Why do we ALWAYS have neighbor issues?

So, our neighbor across the street apparently thinks it's ok to dump his yardwaste onto our property. Why is it that people think it's ok to do these things? Who dumps their CRAP onto other peoples property? I just don't get it. And then, why is it always us? This was the stupidness that led to the whole mess at our old house!! UGH! What do I do now? I really want to pick it all up and dump it back onto their property but I know that would be childish (would feel good though).

Rudy finds out Vinnie has DS...

Jayson and I were filling out the survey some doctor is doing for DS research stuff. The four of us sitting at the kitchen table, Rudy eating his mac and cheese and me feeding Vin his green beans and applesauce. Jayson says to Rudy "Do you like having a brother with Down syndrome?" Rudy "no". Jayson "you know Vinnie has Down syndrome right?" Rudy "I don't like baby food". Please be on alert, baby food IS Down syndrome! And all this time we thought it was genetics!!

Some pictures...

Rudy's Monster

Our first Buddy Walk...

Our T-shirts


Vinnie's sweatshirt (arms of it)


Vinnie's sweatshirt (back of it)


Ahh...just in time for the Walk part!!


And the after party...tennis anyone?


Uhm, Jimbo? It's only a game!

A thank you!

You may never know what it feels like to have a few words rock and shatter your world. It’s like a sucker punch to the gut. You could almost pass out, your knees want to give. Fear and sorrow all rush through your body. You can’t breathe but yet you have to reclaim yourself because in front of you is the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen. This moment will be embedded in me for the rest of my life. “The test for Trisomy 21 came back positive”

I sent out a letter a while back, explaining the Buddy Walk and asking for participants and sponsors. Some of you it was just in conversation that you found out about it, some others from a jar sitting on a counter. But all of you touched our lives by walking with us, donating, or simply throwing a couple bucks into a can.

Our first Buddy Walk was amazing. As a team, I believe we made a donation that was almost $2000.00 in honor of Vinnie. Words can not express how grateful we are to have such wonderful people in our lives. The amount of support and love that this little man has brought into our lives is almost overwhelming.

“The test for Trisomy 21 came back positive”…at that moment, 8 months ago, I couldn’t even imagine the beautiful things that were and still are ahead of us. Thank you for being part of our miracle.

Western Massachusetts Buddy Walk

It's this Saturday! Details are on the MS and DS blog Becca and I have at

teamflash4u.blogspot.com