Deserving!

This picture deserves to be by itself!

Photographs!

Help I'm tangled! 

Chillaxin', eatin fries! 

Yes, Shawn fed her one!....she LOVED it! 

Waves to Unkie Gary 

She's an Army crawler! 

Popsicle! 

I love this picture! 

Hot mess! 

Auntie Kell's art work! 

Little Toes 

A rare opportunity with no kids! 

Domb Buggy

The Girls 

Easter Part 2

So I finally stole my sisters camera. Which means I finally got to see the Crayola pictures (post to come soon) and that means I finally got to upload all the pictures I've been waiting to see onto my laptop! Which also means a new blog post to share with all of you! 

Since I'm just now getting to view some more Easter pictures, I must share them all with you! 

Exciting News!

So I have some exciting news! BIG NEWS! It's about my two role models!!

Let's begin!

Yesterday my one role model, Kelle Hampton, was on The Today Show on NBC to discuss her book Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected. She did amazing! I was in class when she was scheduled to air and DI was devastated! But luckily I knew I could count on Down syndrome Daily to get the video up for me!!! Thank you so much Rick!

To see the video click this link!!!

Second, perhaps the greatest news yet! My other role model has some news to share!:

Stole this picture from Amy Kosmalski's Blog!

Yup, Kayla is going to be a big sister! Can you believe it? Another little Kayla walking this Earth! I am beyond thrilled, I balled my eyes out! Congratulations Rick and Amy, and Kayla as well!

Hoppy Easter!

I always remembered Easter morning, waking up so excited to see what the Easter bunny had brought me! But then I grew up! The fun was pretty much ripped away from me! Sometimes I wish I never figured out Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth fairy etc were fake! I never had the horrid school experience where I got beat up because I still believed in Santa! I could only imagine being in college now, still believing in Santa and my friends making fun of me. But hey what's new?!

For quite some time, getting up Easter morning was just like any other day. But this year was A LOT different! Hannah is three, well two at the time and she understood more what was happening! She knows that while she's sleeping a bunny comes and brings her present. She thinks it's Henry, our neighborhood bunny! She know's were going to have an egg hunt and she know's she'll get 'moneys' to put in her piggy bank! 

So here the week long celebration of Easter begins! 

Sunday: I bought egg dye and a dozen eggs to well of course dye easter eggs with Hannah.

Wednesday: We decided to dye eggs that day at Hannah's house. Shawn luckily remembered to boil the eggs and they were cooled enough! We tried waiting for Natalie to wake up but a certain little two year old was a bit anxious! So we mixed the dye together and set on color on the table! Hannah immediately took an egg and DROPPED in into the bowl. Of course dye spilled over but we were smart and lined the table! I had decorated an egg really pretty with flowers using the white crayon. Well guess what, she stole it and dyed it. I got one lonely egg to myself.

Thursday: The Rohe's and mumsie met the Dicesare's at the Crayola Factory. Boy do I wish I could have went! 

Friday night: I boiled 18 eggs so we could dye some more because I wanted some of my own! 

Saturday morning: I wanted to go to the grocery store to buy some granny smith apples to make these mini apples pies I had discovered on pinterest. My sister and Hannah tagged along to buy all the five cake mixes needed for Hannah's various celebrations over the next week. 

Hannah came over to dye eggs with me. Natalie joined too! Mumsie had bought Hannah special Tinker Bell Easter Egg Dye included with 'pixie dust'! For some odd reason, Hannah was less then interested. She dyed about four eggs and called it quits! So Natalie and I began our adventure! I held the egg and worked hand over hand with the crayon while she drew on the egg. SHE LOVED IT! Hannah continued to hang out with me for the remainder of the day. We laid in bed and watched a movie. We drew on the door. And finally it was egg hunting time.

Hannah stood at the front door cheating and already spotting eggs. She was really good at it. Yeah, she found the three orange ones right there openly in the grass but she also found a hidden red one in the plants!

Following the egg hunt we opened our baskets! She loved all her stuff. We ate dinner, a BBQ, and ended our day with Mister Softee!!

Natalie coloring on her eggs! 

Happy Easter! 

Shopping for her party! 

Decorating the door! 

Watching Ratatouille! 

Waiting and cheating find eggs! 

ADORABLE! 

Easter Bonnet !

Mister Softee 

Natalie even got to have some strawberry shake! 

Double dipper! 

Hope everyone had a great Easter! 

Easter Preview

Goooooooood morning everyone!!! Today has lots in stored for us! Egg hunt, double the Easter baskets, double the fun and a wonderful family dinner!

Just for those of you who read our blog, here's a special video only open to you!!

Happy Easter to all!

DSA Egg Hunt

Two weeks ago, the Rohe family and I were invited to Miracles for Molly Egg Hunt! We had all intentions of going and I was beyond excited! My flight back from SC would be home just in time to change and head to Molly's egg hunt. Our friends Rick, Amy, and Kayla would be joining us! Perfect, I had just bought a present for Kayla from SC and could give it to her. But on my way home, my sister texted me. It had rained the previous day, making Saturday chilly and wet and not your ideal weather. Since Natalie is a bit more at a high risk for getting colds, sick etc. it would be best if we went to the Down syndrome Association egg hunt instead! I was upset, I wanted to see Molly since I haven't seen her in about a year since we were at the hospital for Natalie. But going to the DSA egg hunt would be better for Natalie. I asked if the Kosmalski family would be joining us and my sister said no, we were going to separate egg hunts. My heart sunk! I enjoy every moment I get to see Kayla, she brightens my day! Luckily, my sister was joking!!

We were finally on our way to the DSA egg hunt! I didn't know what to expect. Besides the Buddy Walk, this was my first DSA event! I knew there would be so many cute faces and so many new people to meet. I just hoped I could remember all their names! Well my thoughts were correct. Cute faces were all over the room! People knew Natalie by her first name, greeted her as well as mommy and daddy and her sister! I was introduced praying I could remember all their names. Luckily, there wasn't too many names to remember!
We sat down with the Kosmalski's and began our arts and crafts. STICKERS LOTS OF STICKERS. Hannah was in heaven! We got some food and before I knew it, the head lady...yes I forget her name, called for all the kids to get in their lines. My 'flighty' sister forgot to bring an easter basket so we borrowed one from the table. Hannah was so excited! They lead us back to the area where birth to 3 year old eggs were. There's were in a hall way scattered along. There was so many eggs. Hannah went right to work filling up her basket!

My sister joined me in a group on Facebook, DSA Buddy Walk- Team River Rousers! It was her new friend from Mom's group for DSA I believe. Jenny and her daughter River are pictured below! River is too stinking cute!

I mean just look at River's smile! 

Any chance I get, I take a photo with Kayla! 

I posted this photo to River's page! So many people commented! I know, I'm a great photographer! 

And of course, I can't forget to get in front of the lens instead of behind and get in some photos! 

Please comment with your own caption! 

Jenny said River had been working on putting objects into a bag of some sort so this was perfect practice! 

Natalie rather chew the eggs! 

It just makes me chuckle! 

To those of you who celebrate Easter, Happy early Easter! I hope your day is filled with fabulous weather and lots of goodies from the Easter Bunny!!!

Thank you

I wrote out this short thank you note but it turned into a much longer one. I had originally planned to post it at the end of the video during the credits but ran into several issues. So instead, I'm making my life easier and posting it to here!

Thank you thank you thank you! I can not say it enough! Like I said it my previous blog posts, I was in awe and still am to this day! My last minute planning turned into a big extravaganza thanks to all of your support! For those of you who sent pictures I appreciate it! My movie would not have been successful if you did not send me pictures! To those of you who sent me me personalized text messages, thank you! I got tears in my eyes every time! To those of you who wrote comments and liked it, thank you! They did not go unnoticed!

I'd like to especially thank Brian Coonce. Brian went around everywhere with me, to Main Street, to different buildings, and all over campus! Brian, I can not say thank you enough! You were so helpful and weren't afraid to talk to everyone!! Thank you Brian! I love you!

World Down syndrome Day 321

Yes, I know you've been waiting for a blog post! Or okay maybe I'm just full of myself and hoping you were angry at me! But lots has been going on! So I promise I will try to get all my thoughts and memories out today! And of course pictures because really how many of you actually reads the words!

Okay so let's get started...

March 21st was WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY! My news feed on Facebook was filled and I was beyond excited! I had prepared for this day, I could not wait. Granted I had prepared the night before but still I was ready! It was all starting off with my five friends meeting me at 10 o'clock so I could give them the Got Trisomy? tshirts and take pictures. Mind you, half of us had a test later that day. I on the other hand had two tests but I did not care. I had studied as much as I could and it was time to focus on making the day spectacular. So that's just what I did.

And then we were off to lab. I was meeting Brian there to give him his shirt. On my way I ran into two other friends and they asked me about our shirts. I told them our story and handed them the shirts! They were off to take pictures to send to me for a special project I was working on! 

I met Brian and he took a picture with his shirt on. The night before I had made signs for people who didn't get shirts to hold and take a picture if they wanted to! After lab, Brian and I were going to go study but get coffee first. So off to Starbucks we went. While ordering, the cashier told us she loved our shirts. A LIGHTBULB WENT OFF IN MY HEAD. We asked if she would hold a sign saying I Love Down syndrome, We love Down syndrome, etc. She graciously agreed. We got our coffee and studying was now bumped down on our list. We were off to all the popular stores on Main Street to ask if they would take pictures. Most agreed and were excited! 

We finally decided it was time to sit down and study for a bit. We grabbed some lunch and sat in Trabant studying for our test that was later at 5 o'clock. As most of my peers would know, you run into a lot of people if your sitting at Trabant. Of course that's exactly what happened! We ran into at least twenty people and they all agreed to take pictures to show their support! We went everywhere trying to contact as many people as I could to take pictures. I even tried to get YouDee to meet me at a game that was happening to get him to take a picture. But no luck. :( But it's okay, next year I will be more prepared! 

No worries we got some studying in and were off to our exam. Once their I ran into a lot more of my friends all eager to take pictures after seeing my millions of Facebook status'! My professor even agreed to take a picture and show his support! 

Sadly, my glory from the day was coming to an end. I finished my exam, went straight home to eat, shower and sleep. BUT WAIT! On my way home, I contacted 93.7 WSTW on the radio. They were going to do a shout-out for WDSD but there was one issue. I didn't know when. I had arrived home and sat in my car until I heard them! I recorded it to use it for my project. 

Later that night I started crying. I just couldn't believe how much support everyone showed. I am so grateful for my friends and how they understand that Down syndrome is such a huge part of my life. I am forever grateful for everyone and words can not express how much I love each and everyone of you! 

Two weeks passed and I received all pictures I was going to get. I put together my project on the way to Spring Break and couldn't wait to debut it when I got home! Once I was home, my sister previewed it and the time had come. IT WAS TIME TO DEBUT MY MOVIE. 

I received individualized text messages, Facebook messages, comment, likes, shares and much more! My video had got it message out! 

Here is the link for my video!! If you are trying to view this on an iPhone or iPad or some sort of mobile device it will not work. Please go to youtube.com and search username kmryser21 for the mobile version! 

WDSD Natalie's Crew Video