Visit with Maria, Norm, Natalie, & Anna

I went to the American Studies Association conference in Philly this past week. Besides the conference, I walked around to local religious sites, took a train to Baltimore to have dinner with Chris and Anna and then back to a suburb of Philly the next day to hang out with Maria and her family. Below our photos of the Dahl family in their fabulous new home!

Joe & Nate

Joe has begun swimming lessons with the MSU Sports Skills program. He is paired with Nate who is a kinesiology major. Every Thursday afternoon they swim together for about 1 hour. There are 25 people ranging from the ages 4 yrs (Joe!) - 59 years coupled with MSU students. This Thursday was the third class and Joe began to swim without a life jacket! He absolutely adores Nate.

Welcome Liam Daniel!

Emma & Joe's newest cousin born today.

Prince Vince Meets the World

Prince Vince's mom is celebrating Down Syndrome awareness month with a groovy boot give-away. Click HERE to sign up.

This I Believe

The essay that I wrote for NPR's "This I Believe" has been posted. Click HERE to read it.

Thanks to Jennifer at Pinwheels for all of her thoughtful comments about the essay!

Kirsten's Sunday Portraits

Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds won their first game today against the Dansville Aggies (2-0)! Emma scored the first goal of the season.

Listening (?) to coach Chris

Checking for shin guards with the Referee

What are these soccer girls doing?

Tee Ball

Raspberry Picking

Tickle, Tickle.

This might be our holiday photo.

A perfect day for picking raspberries.

And they're off!

The Thunderbirds' First Game!

Apple Picking

And Life Continues...

Emma & Joe began the school year today. Emma is in Ms. Anderson's second grade class at Marble School. Joe is in Miss Victoria's early education class at Pinecrest School. Emma, Annie and Jelimo are in the same class for a third year.

Eunice Santos DeRogatis
(September 24, 1921- September 2, 2007).

Blue Friday

My Mom has taken a turn and it looks like she is at the end of her life. Most of my photos of her are not digital (I always forget my camera when I visit!) but I have found a few from Joe's birth to last year. These images comfort me on this sad day.

Love Until It Hurts

NPR's essayist Scott Simon speaks about Mother Theresa, doubt, and love. Click HERE to listen.

ALOHA!

Annie's Hawaiian Birthday Sleepover
Grace, Colleen, Annie, Emma, Jelimo & Lauren

Emma's Big Day!

Emma has big news today. She auditioned and was accepted into the Michigan State University Children's Choir!!! Click on the link to read all about it. She will be in the pre-choir for kids 7-9 years old. This is very exciting because the choir has won two Grammys (yes, FOR REAL) and when the kids are older they tour around the country. In other big news, Emma is going to her first sleep-over party at Annie's house. A first step toward independence and she is ready to take it!

Grand Tutu's 90th Birthday Party

Daniel, Evan, Grand Tutu, Paul, Tim, Tutu, Chris & Emma

Just when Daniel's story seems so tragic it is almost unbearable...here is more of Lucy's story from Boston grandma and writer, Beverly Beckham. Click HERE to read.

Arthur Miller's Son Daniel

Arthur Miller had a fourth child, a son Daniel who was born with T21. He stayed home for one week and then was institutionalized. Miller never publicly acknowledged his son until a chance meeting at a disability advocacy conference (go figure, an advocate who denies his own son). Click here to read the article "Arthur Miller and the Missing Act" in this month's Vanity Fair magazine.

Vacation

We just returned from our family vacation in Florida. We had a great visit with Tutu and Papou. The kids loved our 3 trips to Cocoa Beach, swimming in the pool, going to downtown Disney and seeing Maria's family as well as Susan and Grace. I still need to develop the throw away camera photos, but here are a few that I took and some from Cocoa Beach that Maria took.

Cocoa Beach

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Emma & Cousin Evan in SF

Flat Stanley Made it to Scotland!