Meeting up with friends ...

Payton, Kennedy and Nika

One of my favorite things about being on this journey called Down syndrome is all the friends I have made across the nation ... well, across the world, really. We just have an unspeakable bond with each other, that just doesn't come anywhere else.

Earlier this week, we had the chance to meet up with our friends, the Garcia family. It was just a short visit as they passed through town, but fun nonetheless. The kids had a great time playing together and we have concluded that Kameron and Mason are one in the same ... crazy little boys!

Nika and Keeghan

Payton and Kennedy

Nika ... giving me her cheese face ...

BBQ with friends ...

Yesterday we had some friends over for a BBQ. We really had such a great time letting the kids play and just relaxing. Our kids have been friends most of their lives and they go crazy when we get together.

Actually, I'm not sure that crazy describes it. Perhaps ... berserk?

Mason and Alex ... the two instigators ...

The craziness begins ...Chicky had to get in there too ... isn't she the cutest?!Payton cracks me up!My little fish ..

Nika was less than thrilled to be in that cool water ...

Umm ... Jillian was less than thrilled too! Poor baby girls!

Belly flop! Don't mind the wedgie!

Mason going down the slide ...

Hannah and Chicky ...

Hannah was so cute ... she kept saying, "Where's Chicky?" And then she'd say, "Where's the other Chicky?" ... referring to Nika ... so funny!

Little tanker ...

Best buds ...

Fun with Friends

The people that have been brought into my life over the past three years of Payton's life are amazing. I have met some of my best friends ... thanks to a little something extra in the chromosome department amongst our kids.

The past few days we have busy, busy, busy. Busy enjoying our visit with our friends Carmen, Judah and Jaemen.

On Monday, Carmen and I took the kids to Port Discovery. I mean ... I don't want to say it was a mistake, but really ... what kind of crazy person like me takes three kids under five to a children's museum all by herself. I really thought I'd be fine, until I got there and saw the three story jungle gym in the middle of the place, with exits onto all three floors.

Seriously, who thought those exits were a good idea? So there I am, standing on the first floor with the girls, looking up wondering where Mason is ... and then I see him exiting off onto the third floor.

Fun times.

I spent a lot of time handing off one of the girls to Carmen so I could keep tabs on Mason. Meanwhile, she was chasing Jaemen all over kingdom come. That boy is busy.

Did I mention he is busy? Ha! Payton was pretty busy, herself. You let her down and next thing you know, she is headed down the stairs, up the stairs, over this way, over that way.

Our T21 babes ... I love how they are so cooperative ... Make sure nobody smiles!

Payton exploring one corner of the museum ...

Nika chilling ...

The only five minutes that Mason was not running and playing in the jungle gym ... he loves computers ...
Mom, this thing is too tall!

After visiting the water room and having some lady literally knock poor Nika on her head, I had had enough. Seriously woman ... watch where you are walking! Did I mention it was in the water room? Yeah, that means she landed head first in a huge puddle of dirty water.

So off to McD's we went for lunch, where we dealt with the rudest people in America. I wanted to show Carmen the Inner Harbor, but that was a quick trip because me and my missing brain I forgot all of our coats.

The kids down by the harbor ...

Mason and the big ship in the harbor ...

Mason on one of the cannons ... he thought those were so cool ...

The boys ...

Jaemen and his first look at ocean water ... because technically that is what it is ...

Our trip to Boston: Day 1

This past weekend, we drove up to Boston for the national Down syndrome convention that I have attended every year since Payton was born. It is a great place to learn new things, network and meet up with great friends.

We got into town just in time for dinner. I met up with my friends, Stephanie, Renee and Megan, and we headed out to Cheers in my car. The girls rode in the back of my Yukon with no seats and we headed out to 84 Beacon Street, which we put into my navigation system. After driving for what seemed like forever through random city streets, we wondered where the heck Cheers was. Finally, we arrived at our destination ...

Ummm .... yeah ... not so much Cheers. OMG we laughed hysterically and had to take a picture. Apparently there are TWO Beacon Streets in Boston and this particular Beacon Street had 82 and 86 Beacon Street, but no 84 Beacon Street. So back to the hotel we went ... dropped off Kyle and the kids (Payton was asleep by this time) ... and us girls got in a cab with McKenna and Shylo to try to find the real Cheers. All the girls were too scared to ride in the front seat of the cab, so I did for them. LOL. We had the weirdest, creepiest cab driver ever and he gave me a run down of every building we passed. He even told me about how he used to smoke joints in the park we passed. Fabulous. Then he complained about the justice system and about how they turned a Boston jail into a hotel. Maybe I should have pulled my badge out? ROFL. Anyway, we finally got there ...

The girls (L-R: Shylo, me, Renee, Megan, McKenna and Stephanie) ...

Renee, McKenna and me ...

Stephanie and Shylo ...

Please pray for Kennedy

Meet Kennedy. Isn't she sweet? This little miss has jumped more hurdles in her life than most of us will in a lifetime. She has battled AML (a type of leukemia) and next week she will be having surgery for AAI and AOI ... and then she will be wearing a halo for six months. All of these things are on top of her cute little extra chromosome. Kennedy's dad is currently serving in Afghanistan and her mom is pretty much, well amazing. Please pray for Kennedy ... click here to follow her journey.

Gathering with friends

This weekend we went to Pennsylvania to go to Sesame Place, where we met up with some of our friends from Downsyn.com. We had so much fun and it was so nice to meet everyone!

Here is a video montage of our weekend:

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