My silly girl.....

and her new bathing suit. The children got to go in the hot tub on Easter and Emma Sage had put on her new bikini and had to do the 'New Bikini' silly dance.....lol! Enjoy.


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Simple Truths......

Here is a wonderful short film clip.....a must see.

Johnny the Bagger

99 Balloons.....

Please take a moment to view this beautiful tribute to an amazing little gift from GOD.

The Video of Eliot is here......

and his website is here.

Three Easter Girls......

DSC05195
Originally uploaded by annikaleigh.

Emma Sage and two of her cousins, Rori and Fiona

A Big Bunny Hug.....

Emma Sage was so excited to see the Easter Bunny at the egg hunt last weekend......





and this is a friend of mine from high school and her daughter.....Caroline, who is a month older that Emma Sage....look at the size difference. Emma Sage is a bit smaller that most of her same-age peers, but Caroline takes after her Mother, my friend Melissa, who is 6'1"........so the difference is quite great between these two.

The girls had such a fun time hunting for eggs together........the showed the world that friends come in all shapes and sizes and a variety of chromosome counts!

It's all about being Adorable......

I'm usually not a fan of T-shirts with sayings on them, but Emma Sage had seen this shirt when we were shopping, and she and Greta are big 'Hello Kitty' fans and they just had to get it.

I think that it is a perfect shirt for her though....as she is Adorable, and isn't that what it is all about?! Or is that the Hokey Pokey....Gosh, I just don't know anymore!@!




This is what I get these days taking pictures....she thinks she is funny making faces for Momma!

He aint Heavy, He's My Brother......

The song by the Hollies popped in my head today, because of my silly little girl.

I was out shopping with my girls, Katrina, Greta and Emma Sage....we were walking down the street when Katrina says over to me "Mom, am I fat?"

Now let me tell you, Katrina has never been 'fat' in her life, but she did put on a few pounds the last year after quiting school sports to dedicate her time to her studies, volunteer activities and part-time jobs to pay for college....over the last two months she has lost 20lbs and looks fantastic. She joined a gym, runs everyday and is eating a very healthy, whole food diet.

So of coarse you knew what my answer to her silly questions was going to be.....but before I could get out the words 'Don't be silly, you look wonderful' Emma Sage replies....

"Nini, your not fat,,,,,,,You're MY sister!" lol!!!

Pinwheels......

Emma Sage found this big pinwheel last weekend at our local Easter Egg hunt......she decided that it needed to be liberated from the ground [to which it was stuck] and play with it for a bit.

As I was taking these pictures I thought of a friend of mine who is an amazing writer and Mother to a precious little boy who, like Emma Sage, is sporting a little extra chromosome on his 21st pair.

So, I recommend you go visit Pinwheels, and find out for yourself about her being an amazing writer.....and Jennifer, these pictures are for you and Avery! Enjoy!

Dyson Slim Vacuum Give-away

5 Minutes for Mom is giving away a Dyson Slim Vacuum. The contest is being sponsered by Dyson. Be sure to enter by Wednesday, April 4th by 1pm EST.

I sure could use that vacuum in my house, cause this is how my current vaccum is................. all duct-taped up!!! [Gotta love Duct tape....it can carry you through anything....and extend the life of a product that should have bit the dust [pun intended] a long time ago!

Magical Moments Monday's.....

I've been tagged. My dear friend, Emily the WonderMomma of Lovely and Amazing, tagged me. I'm not very good at these things....not that I don't want to be, it just seems that my life sometimes moves at a pace that I just can't help and to go back and catch up always seems impossible. But you got me, and I said I would not go to bed without writing about 'Magical Moments Monday's'. [See what I mean, it is Tuesday now and I'm just posting a Monday thought!]

and what would be more perfect before heading into bed to share one of the most magical moments of my life....a moment that I get to relive, over and over again for the last [almost] 18 years. You see, to me, co-sleeping with my children have to be the most magical mothering moments ever.

Right now, Little Miss Emma Sage is my snuggle bug.......



She is the longest baby to sleep in our bed.

At one point we had two co-sleepers, as Greta and Katrina were just shy of two years apart and they both shared out bed for a few years together. Each little nester found their way to their own nest at around the age of 3 1/2 to 4 years of age....exactly at the time they weaned themselves from nursing.

Emma Sage stopped nursing at 3 years 10 months....but she is still co-sleeping, and I'm in no hurry for her to spread her wings and find her own nest.....this Momma cherishes those Magical Moments of hearing her sweet little breath, breathing in and out.....her snuggled in my arms, sleeping peacefully............

Take me out to the ballgame.....

Take me out to the ballgame.......well, almost!

Today was Emma Sage's first T-ball practice.

What fun! She had a blast and did great.....as did all the other little ones. They are just too cute.


Like my pink mitt? How cool is this. They never had neat stuff like this when I was little....actually, girls 'didn't' play baseball when I was little. Thank goodness things have changed.


Getting ready to 'catch' a ball......a grounder


OK coach, what are you telling me....you want me to 'what?'


"Ok coach, I got it....I stand here and wait for the ball to be hit.....BUT what about those two team-mates wrestling on the ground behind me....are we supposed to wrestle too?" lol!!!!


Hey, this is fun....and we all get to go after the ball......


"Hey Sarah, I got a ball, did you?"


Look what we can do with our balls.....


What an arm.....


Running the bases is fun.....


"You know Sarah....this dirt is a lot of fun"

and YES, my child has a 'plumbers butt'.....if you notice in the pictures I post daily of her....she is very, rarely in pants....NOW you know why!!! She can't keep them up for the life of her....so jumpers and tights are the best way to combat plumbers butt......lol!!! But it is hard to play baseball in a dress!

Oh, and Emma Sage's team is the Cardnials.........Otto is a Phillie this year. I'd like to know when my kids are going to be Yankees! Then I'll buy them some extra team gear!!!!!

The March Winds Roar.....

The March wind roars

Like a lion in the sky,

nd makes us shiver

As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb

,Then spring is here.-

Author Unknown

So what do you do on a Windy March Day?

You fly a kite.....

and get it stuck in a tree......

And Marval at your child as she quietly watches her brother kite reach higher and higher towards the heavens....

and then today,,,,she tried and tried to get the kite to fly....but she was not fully understanding that the reason the kites soared the last two days was because the March winds doth blow!

E-I-E-I-O

Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on that farm he had a hen, E-I-E-I-O!
With a cluck, cluck here,
And a cluck, cluck there.
Here a cluck, there a cluck,
Everywhere a cluck, cluck!
Old MacDonald had a far, E-I-E-I-O!

We took our *first* offical walking of Spring to visit Ms. Bonnies farm.....and you'll never guess what we came home with.......

Following the leader, the leader.....We're following the leader, where-ever she may go!

They were quite excited to be out....it has been a long, cold winter.....

We got to see some new birds....

Emma Sage just loves this little guy....so do I!

Emma Sage just loves Ms. Bonnie [she is her riding teacher too] and here they are checking out one of the new, huge bunnies [still trying to guess what we came home with? lol!]

One of Emu's......of coarse we always have to sing the Wiggles, Emu song.

Can you say....Lucky, lucky children......

and this last one just made me laugh.....Mr. LadyBug is hanging out with Ms. Ladybug.......well, spring brings lots of mud, so 'Wellies' are the shoe of choice these days....

and if you are still trying to guess.......it is a Bunny.....well, actually, it is three Bunnies [just what I needed....lol!!! But Emma Sage is in heaven. She named them; Cadbury, Peter and Beatrix............now we will see how long it takes three Jack Russell Terriers to get over the fact that even though these are 'pet' Bunnies....they just think of them as 'game'.

The Bunnies are very sweet, very social, but may have to go back to Ms. Bonnies, we will see.

and measuring herself to the snowman......saying "Look how big I am!"

Yes, I said snowman....we put him away for the spring/summer/fall....but I left him out a little longer as if I put him away too soon, we always get hit with a few late season snow fall [like last weeks foot and a half]



But today, put all snow fears to rest....as it was in the upper 60's.....yeah!

Can You Say 'Sassy'......

Our little 'Sassy' girl. Every once in a while she will just stop and pose like this.........

Oh little girl, how you make us laugh and laugh.

Celebrate Diversity

Emma Sage used her sweet little hand prints to help make this picture for World Down syndrome Day.....



and a little funny.....

Emma Sage thinks she is a teen-ager [you know, having two big sisters that are teen-agers always makes a 5 year old think they too!]

She knows all the words to all the songs that are on the radio [this can be a good thing....and a very bad thing!]

Anyway....there is a new remake of the 80's song "Take a Look at my Girlfriend" by SuperTramp.....and she sings right along....

EXCEPT.....she made up her own word and hand movements.

She says [while waving her hand by her nose as if she just smelt something awlful].....

"Take a Look at my Girlfriend.....She SMELLS alot!" LOL!!!!! she just cracks me up.

Here I am....

Here I am again....behind the 8 ball and way behind with posts.

Life has been so busy, but oh, so amazingly wonderful and full of fun, exciting events, that I have lots of picture of....and funny stories about, but alas....not enough time to post it all [Hopefully tomorrow, as I have St. Patrick's Day pictures and video clips to post for my Mothers family in Ireland!]

BUT....I did have to share this funny.

Tonight I'm busy getting shirts pressed and folded and ready for Rick as he has a long trip tomorrow morning [to the Bahama's poor guy]

I burn my finger on the iron and say "Oh $uck"

Little Miss is in the livingroom and says "What did you say?"

I reply "Oh, I said....""Oh Sugar""

to which she replies "NO you didn't, you said 'OH, $uck"

lol.....I about pee'd my pants. So I had to say,,,,"Yes, Mommy said a bad word and I shouldn't have done that".

Emma Sage says "That's OK Mommy, don't do it again!"

lol!!!! My little sage always has a way of making me 'think'

and a disclaimer....yes, I have a bad mouth. I lived and worked in New York City for way too many years on a trading desk filled with all men [well, mostly men] and it is a very bad habit I picked up. I try so hard....but when you burn your finger on a hot iron.....the most appropriate word that came to mind was..............'sugar'!!!! lol!!!!

World Down syndrome Day

Today’s date, 3/21, is significant because people with Down syndrome have 3 genes on the 21st chromosome. For this reason, Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy-21.

My friend, Jennifer at Pinwheels has a wonderful write-up about today in which she celebrates Down syndrome and thought I would join in on the celebration.

We are heading to New York City this evening for an event at Barnes & Noble. Here is a link to other events that are planned through out the world.

3 Things I am grateful for: My family, My Blessings, Diversity

2 Things that inspire me: Kindness of others, Diversity in life, music, art, photography & thoughts

1 Thing I wish everyone knew: That living life with a child with Down syndrome is an amazing and magical journey.

Happy World Down Syndrome Day!

"I Want To Be Born Again!"

"I Want To Be Born Again!"

Those are the words I hear from my little pixie as she finds me soaking in a very hot bath [filled with Calgon......Ah, take me away!]

I was trying to have a nice relaxing bath [all by myself....what a novel idea!]

When I hear.....pitter, patter....the door swinging wide open and these words [which I found to be completely halarious, as my best friends Mother growing up became 'Born Again' when we were teenagers, and being devote Catholic makes for interesting conversations with a converted Catholic to being 'Born Again'.

My little pixie begins to strip her clothes off as fast as she can [of coarse trying to find an excuse to my plea "But Mommy wanted to take a bath by herself".....she says 'I naked'.

and ?Why? does my little girl want to be 'Born Again'?

Because this bath tub is exactly where she was 'Born' the first time.

Something that I'm very excited about.....

I met an amazing young man at the CHOP T21 Symposium who has started a program called 'Golf For Life'

Here is a picture of Brad and his father.

I am going to sign Emma Sage up for a clinic this sping. She loves to play golf in our yard and loves the miniture golf when we go.

Click on this link to read more....and be totally amazed.