sparklers

July 4, 2006

Joe's Shiner

Joe is a little bit banged up this week. Here he is at his ST's house with a few new bruises from an episode with his Mickey Mouse truck.

Potter Park Zoo

Emma's pink room

Emma reads Anna Celenza's newest book "Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue" on her princess bed in her very pink room.