Emma reaching for the polar bear

Joe cracking us up on the train.

Detroit Zoo

We went to the Detroit Zoo with the Dickert-Conlin family today.
Charlie, Daniel, Molly, Joe & Emma on the train to the other end of the zoo.

Sticking tongues out (except Joe) like giraffes.

Joe feeding a baby giraffe apple slices. He took a bit after the giraffe.

Emma feeding the baby giraffe.

Emma and Daniel watching polar bears swim over their heads.

Prairie dog exhibit. Behind this dog is a place where kids can look up and see the world like a prairie dog.

Prairie dog Emma. Joe did this but he was too short to pop up and see.

4th of July Weekend

Cousins visit

Amy, David, Emma & Joe

Last week David and Kamila visited from NYC while Chris was in Rome. While they were here we took a day trip to Saugatuck. This photo was taken at the top of a very high hill overlooking the lake harbor.

Kennedy-Brownbeck Bill

NDSS and NDSC Applaud Funding for Kennedy-Brownback Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act
The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) and National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) commend the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for providing funding to implement the Prenatally and Postnatally Diagnosed Conditions Awareness Act (also known as the Kennedy-Brownback bill in honor of the two Senators who originally championed it).The passage of this important legislation was an extremely high priority for NDSS and NDSC, the original sponsors of the bill in the Senate and the leadership of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus. After an extensive advocacy effort, including visits to Capitol Hill by individuals with Down syndrome and their families, the bill was signed into law by former President Bush on October 8, 2008. However, it did not come with any Congressional appropriations to enact the recommendations. Now, MCHB has dedicated $820,000 in funding for each of the next four years. The funding will be awarded through a federal grant process. Eligible groups--which include hospitals, disability groups, governmental agencies, etc.--are encouraged to apply for the funding in a competitive application. One "applicant" will receive the funding. Although according to the terms of the grant, single disability organizations cannot be the "lead" grantee in the proposal, NDSS and NDSC are partnering with other disability organizations to submit one proposal as a combined "applicant." By the end of the year, an announcement will be made on which applicant wins the competition and receives the funding.

Constantine's Toe

Rome

Chris is in Rome this week for a conference. He made it to his hotel this morning and has been walking around Rome trying to stay awake until 10 PM to beat jet lag. Here is a photo of the Colosseum that he took this afternoon.

In other news

Besides Emma's big birthday bash, we have been having fun going to the pool everyday and over the past couple of days listening to Michael Jackson (and the Jackson 5) non-stop at full volume. Today we had a fun afternoon at the pool, E & J made pesto for dinner on the patio, an evening run through the sprinkler, and now the kids are watching "The Wiz." A movie, matching pjs, popcorn, lemonade, and staying up past their bedtime. Life is good.

Today Emma turned 9 years old. She started off the day by opening her first gift--a new soccer ball-- and finding her second gift--a soccer goal--in the front yard. Then we picked up her friend, Emma A., and drove to a strawberry farm in Dewitt. We picked lots of berries, came home, packed a picnic lunch and spent the afternoon at the MSU outdoor pool. Emma met up with a pal and they spent most of the afternoon jumping off the diving boards and platforms. Emma likes jumping off the 5 meter platform. I can't find the courage to junp off the 3 meter platform. After the pool we stopped by at Tasty Twist and then home for dinner, cake, and a couple more gifts. We ended the day with our nightly 2-mile bike ride around Patriarche park. What a day!

From the Frilingos Four to Emma

Emma's party

Saugatuck

Really? Just ten years?

We finally got away for an overnight in Saugatuck, MI. We stayed at a quiet place at the top of a sand dune a couple miles out of town.

Pirate Day at the YMCA Camp

Last week I returned home from a mid-career university teacher's colloquy with lots of ideas and inspiration about teaching college students. After 11 years and tenure behind me now, I was in need of renewal. I learned many things from the other 12 colleagues in the colloquy including books to read, teaching ideas for the most difficult situations, and sanity tips for living a balanced life. One friend mentioned that she is reading a poem each day on the government link for poetry. She shared a terrific Billy Collins poem and now I am hooked. If you enjoy listening to poetry why not treat yourself to a few minutes every morning? This is what I listen to every morning before I start my work: The Writers' Almanac

Here is the poem:

"Introduction to Poetry," by Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.

I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,

or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for the light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie a poem to a chair with a rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Joe on the slide

This photo was taken by E & J's sitter, Mary.

T-ball: First Game

Counting a little blessing - The Boston Globe

Counting a little blessing - The Boston Globe

Six-year-old Lucy has lots in common with Joe. She even sits in the outfield during T-ball (photos from last night's game to be posted soon)! Her grandmother, Beverly Beckham has been writing about Lucy in the Boston Globe for the past few years. Her portraits of Lucy remind me so much of Joe and our experiences raising him.



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summertime...and the living is easy

Joe's Music Camp 2009

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

10th anniversary